AnonymousBy Bob Ficarra of Metro Entertainment
“January 1st Thursday Presented By Amazon” is the headline of the most recent email sent by our very own Downtown Organization. It is the headline banner on the 1st Thursday website. Isn’t First Thursday an event to support local businesses? But now it is an Amazon promotion.
Our own Santa Barbara Downtown Organization is now directly contributing to the downfall of Santa Barbara businesses. The “DO” only exists to support Santa Barbara- and now, instead of doing anything to promote local retail, it is promoting the biggest online business in the world.
How out of touch do you have to be to turn a locals-only promotion into a marketing tool for our biggest competition? Was this a pure cash grab by the “DO” for Amazon sponsorship?
Please walk down State Street and look at all the empty storefronts. There has been absolutely no improvement. What happened the $100,000.00+ spent on 2 surveys that were supposed to improve things? Why was all that money wasted with no repercussions? Why is no one being held accountable? Anyone else- with a non-government job- would be fired for such waste. Why am I paying quarterly taxes to an organization that is actively working against and hurting my local business??
I’ve owned Metro Entertainment for 29 years and this very well could be the biggest slap in the face I’ve ever seen. In that time I’ve gone from hoping our local government agencies will help us to hoping they don’t make business harder. Will someone- anyone- with just a bit of common sense please step up?
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They need funds, sure… But what is there to show for these funds? Look around downtown…it is a husk. Bob makes great points. Amazon is no Nordstroms. Amazon is the business killer of business killers, it is on a level of its own.
Despite constant warnings, past and present city councils allowed downtown to become very unsavory, as well as ringing it with the bulk of their low-income to very low income public housing units. Nothing like stacking up those who “can’t afford to live in Santa Barbara, smack in the middle of your down town retail sales commercial district. But that is the face of politically correct Santa Barbara.
Why does the DO need more funds?? Me and every other business pay huge quarterly taxes to the DO. Yet they promote the biggest retailer killer more than they’ve ever promoted my shop, or any other retailers. And still no one stands up for us.
Vacant properties do not pay this DO tax surcharge – only businesses. Empty storefronts and office space do not generate financial support for the DO -which actually has done a very good job in the past and is worthy of more support. Say thank you to Amazon. It will be the only thing that can start to save this downtown business district. Glad they had the confidence to come here – the potential for them and us is great. Thank you Amazon.
Good point Bob, now I understand it more from the small biz POV. Yes, the Downtown Org should do more with local businesses, isn’t that their main function?
Sold out santa barbara, a shame.
All of you disparaging Amazon are pissing into the wind. Santa Barbara shop owners and the Downtown Organization need to grasp the fact that Amazon is not going to fizzle out anytime soon and act accordingly. Rethink your business plans and factor in the realization that Amazon is providing what people want. Do what is necessary to stay competitive.
@3:49. I will add to that by stating that any one of those businesses downtown can also sell on Amazon, and a plethora of other websites.
I am certainly not disparaging Amazon. You’re not getting the message. The Santa Barbara Downtown Organization’s mission is to support and assist local business. It is now branded with our biggest, non-local competition.
No ones disparaging amazon, I use them. But there is a place for a brick and mortor store where you can actually talk to someone about an item before buying it. And by talking i mean actually having a conversation with someone that knows about the product. Selling online isnt the issue, its cookie cutter cities with all the same “big” business and no local. If we continue this direction there will be no small business, no local business. Ever watch Wall-E?
We dont need engineering amazon jobs we need jobs that stay here, pay here, and provide a live-able enviroment for everyone. San fransico doing well with all the tech? Seattle? People are leaving ( just like here ) in droves because they cant afford it. And dont say “well get a better job” the people leaving san fransico/ seattle. Worked at google/ amazon etc.
“mortar”
With the gradual surrender of our once-vibrant, beautiful downtown to vagrants, vagabonds and bums, I now think of brick-and-mortar as “brick-and-MORDOR.”
Thankyou for this write up Bob. This situation is slap in the face to all the SB businesses, Everyone in Santa Barbara should be extremely concern with the current downtown situation. I have taken your advice… and its disturbing walking down state street and count all the open spaces…The consultation fees the city paid out for the study and recommendations was an absolute joke!
I understand a local business owner’s POV, but also… the downtown organization needs funds and Amazon is setting up shop here. Would it make more of a difference if Nordstrom’s purchased this ad space?
Are you not aware that Amazon IS a local business. They have more than one location here and are doing more than delivering goods or taking orders.
Alexa is Just one part of amazon which is researched and developed here. Amazon employs many people here with a good salary and exceptional benefits.
I think you need to reconsider your definition of local.
When I moved to Santa Barbara from another state I was given clear definitions for my status in this “pretentious” place.
I would never be a “Native” as that is only for those born here.
However after 7 years I could call myself a “local”.
I feel pretty confident that you have heard this before.
So is it possible that you are really more upset because amazon is not a Native company like yourself?
Another thing to consider is that consumers go for what is easiest and cheapest and has the least hassle.
I can’t tell you how many local shops in Santa Barbara have rude sales personnel, a poor knowledge base of what they are even selling and why… or Are really just In need of a complete attitude overhaul.
Not to mention the return or exchange (or complete lack of) policy some stores have in place.
Really?
Word to the wise… you cannot stop consumer trends. If you wish to survive learn to embrace and adapt.
Last thing- there is much much much more to Amazon that online shopping.
Watch and learn.
Thank you.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUewiOZTNzM
Curmudgeon–your position is fatally flawed for the following reason; if unbridled capitalism contributes to creating a larger homeless population, the fact that some who benefit from capitalism give money to help the homeless does not cure the problem that creates homelessness in the first place. You get that, right?
Your name calling is doing nothing for the discussion. A local business owner brings up a complaint about how the DO runs. Their money funds the DO. The guy’s point is entirely worth of discussion.
That “you’re an idiot “comment directed to CURMUDGEON….yeah, just keep blaming everything on the homeless, when they are the victims of unbridled capitalism. I just feel like name-calling people who are just so lazy or whatever to not realize or just LIE about what’s happening. ……TRUTH = First people got “homeless” and then their life is basically “out-of-business”, then our “Mom and Pop” stores on State St can’t afford the rent either. GENTRIFICATION = loss of cheap places to live for MANY, while a FEW get rich rich richer…….Meanwhile, Amazon and real estate tycoons are getting richer…..wake up people !! Here’s one way to make a difference : buy locally in neighborhood stores and craigslist etc = supporting your community instead of China and Amazon . Fix things, or pay people to fix things instead of throwing them away and buying new junky stuff. Meet people instead of staring at a phone…..and QUIT picking on the homeless, in general. (yes, I know all homeless are not angels)
“Local” is either born here or been here for decades——not 7 years. Nice try, though.
Local means Locally owned and operated ! Amazon is national or international Corporation. Big difference. Amazon is not local , it is international Big corporation, Just like McDonalds. I would rather shop locally in a mom and pop owned store than anything corporate.
Your reply –the second one–was rational, but your first, an insult, poisoned the effectiveness of the second. So did the capitalization “shouts”. You are passionate about homelessness & the increasing corporate on-line take-over of consumer purchases and accompanying degradation of our society into the old model aristocracy or peasants and should be. Anyone with a knowledge of history and economics knows how this ends. Better not to negate the impact of your very relevant concerns.
SURFERGIRL – Wasn’t picking on homeless, just vagrants, vagabonds and bums. BIG difference. Tourists and locals can’t all be wrong when they tell you it is vastly more unpleasant to walk downtown now than in a gentler age past.
You might be surprised to learn just how much good ‘unbridled capitalism’ does for the community of homeless. One simple example at the local level is to look at the financial statement of a charitable organization like Unity Shoppe. For the 2018 fiscal year contributions, gifts, grants and fundraising took in more than $3.5 million to help thousands of area needy. Looking at a donor’s list reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of American capitalism. Without capitalism through charitable giving, property tax revenue, state and local tax revenue, etc. most meaningful programs that do much social good would not exist to the extent they do.
Why do you continue to pay the SBDO’s fees if they don’t do anything for your business? As a businessman shouldn’t be watching your bottom line and figuring which expenditures jigger them upwards and which just drag on them? Whining about it on social media isn’t making you a more astute businessman it just follows the bane of reality TV’s drama drama drama as a substitute.
Totally agree!
Sad but true.