![Representing Palmdale [L to R]: Nardy Lopez, Kari Blackburn, Councilmembers Roxana Martinez and Fred Thompson, and Mayor Jim Ledford. [contributed]](https://www.theavtimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Palmdale-Most-Business-Friendly-city.jpg)
The city of El Segundo was recognized as the Most Business-Friendly city with a population under 65,000.
“This year’s Most Business Friendly cities, Palmdale and El Segundo, understand that communities and families thrive when good jobs are created, and because many businesses can choose to locate those jobs anywhere, job creation depends on business-friendly practices,” stated Bill Allen, chief executive officer of LAEDC.
The winners were selected based on the following criteria:
- Demonstrated commitment to economic development as a priority.
- Programs and services designed to facilitate business entry, expansion and retention.
- Economic development activity over the past three years.
- Competitive business tax rates and fee structures.
- Availability of economic incentives.
- Effective communication with and about business clients.
According to the LAEDC, Palmdale was recognized as the “Most Business-Friendly” city with a population greater than 65,000 because:
Palmdale boasts ample and affordable space, a highly skilled and motivated workforce, incentives, outstanding infrastructure, and a solid transportation plan for the future. The city provides businesses with extremely fast entitlement approval process. The city has implemented a new ProjectDox Program where developers/contractors electronically submit plans for review, comment & approval. Additionally, the city of Palmdale offers Crime Prevention Thru Environmental Design (CPTED) in the design stages of development for businesses. The city does a lot of the little things right too, such as making monthly visits with the mayor to local businesses, providing personalized service by staff, publicizing and hosting grand openings and celebrations, and building lasting relationships. Maybe that’s why John Novak, President of Patton’s Steel called Palmdale “the most accommodating City we’ve ever worked with.”
About the LAEDC
Established in 1981, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) provides collaborative, innovative and strategic economic development leadership to promote a globally competitive, prosperous and growing L.A. County economy to improve the health and well-being of residents and communities and to enable those residents to meet their basic human need for a job. The LAEDC achieves this through objective economic research and analysis, strategic assistance to government and business, and targeted public policy. Since 1996, the LAEDC’s Business Assistance team has helped to retain or attract over 198,000 annual jobs in Los Angeles County. For more information, visit www.LAEDC.org. For more information on the LAEDC’s annual Eddy Awards, visit www.laedc.org/eddy.
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Jay says
Holy crap Roxana Martinez is hot
Bob says
Palmdale business friendly?! What a crock! Take a drive at your own risk down Ave I and see the real Palmdale,, business friendly???,,, ghetto friendly.
William says
@Bob
“Ave I”?????
Avenue I isn’t in Palmdale, Bob.
Better check your map and come back and make a correction so we don’t think that you are a complete fool.
On second thought, from your previous comments, you’ve already shown that to be true. But, you are representative of so many people who comment here and that’s a good thing.
The Doctor says
It’s called LancasterThink, William. It affects a small portion of the population, many of whom were born, raised and educated in LancasterThink. Some of them grow up to become bullies and mayors and vice mayors. Others live their lives swearing that Avenue I is somehow in Palmdale.
Jason Zink says
People bag on Ave I what about 6th st East in Palmdale???? Ave I looks like Redo compared to that street. I really don’t think Ave I looks that bad but when the DMV closes and moves to 8th West and Ave L6 it might be in trouble.
Tim Scott says
Every city has areas that are sub par. In Palmdale they are easily identified, because the housing authority and pretty much everyone else in city government is actively pursuing revitalization.
In Lancaster identifying them is harder because it is only by omission. For example, Avenue I is never mentioned by anyone in city government, on pain of Rex. The Lancaster version of revitalization is “If we could just drive out all the residents think how our little crew could profit!” Then they send in the cops.
The sick but most hilarious moment in Lancaster revitalization was when the state cracked down on Rex and said that he couldn’t be chair of the redevelopment district and mayor because that left no oversight to keep him from lining his pockets. So the city council had to appoint a successor. Rex recuses himself, to “prevent any false impression of impropriety”, and the crew break out their rubber stamps and appoint some lawyer WHO WORKS FOR REX!!!
But the truly hilarious part was when the reporter from the AV Press asked him what he thought about their choice that pig of a mayor actually had the gall to say “Oh, is that who they chose?” as if he never even discussed the matter and they came up with her all on their own. His arrogance knows absolutely no bounds.
By the way, abuses of the redevelopment district system were a major part of what got the program cancelled, state wide, and one of the most horrific examples was Lancaster. That’s the leadership of our Rex Parris.
William says
Here goes. I’m not sure if this is absolutely accurate but….
There are a lot of old time residents in the Antelope Valley who constantly complain about the newcomers….good ones and bad ones.
But, isn’t also the case, that those old timers live in the older neighborhoods that are run down and have problems.
Or, if the old timers have ‘moved on up’ to newer housing that has been built here since the late 80s or so, should they be complaining about the growth that has provided newer housing for them to ‘move on up’ to?
In addition, some fairly recent newcomers also complain about ‘others’ moving here too JUST LIKE THEY DID for affordable housing.
So, which is it?
I’ll admit to being unhappy with what was happening here in the late 90s and wanting out. But, when I got over it, things kept improving and are still improving here in Palmdale. I am so thankful I didn’t make the mistake of moving to Lancaster in 1990 as I didn’t even consider the local politics at the time. I just bought a home that I liked and closer to the SFV since I commuted.
It’s worked out pretty well considering the boom/bust cycles and the big, bad, bush recession of 2008. I have great neighbors or as I learned today, I’m a “vecino” (neighbor in Spanish). I have Spanish-speaking next door neighbors and they’re helping me learn it. I tried many times before but didn’t get far because I didn’t have anyone to talk to in Spanish.
(A lot of good French and Latin did me in high school and college)
Years ago, I would get irritated when I had to “Press 1 for English” when I called a business. Now, it’s fun. I went on my bank’s website today and flipped the language to Spanish and I was surprised how well I could ‘get’ the message even if I didn’t know all the vocabulary.
It’s also amusing to read comments here from people who just cannot adapt and adjust to changes in life. Somebody moved their food dishes.
AV Observer says
Sounds like a remark that would be made after a long night at the Britisher. Ave I doesn’t look to bad when you’re crocked out of your mind.
William says
The ‘one’ that became mayor of Lancaster you’d think would have never been outside of the Antelope Valley or even Lancaster.
Oh, I know he travels to China and all over but it’s as though he deoen’t know squat about how cities grow and are developed.
Lancaster has become a hodge-podge of shopping centers (mostly old, half empty shopping centers) and other businesses scattered all over the place with apparently NO PLANNING WHATSOEVER. That is unless one considers ‘planning’ that benefits certain good ol’ boys’ who own the land in question even if it doesn’t really work for the city as a whole.
Nothing reallys works in Lancaster. The blvd is in a lousy location to begin with and has gone downhill since the redo.
Valley Central Way was okay back in the 90s but isn’t much now.
The new Kaiser facility is in a weird location that was apparently put there to benefit the good ol’ boy landowner.
The 47th Street East corridor in Palmdale has more going for it than any place in Lancaster. That’s if you don’t even consider the Antelope Valley Mall and all the surrounding development around it.
But, what does rex do? He just keeps doing the same thing and expecting different results such as suing Palmdale, calling Palmdale’s mayor names and now trying to cause problems with the High Speed Rail station in Palmdale as well as suing about the Palmdale Power Plant.
Because, as we all know, all that obnoxious activity directed at Palmdale will benefit Lancaster. Really???
The Doctor says
Parris deals with his failures by constantly attacking and scapegoating others. It is a form of bullying, and everyone in the Antelope Valley knows what a bully he truly is.
The Scapegoat Society (yes, there is one) says this about the practise: “Scapegoating is a hostile social – psychological discrediting routine by which people move blame and responsibility away from themselves and towards a target person or group. It is also a practice by which angry feelings and feelings of hostility may be projected, via inappropriate accusation, towards others. Scapegoating has a wide range of focus: from “approved” enemies of very large groups of people down to the scapegoating of individuals by other individuals. Distortion is always a feature.”
That description fits him to a T.
The Doctor says
@ billandtimbogusanswers – Obama couldn’t hold a candle to Parris when it comes to scapegoating. Not even close.
AVSUX says
Uh huh. So business friendly that 150,000 people commute to LA everyday for work. FTAV.
Uncle Tom says
One has nothing to do with the other.
Tim Scott says
Me agreeing with you is a good indication of just how wildly off track Mr. Sux is here. His comment is so far out in left field I can’t even see a direct response.
William says
He’s out in ‘left field’ when the game is basketball.
Al says
AVSux and Bob are typical of a mindset of a small group of people in the Valley. My guess is they both think Parris is cleaning up this place with his heavy handed tactics such as his murdering of pit bulls, racist statements about declaring war on Section 8 and calling a black candidate a gang candidate, and flashy but useless gimmicks like the wasteful eye in the sky. They all deserve each other.
William says
30-40 years ago, the traffic in greater Los Angeles was described as ‘Brownian motion’, going in all directions all the time.
You must be thinking of something else.
Of course you are. But, that’s you.
Tom says
I read its more like 74k commuters for the whole AV. But AVSUX your more than welcome to move to the greater LA area for a1150 sf house for 750k. And you will have bragging rights i live in LA.
Tim Scott says
Another award for Palmdale. Apparently Palmdale won this award by a large margin, with only “close proximity to Lancaster” counting against it. Lancaster is odds on favorite to take home the Golden Crony in numerous categories at next months Academy of Corruption and Dysfunction Awards though.
Jason Zink says
Hands down Lancaster is far superior compared to Palmdale by the way just ask any contractor/builder/business owner/realtor – just keeping it real. This is good for AV for Both cities to have this Recognition (Lancaster a couple years ago) but Palmdale can still improve!
Tim Scott says
Lack of fact checking two years ago doesn’t really prove much. Among the reasons cited for having given the award to Lancaster: “the award-winning downtown revitalization project, transforming an aging downtown area into a vibrant urban center.”
By the way, are there any contractor/builder/business owner/realtor folk left in Lancaster that are not on the crony train with Rex? Far as I know they all gave up and left Rex and the minions to sing from that song sheet, so no doubt you are correct that asking around in Lancaster will get nothing but the party line. However, the physical evidence points to Palmdale attracting far more of all of the above.
Oh please. says
Calling BS on that statement. Speaking as a lifetime resident of the AV, a real estate broker, small business owner and veteran of the construction industry: Palmdale eats Lancaster’s lunch on many levels. The only thing superior about Lancaster is the quantity of mega churches and lovely Section 8 rentals. And PS, Rex sucks.
Jason Zink says
Realtors cant just put out their Open House sign like in Lancaster. Business owner tried to open a store in Palmdale (in the city where he lived), he ended up giving up because of all the hell the city put him through and opened in Lancaster in a week. Solar company’s where at the last city council meeting complaining that the building department was slowing down production and why is it??? a breeze in neighboring Lancaster. Lancaster has 25% reduction in construction incentives and on commercial and industrial buildings you don’t pay fees until at the end when you get occupancy. How much more you want me to prove it?!
Tim Scott says
To most of that I can only say “so what?”
I’m not sure the difference you cite on open house signage is even real, but if it is, who cares? Real estate commissions are paid on sale price. Higher property values equal higher commissions. Other than Rex’s cronies do you think anyone would say “lower commissions, but I get to put up signs, I’m in”? C’mon.
I’d be interested to know what kind of business was “put through hell” in Palmdale but opened in a week in Lancaster. There are businesses that are desirable, and businesses that are not. And just because the owner was a Palmdale resident doesn’t mean that he isn’t part of the Fern Mafia, so that breeze may have been the ill wind of cronyism.
Solar companies? One wonders if you mean the guys paving the outer reaches with panel farms. The businesses that are obviously favorites of Imperious Rex even though they are despised by residents.
Construction incentives don’t matter much if there is no tenant. Look at all the failed commercial development with space available. The BLVD is a revolving door. The “outlet mall” is the commercial equivalent of a slum, with half the spaces empty and a good portion of the tenants the sort that help keep neighboring space empty, not full. How many giant box store buildings are empty?
The question isn’t “how much more” proof, the question is what is the quality of the “proof” you are putting up.
Anon says
Tim, you are wasting your time. Facts and reason are not important to people like him. He can complain all he wants while new business after new business opens in Palmdale.
The Doctor says
Sounds like you have a terminal case of LancasterThink. My suggestion is move to Lancaster, suck up to Rex, become a Lancaster commissioner, turn off you brain, and bask in the glow of Rex and all his illusionary beliefs of Lancaster greatness, safety, world innovation, and the rest of his bizarre fantasies. You have what it takes.