As most suspected, the Christmas season and recent holiday drew booming business to Mammoth Lakes’ stores. Mammoth Tourism Director John Urdi told the Town Council this week that retailers, lodging and restaurants report breaking records.
Urdi said bookings remain strong and the number of air service passengers has gone up this season – some 20% to 30% more passengers in the San Francisco, San Diego and Orange County routes. 12% in the Los Angeles route. Early snow, he said, and the advertising of it, gave Mammoth momentum.
On a different business note, new Mammoth Lakes Chamber of Commerce President Jack Copeland, stood up at the Council meeting to say, “We are pro-development of business but not at any expense. We want reasonable, responsible and sustainable growth.” Copeland said, “It’s very clear Vons needs to expand and even get a facelift.” But, he said, there could be unintended consequences to other businesses.
Copeland repeated that the Chamber is not anti-growth but that small businesses should be considered if growth comes up. He added that the Chamber hopes the community will be “development-ready” when growth comes back.
Meanwhile, Town government continues to shrink. Earlier, the Town Council had made it clear they would eliminate the Mobility and Airport Commissions to save staff time and money in their push to pay off the big lawsuit debt.
Eric Wasserman, a Mobility Commission member, stood up to take the Council to task for how they informed commissioners about this elimination. He said he received an email December 26th about a meeting to get rid of the commission January 2nd. He said he got no response form his reply email.
Mayor Matthew Lehman apologized for the feeling that the Commission was not respected. “That was not intended,” said Lehman. “You’ve done a lot of heavy lifting.” He said at some point the Town may decide to bring back the commissions. Later in the meeting, Town Manager Dave Wilbrecht also apologized to commissions for short notice. The
Council then voted unanimously to eliminate the Mobility and Airport Commissions.
And on an up note, the Council noticed Mammoth Police Officer Doug Hornbeck for 15 years of Service. Police Chief Dan Watson said Hornbeck has worked as a detective until recently and likely will again. Watson called Hornbeck “a really good example of the benefit of small town police departments.” The Chief said Hornbeck lives in town, knows many and is a bridge between the police department and the community. He said Hornbeck is the kind of seasoned officer that makes any department better.
Writer who goes by the name of “Jeremiah’s Alter Ego” – Thanks for your posting and the fact that others have noticed how often the word “Liberal” is used in America today and are INTERESTED in the correct definition of the word. And I don’t think it’s in a complimentary… Read more »
Dear whoever you are, You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry, let alone furious. Knock off the cheap swipes,
or I’ll repeatedly hit the delete button. Also, get past your tedious efforts to polarize people – liberal/
conservative; Mammoth/ Bridgeport; Me/ You.
Benett Kessler
Quote Noah Webster “pseudonym: noun, a fictitious name”
Why should anyone find relevance in any opinion sourced in fiction?
Yes I tried a delivery service for trader Joe’s products a few years ago. Many people in Mammoth don’t have cars to travel to Carson City Nevada. what killed me was the buddy sysytem. Hey going to Carson City or Reno? can you pick me up a couple things at… Read more »
In N Out has never been on board…..they dont like the shoulder seasons…they are not a franchise. They have a very strict business model and nothing in Mono/Inyo county fits that model…nice wishing though….maybe you can buy a 5 Guys franchise and let her rip…far from In N Out but… Read more »
Ken, good points on Vons. I really like what locally owned Sierra Sundance has done (expanding) and feel it’s important to offer at least some other option or a bit of competition. Even if they can’t always compete on price, at least they provide friendly service and a niche. Bishop… Read more »
I agree with you completely. And about refurbishing old buildings, the Sierra Nevada Inn/Resort is a great example. Demetriadas and I have violent arguments about what he has proposed for the Old Mammoth Place development but what he’s done for the Rafters and the Sierra Nevada Inn is great and… Read more »
That’s like putting lipstick on a pig…
I’d love to agree with you Tourbillon, but it should be common knowledge to most people by now, that in today’s American culture, EVERYTHING has become political. Politics has permeated the very core of our being and try as you may, hoping it will all just go away, appears to… Read more »
That’s fine. For one human being, politics, per se, is not the basis of my life philosophy.
Benett Kessler
I’m not interested in fighting with you Benett. There us enough of that on blogs like this.
I also don’t blame you for refusing to accept EVERYTHING today is politically oriented.
Politics have never been any less of our culture or any culture that matter. You can conceive it to be politics if you like, or you can just say it is life. You’re right with respect to politics being intertwined, but if one is inclined to think politically of anything… Read more »
A political-economic oligarchy has taken over the United States of America. This oligarchy has institutionalized a body of law that protects businesses at the expense of not only the common people but the nation itself. I find it highly interesting that the two subjects I found most boring in my… Read more »
What does this have to do with Bill’s comment about local shopping?
Benett
Economics and Politics are intertwined.
What does this have to do with Bill’s comment on local shopping and stores?
Benett
Benett, the original thread morphed into a sort of a quasi-psuedo exhortation. As seems to be the case a lot of times. Your question is rightly put. I do agree that the corporate behemoths drive everything. They control the governments for the most part, especially the governments that are heavily… Read more »
You should know Big Al, you clever little poster you. Since you often like to add the word “liberal” as a catch-all to whatever is being discussed, would still like to know (for the umpteenth time) what your non-partisan definition of the word is … once and for all. Just… Read more »
Please offer a factual example of a government that is NOT heavily driven by economics, Big Al.
Why are you locked into only what Bill has to say, when there are umpteen different comments from other posters on this subject?
I’m not locked into anything in particular. Just get the feeling that you are locked into always replying to every subject in the same way –
conservatives, liberals, Limbaugh, political horrors, etc. Hey, maybe we’re both wrong??!!
Benett
As editor and commander-in-chief of this blog, I think you may have missed the original source of the “left-right” thing today. For example, Big Al has been asked what his definition of “liberal” is (more than once) and has yet to provide a fair and impartial definition of the word.… Read more »
Maybe Big Al isn’t interested. I know I’m not.
BK
You must be interested enough to draw attention to and comment on any attempt to request a definition of political words used in conjunction with subject matter.
Dear Me,
Perhaps you need to chill out a bit.
BK
@writer with many names, I as well would like to see how Big Al would respond to that question. It seems the word Liberal has been obscured in so many ways that the meaning has its own definition within ones own perception. But Big Al has mentioned it and others… Read more »
and you know what? Some things are even cheaper in Sierra Sundance….I can get oatmeal in bulk, nice and cheap. I always pick up my avocados from there…and its a lot easier to get in and out of too
they made awesome sandwiches……the meat selection was great too. Not like the ‘end of the journey/turn around and go back to LA] meat at Von’s
I like Von’s. It’s the people that work there that make the place a nice place. It’s clean and you can always get somebody to help or look in the back for something you can’t find. Yes, the prices can sometimes seem expensive, but it’s not bad if you shop… Read more »
I’m with you on this one. I’ve always thought the local Von’s has a wide variety of excellent products, from everyday bulk items to premium wines. For being so remote they do remarkably well to keep the place stocked. Sure prices are higher – we’re in the mountains, yards away… Read more »
Well I’m not a big fan of Vons at all .. They have us where they want us .. pretty much the only thing in town for shopping and they know it. The little markets are pretty pricey too, they have to be to survive on the few people who… Read more »
When you live in a rural area (especially a popular tourist destination) you must understand the costs of shipping, etc. that occurs to supply you with virtually everything and anything you want. You can’t expect something for nothing. That’s the way capitalism works. If you don’t like it, or cannot… Read more »
Quick note – People of all ilk occasionally live in the past. This goes beyond political labels.
BK
A thousand pardons, but I think you might be a trifle naive in assuming “this goes beyond political labels” Benett, as in today’s world virtually everything is affected one way or the other by the influence of politics. The fact that you feel it must be mentioned that “this is… Read more »
Why not consider that at least not everyone comes from the identity of conservative or liberal. We are human beings and all of us, from time to time, dip into the realities of the past.
BK
It may just be my imagination, but in my lifetime, I don’t recall politics ever being such an integral part of our culture, Benett. And I agree that we all wish we might simply divorce ourselves from indentifying with with being either “liberal” or “conservative.” (Note the words in quotation,… Read more »
You’re the only one who raised the issue of politics. Big Al simply mentioned a past strike without passing judgment, and the need for competition. Pretty benign and unremarkable. Yet you read this and somehow interpreted it not just as politics but as a particular brand of politics. Paging Dr.… Read more »
Not stuck in the past Dr. Facts. Just pointing out part of why I do not like Vons much, the strike was another way they took advantage of the people here (the workers in this case), and yes it does validate my point. You can call it what you want,… Read more »
you could not ‘shop’ at pioneer,they had liquor store prices.stater bros.would smoke vons with their far better deals and budget brands
Jeez Ken, ease up….Pioneer Market made plenty of money from Intrawest when it was “destroyed” to build the village.
Was Pioneer Market it’s name? I’ve forgotten. I’m glad the owner mad out well. That’s not really the point I was trying to make. The point I keep trying to make (unsuccessfully) is that the town has been bought by big, anonymous international conglomerates and hedge funds and those people… Read more »
I think people would drive from all over to access a TJ’s in Mammoth. Forget about tourists. People from Big Pine to Benton to Bridgeport would make trips to a Mammoth TJ’s for the good prices, healthy foods, and great pricing. It’s a fun place to shop. I always feel… Read more »
I spoke with the decision makers at Trader Joe’s last year. It’s not our town that doesn’t fit their model, it’s the food storage. Apparently they like to store their food in a giant climate-controlled warehouse within 5 miles of the store. We don’t have that and they are not… Read more »
Interesting … food storage within 5 miles.
If I remember correctly, Trader Joe’s stated they are focused on opening new stores in college comuities only. I believe this topic was covered on a Cottonwood Plaza article. May have been a blogger comment????
Trader Joes wont do it…..the seasons[fluctuating population] dont fit business model….we had this discussion yrs ago…
I don’t see the season fluctuation as being that great in regard to population and customers, people from the Bishop area would go up there to shop at a Trader Joes, as well. Summer time crowds come up for the bike park, so the fluctuation would not be that great,… Read more »
Ski crowds range from 10,000 to more than 15,000. Probably more than off times.
BK
Benett, I don’t have any figures on the bike park, but it fills the off season void pretty much from what I have seen, plus there are the moto cross crowds, and some tourist activity, amongst other things.
um…and fishing/campers
What we REALLY need is a Trader Joe’s. Food costs way less at TJ’s than super markets and seems far more heathy generally speaking.
We had another market until they destroyed it to make room for the Village Gondola. Wasn’t a great market but at least if gave a choice and it did help keep Von’s prices down a bit.
How does that fit in with “Support Our Local Businesses”?
“They” didn’t destroy it, Ken. That whole area was already slated for the Village, I believe. The Village Market was probably just a pet project to occupy space for a while to drive the value of that piece of property up. The family that owned it probably did pretty well… Read more »
That little market was there for decades. As were all the other businesses and rental units that were leveled for the Village. They certainly did destroy it. It’s not there now. How else can you describe it? Your characterization of that market as a “pet project” doesn’t reflect what it… Read more »
No wait. Sierra Sundance is a good little market. I thought you were refering to that little market at the Village. Sierra Sundance is not the same as the other market (which to be honest, I’ve forgotten the name of) we were talking about but still ok. I do shop… Read more »
Joe Columbo founded Trader Joe’s. I was at a dinner honoring him down south about two years ago. I cornered him and told him I was representing the Town of Mammoth Lakes and that we really wanted a Trader Joe’s here. I started to explain that the majority of our… Read more »
Wait for the real data — talk is cheap. Do real analysis with constant dollars and present it in comparison to past years.
Stuff said in Council meetings is about as meaningful as a TV commercial.
vons doesnt need to expand,mammoth needs a stater bros. with far better prices to give that rip off vons some hard competition,just like every other industry,vons shouldnt be a monopoly
Stater Bros. carries Yoo Hoo in the 15.5 oz. bottle!!!!
Yes I agree ferdinand, Competition will make em sit up and take notice, for Mammoth and Bishop. I don’t if it is the case in Mammoth, but in Bishop, Vons has pretty much guaranteed that competition can not come in. Same with Kmart.