Little Tokyo
Business Improvement District
Questions & Answers
Q1. Who will control the BID?
There has been concern that BID Board Members who are also members of other organizations may guide the BID according to the needs/agenda of these other organizations.
A. The BID will be controlled by its own members.
The BID Members will include any business being assessed on its business license tax. These Members will have one vote on any matter put to vote of the general membership. The Board of Directors will be 15 people elected by the Members at large. Although it may be possible that BID Board Members will be board members of other organizations, there is a ìConflict of Interestî clause in the By-Laws to ensure that, ìNo Director shall...take part in any transaction in which the Director has an interest adverse to the Association.î
In order to further ensure that an organization in Little Tokyo does not control the BID, the Nominating Committee of the first BID Board of Directors will create a policy of setting up a well-balanced Board.
Q2. If businesses are assessed fees which are mandatory to pay into the
BID, will they continue to pay voluntary dues to the LTBA and LTPSA?
A. The BID is not an organization that will replace the valued and important work of the LTBA and the LTPSA.
The BID is an organization that will supplement some of the activities of these organizations, but will mostly focus on different projects as stated in the draft Annual Program. Therefore, once businesses understand this, they should continue to support the works of these other organizations as well.
Most importantly, however, the BID addresses the ìfree-loaderî problem. Many businesses currently contribute their hard earned money to the various organizations which in turn, work to benefit the Little Tokyo area in general. Nevertheless, there are those businesses who also enjoy the positive works of these organizations - without contributing a penny! The BID would bring fairness to this problem, by ensuring that everyone contributes equally to improving Little Tokyo.
Q3. What if the BID doesnít last?
There is concern that if the BID does not last, then the LTBA and LTPSA will have to start all over again to raise funds and dues.
A. Once again, the BID is not replacing the work of the LTBA and LTPSA, and is not fully funding these organizations either.
Therefore, these organizations should not be in any financial danger if the BID were to be dissolved.
Q4. What if I have more than one business license? Which one will I be assessed upon?
A. A business owner with more than one business license will only be assessed once.
Where one owner has multiple businesses in the same classification or combination of two or more of the same classifications, all of which are at the same location; the total charge for the location shall be the highest charge of any one of those businesses when considered individually according to their classifications.
If you would like to ge more information about the BID, please contact Hanako Golida at (213) 473-1680.
[ Little Tokyo News * Volume 2 Issue 5]