Goran Eriksson Officially Installed as Chamber of Commerce Chair

Friday’s Chamber of Commerce Installation of Officers Luncheon at the Four Points by Sheraton in Culver City definitely had a Swedish bent.

Swedish flags, Swedish fish, Swedish meatballs along with plenty of ABBA and IKEA jokes were front and center as Swedish-born Goran Eriksson was officially installed as the Culver City Chamber of Commerce’s Chair for 2012.

Following an official welcome by Richard Saxton, a few words from Rep. Karen Bass, Chamber President Steven Rose presented Culver City Historical Society's Julie Lugo Cerra with the President's Award.

Former Culver City Mayor Ed Wolkowitz then invited the 2012 officers up on stage to officially accept their place on the new board.

In his first official speech as the 2012 Chair, Eriksson thanked everyone for the honor, noting, “I am Swedish by birth, American by choice.”

Noting that the Chamber has close to 700 business members, Erkisson highlighted the diversity among its ranks. While Eriksson praised the Chamber’s achievements over the years, he also noted the current challenges facing the community.

“We are on our fourth year of an anemic economy with very high unemployment,” he said. “Couple that with the looming problems in Europe and I do not foresee any major upward movement. When we add to that our state’s fiscal problems with the potential of additional strangling business regulations and higher taxes and fees it will be a challenge to grow our local economy,” he said.

Eriksson also touched on what he called “the latest blow to our economy,” with the .

“In Culver City we had a well-run and successful redevelopment agency,” he said. “There will be a number of economic development functions and city services that will be cut to the tune of upward of 4 million dollars, in addition to the school district’s potential loss of their portion of local redevelopment funds of 1.6 million dollars this year. This does not include the redevelopment activities and staff at City Hall that will be no more.”

Eriksson did not hold back his views on the decision, saying, “When I think about Sacramento today it reminds me of the musical Little Shop of Horrors and the all consuming plant Audrey II.”

Eriksson said he was told “by those who know this better than I,” that Culver City’s business community generates more than 60 percent of the city’s revenue to the General Fund.

“With this picture in mind, it is now, more than ever, important for the City and its departments to first make sure that it collects the revenue and fees that it already is entitled to and implement new cost saving technologies where possible, before any increases in business taxes or fees are considered,” he said.

Moving forward, though, Eriksson said the Chamber would continue to develop new programs and activities focused on generating tourism in Culver City.

“Culver City is the closest destination from LAX with a combination of excellent shopping, thrilling restaurants, attractive hotels and an exciting entertainment industry and history,” he said. “In the coming year the Board of Directors and I, will, with your support, continue to help create a vibrant business economy in Culver City.”

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