Page 2: The French connection
Lunch is in France this week seeking to open an international office to boost The Sheet’s global presence and promote tourism. Thus far, he has received a “probable” commitment from one Frenchman (who also happens to be his brother-in-law) and his wife to visit the Eastern Sierra. Is this enough to get the trip reimbursed as a business expense through Mammoth Lakes Tourism? I hope so.
As a few Americans know (foreign affairs is not our strong suit) Francoise Hollande, a socialist, is the President of France. As a socialist, that means he knows a lot about things like TBIDs (Tourism Business Improvement Districts).
I am spending this week in Orleans, hometown of Jeanne d’Arc, who, by the age of 17, had led an army to victory at Orleans, driving out the English invaders. Later captured in battle, Joan was burned at the stake before her 20th birthday.
She apparently accomplished all this without benefit of the use of medical marijuana for that nagging rotator cuff injury borne of swinging a heavy sword.
So Orleans has a great history and beautiful old architecture. The Loire river meanders right past the downtown area. It’s like a real-life Disneyland. They’re even ripping up the asphalt roads to replace them with cobbelstones to exaggerate the historical feel and make it more pedestrian-friendly. The climate and people are generally hospitable, even to Americans like Lunch limited to phrases such as “merci,” “s’il vous plait” and “Qu’est-ce que c’est?”
Retail and tourism represent a big part of the local economy.
As opposed to Mammoth Lakes, however, Orleans has adopted a different strategy to attract business. Twice a year, for six weeks at a stretch, they hold town-wide sales, with each retailer offering 30 to 50 percent off on a wide variety of items. Everyone participates. It’s the equivalent of turning Orleans into a massive luxury outlet mall.
So the socialists, instead of imposing taxes to market a town that will, by proxy, be more expensive, instead lower prices collectively to drive … sales growth.
Mammoth’s growth strategy: Every additional tourist = more sales.
Orleans growth strategy: Lower prices = more sales
If Mammoth wishes to be “New” Orleans, it better find a way to socialize more than the marketing if it wishes to be successful.
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Newsflash: While the Town of Mammoth is seemingly finding it impossible to retain staff, it is working hard to retain local media coverage.
Thus the creation of a new “media table” in Suite Z at the behest of the Fifty Center.
I suppose the idea is to put us all next to each other so the Fifty can peek at our notes and try to get the quotes right.
The following email exchange occurred this week regarding the table:
Town Clerk Jamie Gray:
A table has been set up and reserved in Suite Z/Council Chamber for the media’s use at meetings. It is on the left when you walk in and the wall behind the table has two plugs in it.
Jack Lunch:
I can’t speak for my staff, but I would politely decline use of the table as I still use the old fashioned pen and legal pad! Don’t need an outlet. Would sit at media table if pot of coffee provided!
Gray:
Still, wouldn’t a pen and paper be easier to use on a table?
Lunch:
The media is full of pansy asses. Offering media tables just encourages pansy assedness.
Hmm. Not a bad idea.
Town Manager MMM:
Jamie – Thank you very much for arranging this. Dear media partners – The idea was suggested to us by the Mammoth Times, and the Town wholeheartedly endorsed it. We hope that having a designated table to work on your stories during public meetings is going to be helpful to you.
