According to Forbes, most California counties require business licenses. “Exceptions to this rule are most commonly found in some unincorporated areas of rural counties,” Forbes’ website states.
Inyo fits that description, but County Treasurer Alisha McMurtrie introduced the possibility at the Inyo Board of Supervisors last week, including the creation of a working group to vet the idea and flesh out details.
McMurtrie explained the issue of business licenses came up with the need to communicate
nearly two years ago during COVID. The absence of an accurate data base on businesses made
that communication of both restrictions and relief difficult. She assured the Supervisors fees
related to both getting and renewing the license would be set to simply cover the cost.
Currently, cannabis business require licenses as do those described as “peddlers and solicitors.”
One advantage of a business data base outlined in the Board package referred to “knowing
what may be contained inside a building as critical to law enforcement during an emergency
response.”
Obviously, if the County can give a business license, it can also take it away. McMurtrie assured
the Board that reasons for revoking a license would follow a defined process. “This is not a
hammer,” McMurtrie said.
Board members were less than enthusiastic. Supervisor Rick Pucci wanted to make sure the
benefits of a license would outweigh any negatives. Jeff Griffiths supported exploring the
possibility. Jennifer Roeser was not sure there “was a compelling reason” and recommended
including business owners in the proposed working group. Matt Kingsley said he would have to
rationalize the license to businesses in his district.
The presentation was primarily to test the waters. The next step will be the working group
made up of all impacted departments.
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Over 200 + business closed in inyo county.
BISHOP IS A EYE SORE
Run down buildings.
Closed & abandoned buildings.
Empty lots.
Buildings sitting vacant.
Let’s not talk about all the useless flower pots, and ridiculous brick crap all over the sidewalks.
Maybe put more stop lights in, that way we can all slow down and look, at every corner.
I took a walk downtown Bishop on a Friday afternoon, there were atleast 10 activive business on main Street, closed.
But hay, you guys in the County seem to be doing a great job. PLEASE keep it up.
Can’t wait to see this ghost town in 5 years
I’ll bet the 1st thing I’ll see is a new mountain just south of bishop as im welcomed by the appropriately named Mt. Trashey.
Can we NOT MOVE the dump?
The county has no jurisdiction over the City of Bishop.
Hey Maria – Why don’t you run for office and get something done besides whining?
Maria, are you in Bishop CA?? That sure doesn’t sound like the Bishop CA I live in. You must be in Bishop Louisiana.
And you must be blind. Or don’t get outside.
Clean your glasses? Ohh those EMPTY buildings must be the new matrix?
For you cry- baby’s there’s also 200+ business CLOSED Throughout the county.
Yet your stoll eating smores
Maria
Part of the problem and reason for that, the high prices many business’ are and were charging..
Catering and relying on the “tourist trade” more so than the locals.
So many, and too many examples to mention.
Think I should buy a 4 ounce tube of Fix-o-dent for $9.00 locally when I can get three EIGHT OUNCE tubes for $12.00 on the internet ?
Toilet paper, I can get a 45 roll-pac for $23.00 on the Sam’s Club website..
In my town ,and especially during COVID in late 2021,a FOUR roll pac was going for $14.99 at the “convienience” store….until they were turned in for price-gouging…..dropping it down to pre-COVID price of $8.99….for a 4 pac.
Grocery stores,i n my town, the selection of things suck, as well as bare shelves during the week, only re-stocking important items on Fridays….again, catering to the tourists and little else.
I’d rather buy a 24 pack of Boost Energy drink from Amazon for $30.00 than pay $11.00 for a 6 pac of the very same drink here in town.
For years, we had a local liquor store owner that would drive down to Lancaster and load his van up to the hilt every week to buy his items to sell in his store, keeping a good selection as well as lower prices to all customers.
After he sold his business, the items were shipped to the store and new owners and prices sky-rocketed…to the point a once VERY popular store in town is rarely visited by the locals anymore…with myself, never.
I refuse to pay $4.29 for one bottle of Mtn. Dew., or $6.99 for a cheap frozen bean and cheese burrito.
What has that got to do with a business license? The City of Bishop already has business licenses in place. Are you implying that is what has made them all close down?
Run down buildings generally belong to landlords who don’t care about anything but collecting rent, and most businesses can’t pay what they ask and stay in business. Called free enterprise
. Personally I think the city should put some regulation on landlords to improve the condition of buildings and not be able to leave them empty and rotting, but that is a difficult subject. What the economy will bear, property rights, etc. but obviously Bishop’s economy can’t afford what the vacant properties are being rented for, so they sit and deteriorate, not sure how or why that is advantageous to the property owners.
Per census.gov, Inyo County has a total of 486 businesses. Do you have a source for your “200+ businesses closed” or are you just being an alarmist?
Right? I imagine it’s hard to pull good data on the number of businesses opening or closing because THERE ARE NO BUSINESS LICENSES.
Inyo County is 156 years old. So more than 200 is probably accurate.