LBPOST.com: Mayor Foster Currently Visiting Saudi Arabia

Sunday, March 14, 2010 | Home

Mayor Foster Currently Visiting Saudi Arabia

by Ryan ZumMallen | Long Beach News | 11.06.09 |

| Text Size:

UPDATE (7:32pm, Thursday): Mitra Novin, Manager, California Government Relations for Boeing confirmed that "Saudi Arabia does not currently have C-17's but has shown an interest in obtaining them."

We reported earlier that Mayor Foster is currently visiting Saudi Arabia for the purposes of establishing business relationships with regards to purchases of the Long Beach-made Boeing C-17. The C-17 program has been on thin ice recently, but President Obama recently signed a defense bill that includes funding for an unspecified number of the planes. More than 5,000 jobs in Long Beach depend on the survival of the C-17 program.

BREAKING (5:30pm, Thursday): Mayor Bob Foster is currently visiting Saudi Arabia on a trip with the US Conference of Mayors, according to his office. The delegation includes about ten mayors from across America. The expense of the trip is split between Saudi Arabia and the US Conference of Mayors.

Arizona-based KTAR.com reports that Scott Smith, the Mayor of Mesa, is attending the trip in the interest of increasing business relationships, particularly in regards to helicopters that are manufactured in Mesa.

Mayor Foster will miss next week�s City Council meeting on Tuesday, said aide Stacey Toda. Vice Mayor Val Lerch will preside over the meeting.

Mayor Foster was not present last night at the press conference to announce two arrests in connection with last week�s shooting at Wilson High, but did release the following statement on Friday:

�I want to thank the Long Beach Police Department for their work in quickly finding the people responsible for the murder of Melody Ross,� said Foster. �Our thoughts and prayers are with the Ross family, and I hope the news brings them some comfort during this most difficult time.�

We will provide more information on this story as it becomes available.

Comments

Click Here to Leave a Comment

Al
I’m not clear. Was the mayor in Saudi Arabia to lobby for the C-17? Did he catch a C-17 flight to get there? Or did heavy lobbying by Boeing, support of all local elected officials, and strong stewardship in Congress save 5,000 jobs in Long Beach? Either way, I wish Mayor Bob and his staff productive travels, and I hope they come back with ideas for safer streets and job creation while conferencing with other U.S. mayors in a foreign country. Long Beach could use some helicopter manufacturing work with 15 percent unemployment.

Savvy Traveler
Let's not be naive here. The trip is funded by the Saudi government to make friends in America.

Juan Pardell
Don't feel so bad. At lease Long Beach's mayor is away on business. My city's mayor went AWOL to Hawaii. I guess he's suffering from post-campaign depression.

lbresident1
I think it is a fine opportunity for the country and Long Beach. The Saudis are a decent people and an excellent trading partner.

Lbresident2
Maybe the city of Long Beach can benefit from the Saudis' experience in water desalination.

Ishtiaq A Chisti
I'm very supportive of such missions by the mayor. It not only promotes international business to help LB residents in such an economically depressed time but also reminds our overseas friends what a great place our city is for them to visit.

Frank
Whatever Mayor Foster can do to help the job market in Long Beach good for him. That would really help to get some get some jobs going again.

THAT_LB_GUY
Perhaps some crime prevention tips will be shared. In Riad, Saudi Arabia, if you drop your wallet on the sidewalk, it will still be there the next day. No one will steal it for fear of having their hand cut off. Hmmm.

CHARLIE
Well I see most commentors think the trip is a good thing - so do I.

lbresident1
In comment to That_LB_Guy. You are right, their practice of justice is swift and certain. I lived in SA for over 2 years and traveled the majority of the penisnula, but never saw anyone whose hand was missing. It is virtually a cime free society. (No grafitti either)

Long Beach News

LBPOST.com Managing Editor Ryan ZumMallen keeps up on all the current and breaking Long Beach news.

Ryan ZumMallen is a graduate of the CSULB School of Journalism, writing for the campus' Union Weekly newspaper and serving as Sports Editor for one year. He has written for numerous news and sports websites and magazines, as well as television experience with Fox Sports and ABC Channel 7.