We went to lunch today at the Baltic Restaurant in Point Richmond. The place didn”t look overcrowded, but we were told the only seating was at the bar. Soon, we knew why. A tour bus operated by Golden West Travel discharged nearly 50 seniors from the Peninsula for lunch and a tour of Point Richmond.

After that, they were headed for the Richmond Museum and the Rosie the Riveter Memorial. In talking with the bus driver and tour manager, we learned that such tours are not only frequent but popular. I have frequently touted Richmond as a visitor destination city, but received little but skepticism from City staff and councilmembers who like to focus City efforts on bringing in the big boxes. I can tell you that this group made the day for one Richmond small business.

The Chamber of Commerce has also seen the light. Many months ago, the Chamber of Commerce sponsored legislation that would create a business improvement district wherein local hotels agreed to tax themselves so the Chamber could operate a Visitor and Convention Bureau. You would think that when the business community actually wants to tax itself to bring business to Richmond, the City would leap to their aid. Not in Richmond. First, the City Council sent the matter to a committee, where it languished for months. Finally, the Finance Committee woke up and decided maybe it was a good idea. Now it is languishing in the City Attorney”s office, where it may die if someone doesn”t step in to resuscitate it.

It all seems so simple. People want to get on buses and visit Richmond. Richmond hospitality businesses want to promote visitation to Richmond. In fact they are willing to pay for it. Visitors spend money and pay sales taxes and transit occupancy taxes that accrue to the City. Taxes pay for firefighters, libraries and streets.

But the City Council and City staff fiddle while Richmond bleeds. Duh.

By the way, lunch was excellent.