Southeast / Long Beach : DOWN AND OUT

Debt problems are forcing the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce onto the street after the City Council withdrew its offer of free rent at a local community center.

Council members voted last week to serve the chamber a 30-day eviction notice to move it out of Burns Community Service Center, 5510 Clark Ave. The chamber had been housed there rent-free on the condition that it reduce its debt, a task t did not accomplish. Chamber officials will not disclose the size of the debt.

Money troubles forced the chamber, which represents more than 300 city businesses, to leave its previous address at 5445 E. Del Amo Blvd. At least part of its budget problem can be traced to unsuccessful fund-raisers a few years ago.

Steve Coltey, a member of the chamber’s board of directors, said the board has not received the eviction notice, nor has it identified a new location. However, he says, a plan is being worked out to lead the chamber back to solvency.