ojai news at The Ojai Post :: blog, newspaper, events in Ojai, California

Thanks again for keeping this front and center Kenley. It is disappointing that it seems we may well be taking a step back. Is it a precursor to total retreat, or a renewed commitment to get it right? I fear the former. Regardless, it is time to get back out and get signatures on the initiative - enough for a special election.

I was struck by some of the property owners who came out. Obviously, they have a seriously biased interest - as opposed to the many many citizens who have spoken from all walks of life, uniformly as best I can tell against letting chains in, the property owners have a vested interest in making money, and the quality of life for residents or the long term viability of our local economy as a local economy don't really play into that. To his credit, Don Cluff was explicit about this, saying straight out that he was wary of an anti-chains ordinance because he might want to sell The Oaks to a chain.

It was an interesting perspective, especially when contrasted to the perspective of another Cluff who I recall submitted a letter to the council on the subject. If I recall it correctly, her letter spoke from the perspective of running The Oaks, and the importance of maintaining the unique Ojai we have chain free in order to support the attractiveness of The Oaks as a tourist destination - people aren't coming up to The Oaks for the weekend to sit amidst a strip mall full of Subways, etc.

Which Cluff will our planning commissioners and councilmembers listen to? The one who spoke from the perspective of running one of our mainstay, landmark destinations, and keeping its business viable, or the one who spoke from the perspective of selling out?

Thanks, Chain Free Ojai. Very well put. I heard both Cluffs speak. Kind of pinpoints the difference in generations and value systems. I couldn't say it any better than you, so I'll just shut up for once.

I'll be surprised if this lasts more than five minutes on this liberal tabloid as some fascist censored my last comments...I don't get it,If you label yourselves such "progressives" why do you want to obstruct a free enterprise system so bad?The idea of a bunch of goldbrickers that aren't even from here trying to hijack the ojai economy is ridiculous.You moan that you can't afford housing but yet you want to obstruct a property owner from collecting cosistent rent when you don't even have the salt to stick your neck out and buy property and try to collect rent from somebody witha half witted buisness plan i.e. OBP or the other forgotten sandwich store wher subway was supposed to go.By the way that space is now torn apart an eyesore and that property owner is not collecting revenue.GREAT JOB PROGRESSIONESTS!Not to mention the Dr. is around town alot frequenting local buisness' why is it I don't see you gasbags around ?too busy blogging?Maybe the Farmer and the crook will get a wireless hook up and you can milk your day away drinking one cup of joe and half a parsley sandwich.Oh yeah I forgot,the library won't let you check out a computer.

Have you ever seen salmon leaping a waterfall on their way up a stream to spawn? It is a beautiful sight. They gleam silvery as the light flashes on their skin, and you, watching, delight in their progress and triumph.

Have you ever seen salmon come up against a new dam? Futilely, they throw themselves at the wall of cement. Watching, you are saddened. You see them hurting themselves, and know they will fail.

Here in Ojai, we like to think of ourselves leaping waterfalls. But has time instead slowly built a dam, one that we keep throwing ourselves against?

The fact is, new people have moved in, old ones have left, and this town is not what it was. Thirty years ago, Santa Paula, Fillmore, Ventura were not sprawling commuter havens, filled with fast food chain store crap. They had their unique character. Not anymore - Ojai is surrounded, its neighbors rapidly succumbed.

In Persimmon Hill, residents today say that an expansion of a 3,500 square foot house to 14,000 feet is in keeping with the neighborhood character.

O-Hi Frostie is gone.

Centamillionaire Governor Schwarzenegger is moving in.

The owner of The Oaks publicly says he wants to sell to a chain.

A citizen who suggests initiatives to address independent businesses and affordable housing is sued by the city. Few - always the same few - care.

The march of time is not often kind, and this time, the people may have been outflanked. Over the years, the big new homes have been built, a few at a time, and the new Ojai has moved in, the modern moneyed Americans who don't really live here or anywhere, who use money to insulate from all direct experience of life. They want their conveniences, the ones they left behind. They want services for their needs, and the character of those services or the people providing them are a fungible commodity. They want their mountain views. They are sure they deserve what is here.

As is our way, we welcome them.

Meanwhile, the old fighters have grown tired; many have passed on. Many others have just grown used to the very special life we live here in Ojai, and forgotten that it is unique, and worth preserving. They will miss it when it is gone. But not before then.

I don't know. Here in 2007, I like to think Ojai still is that beautiful gleaming waterfall, that together we can leap, to the beautiful clear stream above. Is it? What will we see tomorrow from the efforts of great people, like Leslie and Kenley who have put so much time and effort into trying to help preserve this town?

Lacking anything better to do, I suppose we keep leaping our way up. Even if it hurts.

Is Old Time's post disillusion or hope? It's hard to tell.

Ojai could be a model village, the best in America. The ingredients are here. People like Leslie and Kenley are the new generation that could make it so.

Or Ojai could go the way of its neighbors, becoming one more decrepit strip mall of low rent chains, populated by wealthy weekenders and struggling commuters.

Crossroads time. One road stretches out to a beautiful horizon. The other turns a sharp corner within a few feet, leaving no visibility - but those who have been down it before know its just a dead end around the bend.

"why is it I don't see you gasbags around"
WELL HI THERE DR. SUSIO and many happy returns. WE are around even though it is getting harder to get stay in Ojai without getting gassed or slammed by entrenched interests that don't know what to make of a place they really can't regognize anymore. You have a talent for reducing everyone you disagree with downto the lowest common denominator beneath you,
which is really getting down there!

I didn't have the energy to go downtown tonight, but tuned into the comments here for some news. We have been getting ready for the alleged rain impending. Speaking of news, I have some for whomever is hiding behind the monicker DR. SUSIO. My name is Steve Sprinkel. I own the Farmer and The Cook. We have had free WIFI for over two years. Please come down to the store and introduce yourself so I can show you how it works. I also can show you my new parsley crop. Call 640-9608 to arrange for an appointment. Hope to see you soon!

Steve,

Are you learning the lessons of your mid-life crises yet? A hint: Give up.

Is it me or has much of this post become hostile and acerbic? This is the umpteenth post that gets caught up in a pissin' match that never seems to go anywhere. AND the amount of people who hide their names is increasing or is it just one person?
I found the post because it informed me, got me thinking, opened my mind to things and even entertained me on occassion. Now when I tune it I feel sometimes like I'm watching a car wreck. There it is, happening in front of me and I don't want to look but I do and when it's over I feel a little worse inside for having read some of it.
What is happening to the post? Where is Tyler? anyone?
Btw. Aside from the car wreck (or wretch in this case) feeling, I am laughing about the parsley crop. :) The world would surely be better if there were more of them...

Hi Kate - got back this morning from 12 days away. Agreed, taking anonymous potshots is cowardly and annoying. As for the Farmer and The Cook, it is an absolute treasure of Ojai, and if you can't appreciate the value of the F&C to the Ojai community, then you might as well move to Westlake Village. 'nite, Tyler

::::gasp:::: westlake village? does parsley grow there?
seriously, welcome back! its been insane. hope you'll tell us tales of your time away.

Dear "Old Time" thank you for your post above. It brought tears to my old Ojai eyes. Please identify yourself, copy, tweak, polish, fine-tune your post and send it to the Ojai Valley News.

This thread is so dissonent, its giving me a headache. There is some beautiful stuff here - thank you Suza for bringing it back on track. Then there is the single whacked out post from the ridiculous "Dr. SUzio", and no less than six posts tracking and lamenting it. Here's my suggestion: Ignore posts like "Dr. SUzio" - if like him you were an overweight fifty-something failure living in your mother's garage, and all of a sudden people in your political party are taking a break from cruising public bathrooms looking for action while the heat dies down, you too might find yourself with a little time to spend in front of a computer ranting. We help nobody by indulging it or lamenting it. Leave the poor pathetic guy to his devices. He'll be back to cruising the bathrooms soon. Don't keep him here.

And now, I apologize for contributing to the headache. I only do so in the hope that this thread might get back on track, especially after last night's joint city council/planning commission meeting. Can anyone report on what happened? Who can answer Old Time's question: What did we see last night from the efforts of great people like Leslie and Kenley?

The Dr.will reveal himself soon enough, don't worry my little bloggin cloggers.I meant no harm to the farmer its nice to see a local buisness renovate,that bamboo fencing sure is trick! Was that bought locally I wonder?I belong to no political party and westlake village sound lame.There is no cowardice he re just no desire to have one of you "progressives accost me in the street and try to rubyour crystals on me.I have no desire to see Ojai overrun with chain stores either but it would be nice to get a consistent product at a decent price.Seriously how many of you have gone to a restaraunt in this town only to be turned away before their posted buisness hour says,only to be treated rudely when you are dealt with?But the most cowardly is not having the sand to open a local buiness not supporting local buisness and then wanting to tell people what they can and can't do with their own property.As for don't indulge s personal attack on the Susio i don't live with my mom I live with yours and if you want to see how out of shape I really am your atrophied body can name any trail in Ojai anytime so I can show you the true beauty of the valley while your eating my dust while I burn you up a mountain.Dr.Susio OUT!!!

Dr. Susio...
It's not nice to post after your meds have worn off. Please follow doctor's orders. I'm afraid you're a bit too smelly to invite anyone to rub a crystal (or body part) upon you. Shower up and take your meds or I'm telling your mom you've been misbehaving again. You know this got you into the state mental hospital the last time. Behave or else I'll tell on you.

thank you Old Time and Crossroads and Please, Don't Indulge. much appreciated.

The meeting last night was long, and interesting. The citizen input was very thoughtful and passionate. We heard from more than 20 citizens. some business owners, some property owners, some landlords, and some "all of the above". I like Nao's headline in the OVN: "Despite 24 public speakers, rare joint meeting ends with little consensus." That pretty much sums it up. Little consensus, and little clarity on what the next steps are.

Noa covered the results of the straw man votes that Widders proposed, so I won't go into that. A couple things she didn't cover that I found very interesting:

City Manager Jere Kersnar said the city OFTEN has people come in because they've bought a piece of property, or are looking into buying property and they ask: What does the city want to see here, or here, or there? And the city has no answer for them. He also suggested that the council and commission even look at the idea of having lot by lot zoning.

Several folks at the big table up front, including Monty Widders, reminded the group about the public's request for a public hearing process in whatever it is that they do regarding formula business. I was happy they didn't sweep that one under the rug.

Some highlights from the public:
A passionate and articulate Barbara Bowman took the podium and talked about what Ojai can do when she puts her mind to it. She reminded council and commissioners how we pulled together to stop Weldon, the expansion of 33, and now the Stop the Trucks project. She spoke in favor of keeping out the formula businesses. And, she stressed the importance of doing the greater good.

Other impressive speakers included Grace who works at Farmer & the Cook. Her message was truly about the big picture of our valley - protecting open space and farmland and how a corporate oriented consumer society can destroy these things. She mentioned that if a Trader Joe's ever went into our Valley it would ruin businesses like Rainbow Bridge, Westridge and Farmer & the Cook.

Bea Dawson, owner of Noah's Apothecary, spoke passionately about a town in Illinois called Andersonville and a study of Retail Economics they did a few years ago. She spoke with the CEO of the chamber there who said they use a "carrot instead of a stick" approach - they market the heck out of their local businesses and haven't had any problems with chain stores trying to come in. That town does not have an ordinance banning or regulating anything.

Dennis Leary received a burst of applause after his 3 minutes. Several speakers throughout the night referred to his mention of looking at corporate power and greed.

I liked Nicholas Oatway's comments about why people come to Ojai - to get away from it all, including the chain stores. He said he even has friends in Santa Barbara who come to Ojai to "get away". His main message was a resounding, Let's Keep Ojai Ojai.

My main point, if I managed to get it across during my impassioned 3 minutes, was that For me, the purpose of an ordinance is to protect and maintain the unique, small town character of our Ojai. After all, I think that's why we all live here and love Ojai so dearly.

I like to remind people that we don't need all the stores other larger towns have to offer. We don't need to have everything we need right here in Ojai. When you live in a small town in the country it's part and parcel to drive into "town" or "down the hill" once in a while to shop. But mostly, you get what you need right here from your local businesses and you usually know those shopkeepers by name. And if you need that trip to Ventura, ask your neighbors, friends and family if they need anything. We're a country town at heart, a horse town, a spiritual mecca, an arts community, a shangri-la, an ancient Chumash nest, a get-away...we don't need to be the next Everywhere, USA. Mira monte is sadly taking care of that for us.

sorry so long. I pulled a Dennis on you all :)

Hallelujah! Thank you, Leslie, for this riveting, detailed account of last night's meeting, sprinkled with names of old-timers and newcomers to our valley. I have been waiting for this post all day. And in this case, it's not too long!

Leslie-

It's interesting that you mention Trader Joe's because that is the 1 chain that I would look forward to having closer.

I know I'm supposed to despise "formula retail" but I secretly hunger for a TJ's to open at that abandoned Lan-Tech in MiraMonte ("Lower Ojai").

I would hope that it would NOT ruin some of our fine local businesses.

I am curious how others feel about this.

Suza - sorry to keep you waiting! late night last night and busy busy day today. thought others would chime in.

Anonymous - I think many people would agree with you as I spoke to a lot of people while out collecting signatures. That's why a public hearing process is important so citizens could have their say, and business owners as wall. I see it as a HUGE threat to the success of our local grocery stores.

Personally, we only shop at Trader Joe's about once every other month. Yep, the prices are great and TJ's is carrying more organic products which is a priority for our family. BUT, I prefer to buy bulk foods to reduce on packaging. I actually despise grocery shopping in general because of all the plastic packaging. AND I prefer to support Farmer & the Cook, our local CSA's, farmers market, and Rainbow Bridge. And lately Westridge has added many local organic products, and some not-so-local organic products. Very impressive! We also buy some stuff from Mountain People's food coop, and support locally owned Lazy Acres market in SB (although we heard they're being bought by Albertson's.)

I'm concerned that the Whole Foods going into Oxnard is going to hit our local markets pretty hard.

I just finished reading Barbara Kingsolver's book: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle. inspiring to say the least.

Lazy Acres has been, in fact, owned by Bristol Farms for the almost 2 years (which, in turn, is owned by Albertsons). Lazy Acres is in no way an independent. You wanna shop an independent when make the drive into Ventura or Goleta, go to Lassen's. It's an independent chain, (6 stores) all family owned and operated for almost 40 years. They will be working hard to hold their own as Whole Foods will be opening in the next few years in both Oxnard and Santa Barbara. Now that's a CHAIN! Support the real independents!!!

Suza, thank you for the compliment on my earlier post above. Were it not for you, I'd be sure nobody read it.

I am not a subscriber to the Ojai Valley News, and I may be the one Valley resident whose letters they don't print. Please, though, if you think readers of the paper would appreciate that comment, I urge you and give all permissions for you to take, edit and send as you wish. Especially in light of what did happen at the joint meeting.

Old Time, thank you for your permission to quote you. But without your real name, it might end up like plagiarizing you. Or maybe you are the ghost of Clarence Sterling? If he was still on the earth-plane, he'd have a great time on ths site!

What do you mean, the Ojai Valley News won't print your letters? Do you have an example of what they rejected that we can have a look at here?

Leslie, at last night's Ojai Valley Green Coalition Food and Ag Committee meeting, we discussed having a weekly column in the OVN's by different coalition members on "living green". Maybe you could cook up a column based on what you wrote above. You are a model "green family" living in the real world. You could give practical tips on things like this :"BUT, I prefer to buy bulk foods to reduce on packaging. I actually despise grocery shopping in general because of all the plastic packaging. AND I prefer to support Farmer & the Cook, our local CSA's, farmers market, and Rainbow Bridge." (You might not be allowed to name specific businesses for OVN's editorials, but there's huge Ojai Valley Green Coalition educational potential in sharing your personal "green mom" experiences.

I personally would very much look forward to such a column. Practical, real-life advice on living green would not only benefit those of us who try (and struggle!) with this day to day, but if it slowly got others who haven't yet made "the commitment" to change even a few of their consumption habits, then what a great service this would be. And I've suggested to evan before on another thread what a great thing it would be if he were to share his take on how to balance a green lifestyle with the needs and demands of caring for a baby. (Cloth or plastic, evan - I'm eager to know!) Good luck in getting this started and please keep us posted on your progress and when we can look for this in the OVN.

Ooops. In my post above, it's probably not clear that by "cloth or plastic" I was referring to the debate over diapers - not grocery bags....

LTOR, thank you for the reminder and encouragement! i think there are plenty here who would be far more qualified than i to write a more comprehensive article on the practical points of living green, but i'll certainly put some energy toward illuminating my small part...the new baby aspect is certainly unique.

the answer, for both bags and diapers, is CLOTH!

Kudos to you and your wife, evan. In the next two and a half years, you will have avoided putting about 6,000 diapers into landfills. Imagine if you could change the thinking (and diapering habits) of just 10-15 people!!! 100? 200? Not that's making a difference!

LTOR, since I've started reading your posts, I have always believed you were a man. I'm beginning to change my mind and not just because of the diapering issue.

I know it shouldn't matter but I can't help attaching my idea of a gender to the annoymous posters. Do you do that as well?

Get a clue, your talking points from Portland, Maine are a joke. They passed a ban and have already overturned the ban because it was a disaster in that community. At least they were smart enough to track the results and realize the mess they created.

Anonymous, nice Rove-light style hit.

I can't paste get a link or paste the local Portland Maine newspaper articles on the subject here, so this link will have to do:

http://damarshall.blogspot.com/2007/01/press-herald-repeal-of-chain-limits.html

What happened is this: Development interests who want chains - like Hooters! - and blinkered ideologues ran two stealth candidates to unseat the council majority that had passed the ordinance only three months before. My understanding is they never campaigned on the idea that they would repeal the formula retail ordinance, and that, like in Ojai, it is conceded in Portland Maine that the vast majority want to keep the chains out and protect a unique character.

In other words, as in Ojai and what we saw in our own last campaign, all the candidates wanted to keep chains out of downtown. Its just that, like here, for some candidates that seems to be such a difficult, complicated task that they just can't seem to get it done. They need to "take a step back before they can take a step forward."

Once the two new councilmembers got in, they were a majority with the other pro-chain development interests and ideologues on the council. They promptly repealed the ordinance, using phony bogus reasoning that they needed to study further because they, like the rest of their city, really don't want Hooters either. Its BS my friend.

You say "they were smart enough to track the results in that community," and that the ordinance "was a disaster." Really? It was in place three months. It blocked a Hooters from getting downtown. The city spokesperson was quoted as saying that as far as they know, it had not yet had any effect, other than the Hooters, that they knew of. They were aware of no chains that had tried to get in, or any businesses that were deterred from doing anything, by the ordinance.

What exactly was the disaster that befell in that short three months? What exactly did they "track" in that short period?

Got more information? Please share it.

What happened in Portland Maine really is a warning. We have to be concerned whether working through the council can get the job done in a lasting way. I hope Kenley is considering this note of caution and the need to put the initiative to a special election, so it can be passed and not so easily betrayed by business as usual.

Here's my 2 cents: Send this to a special election. The writing is on the wall.

That's right SZ. Win or lose, at least the people would get a choice.

But: Are there enough signatures? Are there enough people ready to volunteer and go get more if necessary? How much time is left?

Where do planning commissioners and councilpersons stand?

It was either last week of September WED or FRI
OVNEWS that the city manager's commandeering of chain store meeting was written as an editorial. This is the crux of the issue, seems to me, of sustainable verses exponential growth, which is the logical extention of chain stores. The city manager many times has voiced as a proponent of free market capitalism. Isn't it time the citizens call a stop to what is a threat to the the quality of life of a small town? Even the planning commission voiced opposition to this model
but were forced to reconcile.I don't know the process involved in a recall
inniative but fear this slope is growing more
slippery by each additional city meeting.

Pete LaFollette 10/2/07