Libbey Bowl Seen As Economic Engine
Mary M. Long
The long-awaited showdown over the use of Libbey Bowl by commercial enterprises came to a point of contention Tuesday night, and was resolved by a unanimous vote. With approval by Blatz, Olsen, Smith, Clapp and Horgan, the Bowl is on its way to becoming an economic engine for the city.
It was at city manager John Baker’s urging that the issue be discussed and dealt with immediately, reasoning that, “Since we’re putting $4 million ($3.2 million of which is coming from donors) into this project, we need to decide how we’re going to maintain it. We are building a first-class facility; we need to maintain it in a first-class way.”
His recommendations were to allow for-profit events and the sale of alcoholic beverages at events, and to secure the services of a venue manager.
Baker pressed council members to make a decision to give Libbey Bowl management time to book acts for the 2011-2012 season, since many acts book a year or two in advance. “We need to start now,” he said.
Public comment on Bowl use-for-profit was unanimously positive. Award-winning Ojai artist-composer-musician John Zeretzke, accompanied by local businesswoman Barbara Bowman, leant his support. A veteran of outdoor music festivals at Aspen and Idyllwild, he encouraged the use of the bowl for both local and touring acts.
“I’m always looking for great venues,” Zeretzke said, “so I support the idea of opening the bowl for both nonprofit, and for-profit organizations. Plus, it would be a great venue for local talent that we are so proud of such as Dave Mason, Robben Ford, (Ann) Kerry Ford, George Ball, Amanda McBroom and Perla Batala. This would really help to promote our city, business in Ojai and put us on the map as a great arts city.” Defeated Council candidate Dennis Leary didn’t have much to say, except to urge that all music genres get fair access. He professed a preference for rock ‘n roll “rather than sitting there like a bump on a log listening to classical.”
Bob Daddi noted that there was little distinction between nonprofit and profit, suggesting that events should just be referred to as enterprises. “Everyone needs to make a reasonable rate of return,” Daddi said. He also agreed to the sale of alcohol, but cautioned that such sales need to be controlled. Daddi estimated that the city would need to bring in at least $70,000 a year to maintain the bowl, and advised that the city get a “responsible distributor” in there to manage it. Suggesting that the Council “get started yesterday,” Daddi urged the Santa Barbara Bowl be used as a model. Demitri Corbin and Scott Eicher also threw their support to the proposal agreeing with Baker that such action is imperative.
Councilwoman Horgan summed up the situation in a practical manner. “Last year, we opened the bowl to only nonprofit events and took in only $3,000 in revenue. We are building a world-class venue and we need to let it blossom. We are on the cusp of something great.” she said, adding with a gesture, “let’s go for it!” And the Council did go for it with a unanimous approval of all three recommendations.
The other milestone that was passed Tuesday was the inception of a Blighted Building Ordinance for Ojai, one of Blatz’s campaign promises. Blatz was pleased to have brought to completion in only 90 days. However, unlike the Bowl vote, this went down with the staunch disapproval of Councilwoman Sue Horgan who logged the only “No” vote. Her contention was that we already have an ordinance in place that is sufficient, calling the proposed ordinance excessive. She worried that it could be construed as punitive towards people who are already in “dire straights,” and whose properties have fallen into disrepair through financial hardship. “This looks like government gone crazy,” she cautioned. Two weeks ago, she had motioned to continue study of the ordinance to allow for suggested revisions to be implemented. One of the things she had asked for is that staff prepare scenarios for what would happen to a few of the already designated blighted buildings under the new ordinance. One of those buildings was the vintage wood-frame house at 307 S. Blanch St. near City Hall. According to the hypothetical scenario, the ordinance would require the owners to make a dozen repairs, totaling many thousands of dollars. City attorney Monty Widders interjected, “There are numerous outlets for appeals, if, as you say, this is government gone amok.” Definition of the term “vacant” was discussed for multiple occupancy buildings. The Planning Commissioners had already modified the proposal from the original Palm Springs model, which they felt was too harsh. After some debate as to what was the least confusing wording, council settled on defining multiple-tenant commercial buildings as vacant if less then 65 percent of the building is occupied. The measure was passed 4-1 against Horgan’s objections. The ordinance will be implemented 31 days after being approved. Staff has already prepared a list of buildings which have been determined to be vacant. Ninety days after the ordinance has been adopted those designated properties will be required to come into compliance with the requirements outlined. The most immediately noticeable effect on vacant commercial buildings will be the required removal of chain link fencing, which, citing unintended consequences,” some fear will invite an invasion of homeless.
On Dec. 14, the newly elected City Council members will take their seats and the reigns of city government. As of this writing, Carlon Strobel and Paul Blatz have won two of those seats, but only ten votes separate challenger Len Klaif and incumbent Carol Smith for the final Council seat.
Yes, more booze in the park sounds like exactly what we need!
“Drinking at park events is very enjoyable.”
At least a hundred self-destructive, toothless, foul-smelling, ill-tempered, unstable, violent, disease-ridden and mentally damaged homeless people over the past 25 years would agree with you wholeheartedly. You’re in great company. (Your bottle probably has a prettier picture on it than theirs, though.)
Drinking at park events is very enjoyable.
From a pure money stand point alcohol will cost the existing drinking establishments. Within 50 feet of the park we have Coporales, The Hub, Movinos, Ojai Pizza, all of these sell alcohol. So let’s not have alcohol in the park at the expense of our local watering holes.
“just reading your post is enough to give someone high blood pressure.”
So what? Learn how to meditate.
The Council owed it to the voters to allow them to have a say in this matter. Instead, they just made it clear to everyone that they, the Council, are unlikely to honor any stipulations limiting the use of any property that might ever have been or that ever will be donated to the City of Ojai. When Libbey donated the property to the people of Ojai, his terms were that alcohol not be allowed on that property. The City should have honored that restriction, but they just proved that, based on their handling of this particular issue, they will demonstrate little or no sense of honor should it ever become politically or financially expedient to violate the terms of any agreement.
Without even bothering to allow for a week or two of public input, to say nothing of a general vote, they unanimously chose to trash the City’s credibility with regard to earmarked or otherwise encumbered donations. A person would have to be a fool to donate time, money, or property to the City after this if they expected their wishes to be honored as a condition of the donation
If governments want to be trusted, they have to behave in a trustworthy manner. In this case, that’s absolutely not what happened. The Council just caved in to financial and political pressure. With the breaking of this particular bit of ice, I think that we can probably expect to see more and more of this kind of behavior in the future. I also think that it’s probably safe to say that if this Council had been the seated Council during the chain store issue, there would quite likely be a Subway outlet where there is now a very unique store.
Oh blankety blank, I just read your whole post, but you didn’t sell me. Maybe you don’t like alcohol , but you are in the minority. Most people look forward to a glass of wine , a beer, a drink when they want to relax and loosen up. I can tell by your post it has been a long time since you loosened up because just reading your post is enough to give someone high blood pressure.
Ojai, you just sold your soul to the L.A. devil. Congratulations (edited)
….sigh.
…but for Ojai to have okayed it in the hopes that it could stand in line for some of the proceeds shows a lack of principles and character, and there are people who will not forget and who will assume that any and all further decisions made by this Council could be similarly tainted by lack of vision and backbone.
“What happened to you that made you so anti alcohol?”
I’m against government organizations promoting the use of alcohol, and that’s what the Council did. One one hand, they use tax dollars to fight alcohol abuse in various ways, and then they turn around and promote the use of alcohol by lifting a decades-old ban on alcohol in order to please various economic organizations and interests, or because “other people are doing it”, or because they are able to turn on a dime and lose their principles any time enough money is involved.
As I implied with the suggestion that the City allow the red light district to flourish once again, there are plenty of ways to make money that might be frowned on, but hey — they make money, so let’s just get over our prejudices and our hypocrisy and go for it. Let in the chain stores. Bring on the tattoo & piercing parlors. Allow someone to open an adult book store or theater. Massage parlors of questionable repute? Bring ‘em on. Used car lots? Sure. Wandering vendors? Fill the streets with them as long as they have the required business license. There are just dozens of ways to make money, I’m sure, but the City will claim that their principles and their rules stand in the way of implementing any of those other possibilities.
As for alcohol, it’s just a drug, and alcohol users are self-medicating addicts. Some people can have a drink once a week and leave it at that. Some people can have wine with dinner and quit drinking when dinner is over. However, the majority of drinkers need a lot more alcohol than that, and no matter how much they drink, it never seems to have any kind of permanent curative effect, because they just have to keep drinking. They are addicts, even if they are addicted to a socially acceptable drug that makes billions of taxable dollars for the industry that supplies it. It is a drug, it always will be a drug, and it destroys the mind and body of the user and causes the user to deny that they are addicts and that they are being slowly destroyed.
Why should any government promote the use of this chemical? Because it makes money? Because people want to use it? Heroin makes money, and people want to use that. Meth makes money, and people want to use that. Cocaine? Same thing. Weed? Ditto. We draw our lines in the sand and set our limits without giving much thought to how discriminatory (and frequently ridiculous) we wind up looking in the process, don’t we?
When I called Ojai a little prostitute of a town, there was a much harsher word that I wanted to use, but figured that it wouldn’t be allowed. You know what that word is, though, don’t you? It’s a word we often use to describe anyone who suffers a complete loss of long-held and sells themselves out, body and soul, for material goods. That’s what Ojai has done with this decision to start pimping alcohol at Bowl events. If people wanted to do this on their own, that would have been one thing, but for Ojai to have okayed it
Sounds like the poster with no name or is it ???? they sound the same, but not everybody has a problem with alcohol. Some of us are able to have a beer and not freak out. What happened to you that made you so anti alcohol?
The old bowling alley would make for a great brothel.
When people can’t enjoy what they’re doing unless they’re drinking, or can’t sit through a 2 hour event without being buzzed, what is that? Isn’t there a name for that condition? The only things that Bowl drunks will have over drunken park bums is more money, better booze, less body odor, and lawyers.
(As for the excuse that alcohol sales will make money for Ojai, why not fire up the old red light district again, too? Think of the money that would make for this little prostitute of a town.)
I always shop in Ojai and find that the people in the Arcade are kind, friendly, and helpful for the most part. I’m not sure which stores are just for tourists, as I like them all and can find something I want in most of them. And I can remember when there was nothing I wanted to buy in the Arcade in the old days.
Concerned Merchant IS serious. Trust me.
Anita 13 Nov 10 at 4:11 pm
I don’t know which is funnier, that Anita thinks CM is serious, or that she wants us all to take her word for it.
As for Libbey’s wish that ‘there be no spirits used there’, bums and local teenagers have been violating that wish regularly for decades. Somehow, SOMEHOW…the City seems powerless to stop the bums and kids from boozing it up. Yet, this City seeks power to run a water utility, provide low-income housing, and act as lender-of-last resort for rebuilding Libbey Bowl. Once again, Ojai’s reach exceeds its grasp.
I’ve lived here for over 30 years. I shop the arcade occasionally. I don’t believe that ‘concerned merchant’ was being serious. In fact it is possible that concerned merchant isn’t even a merchant in the arcade. No merchant with a brain would talk condenscending about the locals coming into their shop like that. I have walked the arcade and window shopped without buying anything but that is not a bad thing. At Christmas and on peoples birthdays I always go back to some of these shops and spend a boat load. I feel that being a local gives me an advantage at shopping here because I know I can always come back and buy something I liked and viewed earlier. In particular the stores where the sales personel are friendly and helpful like Rains and the Kindred Spirit will always get my business. Expensive stores like Hatties will also get my business because again, the salespeople/owner are local friendly and very helpful. Even Barbara Bowman gets my business, why, because she is friendly and helpful. Never, ever underestimate the power of being friendly, helpful and not condenscending to the locals.
Lark, did you really think Concerned Merchant was being serious? Jeez.
Thank you, Mr. Libbey, for all that you’ve done for our little burg. I am ashamed that your one wish has not been honored.
I hope our current council will re-think the decision out of respect for what you’ve given us to enjoy. Why does there have to be alcohol consumed by those who attend events on your grounds?
Shameful.
Dear Citizens of Nordhoff,
I always held Nordhoff dear to my heart; the quality of the air, the beauty of the mountains the health giving aspects of the place. I came here often and held great excitement in my heart upon leaving Ohio once a year to be here. After the great fire occurred (oddly in the same year that the Great War ended) and so much of the wooden structures of the town burned down there needed to be a resurrection after spirits had been dashed. It was also in that time of change and hope that we renamed the town “Ojai”. Out of all that rose the phoenix of the new which I bankrolled and helped to conceive of. I bought and gave the land that the park now sits and money to construct the post office and the arcade. The money generated from the rent of the post office and managed by a local organization to fund improvements to town and park still come forth. When I gave the land for the park my one stipulation was that there be no spirits used there, it seems like not much to ask for I who gave so much to make this little town much of what it is today. Yes, I know, you put a plaque up in the arcade dedicated to me and named the park after me, but the true respect you could have paid me was to honor a dead benefactor’s wishes. In my day we honored those who came before; perhaps in your modern day that kind of thing isn’t important any longer. When I came to the city fathers all those years ago and they unanimously accepted my gifts to build the library, the arcade, the post office, the El Roblar Hotel (which you now call “The Oaks”) and the tennis courts in Ojai Civic Park (which the town renamed after me some years ago) I find it strange, beyond strange that the people of the town and city council did not support the one wish I had……
Concerned Merchant: I don’t have any big business degree but I have to ask you – did you have a solid business plan in place before relocating to Ojai? Did you REALLY think you were going to move here and hit the big time? Did you research the area to find out what the business climate was like, or who would be your clientele? How many weekend evenings did you actually spend strolling through the Arcade taking in all the sights and sounds. How many other business owners did you consult with before opening shop? I could go on and on and on. My family has been in Ojai for close to 60 years. Once upon a time we could shop in the Arcade and afford what we purchased. Now the Arcade has its fair share of businesses that cater ONLY to tourists. Many of the prices are so far out of reach that it is not possible to shop in your stores, but it’s nice to look. I’m sure I can find something comparable to your overpriced merchandise in Ventura.
Concerned Merchant IS serious. Trust me.
How can anybody not see that CM’s post is tongue in cheek? I think it is really funny, great jab at the arrogancy of some who move to Ojai and try to change it as they think it should be, and screw the locals.
Dress code. LOL
Whoa, Concerned Merchant must have a business death wish. He/she has just sealed the deal on any locals patronizing the place. Not too hard to narrow down the establishment if you know a few merchants to quiz on who you are. Who has come here from Smell-A recently?!
Giddy-up girl!
See ya!
No traffic study, tree report or environmental analysis for increased use of the community’s park — as long as it’s good for the economy. Bottoms up.
Becky, I think CM is dead serious. And, I do not think the comment was meant to be funny. I agree with the poster who said that this merchant should pack up and go back to LA, or to Montecito. Why would anyone from Ojai patronize a store geared toward tourists? Yes, we are a tourist trap, but locals need everyday stuff. Sounds like everyday stuff is not to be found there. And who do you think works at the places who supply hotel rooms to your snooty tourist clientele?
I am an Ojai native and I have never had the thought that we need to be the next Montecito.
Learn to like it, or go back to LA. Your business will probably be gone in a year anyway. GOOD LUCK!
I would assume that the “concerned merchant” post is intended to be a joke. If so, I thought it was pretty funny.
Becky
Concerned Merchant:
Your “idea” was tried in Germany during the 40′s. It was called Nazism!! You a pathetic. If you want a “Montecito” type of place, move there, it’s only 20 miles north.
To the article:
Libby Bowl and engine of economics for Ojai? Really?
And, what controls will be in place to prevent an event from having drunks all over the place causing trouble? Ojai isn’t L.A. that has huge venues that can hold thousands. How is this “plan” supposed to generate the revenue the article “hints” at?
Blighted Building Ord.
Not a bad idea, and if there is one already in place why isn’t it used? I see very nice neighborhoods all over the area, but…there is that one or two houses that look like dumps. It wouldn’t cost to clean them up, just a little elbow grease and keep it that way.
Concerned Merchant — Are you kidding? This is a small town community where people of all socio-economic realities have made their homes for decades. It wasn’t intened to make your recently arrived living selling things that aren’t helpful to a community’s daily lives. Reality checks are helpful.
I think that Ojai needs to have “Tourists Only” weekends. Locals don’t spend enough money in Ojai, but tourists do. I moved here from L.A. 2 years ago and opened a small business in the Arcade, and my summers have been made miserable by cheapskate locals who look but never, ever buy. They act as if Ojai is their town, and they wander up and down Ojai Avenue on warm weekend evenings with their brats and their stupid dripping ice cream cones, and they refuse to make way for out-of-towners who come to see our lovely town and spend money.
I’m not sure how we can keep the locals out of town, but I can promise you that doing so would exponentially increase profits and sales taxes. They could have the town the other 5 days of the week, except for certain important holidays and during certain major Libbey Bowl events. Keeping locals out of town would also free up a lot of parking for merchants and tourists, who as we all know, are the main reason for Ojai being here.
I’d also like to see a complete ban on horses and scuzzy old bicycles, and I’d like to see some kind of dress code enforced as well. Tourists don’t come here to see horse poop, ancient rusty squeaking bikes, and people dressed in T-shirts and flip-flops. This is Ojai, not Venice Beach. If we’re going to be the next Montecito, then we need to start cleaning up this town and spend more time catering to the people who pay for Ojai’s very existence.