Council Adopts Chain Store Moratorium
By Nao Braverman
A temporary moratorium against formula retail stores was finally adopted by the City Council at Tuesday night’s special meeting but not without some mudslinging from both sides of the podium.
Councilwoman Sue Horgan opened the discussion with a comment in defense of Councilman Joe DeVito, for whom a recall petition is currently being circulated. She stated that the petition would do nothing more than “tear apart the social fabric of our community.”
She characterized the recall as “mean-spirited and unwarranted” and asked that the proponents withdraw the petition and turn their efforts, instead, toward enhancing and improving the community.
Several residents criticized the tone of Horgan’s comment and defended the recall petition.
“It’s not about being mean-spirited, it’s not about sour grapes” said former council candidate Leonard Klaif. “It’s about saving Ojai … Two citizens have taken their own time to write initiatives regarding chain stores, what have you done?”
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What if city council put as much dedication into preventing chain franchises and protecting small town feel from over-development and big buildout,developerinterests, as they did on the gravel truck increase?Same quality of life issues, environmental protection that can galvonize community quickly. If the city wereserious about addressing these issues, that would be effective. It took a citizen lawsuit and a court battle to put them on the table for discussion, only after the elections,at that. PL
You granola kids need to get over this whole chain store thing…Hi Leland![waves!]
You granola kids need to get over this whole chain store thing…city council members included. Who gives a hoot who it is that wants to do business in our little burg. The little mom and pop places that have tried and failed in the proposed Subway location should stand as an example that for SOME reason they just do not work. (My feeling is that it was their rotten service and attitude) If the Subway franchise can hold their own while providing jobs for local young people and also provide tax revenue for the little city that claims they cannot afford to keep the public restrooms open forcing people to pee in the dentist office parking lot next to Farmers Market or cannot afford to pay someone to enforce the sign ordinances, which to me are much more offensive than a sandwich shop, LET THEM DO IT. Maybe those on the city council that are opposed, and those sidewalk sitters who are opposed to free enterprise functioning should make up the lost tax revenue of an empty retail location out of their own pockets. The Java and Joe people are the only ones who seem to feel that SOMETHING successful in that spot is better than the revolving door that has plagued that location for years.
“It’s not about being mean-spirited, it’s not about sour grapes” said former council candidate Leonard Klaif. “It’s about saving Ojai … Two citizens have taken their own time to write initiatives regarding chain stores, what have you done?”And what have YOU done?
The only thing I really sour at is a council that perform their duties protecting Ojai so poorly that a recall petition is necessary and going forward.