16 lagunabeachindy . com SEPTEMBER 16 , 2022

GUEST OPINION

housing units to meet our legal obligations and , thereby , keep local that many more artists , teachers , public employees , hotel and restaurant workers , and seniors who need assistance . It ’ s a challenge . But we do have options , and we can start by encouraging broad community participation in deciding what ’ s best among those options . Our housing committee has identified locations worth examining . It ’ s time we put our shoulder to the wheel . We need the resolve to decide how best to do this and to get the job done .

It ’ s time we squarely tackle other problems . We can do a better job at tourist management . We can do more to influence the profile of tourists while minimizing the adverse impacts of visitors in town for just the day , for instance , taking all the parking in specific neighborhoods . Solutions require better parking and transit options . Meanwhile , there are too many empty storefronts , which spells trouble . I don ’ t accept this as the new norm , but I ’ m uninterested in how to apportion blame among retail trends , Covid and bad policies . I ’ m interested in new ideas on how best to encourage desirable redevelopment . There are ways to evolve — while preserving our small-scale , distinctive character . The right projects can beautify Laguna , make it safer , strengthen its economy , and shore up the City ’ s capacity to plan while taking care of the basics . There ’ s no need to roll over to lure desirable businesses better .

Two big starting points : say clearly what we want , not merely what we don ’ t want , and , equally critical , clarify and consistently enforce the rules . Unfortunately , the impression is that even if you ’ re asking for nothing special , the outcome in Laguna is always uncertain . Naturally , this has a chilling effect on recruiting even the most desirable business to invest here . Who knows how many publicly beneficial businesses we ’ ve lost because of this generally negative portrayal of our community and its public process . In business — I know from my own — certainty is your friend , uncertainty the enemy . This City has a history of creative community development . We need to channel that energy . Some of that history may not be well known .

The Laguna Art Museum and

Sawdust Festival leadership established the Laguna College of Art and Design — so Laguna would benefit from arts education and performing and visual arts . Visionary . The Festival leadership stepped up , even after voters rejected the idea , to finance Main Beach — offering the Pageant ’ s revenue as collateral to make Laguna ’ s signature window to the sea possible . We need that sort of creative vision and collaboration today . We should be at the forefront of encouraging artful and successful small-scale businesses . We should be at the vanguard of environmental sustainability , being smart about energy and water use , enacting an ambitious climate action plan , and finding ways of doing more with less to be both environmentally responsible and fiscally prudent . We need creative solutions to a host of longstanding challenges .

The good news is , as everyone knows , this town has a wealth of talent . We need to do a better job of tapping into it . Join me in rekindling Laguna ’ s creative spirit . I ’ m asking for your support and your vote in this election .

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