Many cities similar in size to Ventura have seen their downtown areas and main arteries become decadent relics and lose their vibrancy. I am personally familiar with decay in several communities in which I formerly lived or owned a business. In some blocks, empty lots and buildings outnumber going businesses.
Ventura has an opportunity to continue to avoid this decay. We are an oceanfront city, so we have a big advantage to stay healthy — even if we don’t keep our beach clean, but that is another problem.
To the architects of our downtown renewal, congratulations for a job well done. Now, if we allow this same forward thinking to revitalize Thompson Boulevard and Main Street, rather than succumb to more compromise with the view crowd, our fine and fair city will allow at least some of our young people to return from college and find employment in this vibrant environment.
— Jack Weber, Oxnard
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