By NIMMI RAGHUNATHAN
ARTESIA, CA – Matters are heating up in the city of Artesia. The multi-million-dollar street developments in the major business corridor of the city, has generated disgruntled Indian merchants who line Pioneer Boulevard, and some nasty politicking.Relations between the Indian business owners and the city have been contentious...
ARTESIA, CA – Matters are heating up in the city of Artesia. The multi-million-dollar street developments in the major business corridor of the city, has generated disgruntled Indian merchants who line Pioneer Boulevard, and some nasty politicking.Relations between the Indian business owners and the city have been contentious...
 |  |  |
critically, a huge drop in shoppers. Already miffed with the parking meters that had been installed, the store owners say they had tried explaining their troubles, but it had come
to naught and their lack of clout was made evident. Added to the woes of the small businesses was that the larger ones, did not actively team up with them, preferring to deal directly with the city for any of their needs.
Finally, in what might be said was a move to get noticed, those who said their bottom line had been affected, banded together to raise money and launch a recall against elected city officials in May this year. It was approved for circulation on August 22.
City Council & Plan
Artesia city council has five members. Currently, the Mayor is Pakistani-American Ali Sajjad Taj, a ubiquitous presence at Indian-American events. The recall is aimed at him, Miguel Canales and Victor Manalo. The other two are well known to the Indian-American community – Sally Flowers and Tony Lima.
All five were in unanimity in 2014 when they voted to have Pioneer Blvd., stretching from Artesia Blvd. to South Street, redeveloped. The project was to be done in four stages with the goal of increasing pedestrian traffic with dining promenades, sidewalk extensions, planting of trees and installation of fountains. The aim was, according to Taj, to drive those who came to the restaurants and enjoy the dining experience to stroll into the other stores and shop instead of simply driving away.
The new street design was geared to slow traffic, keep walkers safe and discourage those who were merely driving through Pioneer Blvd. to get to freeway 91, from using the road. There is little doubt that the newly built median starting on 183rd, and occupies most of the street with just one narrow lane on either side, has done just that. But the consequences are viewed differently by the store owners. For them, it is traffic congestion. The stemming of traffic has badly affected the flow of customers, they say and there is no walk-in traffic to supplant it either.
Some have reported that business is down by 40%. Taj refutes this saying that a study done in March did not support that talk. While not ready to share the results of the study, he says as far as the city was concerned, sales tax revenues were up along with the uptick in the economy. “Mom and pop stores will have their ups and downs,” he said. He also pointed to the rent rates in the city which he termed as “exorbitant,” and asked why those issues were not being taken up the merchants to help their bottom line.
Recall
The group which has led the effort to bring the Indian business owners together and speak as one, is led by Gurpal Sood, who runs Paratha Grill and is also a realtor. Sood, from many accounts, seems to have finally been able to corral the merchants. With him is Rene Trevino a former Artesia Parks and Recreation Commissioner. At their behest, the merchants pooled in their resources and hired a political consultant with experience in recalls, Chris Robles. After some bumps, the recall petition is in the next stage. The number of signatures required for this to take effect is 25% of the total registered voters of Artesia. Records show there are 7,469 voters, which means 1,867 signatures will be needed by Sood and the other merchants.
This has led to two things. One, is aggravation on the part of the affected city councilmembers; and even though denied, the other is a potential shift in the way the redevelopment might go forward.
At a special meeting of the city council on October 2, Manalo lashed out at the recall petitioners. He said, “its going to be bad for business and our reputation as a city.” Manalo added, “You can recall me for many reasons,” but if the focus was on “lies” like misappropriation of tax money or that he was in the pocket of special interests, it was plain wrong. Taj, echoed the same sentiments to IJ later saying, “misinterpretation, people being bullied and lied to,” was not on.
Median
At the meeting, the three targeted councilmembers voted to restore two lanes on each side of the median between 183rd and 186th streets. Councilmember Sally Flowers who voted against it is not sure that it’s going to mitigate the traffic situation. She said she had initially voted for the redevelopment but when she saw the median, had felt it was a mistake and that the merchants on the strip were having a hard time.
Taj says if the project had not drawn the kind of ire that it has and stalled, the envisaged plan would have benefited all. But the negative publicity had the private investors backing off and the project had become an eyesore.
Denying with some energy that the recall had played a role, he said, “maybe the median could be modified. ‘Maybe’ because it’s my opinion. The plan will have to be made and the council has to discuss and vote on it.” With the two lanes back on, he says, he would like to see a small space on the median with a welcome signage to Artesia.
Are the Indian businesses going to appeased by this possibility? “It is not about appeasing Indian store owners. It is for everyone. It is for the whole city and the surrounding cities,” Taj said. in the past. Fingers have often been pointed at the merchants for dealing in cash, and, as a natural corollary, generating low sales tax revenue for the city. The businesses in turn have complained of being ignored and their voice not being heard in the corridors of city hall, even though they are a major and visible presence in the city. Despite meetings with various stakeholders before the launch of the redevelopment project, they allege, not one of them was consulted. The latest irritant which seems to be bringing matters to a head is the median that has been built from 183rd to 186th on Pioneer Blvd., in the heart of what has been dubbed, ‘Little India.’ The businesses on this section of the street say that it has led to traffic congestion, parking constraints, safety hazards and
to naught and their lack of clout was made evident. Added to the woes of the small businesses was that the larger ones, did not actively team up with them, preferring to deal directly with the city for any of their needs.
Finally, in what might be said was a move to get noticed, those who said their bottom line had been affected, banded together to raise money and launch a recall against elected city officials in May this year. It was approved for circulation on August 22.
City Council & Plan
Artesia city council has five members. Currently, the Mayor is Pakistani-American Ali Sajjad Taj, a ubiquitous presence at Indian-American events. The recall is aimed at him, Miguel Canales and Victor Manalo. The other two are well known to the Indian-American community – Sally Flowers and Tony Lima.
All five were in unanimity in 2014 when they voted to have Pioneer Blvd., stretching from Artesia Blvd. to South Street, redeveloped. The project was to be done in four stages with the goal of increasing pedestrian traffic with dining promenades, sidewalk extensions, planting of trees and installation of fountains. The aim was, according to Taj, to drive those who came to the restaurants and enjoy the dining experience to stroll into the other stores and shop instead of simply driving away.
The new street design was geared to slow traffic, keep walkers safe and discourage those who were merely driving through Pioneer Blvd. to get to freeway 91, from using the road. There is little doubt that the newly built median starting on 183rd, and occupies most of the street with just one narrow lane on either side, has done just that. But the consequences are viewed differently by the store owners. For them, it is traffic congestion. The stemming of traffic has badly affected the flow of customers, they say and there is no walk-in traffic to supplant it either.
Some have reported that business is down by 40%. Taj refutes this saying that a study done in March did not support that talk. While not ready to share the results of the study, he says as far as the city was concerned, sales tax revenues were up along with the uptick in the economy. “Mom and pop stores will have their ups and downs,” he said. He also pointed to the rent rates in the city which he termed as “exorbitant,” and asked why those issues were not being taken up the merchants to help their bottom line.
Recall
The group which has led the effort to bring the Indian business owners together and speak as one, is led by Gurpal Sood, who runs Paratha Grill and is also a realtor. Sood, from many accounts, seems to have finally been able to corral the merchants. With him is Rene Trevino a former Artesia Parks and Recreation Commissioner. At their behest, the merchants pooled in their resources and hired a political consultant with experience in recalls, Chris Robles. After some bumps, the recall petition is in the next stage. The number of signatures required for this to take effect is 25% of the total registered voters of Artesia. Records show there are 7,469 voters, which means 1,867 signatures will be needed by Sood and the other merchants.
This has led to two things. One, is aggravation on the part of the affected city councilmembers; and even though denied, the other is a potential shift in the way the redevelopment might go forward.
At a special meeting of the city council on October 2, Manalo lashed out at the recall petitioners. He said, “its going to be bad for business and our reputation as a city.” Manalo added, “You can recall me for many reasons,” but if the focus was on “lies” like misappropriation of tax money or that he was in the pocket of special interests, it was plain wrong. Taj, echoed the same sentiments to IJ later saying, “misinterpretation, people being bullied and lied to,” was not on.
Median
At the meeting, the three targeted councilmembers voted to restore two lanes on each side of the median between 183rd and 186th streets. Councilmember Sally Flowers who voted against it is not sure that it’s going to mitigate the traffic situation. She said she had initially voted for the redevelopment but when she saw the median, had felt it was a mistake and that the merchants on the strip were having a hard time.
Taj says if the project had not drawn the kind of ire that it has and stalled, the envisaged plan would have benefited all. But the negative publicity had the private investors backing off and the project had become an eyesore.
Denying with some energy that the recall had played a role, he said, “maybe the median could be modified. ‘Maybe’ because it’s my opinion. The plan will have to be made and the council has to discuss and vote on it.” With the two lanes back on, he says, he would like to see a small space on the median with a welcome signage to Artesia.
Are the Indian businesses going to appeased by this possibility? “It is not about appeasing Indian store owners. It is for everyone. It is for the whole city and the surrounding cities,” Taj said. in the past. Fingers have often been pointed at the merchants for dealing in cash, and, as a natural corollary, generating low sales tax revenue for the city. The businesses in turn have complained of being ignored and their voice not being heard in the corridors of city hall, even though they are a major and visible presence in the city. Despite meetings with various stakeholders before the launch of the redevelopment project, they allege, not one of them was consulted. The latest irritant which seems to be bringing matters to a head is the median that has been built from 183rd to 186th on Pioneer Blvd., in the heart of what has been dubbed, ‘Little India.’ The businesses on this section of the street say that it has led to traffic congestion, parking constraints, safety hazards and
RSS Feed
