Suggestions On Revitalization

Regarding the ongoing complaints suggesting a sluggish downtown business district I have a couple of ideas I feel compliment Martinez’s existing resources:

Instead of a third Mexican restaurant within a one mile radius, I think we need a sporting goods store in the corner retail space located at Ferry and Marina Vista. The idea that Martinez promotes ‘world class’ bocce ball courts and doesn’t sell bocce ball sets seems counter-intuitive to me, but then so does a skateboard park when we don’t sell skateboards or accessories and bicycle trails when we . . .

When I’ve driven past either the Berkeley or Larkspur Marina’s I can usually catch sight of colorful wind sails surfing across the water. Yet along our shoreline you’d be hard pressed to find easy access to launch a kayak let alone a windsurf board. It would seem to me that a floating dock that rises and falls with the tide would be one quick and easy way to open up greater access to an otherwise under-utilized resource. If outfitters like California Kayaks (Oakland) and City Kayaks (San Francisco) can thrive in their respective locales surely a similar business could find a way to do so here?

And while I’m on the topic of opening up our waterways to greater recreational activities I don’t want to miss pointing out the educational opportunities. I’ve noticed Alhambra High now has a lacrosse program but what about a rowing program? In light of the easy access to water it would seem to me that if you want to grant a greater number of our kids access to some of our top schools or encourage Olympic hopefuls, rowing could be one way.

I’ve searched Martinez’s collective websites to see where a person thinking about opening up a business might find help. Other than instructions on where to obtain a business license, I came up empty. There are lots of ways to achieve revitalization, offering a business friendly environment is one where I see Martinez misses the mark. Comparatively speaking the City of Pleasant Hill encourages a thriving business community and offers extensive links on the city’s website to resources.

Hopefully our new city manager’s vision won’t be afflicted by the same myopia affecting some in city government.