Happy New Year Martinez

Last week, during one of the few times I allowed myself to catch the news (yes even self-confessed news junkies unplug for sanity’s sake) one story in particular caught my attention. The early retail reports showed an up-tick in sales of retro toys, the same toys many of us boomers/gen x’ers grew up with; like Tinker Toys, Lincoln Logs and Etch a Sketches.

I had already started thinking about the theme for my last column of ’08 when this news story popped up confirming my suspicions. I had triple confirmation when, as I thumbed through Vogue, I saw a model dressed in a vintage bathing suit.

I have another guilty pleasure I thought I’d share. I can repeatedly watch movies like; Somewhere in Time, Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice and still manage to cry at all the appropriate times. Because I suspected I wasn’t alone in my sappiness I did a bit of research on the psychology of nostalgia and found a paper that was recently written up in Science Daily dated, December 14, 2008. Seems the researchers agreed with me and concluded that nostalgia can create feelings of well being, interconnectedness and an increased sense of hope for the future.

As we sit down January 1, 2009, pen and paper at the ready, preparing to write a list of accomplishments for the New Year it bears mentioning that the tradition of New Year Resolutions can be traced back to Babylonian times. I feel we are hardwired as individuals to hold onto traditions and reminders of our past particularly during times of stress, as Christmas’ sales receipts clearly demonstrated.

Okay so what does that have to do with the price of tea in China or more appropriately, here in Martinez? For years the City has struggled to find its identity. Some believe, as articulated in an online PowerPoint presentation, that identity can be cobbled together like Frankenstein’s Monster and at the price of yoking future generations with insurmountable debt, i.e., through the formation of a Redevelopment Agency. Other’s believe, and I think rightly so, that the future of Martinez can be found in its past.

I’ve already mentioned that my idea of a visionary is one who can see what is before him/her and create a compelling story without wiping the etch a sketch clean, Old Towne Sacramento and Folsom spring to mind. Since the New Year should be filled with anticipation and optimism, how ‘bout a game of what if?

What if instead of altering the landscape and the weather by creating high rises (think wind tunnels and perpetual shade), downtown Main Street was filled with playful shopkeepers dressed in vintage garb as events warrant? For example, Martinez will be treated to a hometown 4th of July in 2009. What if guests coming to our celebration were greeted by women dressed as Gibson Girls and gentlemen dressed in seersucker suits and boater hats?

I try not to be a glass half empty kinda gal, but the economic outlook for 2009 doesn’t lend itself to giddiness. In the last month I saw a trend starting to emerge and based on the grim economic outlook for next year I imagine people will continue to seek out emotional touchstones. Something to think about Martinez, almost every other city in Contra Costa County has a Redevelopment Agency with three exceptions; one argument used to sell it here.

So what if instead of being followers The City of Martinez took a page out of Warren Buffet’s book and in recognizing an emerging trend looked for ways to get out in front? Downtown Martinez could become Contra Costa’s momentary respite from reality by embracing its history and branding it, our own version of Chicken Soup for the Soul.

If nothing else it would be fun, something that seems to be in short supply these days. But what if it worked and we ended up creating growth without creating debt? Yeah, what if? See you next year.