Ojai Panders to Tourists

The Times article “Tourist Takeover” on Dec. 26 accurately portrayed the sad degradation of downtown Ojai that has occurred in recent years. Once the focus and pride of an Arcadian community, the Arcade area is now largely given over to snobbish art galleries, trendy boutiques and frilly eateries, all pandering to the weekend tourist trade.

City officials and Chamber of Commerce members pimp for the tourist industry because it fattens city coffers and enriches the merchants. But like all forms of prostitution, tourism is injurious to the spirit and well-being of the host. Local residents must endure gridlocked traffic, out-of-town mobs and pressure from city planners to present an upscale resort image.

For example, the Ojai Planning Commission’s newest appointee openly admits that her highest priority is to “preserve Ojai as a nice place to visit, but not necessarily to stay.”

It is abundantly clear who the second-class citizens are in Ojai.

KEN SHELTON Jr., Ojai