OXNARD : City Workers Urge Neater Downtown

Downtown Oxnard needs better restaurants, a neater appearance and fewer panhandlers, according to city employees who responded to a survey conducted by the city’s Redevelopment Agency.

Released this week, the survey of 260 workers has provided planners with a number of sometimes contradictory opinions on how the downtown area can be improved, said Alex Gacic, a redevelopment project manager.

The agency decided to canvass the city’s own employees because the city is the largest employer downtown, Gacic said. The questionnaire was distributed to 1,180 employees, and those who responded did so anonymously.

Nearly half said their annual household income exceeded $50,000, while more than two-thirds said they had completed a college education.

Attitudes varied most widely toward the Latino atmosphere of downtown, with some employees suggesting that the city emphasize its Latino heritage, and others criticizing the prevalence of businesses that cater to Spanish-speaking residents.

“Make it less of a Mexican town,” one respondent commented. But another countered by praising the Mexican influence. “Instead of trying to obliterate this character, redevelopment should try to enhance it,” one employee said.

Those who responded said they do little shopping downtown, with banking, stationery products and the post office cited as services most often used. Three-fourths of the respondents said they obtain less than 5% of their products and services downtown. About 57% said they would like to see the number of restaurants in the downtown area increased.

In their comments, the employees suggested ways to increase interest, including the introduction of trolleys or a monorail and the addition of more family attractions.