MOORPARK : Assemblyman Hears Merchants’ Concerns

Walking and talking his way through Moorpark’s Gateway Plaza late Friday morning, Assemblyman Nao Takasugi heard from local shop owners and their employees about business.

It was the second “business walk” the Oxnard Republican has had this week. On Wednesday, Takasugi stopped by a few Camarillo shops to talk with merchants. The walks are meant to keep him in touch with the concerns of local business owners.

“They raised a lot of local concerns in Camarillo,” Takasugi said. “In Moorpark, I’m hearing about more statewide issues like workers’ comp.”

The assemblyman visited about half a dozen businesses, including a real estate office, video store, cleaning company and pharmacy.

Jim Sumner, who operates a maid service that employs about 40 people, said one of the first questions his employees asked was why Takasugi was so focused on the concerns of local business owners.

Takasugi said keeping business profitable keeps people employed.

“It was just great that he was here to answer those types of questions,” Sumner said, adding that he wants the state to continue to reform workers’ compensation laws to remove fraud from the system.

“I told him my concerns and he took the time to explain to me what they were doing in Sacramento to reform the system,” he said. Sumner added that in the last year the most recent reforms have saved him about 25% in his workers’ compensation bills.

Takasugi also heard about issues not related to business, such as immigration and crime, as well as concerns about traffic on California 118 through town.