Seize the Future Vision Program

I am becoming increasingly nervous about the so-called Seize the Future Vision Program that the city of Ventura embarked upon about six months ago. When the city reserves nearly $400,000 to develop the program and transfers a wise and valued staff member from the Economic Development Department to head it, I know something is up that is not a game of tiddlywinks and bears watching.

The past several months, program volunteers have spent considerable time compiling a wish list of things they want the city to offer in the next century. At this point the vision plan has the fingerprints of the Measure A redevelopment plan. It is sprinkled with familiar terms like “redevelopment,” “development,” “revitalization” and “underutilized.” The use or misuse of these terms has caused quite a stir because each term has a specific meaning that does not quite fit into a wish list of goodies. Moreover, it is highly unlikely all this stir, money and time would be spent to compile a list of goodies and develop a plan that does not provide teeth to implement or enforce.

Could it be that the defeat of Measure A prompted the Ventura City Council to spin the vision program into a redevelopment project? At this point we can see only the tip of the iceberg, but it is enough to rouse our curiosity and urge us to keep our ears and eyes open. We can be certain the City Council will keep the people out of the loop and the vision committee doing busywork while the council, consultants and redevelopment agents tailor a done deal.

Does anyone know a mole we can hide in City Hall?

VIRGINIA GOULD, Ventura