Officials Join Fight for Center

In a last-ditch effort to save their neighborhood Boys & Girls Club, a handful of Oxnard parents and two local officials met Tuesday to discuss how they could persuade board members not to close the facility Jan. 3.

County Supervisor John K. Flynn promised to back the parents in their pleas to the Boys & Girls Club board of directors. “We’ll do everything we can to help keep this place open,” Flynn told parents Tuesday at a meeting at his office in south Oxnard. “If the club is in need of repairs it’s one thing, but to close it down entirely is another.”

Flynn, who said the parents had asked to meet with him, hopes to meet with the board of directors and Oxnard city officials early next week.

Oxnard Planning Commissioner Morey Navarro, who also is supporting the parents in their efforts, said several local attorneys have come forward to offer their assistance.

“If we let it close, it will be so much harder to ever get it reopened,” parent Keith Bakker said.

Parents and children have been upset since club officials announced last week that the staff at the 7th Street facility would be terminated while the building was being renovated. Staffers include Ruben Herrera, 53, who’s coached there for 33 years.

Herrera’s brother was at the meeting Tuesday.

Officials said the employees are welcome to reapply for their jobs when the club reopens late next year. They say the building’s age, many leaks and old restrooms make it unsafe. They will conduct a study to determine the improvements needed.

But parents say the restrooms and leaks have always been a problem and that they don’t understand why club officials are acting as if there is suddenly a health and safety emergency.

“In a nutshell, there was no reason to dismiss those people,” said Navarro. “It just doesn’t make any sense.”

They note that the building has never been cited for health-code violations and don’t see why it must close during a feasibility study or renovations. In any case, they doubt club officials can raise the estimated $1 million they might need to renovate the building by late next year and suspect that the club will remain closed indefinitely.

“It appears as if there’s some bigger plan that doesn’t involve the Boys & Girls Club at all,” said parent Claudio Sandoval.

Boys & Girls Club officials were not available for comment Tuesday, but have said they want to begin making improvements to the club. Other than saying that it was a difficult decision, they have not commented on the staff’s dismissal.