Councilmember Donna Frye Speaks at July Morena Business Association Meeting
  
In a 40-minute presentation without notes at our July 6, 2006 meeting, Councilmember Donna Frye spoke on a wide range of topics of interest to local businesses. Frye said, “First and foremost, my philosophy is that the businesses that are here, stay here. People came here, grew up here, started businesses, passed them on to future generations… they should stay here. I oppose using imminent domain to run small businesses out of their livelihood in the name of redevelopment or housing or making things better. That bothers me a lot. I am fond of Morena Boulevard, and I want it to maintain the same character. I like the way it is put together -- the eclectic blend of things, the mom and pop businesses, the trucks, the noise, the woodworking, the small crafts people, and that people can come here and get anything they want for home improvement, the restaurants, the nurseries, and the industrial land. My role is to facilitate, and to try and make the things that you want, easier to do. My philosophy is to be better at who we are, and to be better at what we do, and not try to tell people who they should become. I am hesitant to tell a company that has been here creating jobs for twenty years that we should wipe your business out and put in housing.”
Donna said, “I am a business owner, too.” Speaking of her and Skip’s own manufacturing business, she said, “Noise, odors, and truck deliveries are okay, because good jobs are being created.”
She cited the Storefront Improvement Program as an example of the city helping local business owners.
She commented on our Association’s policy of “one business, one vote.” It is inclusive, not exclusive, and it avoids condescension created by weighted voting.
She fielded questions on parking issues, oversized vehicle parking (trucks, RVs), abuse of 72-hour street parking laws, trying to restore city funding of Community Relations Police Officers, illegal dumping, graffiti and vandalism, and the trolley extension. She said that she routinely votes against imminent domain seizures of businesses in other areas of San Diego. She discussed ideas that could help reduce speeding on Morena Boulevard.
She spoke about the beach cleanup effort this year by hundreds of volunteers, sponsored by the Surfrider Foundation. "The beach smelled like the city dump. You couldn’t smell the ocean." Where were these people raised? Why do they trash our beautiful beaches? For more information on their twice monthly beach cleanup effort, click http://sundiego.com/news/news_beachcleanup05.php.
On the question of ADA lawsuits, Frye said to call her office for support. She said the focus on settlements is wrong. The focus should be on providing access for the disabled.
In closing, Donna mentioned the passing of Walter Fiedler, a long-time Morena business entrepreneur and property owner.
Donna was accompanied by Keith Corry and Pari Sanati-Zaker, Council Representatives for Donna in District 6. Keith and Pari have attended several Morena Business Association meetings, and they have helped to guide us through the maze of getting a business association started. They have also provided guidance in dealing with the city, and with parking, weed abatement, watering, graffiti, and other issues of concern in the Morena area.
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