Through the eyes of the Valley: Calexico ‘educates’ merchants By VICTOR MORALES, Staff Writer
Thursday, January 10, 2008 10:57 PM PST
JOSELITO VILLERO PHOTO
Calexico Mayor Pro Tem Carmen Durazo talks about the city’s downtown and its future.
For years Calexico downtown merchants have enjoyed brisk business, selling to mostly Mexicali consumers.
The vibrant sector, known for its mix of bargain-priced shops and high-end department stores, personifies the epitome of binational commerce but also, for some, the disorder found south of the border.
But there are signs merchants there are in distress. Long border wait times have decreased walk-in business. Some merchants are suspicious that a proposed downtown beautification plan will make them obsolete, and city code enforcers have been clamping down on sidewalk displays, a measure merchants think is required for survival.
Calexico Mayor Pro Tem Carmen Durazo, a daughter of a downtown merchant family and an employee of several businesses there as a youth, discussed the situation in downtown and its future.
Q: The city seems to be sending downtown merchants some mixed signals. It has at times given them concessions on codes relating to sidewalk sales and parking. At the same time, the city has enforced codes on merchants encouraged by this council. So, what is the council doing with downtown merchants?
A: We are supporting the downtown merchants. Downtown is changing and we are in support of change in the downtown area. And we have illustrated that by coming up with a new downtown plan to beautify it in the future, including a new transportation center, sidewalk improvements, new vegetation and of course there is that First Street promenade. So we always supported the downtown merchants. It’s the heart of Calexico. It’s where commerce first started.
There are no mixed signals. On the other hand there are ordinances that have to be followed. And we have supported them by providing training for them, whether it was meetings at City Hall to let them know what those ordinances were and personal visits by the council and city staff members and warnings by our code enforcers.
Some people have been fined because they choose not to follow but it’s by far a minority. The majority of them follow the codes.
The only reason for the codes is for safety issues. We want somebody who is injured …we want a gurney to get into the aisles within the stores. We want to prevent fires. So it’s been an educational process and collaboration. And when people refuse to comply we have to take action.
Q: So, the enforcement has nothing to do with the visual aspect and its message that an environment like downtown could be sending?
A: No. I think all of the Imperial Valley has codes, and businesses have to be safe and comply with those codes. For example, if you have a doorway that a gurney cannot get into or a fire hose cannot get down in an aisle, that is dangerous. If you have a sidewalk that doesn’t allow for pedestrian traffic because there is a lot of boxes on it or we have seen a few business that block parking meters, then that becomes a problem because we cannot get a city safety crew in there.
So, it’s been educational. I know that when you have ordinances you don’t have to have to educate, but we wanted to work with the merchants.
Q: You mentioned dangerous conditions. But what about places like the Santo Tomas Swap Meet and the other swap meet where someone was killed. Why isn’t the council enforcing any laws that it can there and perhaps they are? It appears there is a difference of applied enforcement here.
A: I don’t think there is a difference of enforcement. I think there is a difference of site.
At the swap meet it’s out on the open air. There are no structures. So you don’t have to comply electrically and certain things to do with fire. There is electricity, but it’s different when it’s a building and when it’s a stall.
There was a horrible and tragic accident that happened, but it was an accident. And it was someone who had a medical condition and that has happened at the downtown of major cities and pedestrians have been injured.
So, yes, code enforcement does visit the swap meets, and yes, they do educate the people that work there, and yes, we do supervise that.
Q: Do you shop in downtown?
A: I definitely shop downtown Calexico.
Q: What do you buy?
A: Everything. I get all my prescriptions at a local pharmacy. I go to the 99 cent stores just like everyone else does because they have good things to offer there, and I am not going to name one because I visit several.
Sam Ellis Department Store has been there forever. Garlan’s Department Store, Christina’s Lingerie, I could go on and on and on. There are lots of choices and there are lots good things to shop at downtown Calexico.
ghettofabulousmexicanchica wrote on Jan 12, 2008 4:15 PM:
" In response to 1027, that side of town is considered ghostown as it is now. No matter if casinos, big stores are coming to Calexico, it will always have Mexicali customers. It's what you get when you live in a border town like Calexico. Calexico's downtown is unique and it might look ghetto but who cares! "
susflores wrote on Jan 11, 2008 11:55 PM:
" I can't think of a good reason for me to visit "el pueblo" (like I learned to call it) but at least it brings some money in, unlike downtown El Centro, all it needs is some tumbleweed and it would definitely be a ghost town. I just hope that the Western Auto building is not turned into a Fallas-Paredes or Vaca. Then again, I understand why these stores are here and it's because of the Mexicali customers who need to find low-priced items. I've lived here for a long time and I've seen the changes, I would like to see better stores out there. Also,what people here need to realize is if Hollywood producers find this town appealing for whatever type of movie they want, it would mean more business for the town and that my dears, is a good thing. "
mexictodabone wrote on Jan 11, 2008 10:23 PM:
" Stuck up people should be shot "
lioneliz wrote on Jan 11, 2008 5:03 PM:
" Rumor has it that hollywood film director Olive Stone is considering the downtown as a backdrop for a third world country movie, and also has in mind some of his customers and merchants as extras to add more color. All he needs is to round up some chickens, goats, etc. "
SonOfABeach wrote on Jan 11, 2008 4:54 PM:
" Downtown looks like a Third World country... "
aesco1 wrote on Jan 11, 2008 12:15 PM:
" As a Calexico resident i dont shop downtown for a good number of reason's. First the parking, if your lucky enough to find one you still have to pay, and the merchants are terribly rude especially the 99 cent stores. No, i'll continue to go to wal-mart or the mall until some drastic changes are made in the downtown area. "
0207 wrote on Jan 11, 2008 10:36 AM:
" I am glad this reporter is covering the border. For far too long this newspaper ignored the border and Calexico. Here are a few topics that should be expored: What about the ridges on the All-American Canal? What about the loss of water to Mexicali farmers? What about the lawsuit by Mexicali to overturn the QSA? What about air quality improvement measures taken by Mexicali? What happened to the border protesters and the dude arrested? What about covering the immigrant positions of the major presidential candidates? "
lioneliz wrote on Jan 11, 2008 9:44 AM:
" Does the mayor, other officials, or well off calexicans visit downtown? Of course not, they have the means to upscale shopping. "
1027 wrote on Jan 11, 2008 9:00 AM:
" Downtown looks ghetto. Pretty soon it will be a ghost town! Casino's, big stores, etc... "
enano wrote on Jan 11, 2008 6:39 AM:
" tacky displays of lingerie models outside of stores like christinas,sure make any town look tacky ,and cheap..window displays are not monitored, for good taste..makes the downtown area look cheap,and is a turnoff..the extremely loud music some stores have turned on, is also terrible...fix it !!! "
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ghettofabulousmexicanchica wrote on Jan 12, 2008 4:15 PM: