Transient Occupancy Tax increase belongs on ballot
Ojai has needs and aspirations of $50 million worth of infrastructure, stabilization, maintenance and upgrades over the next 30 years. For a city that ranks among the very lowest for sales tax (7.25%), and hotel tax, or transient occupancy tax (10%), — with zero cannabis tax — our city continues to fall behind even with the basics such as fire mitigation and resilience, road/sidewalk repair, Recreation Department upkeep and improvement, the city’s power production and lighting districts, Libbey Bowl, and code enforcement.
Prepare for lights out
Have you taken steps to prepare for the next evacuation? Welcome to the new normal: winds, fire events and blanket power “shutdowns” — not outages.
We are not communicating emergency information well. How many people know the emergency radio station for Ojai Valley is AM 1610?
Less than a few.
Are you ready for that knock?
You have all the time in the world to prepare, until you awaken to that loud knock at your door. It’s 11:30 p.m. and you hear there is a mandatory evacuation order. What do you take? What do you need? How long will it last? Where will you go?
Diversion cleanup clogged with red tape
On Dec. 5, 2017, Gov. Jerry Brown proclaimed a state of emergency slashing red tape, proclaiming that “statutes, rules, regulations and requirements were suspended for nonhazardous debris resulting from the Thomas Fire in areas that are subject to the jurisdiction of Agencies within the California Environmental Protection Agency and the California Natural Resources Agency; and (b) necessary restoration and rehabilitation of timberland, streams, rivers, and other waterways.”
Time for the vaping talk
Ask most high school students how many of their friends vape and prepare to be surprised. Ojai Valley youths are not immune to the vaping craze that has gone from fad to documented health crisis, with nearly 400 confirmed vaping-related mystery illnesses and at least seven deaths among e-cigarette users in the United States, thus far.
Enforce ban on gas-powered tools
Using a gas-powered blower for one hour creates the same amount of pollution as taking 239 car trips from Boccali’s at Reeves Road to Farmer and the Cook on El Roblar Drive (4.6 miles each way), according to the California Environmental Protection Agency. That many trips would take just over 43 hours in a 2016 Toyota Camry, according to Google Maps.
Kindness challenge
Gandhi said, “The simplest acts of kindness are by far more powerful than a thousand heads bowing in prayer.”
There is certainly power and joy in being kind and being the recipient of kindness.
In Ojai, we experience many small kindnesses every day from friends and strangers alike.
And we have lots of reminders that kindness matters.
Just walk into NoSo Social Cafe where recent chalk messages on a blackboard exhort customers to “Do something today.
— Write a love letter.
— Pay it forward.
— Meet someone new.
— Call someone just because.
— Tell someone you love them.
— Forgive someone.”
As a result of these reminders, if you are in line for a cup of coffee, you may just find that the person ahead of you paid for it.
Kindness can be contagious and we can never have enough.
That is why we would love to hear from our readers about kindnesses they experience this week and lists of ways to be kind.
Here are just a few ideas:
— Ask your grandparents about growing up.
— Do the dishes.
— Let the person in the store who is in a hurry go ahead of you.
— Mow your neighbor’s lawn.
— Visit a nursing home.
— Call an old friend.
— Tell a former teacher how he or she inspired you.
— Donate blood.
— Thank a veteran.
— Volunteer.
— Adopt an animal from the shelter.
— Cook a meal for a friend.
— Send a get-well card.
We looked up “kindness” and found a lot of people have written about it. Here’s what some well-known people have said:
Plato: “Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a harder battle.”
Dalai Lama: “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”
Confucius: “Act with kindness, but do not expect gratitude.”
Anne Frank: “No one has ever become poor by giving.”
Saint Basil: “A tree is known by its fruit; a man by his deeds. A good deed is never lost; he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, and he who plants kindness gathers love.”
Aesop: “No act of kindness — however small — is ever wasted.”
We can’t wait to quote our kind readers.
Please email your suggestions on ways you have experienced kindness or shown kindness recently.
And please share a few words about the kindest person you know.
We will share submissions in the OVN in an upcoming edition.
Submissions may be sent via email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; Facebook, or mail them to 101 Vallerio Ave., Ojai, CA 93023.
Time to go electric
If you traveled east along Ojai Avenue this week, you may have caught the view of Nordhoff Ridge and the Topatopas through a smog ring just below the top of the ridge. We have known for years we have deteriorating air quality in the Ojai Valley. The six-month “smog season” lasts through October and Ojai has some of the worst air quality in the county.
Help can't wait for Creek Road
In 2018, Creek Road resident Teena Broumand documented 30 crashes on Creek Road, resulting in 19 injuries. She also noted that there had been three fatalities along that stretch — two since 2015.
Back-to-school time
The start of public school in Ojai on Wednesday, Aug. 21, marks the unofficial end of summer.
Ojai can chart path to action
Interest rates on bonds are the lowest in decades. We see an opportunity for local agencies to take advantage of the current 30-year T-Bond rate of 2.240 percent to reduce costs and make capital infrastructure improvements.