my post for Saturday: SO I GUESS THE H JOHNSON PEOPLE DON'T CARE WHAT I THINK.

I received an email this morning from someone who said they'd seen plywood being removed over at the H. Johnson building that I wrote about on Monday. I was impressed with myself and thought that maybe what I'd written has made something happen? Nooooo. I stopped by Friday afternoon and nothing had changed, except now there is MORE PLYWOOD on the Broadway side, covering up the top of the windows, including the broken one. I also took a closer look at those tanks in the 2nd Ave parking lot. One of them seems to be corroded with peeling paint and I can't think that's a good thing. I'm going to send an email off to the city letting them know, so we'll see if that makes a difference. I'm leaving the house early tomorrow and will be gone for the day so won't be back here until Sunday, after breakfast and the papers. See you then.

CREATING A FRUITFUL RELATIONSHIP.

Our neighbors, who are now our friends too, stopped by with some apricots. They had extra and figured we'd like them. We do like the apricots, and our friends, for just stopping by with them. (I'm a fan of the "drop-in." I'd don't know if that's a back East thing or just me but when people stop by I'm almost always delighted.) I'd encourage everyone to consider this kind of informal, neighborly approach to sharing extra arugula, avocados or apricots. Do you know your neighbors well enough to do it? If not, you might just want to try. Maybe fill a paper bag with the cream of the crop and take it over--leave it on the doorstep with a note if your too nervous or shy. Let them know where you live, not your phone number/email, so they'd need to come by to thank you. That could lead to conversation, which could segue into having a beer, which could lead to a friendship. Who knows? And even if you never become good friends, good neighbors are a great place to start.
But if you'd rather be part of a more formal exchange, reader Liz posted information on her online exchange last Saturday. Go to comments there for details or just log on to www.bigtent.com/groups/localproduce if you want to sign up. And Liz, thanks for the contribution. And thanks for everyone who has commented this week, it's been great to see more people involved. See you tomorrow.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE, WITHOUT THAT PARTICULAR HOTEL.

I'm usually a glass half full sort of gal and my mother was the glass is half empty and there's a hole in the bottom sort. But when she was in her mid 40s, she decided to go back to college and finish her degree. A lot of people she knew thought that was a silly idea and told her so. But she said, "You know, in two years I will be 47 no matter what I do, and I'd rather be a college graduate." She worked hard and was one of the top ten in her class. Now that story may seem to have nothing to do with the hotel, but it does for me. It's about looking to the future and seeing the possibilities. So maybe the loss of this hotel is an opportunity for the city to fund something even better. Maybe we should work in slightly smaller increments, or look in a totally different direction ..still thinking about how right now. We need to bring people into this city to spend money and not just on cars. I thought the restaurant/lounge in the Johnson building on 2nd sounded good but that went away too. My thoughts are fuzzy right now and I'm late, so will have to say bye for now. See you tomorrow.

IMAGINE IT'S AUGUST FIRST 2012.

Do you have any doubt the recession will be over by then? Do you believe the city of Escondido will be doing well financially by then? If you can say yes to both those questions, then I think you should seriously consider the opportunity the city has to work with developer Craig Clark on a new hotel right in our downtown.
As anyone who reads this blog knows, comments about Escondido being no place anyone would visit is the reason I started this blog. I love this city and long for a nice hotel downtown, one that does not have the word "economy" or "express" in its name. A place you'd be comfortable recommending to a friend, rather than saying "well, it's not bad for the price." (Put the word "hotel" in my search box and you will see my postings on the subject.)
An article by David Garrick in today's NC Times says that developer Craig Clark will make a presentation to the City Council tonight, though it doesn't say what time. UPDATE: LOOKING AT THE AGENDA AGAIN, I SEE IT IS A 3PM CLOSED SESSION MEETING SO I GUESS WE WILL HEAR THE OUTCOME AT SOME POINT, THOUGH MAYBE NOT TONIGHT. Assuming it happens, I hope that everyone, including Diaz, Daniels and Waldron, will listen to him with an open mind. That this has become a battle between supporters of the library and supporters of the possible hotel bafles me. Why does one come at the expense of the other? I have said time and again that I do not feel a balanced budget is the most important goal right now...finding a way to move this city forward and upward is. For years, this city has been on the edge of becoming the gem it can be. Maybe now is the time to think about how we can make that happen. See you tomorrow.

STOP BY AND SEE THE NEW PLAZA AT THE LIBRARY, THEN HIT THE FARMER'S MARKET

The city finished the work at the library a couple of weeks ago--all that appears left to do is paint the wall inside that has the return slots. I must admit that I wondered about spending money beautifying the outside when the inside was getting so many cuts. But this was budgeted last year so it's come in under the June 30th deadline. I like the mix of benches--very comfortable--and low walls, the latter a great casual perch. This gives us space in the sun on cool days while leaving the shaded area that already existed. I also saw the new automatic checkout machine inside, and being the curmudgeon that I am, avoided it completely. I told the librarian who checked out my books that I was boycotting it in support of library employees keeping their job. She told me they had been assured that these machines were to free them up to help more library visitors. Guess I'm a little skeptical of that claim. I like saying hi to the librarian, talking about the books we've read or are about too, having each book stamped with the due date (I like this for two reasons. First, then I actually know when the book is due since who can really keep track of the "receipt" that lists due dates of all books taken out at one time....does anybody really keep track of those? Second, I like to see when and how often a book was taken out. It was popular in the 50s and then had a resurgence in the 90s and I'm the first one to take it out in 5 years...I admit that I find that interesting.) Anyway, the new plaza seems popular, it was empty when I took the photos because the library was closed. I plan to stop by there today, maybe buy a 25 cent magazine or two, and then head out to Grand. It's Tuesday so we'll be having a market dinner...whatever looks good will be our evening meal. See you tomorrow.

IF IT'S GOING TO BE EMPTY, COULDN'T THE H. JOHNSON BUILDING LOOK PRESENTABLE?

It's been more than two years since the H. Johnson Furniture store on 2nd went out of business. As you can see from the pictures I took this weekend, it is certainly an eyesore. Plywood on the windows that doesn't quite cover the glass (one window is broken), weeds growing up through the cracks, trash and lumber in the parking area on Maple and those big white tanks (What are they??) barely concealed by a chain link fence with green cloth. Now that the City Council has put the kybosh on any loan to redevelop it as a restaurant/lounge (Does everyone agree with that decision?) it could be decades before the building is redeveloped so shouldn't there be some regulations on its upkeep? I will be doing some investigation to see what rules the city has in place, but in the meantime couldn't we at least see that plywood painted to match the brick so it doesn't look so slapdash/waiting for a hurricane and could we get those unsightly tanks--What are they?--removed. And maybe an ongoing maintenance and cleanup of that parking lot would be good. I'll be keeping an eye on it and let you know what I see. On a brighter note, the outside of the main library looks good...pictures and comments to come. See you tomorrow. Follow up. If I am reaing the Escondido code properly--link below--I found a number of things that should be corrected at the H Johnson site. Here's the list, feel free to pass it on to the powers that be.

(a) It is unlawful for any responsible person to use, allow, maintain, or deposit on such property any of the following:

(1) Trash, junk, or debris including, but not limited to, household waste, litter, garbage, scrap metal or lumber, wood, concrete, asphalt, tires, piles of earth or construction material.

(5) Tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, cloth and similar coverings unless used on a temporary basis, or used in conjunction with a valid building permit.

(A) Use of tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, cloth or similar coverings thirty (30) days after receiving notice from the city shall be prima facie evidence of a violation.

(B) Tarpaulins, plastic sheeting, cloth and similar temporary coverings shall not be used to screen items prohibited by section 6-484(a) from public view for any period of time.

(7) Signs which are broken, deteriorated, partially obscured, illegible or in a state of disrepair.

(b) Buildings. It is unlawful for any responsible person to use, allow, or maintain on such property any of the following:

(3) Broken windows, doors, attic vents and under floor vents.

(4) Building exteriors, walls, fences, patios, driveways, or walkways which are cracked, broken, defective, deteriorated or in disrepair.

(d) Landscape Maintenance. It is unlawful for any responsible person to use, allow or maintain on such property any of the following:

(1) Weeds.

(6) Deteriorated or unsightly landscape elements including natural features such as rock and stone; and structural features, including fountains, reflecting pools, art works, screens, walls, fences and benches.

I'm not sure where those white canisters fit, but guess I'd go with 6 above.

click here for Escondido Municipal Code on Property Maintenance.