Lemon Grove: I Really Do Love It Here

This is my first blog in a series of blogs which I hope to update as often as I can. As I am a newcomer to Lemon Grove, I thought I would take the time share some of my thoughts from said perspective.

On the whole, I really do love it here. We have an infrastructure which is actually coming back 'en vogue,' it's well established with several generations of families here, and last but not least, it's one of the more affordable cities here in the county. There are some aspects which could use a face-lift or makeover in the city along the commercial areas but 'under the hood' there is tradition and a rich history which cannot be denied here.

Looking ahead, we have many challenges and obstacles to overcome. City budgets, programs being cut and just an overall standstill in the economy. I am someone that likes to solve problems and am an opportunist. In our current reality, there is no better time for a city to come together and really be creative, to 'rise from the ashes' so to speak, to lay the groundwork for the now and in the future.

Recently, I attended a budget focus group session requested by Mayor Sessom and City Council which was  run by City Manager Graham Mitchell. The gritty details of that focus group are left for that meeting. What I wanted to share from that meeting was how excited I was to see how many people in LG really care about where they live and wanted to be part of problem solving within the community. Even if it was just a small sample of local residents, I was left feeling inspired about what lies ahead for us in LG. Because, ultimately, for as much or little as our elected officials do in the city, it's us that not only need to hold them accountable, but also reward them for successes.

So, I have been wondering, during my short time so far here, what the future holds for LG economically with our Federal Blvd. area and Downtown Village. I have a tendency to drive around San Diego County a lot and explore (Why not? We live in a beautiful place) and as I look all around the county and see areas like Santee growing in its commercial districts along Mission Gorge Road, as well as La Mesa taking pride in its 100 year anniversary downtown, there are several questions that pop into my head:

- Why not Lemon Grove?

- What makes those places different than us when we have just as much history?

- What are they doing differently that is yielding those results?

Besides some of the more obvious answers like the recession and money being tight, are they not affected as well? Sure doesn't seem that way. Are we really in such troubled times economically, that we can't be a home for a thriving business district besides the "mile of meals?" (Hat tip to Corky Lang).

Well, to start, we have a location that may benefit our future. San Diego's downtown continues to redevelop and the solar energy industry is growing East of us.

I see Lemon Grove as a gateway to East County, more so than anywhere off the 8. Why not grasp the rings so to speak and embrace this instead of being a pit stop on the way to somewhere else and being a bedroom community? I just feel that things leave Lemon Grove, not come to stay, and I don't think this is a viable option we should be okay with looking ahead.

As someone that is a self professed problem solver, it would be contradictory of me to point out things but not have a solution, right?

Here is an example: I look at Federal Blvd. and see a lot of potential there. Corky Lang did a piece on Taylor Guitars getting their start here then moving to larger facilities in El Cajon. Taylor is a prime example, because I am a musician and I truly believe if we were to work with Taylor guitars and see what they have up their sleeve and bring the roots back to LG, it would pay in dividends.

I know that there are longtime residents here in LG and have seen some good things and some not so good things over the years. I am curious to hear what roadblocks (besides the state taking away redev money) we may have that would hinder growth.