Dear Editor:
It saddens me to see how a so-called “business-friendly city” like Downey treats their own small businesses.

There is a vast disconnect between the Planning Department and the average small business owner in the City of Downey. There is zero sense of urgency from some city staff and little to no common sense on why the required nonrefundable application fees to permits are as high as $6,533.

Who or what is responsible for creating an anti-business culture at city hall?

Several individuals that do or have tried to do business in Downey are convinced the department heads are to blame for the ongoing discontent and disbelief that Downey is in fact a business friendly city. 

I would like to focus your attention on the Planning Department specifically as it is the first stop for businesses that want to grow or simply survive.

Unfortunately, the department's unofficial motto towards applicants is “If the code is silent, you shouldn’t do it” or at least that is what a Senior Planner told me when I tried to submit an application for something he did not know how to categorize. And therefore, he decided to act as department head and commissioner by refusing to accept my application all together that same day.

In other words, if our ideas are too innovative for Downey, we must wait for a bureaucrat in the Planning Department to first define it and then we may pay a nonrefundable fee of thousands of dollars to then apply. Most people do not have that kind of money to invest in nonrefundable fees. 

How can a small business in Downey have a real opportunity to revamp after a year-long of restrictions and lockdowns in this anti-business environment?

Who knows how many more applicants in Downey are denied due process at the Planning Department counter desk. This and other horror stories are very well known among the business community and will be brought out to light one by one. Department heads need to identify and correct what is cultivating this anti-business mentality in order to capitalize on the true potential of our city. They should do this at least to help the council members deliver on their “business-friendly” campaign promises they once very publicly made.

All I am asking of the Planning Department is (1) to be mindful of the challenges small businesses face right now. For example, last year during COVID small businesses in Downey were initially required by city hall to obtain an additional five million dollar liability insurance policy in order to continue operations outside their own businesses; (2) welcome new ideas and partner with small business owners to help develop their ideas into applicable formats instead of immediately addressing the reasons why their applications will not get approved; (3) allow the Downey business community to flourish into its unique attraction instead of trying so desperately to imitate what other cities - with very different demographics - are doing.

I understand governments are naturally inefficient. And I want to be clear that not all city employees are impractical. Most city staff including elected officials like Mayor Claudia Frometa are, in fact, champions for small businesses and truly care for the wellbeing of our community - we thank you!

Hans K. Fritz
Downey