Letter to the Editor: Downey's virtues
Dear Editor:
Downey’s DNA primarily comprises a “bedroom community.” It is a wonderful place to live and raise a family. Jean (my wife of 60 years, now dead) and I moved here when newly married in 1957 because of location. She was teaching English at Cal Hi in Whittier and I was attending law school and working in downtown LA.
We could afford the $65 per month small apartment near Lakewood and Telegraph. After three years we were able to save the down payment and with my veteran’s loan buy the Downey home in which I still live.
Over the years Jean and I each became highly involved in volunteer activities in our town. We raised a family here. My law office used to be in Westwood. We looked in some of the high-end west LA conclaves to possibly move to, but changed our mind each time we returned. Jean advised me that we would not be accepted if we drove our VW bus there with six kids and our dog!
Downey has a city manager form of government. The first key to this system is to have a trained, honest and competent manager, and reasonably intelligent, honest council members who don’t unreasonably push for their individual personal agendas. The city of Bell failed this test. Downey has done well. I have known all of its managers, and they generally have been quite good, including our current one, Gilbert Livas, who is excellent.
Here are some of Downey’s benefits. It has a quality police and fire department, and community service and recreation department. The schools are excellent, both public and private. Service clubs and churches contribute many volunteer hours of needed help. City streets and neighborhoods are clean and well maintained. A couple of years ago its citizens approved a new city sales tax on some items sold in the city, and revenues from this source have been employed to upgrade most city parks, fire stations, a state-of-the-art library, streets and infrastructure, etc.
Every article and letter of Lawrence Christon I have read in issues of the Downey Patriot have expressed views denigrating Downey’s city government, individuals volunteering services in the city, etc. My question to you, sir, what positively have you contributed to the community? I never have met you, don’t know if you are a Downey resident, have raised a family, etc.
On the subject of arts and culture, of which you claim to be an expert, here are a few comments. The Downey Theatre has a 750-seat capacity. About 1960 when the city council was discussing the proposed size, I appeared and spoke to urge a 1,000 seat capacity and John Hume urged 500 capacity for a children’s theatre. The council settled for 750. If it had decided on 1,000 seats, Downey’s theatre manager could have attracted larger performances for the theatre.
When I served as a council member during the 1990’s, I suggested that the city try to purchase the 63 acres then occupied by Boeing, and made a couple of trips to Washington, D.C. with the city manager to get things started on the project. Mr. Christon claims that the acreage now is occupied by “two semi-desolate shopping malls.” I disagree. It now, with the pandemic ending, is occupied by the vibrant Downey Landing and the Promenade shopping areas, where, besides busy stores and restaurants, is occupied by a wonderful space museum, a park, leading Kaiser hospital and medical facilities, and much more.
Bob Brazelton
Downey
The author is a former mayor of Downey and served on the city council for eight years. .