My Downey wish list for 2022

Photo by Pam Lane

DOWNEY – When I wrote my letter to Santa (a wish list for Downey in the year 2021) last year, it was received well; I got tons of feedback expressing gratitude and appreciation for my words and wisdom (if you can even really call it that).

This year, I find myself wrestling with the idea of writing anything remotely similar at all.

I suppose you could blame my sudden on-set curmudgeonly demeanor on a few things. Pandemic fatigue. Strained mental health. Feeling in a rut while staring down the barrel of my age 30 year.

Let’s be honest: 2020 was hard, 2021 wasn’t much better, and as such I wouldn’t blame any of you for being apprehensive about 2022 like I am, especially in the midst of this current Omicron surge.

Yet, I digress.

Please, I beg your forgiveness for sounding so crotchety at the start of this article. I do legitimately have a few ideas that I believe would do the city well.

As a city, let’s all get back on the same page. Folks, every second and fourth Tuesday when I walk into the Council Chambers for council meetings, I feel numb. Between council drama, gadflies, the recall effort, and most recently the debate over our city manager’s future, I have continuously shielded my eyes, nervously watching our council politics through the gaps between my fingers.

I hope for dialogue. I hope for compromise. At the very least, I crave decorum.

Let’s get back to the collaborative, community feel that once made our city feel so strong.

Good, capable leadership. With an election year and at least one change in our higher representation guaranteed (along with all the uncertainties that come along with redistricting), this will be a critical year for our community.

I hope that whether through elections or change in borders, Downey falls under the blanket of good, respectable, qualified leadership that has Downey’s best interests in mind and at heart.

More niche, non-chain retail businesses. Have you been to Brick LA yet? How about OG Collectibles?

There is no doubt the value that big retail chains like Walmart, Best Buy, Home Depot, Party City, Michaels, Foot Locker, etc. bring. However, smaller businesses – especially ones that are home grown – are what provide a city, its shopping district, or its downtown with personality.

Things that come immediately to my mind: a bookstore / coffee café, a dedicated toy store, a comic book shop, a record store, a camera repair shop, a big and tall / plus size clothing store.

A Pho restaurant. I haven’t had Pho since my ex-girlfriend (who introduced me to the Vietnamese soup) and I broke up several years ago. I hear there are some good places in some of the surrounding communities, but I’d love to see one set up shop here in Downey (If there’s a place here already and I’m missing out, let me know).

The end of the pandemic. Be responsible. Be safe. Wear your masks and get vaccinated / boosted. Let’s protect ourselves and one another, and work to getting back to “normal.”

Trader Joes. Only joking. Sorry, I couldn’t resist.

I wish you all a successful, healthy, and safe new year. I look forward to continuing to bring the news to the community that helped raise me, and hope that I continue to be able to do so into next year and beyond.

Happy New Year Downey, may 2022 treat us well. I love you, and God bless you.