Covid-19 Impact On The City – What Can We Do

Walking the streets of Thousand Oaks, many of my favorite business are closed due to Covid-19. Many are businesses that will never open again. The lives of both employee and business owner have been changed directly and indirectly due to Covid-19.

Policy maker decisions regarding the pandemic are decided at the county and state public health levels. The city council does not have a role in the decision process of preventative practices versus the reopening of local businesses. What the city can do to ease the blow to our economy and help business owners and their employees is expedite request for outdoor permits for activities like restaurants, hair stylists, gyms, martial arts studios, etc.

The city’s main revenue source to operate is sales taxes. Store closure due to Covid-19 and Run-a-Way business out of the city will reduce revenue to provide services. We must make the city business friendly and attract business like bio-tech and biomedical industry to the Conejo Valley. We must eliminate needless and duplicated job-killing government regulations which is a hidden tax for consumers.

There are many challenges facing the city. With the drop-off of business and flow of money in our local economy, fiscal crisis is looming on the horizon. We can weather the storm brewing but it will take leadership from someone with 30 years of business background running successful businesses, a Master’s Degree in business administration, and creative, out-of-the-box problem solving skills.