An overwhelming majority of respondents to a new survey say they like downtown Oceanside.
Preliminary results of the survey were reported Tuesday to the Monthly Morning Meeting of MainStreet Oceanside, and more work is planned at a focus group meeting next Tuesday.
Gumaro Escarcega, MainStreet Chief Operating Officer, said there will be an “open discussion” to “highlight where we are in the process” of the ongoing branding study.
Narration on a short video presentation of the survey involving 2,114 responses was too rapid to catch many of the statistics provided, but three-quarters of respondents are Oceanside residents, and half of them said they visit downtown weekly.
Some of the top attractions were the Farmers and Sunset Markets, the pier, the harbor, Coast Highway, murals and the Civic Center.
What could be added? Respondents cited more activities, like concerts and performances.
Pointing to a map of the downtown district, as defined by MainStreet, Escarcega said many people don’t share that description, not thinking they’re in downtown. The map shows a southern boundary of Missouri Street and a northern boundary up into the harbor along a Coast Highway corridor. It follows a narrow strip between Tremont and Freeman streets but bulges from The Strand to the Interstate 5 freeway between Civic Center and Seagaze drives.
More than a third of the respondents had a four-year college education. Nearly 60 percent owned their own home. More than half identified their race as White and 17 percent said Latino. Median income was more than $100,000 a year.
Escarcega said the focus group, involving local leaders, including those from Visit Oceanside and downtown businesses, is trying to ascertain exactly what people want to see in the downtown.
He called the work thus far “very successful, very positive” and said it will continue at a focus group meeting from 4 to 6 p.m. next Tuesday.
This week’s regular MainStreet meeting also included a presentation by Roxanne Deatherage and Lisa Nava on the upcoming – from noon to 6 p.m. June 3 – 16th annual Pride by the Beach festival sponsored by North County LGBTQ Resource Center.
Nava said it is the second-largest festival in Oceanside – exceeded only by the annual Turkey Trot run in November.
Before it shut down for COVID, Deatherage said, the Pride festival attracted 8,000 participants, but, surprisingly, the year it reopened – 2022 – folks – 15,000 of them – came out in force.
“It was something we were not anticipating,” Deatherage said with a smile, so that, for instance, they ran out of toilet paper.
The theme this year is “Free to be Me in 2023.”
Deatherage said that making people feel safe in Oceanside is especially important this year because there are 638 new laws across the country targeting LGBTQ people in one way or the other.
Here, she said, people can “see other families that look like them, other kids like them.”
As of that morning, Deatherage said, 119 vendors had signed up to participate. “We are an economic boon,” Nava said, and people will be riding Coaster and Metrolink trains to get to the event.
“You’ve got so many allies” with Oceanside situated between Los Angeles and San Diego and with “everything in-between” involved as well, Rob Howard said from the audience.
Nava said 4.8 percent of Oceanside’s population officially is listed in the LGBTQ category, but the number probably is much higher than that.
In other business:
–Escarcega noted the absence of Rick Wright, MainStreet Chief Executive Officer, still under the weather,
–Escarcega also noted fliers available for a free workshop, with lunch, for OmneShip, which offers same-day delivery for businesses. He called it “a really awesome opportunity” for small businesses. Mary Ann Thiem, a MainStreet board member, said the service is especially helpful for those needing to get products on Camp Pendleton with its added security.
Cathy Nykiel, Director of Events and Sunset Market Manager, reported on the market’s Fun Zone activities last week and said the giveaway was gone in an hour and a half.
–Nykiel also reported that the annual Operation Appreciation benefiting military families is scheduled for May 20.
–And she reported that “we have some great nominees” for Hometown Heroes for this year’s Independence Parade on June 24. They are Jimmy Figueroa, Anne Garrett and Daniel Guillou. In addition, the late Herb Meyer, legendary football coach at Oceanside and then El Camino high schools for 40 years, will be honored posthumously. Meyer died on April 8 at age 87.
–Escarcega reported that MainStreet’s annual Mothers Day Is Sweet event would take place on Saturday, May 6 from 2 to 5 p.m. with 32 dessert tasting stations and live music “all over downtown.” “It’s a really awesome event,” he said.
–Alex Goodman with Oceanside Theatre Company said it held its first poetry reading last weekend and a concert with Shane Hall on Friday and Art Walk with stand-up comedy scheduled. He noted the theater had just staged its “first-ever Spanish-language play”. On the 13th the play “Good People” will premiere with official opening night on the 14th. Goodman said Sunday’s performance will be free to active-duty military and veterans. He was asked about the progress of construction at the theater and said necessary regulatory permitting is taking longer than expected, but the theater will be dark in June to accommodate half-million dollars in renovations to the lobby areas. In the meantime, he said, space will be available for the likes of concerts, book signings, and scholarship awards. And the children’s summer program for youth ages 10 to 19 will take place beginning June 19. The cost is $650, but scholarships are available.
–Linda Piña from Carla and Linda’s Walking Food Tours said they are taking place Saturdays downtown and Sundays in South Oceanside. She said excessive governmental regulations have prevented them from using a donated vehicle, so “we have a bus for sale.”
–From the audience, John Daley paid tribute to the late coach Herb Meyer.
–Howard told of plans for a Juneteenth celebration on June 16 and 17 in the Country Club Senior Center and downtown.
–Escarcega told of plans for the next Art that Excites project involving the installation of a giant floating “O” at the corner of Pier View Way and Tremont Street. The first panel of 13 lights will be delivered Monday. They will be 25 feet off the ground once installed. “Everything is looking pretty positive so far,” Escarcega said, calling it a “massive project”.
The next monthly meeting will be held at 8:30 a.m. June 6 at MainStreet headquarters. 701 Mission Ave.
The MainStreet Morning Meeting is held on the first Tuesday of each month at 8:30 a.m.
We welcome all parties interested in the progress of Downtown Oceanside, including businesspeople, residents, and City staff.
This informative one-hour meeting is held in an informal discussion format. The general public is always welcome! Come meet your city officials, MainStreet Oceanside staff and members and find out about upcoming events and changes to YOUR downtown and city.
The MainStreet Morning Meeting is held at the MainStreet Oceanside meeting room at 701 Mission Avenue. Call our office for more information or directions at (760) 754-4512.
