Shawn Mulchay on Display

This is my fishbowl. Observe and share in my discoveries, interests, evolution, pitfalls and triumphs.

I love business, politics, and cycling. I work to make an impact and make a difference.

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Camarillo City Council Misguided in Old Town Fire House Redevelopment

Dizdar Park has been the focus of the Camarillo City Council’s attention for several years. The site has languished for years and the Fire Station adjacent to the park lay shuttered for over 10. The Camarillo City Council has been working to transform the old Fire station into a fire station themed restaurant. To do so, the City has had to spend over $1 Million to acquire the park property and countless years, planning sessions, consulting, and tens of thousands dollars of city funds in order to achieve this small feat. Should so much attention, funds, and public resources be used in order to convert a shuttered fire station into a specifically themed restaurant?  My answer: No!

The Camarillo City Council is ignoring some broad issues in trying to personally develop a restaurant where one shouldn’t exist and can’t achieve sustainability. Here’s just a few:

  • Converting the Fire Station into a full-service restaurant will require a large capital investment, in excess of $1 million. The building wasn’t initially designed for such a purpose. 
  • The City will spend $75,000 in public funds just for consulting. In fairness, this also includes consulting for the park redevelopment. 
  • The City has already spent $1 Million to purchase the land. 
  • Traffic patterns, parking and the mere location of the restaurant doesn’t lend itself to such a development. The restaurant won’t be able to sustain itself. Location and ease of access are key for success. This location has neither. 
  • To support my point above: Every storefront between the 101 onramp/offramp and Arneill Rd. has or is on the verge of failure. This includes every food and drink establishment, including: JJ Brewsky’s (200K loss & owners just sold), Squashed grapes (Closed), Verona Trattoria (struggling), El Rey Cantina(struggling), and Element Coffee(struggling). An additional restaurant will only increase competition and push each of these establishments towards failure. 
  • The meek economic benefit (taxes, jobs) such a restaurant produces is outweighed by the City resources and funds used to develop it. In addition, it doesn’t provide a large enough economic benefit to its neighbors. 
  • Developing a specifically-themed Firehouse full-service restaurant constrains the use of the space in the event of failure. 
  • Dizdar Park was formally a grave yard for a local Baptist Church. Several bodies still lay beneath it’s top soil. A recent Forensic Examination of the park land found several bodies still present, including one of a child next to the current Chamber of Commerce building. Not sure about you, but this doesn’t particularly make me hungry and it could cause land-use issues as time progresses.  
  • Additional Source: VC Star Article

I’ve never been one to present a problem without equally providing a solution. So here’s mine: Renovate the shuttered fire station into a local business incubator in partnership with the City of Camarillo. CSU Channel Islands, the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce, EDC-VC, local SCORE chapter, other business-centric non-profit organizations, and large Ventura County employers. (Wondering what a “Business Incubator” is?)

Here are my supporting points:

  • A business incubator would provide a meaningful and equally beneficial partnership between CSU Channel Islands, the City, and broader community. (CSUCI has recently re-instituted its growth plan for 20,000 students by 2025 - 15K full-time/5K part-time). 
  • A business incubator would serve our struggling locally owned, mom & pop businesses. In addition to developing new businesses it would serve to consult, mentor and guide our current businesses that are in need of such services and resources.
  • It would re-focus Camarillo as a business friendly city, which it currently is not. 
  • It would develop innovative businesses and create jobs, drive local economic growth, help establish Camarillo as a emerging technology and biotech hub (Camarillo is situated along the 101 tech corridor), and ensure  CSU Channel Island’s graduates remain in Camarillo and add to local economic vitality. 
  • Conversion of the Fire House into a multi-functional workspace would be more cost-effective for the City in terms of development & investment and provide a greater economic/financial benefit to both the City, business community, and its citizens. 
  • Utilization as a business incubator will provide more business for the local cafes and restaurants in the general vicinity. Business “lunch” meeting, anyone?  Wanna go grab some coffee at Element Coffee? 

My argument is simply this: The space of the old Fire house could be better utilized than for a restaurant. The issue with Camarillo, and most notably Old Town, is not a lack of business, but rather a lack of planning and support for the ones already there. Poor parking, little pedestrian traffic, lack of awareness and appeal, and resources are the prime reason businesses on the boulevard are struggling and why it wouldn’t be any different for another restaurant in that confined space.

The City Council shouldn’t be focused on building unsustainable businesses, but rather focus on developing the support and resources needed for current businesses to succeed and prospective ones to prosper. 

CNNMoney Tech Tumblr: What plane just flew by? Wolfram Alpha knows 

cnnmoneytech:

Ever see a plane go by and wonder where it came from and where it’s going? Now you can find out using Wolfram Alpha. I’m not kidding.

A search of “flights overhead” in Wolfram Alpha’s search engine will provide results of all the planes flying by, how high up they are, and even what angle…

I attended the Democratic Candidate Forum for the new 26th Congressional District on Thursday Night in downtown Ventura, in the E.P. Foster Library. Steve Bennett, David Pollock, and David Cruz Thayne took turns answering questions from the audience. Pollock was by far the most well-spoken candidate and seemed to draw the best answers and applause from the audience. Although the elderly lady in the front row drew some mighty applause in each of her “Damn right….” remarks.  Pollock had a breadth of knowledge and drew on that. He was well versed, knew his legislature, and drew topics back to his experience on varying councils, boards, and work experience. Bennett continued to emphasize his ability to make the “tough decisions” and establish himself as a independent thinker who won’t just settle for the status quo. Thayne was the definitely the newbie and his lack of public speaking skills reflected as much. He spent most of his remarks simply stating that he agreed with the other two candidates’ remarks, often adding that an issue was “Close to my heart” and that “it’s important we work on this right away” or “adressed ASAP,” but almost never expanded on his position, the issue, or how he would solve it (Strike 1). When asked about his position on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) he said he was unfamiliar with it. (Strike 2). And every-time he mentioned incumbent Elton Gallegly’s name you couldn’t help but to sense the audience cringe when he mispronounced the Congressman’s name (Strike 3, You’re out!).  The candidates squarely focused their attention and rhetoric toward that of Gallegly, not one another. Regardless, it was interesting to watch and gave some great insights as to the community’s (as least the Democrats in the community) concerns and the candidates positions. It’s obvious the 2012 Congressional race in the 26th will be a referendum against Gallegly (if he runs) more than anything. You can check out video of the entire forum over at Kadytv.com.  I’m looking forward to seeing who else enters the race over the next few months, particularly the ever elusive Gallegly. With new district lines drawn it should measure up to be one of the toughest and highly contested races in a decades. 

I attended the Democratic Candidate Forum for the new 26th Congressional District on Thursday Night in downtown Ventura, in the E.P. Foster Library. Steve Bennett, David Pollock, and David Cruz Thayne took turns answering questions from the audience. Pollock was by far the most well-spoken candidate and seemed to draw the best answers and applause from the audience. Although the elderly lady in the front row drew some mighty applause in each of her “Damn right….” remarks. 

Pollock had a breadth of knowledge and drew on that. He was well versed, knew his legislature, and drew topics back to his experience on varying councils, boards, and work experience. Bennett continued to emphasize his ability to make the “tough decisions” and establish himself as a independent thinker who won’t just settle for the status quo. Thayne was the definitely the newbie and his lack of public speaking skills reflected as much. He spent most of his remarks simply stating that he agreed with the other two candidates’ remarks, often adding that an issue was “Close to my heart” and that “it’s important we work on this right away” or “adressed ASAP,” but almost never expanded on his position, the issue, or how he would solve it (Strike 1). When asked about his position on the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) he said he was unfamiliar with it. (Strike 2). And every-time he mentioned incumbent Elton Gallegly’s name you couldn’t help but to sense the audience cringe when he mispronounced the Congressman’s name (Strike 3, You’re out!). 

The candidates squarely focused their attention and rhetoric toward that of Gallegly, not one another. Regardless, it was interesting to watch and gave some great insights as to the community’s (as least the Democrats in the community) concerns and the candidates positions. It’s obvious the 2012 Congressional race in the 26th will be a referendum against Gallegly (if he runs) more than anything. You can check out video of the entire forum over at Kadytv.com. 

I’m looking forward to seeing who else enters the race over the next few months, particularly the ever elusive Gallegly. With new district lines drawn it should measure up to be one of the toughest and highly contested races in a decades. 

Had the privilage of speaking to over 400 small/mid-sized business people at Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort in Santa Barbara last night. All for the Montecito Bank & Trust’s Business-to-Business (B2B) event, titled “Social Media for Your Growing Business.” Peter Shankman was keynote, while I participated on the 3-member panel, along with Lynda Weinman of Lynda.com and web analytic professor Nikki Gauthier. Made for a great night. 

Had the privilage of speaking to over 400 small/mid-sized business people at Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort in Santa Barbara last night. All for the Montecito Bank & Trust’s Business-to-Business (B2B) event, titled “Social Media for Your Growing Business.” Peter Shankman was keynote, while I participated on the 3-member panel, along with Lynda Weinman of Lynda.com and web analytic professor Nikki Gauthier. Made for a great night. 

The Trouble with the electoral College

A belated and private Cinco de Mayo. Doing it right.

A belated and private Cinco de Mayo. Doing it right.

Making some guacamole. Wondering if I need more avocados.

Making some guacamole. Wondering if I need more avocados.

I always thought of their burgers as Godly.

I always thought of their burgers as Godly.

Visited my sister at The Thacher School today. They were hosting their annual freshmen horse drill exhabition. There she is.

Visited my sister at The Thacher School today. They were hosting their annual freshmen horse drill exhabition. There she is.

Lather, Rinse, and Repeat…Then do something Great!

For months I’ve been a creature of this repetitive, predictable routine.  More like a long list of habits really.  From the moment my head leaves the comfort of my pillow to the second it returns I have salved tirelessly on a handful of pet projects accompanied by the daily responsibility and duties required of me by my two jobs and my small marketing business. It has brought me comfort, security, and uniformity in life, but has left me unable to take that all important and necessary “next step in life.”

Ah Hell, what’s the point of life then.  You can’t live life within a protective shell, relegated to the same mundane daily tasks that don’t bring you any closer to attaining your goals and realizing your dreams, and I don’t intend to.  Since January I have entertained this idea for an innovative mobile application.  I’ve toiled away on a draft of a business plan, spoken with close friends and relatives, and day-dreamed of the exhilarating experience of undertaking such a entrepreneurial project.

Entrepreneurship runs in the family.  My grandparents, father, and uncles have all founded their own businesses and I’ve witnessed, and experience, firsthand their highs and lows, advantages and pitfalls, sacrifice and rewards of undertaking such an endeavor and asked:  Why not me?

Since childhood I have been enamored with the idea of starting a business.  It began with building my first fast food drive-thru in the living room out of couch cushions and has only evolved and deepened since.  The thought of developing something from scratch, solving problems, innovating and competing, developing and inspiring a new culture of working and thinking, approaching a product or service from a new angle, thinking outside the box and driven by the belief that everything can always be improved upon.

So…..I’m starting a business.  A new take on an old concept, solving several common problems both consumers and businesses encounter.  I’m building an efficient, innovating and intelligent platform that will forever change an industry, do away with the waste and inefficiencies, and rid both consumers and small and mid-sized businesses of the cumbersome costs and frustrations incurred by both.

I couldn’t be any more vague, could it?  So What is it?…..You’ll hear about it soon enough.

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