The Line Ends
In the avidity of middle age, Mr. Blue is the last survivor in his family, having lost his only sibling, an older sister, and both parents in recent years. Husky, gregarious and congenially outgoing, he is carrying on in the gallant manner that a proud family would expect of its banner-bearer. Although he and his sister grew up in the aisles of the venerable Bernard Luggage, 1642 Vine St., while their parents toiled long hours, Mr. Blue flew away after graduating college. He was an auto mechanic for awhile. Later, he made his living as an engineer. No matter how deft he may have been as a mechanic, it is apparent these days Mr. Blue’s mind is a far stronger asset than his hands. “There was a lot of pressure when I came back to the business four years ago,” Mr. Blue said. But he instantly realized that if he was going to be able to stay open, his only choice was to indoctrinate and familiarize himself, hurriedly and thoroughly, with the way redevelopment works. Next, he set out to identify his allies. For starters, he found the following sources helpful: the Castle Coalition (castlecoalition.org/), the Castle Coalition’s Survival Kit (http://www.castlecoalition.org/survival_guide/index.html) and Tim Sandefur at the Pacific Legal Foundation (http://www.pacificlegal.org/mvcTask=offices).
Coming to the Rescue
The Castle Coalition is an Arlington, Va.-based advocacy group that fights eminent domain. Mr. Blue said the Pacific Legal Foundation provides free legal service to owners whose property has been condemned. “They won’t take a belt-and-suspenders approach,” Mr. Blue said. “They don’t challenge the redevelopment aspect, just the ‘public use’ concept when a Resolution of Necessity is passed and the city serves the condemnee.” The already shaken business owner absorbed another shock the day a developer called to starkly pose an up-or-down question. “Do you want to sell your business, yes or no?” “No,” said Mr. Bernard, and the fight was on. While shock coursed through his system “that anyone could talk that way,” Mr. Blue said it did not paralyze him. To the contrary, he became more motivated, more determined to take a stand. He processed his actions, he emphasized. He thought through his tactics. He weighed them before acting. That was critical to the outcome, he said. He may have been upset, but he never let feelings affect the actions he undertook. “I kept in touch with the first business owner who had called me, and I started attending all of the hearings. I tried to pay attention at the hearings. But I also was trying to run a business.” Mr. Blue said he was able to devote the necessary time to aggressively pursuing his case because Ziggy Kruse, the General Manager of Bernard Luggage, stepped into the unavoidable breach. Every enterprise, he said, needs a dynamo such as Ms. Kruse, who responded willingly, enthusiastically to the gathering emergency. His own attitude was also important. Retaining control of himself. The increasingly dizzying swirl of threatening events engulfing Mr. Blue left him more puzzled than angry, he told thefrontpageonline.com. “This is what is interesting,” he said. “When I look back, I am sure there are times I was really angry. It’s not just that I settled and I came out — or at least I am able to stay in business now. I have always approached this situation with the idea of not being angry. I think this is a good lesson for people in a similar situation. You are going against individuals who (also) think they are doing the right thing. If you have anger, you are out of control. Other people may call them something else, but these people are humans. Treat people with respect even if they don’t treat us with respect. You can do that while still being pro-active and still fighting.” ‘Become a Magnet for Attention’
Mr. Blue encourages at-risk land/business owners to band together. “As my case progressed,” he said, “I had someone who was willing to back me 100 percent, which was really reassuring. It also is emotionally reassuring to have people on your side. It gives you the confidence to move ahead.” In addition to having a take-charge person, such as Ms. Kruse, he said business owners need to think innovatively. If you can do something to attract attention, “the local news channels will start covering,” as they did with Bernard Luggage. One tested method he recommends is “getting all of the business owners to put up signs that say ‘Not for Sale’ and ‘Hands Off My Business.’ Both are available from the Castle Coalition.” One month after scoring the biggest victory of his adult life, Mr. Blue was asked which was the more valuable weapon in his fight, a supportive team of fellow entrepreneurs or his lawyers? “Both,” he said. “I am not pro-war, but I look at this as a three-pronged attack — and you have to be pro-active. No.1, you have to get educated. Go online to sites like the Castle Coalition. I am sure there are others. Learn about eminent domain. Learn how to fight. You have to learn everything. This becomes your life. Three years of my life — obviously it is not good for business — everything in my power was focused on this fight. I made up my mind that I was going to do the best I could to stay.”
Next: Bob Blue Talks About Surprises He Encountered in Successfully Challenging the city of Los Angeles.
