Delay of Carousel Mall demolition an unnecessary disaster for SB

The Carousel Mall, always known to San Bernardino residents as the Central City Mall, has been a near-empty and now completely empty eyesore in San Bernardino for more than two decades.

Opened in 1972, only a mile away from the Inland Center Mall which opened in 1966, the Central City Mall was a disaster in-waiting.  While San Bernardino was the hub of industry and government in the Inland Empire at that time, the concept of two competing commercial shopping centers within walking distance was always a harbinger of failure for one or both.

The Inland Center Mall now stands alone as the only functioning commercial mall in the east valley.  For how long is still in question.

Despite fifty years of taxpayer largess from squandered redevelopment agency funding, the Central City/Carousel Mall now sits abandoned, the victim of years of failed promises and rudderless leadership at city hall.

The facility no longer meets earthquake standards, let alone any functional market purpose.   Any reuse of the buildings would demand far more investment of funds than a complete teardown, funds which no longer exist thanks to the abolition of Redevelopment Agencies by the State of California.

Now, after years of foot shuffling, missed opportunities, recessions, and plain old lack of attention, the City of San Bernardino is ready to begin the demolition of the Carousel Mall and begin a new chapter for the Downtown…or is it?

At the regularly scheduled San Bernardino City Council meeting February 17^th, 6^th Ward Councilmember Kimberly Calvin requested a special meeting of the council “Regarding Potential Conflicts of Interest and Bias Impacts Regarding (the) RFP Process for Redevelopment of the Carousel Mall Property; (and) Consideration of Censure Process Related to Conflicts and Violations of the City Charter.”

The city council obliged this request, without evidence or discussion, and a special city council meeting was scheduled for this past Wednesday.

What ensued was an embarrassment.

Councilmember Calvin attempted to present unfounded allegations and innuendo into the public record in some unhinged effort to rescind the initial vetting of Carousel Mall developers and scuttle two years of progress.  (As of this writing the screed still remains on the City Clerk’s website in the public comments section.)  Fortunately, the Council adjourned before any real damage was done save for the reputations of some elected officials.

But the real danger to the redevelopment of the Carousel Mall site and every other economic proposal in San Bernardino remains; the quixotic, irrational and unstable behavior of certain elected officials with political axes to grind.

San Bernardino now has two potential grooms for the Carousel Mall wedding.  It’s time to put the absurdities and political games aside.  Petulant in-laws will not be excused by the citizens of San Bernardino for breaking off the nuptials that the city, our economy and the people demand.

If elected officials can’t put their petty political animosities aside for the good of San Bernardino then they should resign.  Now.