During a recent city council meeting, Mayor Jim Steiner reiterated his candid assessment of Corona's downtown area, emphasizing the urgent need for revitalization.

"Downtown's a [expletive] hole, clean it up. I can't even let my family go down a block; that's what I hear," Steiner stated, reflecting concerns voiced by residents about the condition of Sixth Street.

The mayor's remarks were made in the context of a proposal aimed at phasing out certain businesses, including auto shops, gas stations, motels, and massage parlors, as part of a broader effort to rejuvenate the downtown area.

In response, numerous auto shop owners attended the council meeting to express their apprehensions. Jonathan Van Egmond, whose family has operated an auto shop on Sixth Street for 25 years, addressed the council directly.

"You just told my dad on Monday that the downtown is a [expletive] hole," Van Egmond said. "It's not because of our businesses."

His father, Harvey Van Egmond, added that many auto shop owners were unaware of the proposal until the last minute.

"There are about 30 automotive repair shops in town, in this section," he noted. "Their answer is, in 10 years, all of us need to be gone."

Following the meeting, the council decided not to proceed with the proposal immediately, opting instead to engage further with business owners to address their concerns.

While Councilmember Jacque Casillas apologized for the mayor's choice of words, Steiner stood by his statement.

"I stand by that comment, as would most of our residents, because 6th St. and our downtown area have been neglected for decades," Steiner wrote in a statement. "While my word choice could have been better, my intent was to highlight that we recognize the issues downtown, we aren't shying away from the problems there and are actively working on improvements to the area."

Supporting the mayor's perspective, Yousuf Bhaghani, who operates a food bank on Sixth Street, acknowledged the need for change.

"I've been living in the city for 26 years," Bhaghani said. "I have three businesses on Sixth Street. I have seen how this Sixth Street is actually getting worse, and worse, and worse."

City leaders have been developing a comprehensive plan to transform the downtown area, focusing on creating a safe, walkable environment that fosters community engagement and economic growth.

"These are vibrant, growing businesses that are serving the community," Harvey Van Egmond emphasized, expressing a desire to be part of the revitalization efforts.

The ongoing dialogue between city officials and local business owners underscores the complexities involved in balancing redevelopment initiatives with the interests of existing establishments.

As Corona moves forward with its downtown revitalization plans, the city aims to collaborate with stakeholders to ensure that the transformation benefits the entire community.