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<\/a><\/p>\nBushala\u2019s second proposal was to create a Business Improvement District (BID) where bars and nightclubs would pay more than other businesses. At first glance, the argument appears straightforward: certain businesses create more police activity and more sanitation hours, so they should contribute more. But that\u2019s not how BIDs are designed to work. Under California law, BID assessments must be tied to proportional benefit, not impact or perceived burden. In other words, you can\u2019t simply charge a category of businesses more because they generate more activity; you have to show that they receive more benefits. This was explained in detail by Housing and Economic Director Sunayana Thomas at a previous meeting, yet that did not deter Bushala from pursuing this policy.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s being proposed here is not a neutral funding mechanism; it\u2019s a selective cost shift aimed at a specific group of businesses. And if the justification is based on impacts rather than benefits, a BID may not be the appropriate legal tool at all.<\/p>\n
Bushala owns multiple properties in downtown Fullerton and does not lease to bars or nightclubs. A policy that increases costs for those businesses would not affect his tenants in the same way and could shift competitive dynamics in the area. This raises the question: Is this about funding shared services, or redistributing costs in a way that aligns with specific property interests?<\/p>\n
Fullerton is facing real financial challenges, and there are no easy solutions. The structure of decision-making matters just as much as the decisions themselves. When individuals with significant political influence and financial interests are helping shape fiscal policy, especially in ways that affect specific industries or involve companies doing business with the city, it\u2019s not enough to simply consider the proposals. It\u2019s necessary to examine the incentives behind them. Because good governance isn\u2019t just about balancing the budget, it\u2019s about ensuring that the way we get there is fair, transparent, and aligned with the public interest.<\/p>\n
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