"Save Leimert - I'm not sure what we're saving it from."

James Fugate, co-owner of Eso Won Bookstores in Leimert Park Village, is fighting to keep his business open and he's not mincing words.

On a KPCC interview with Jay Kugelman (I found the actual interview at Leimertparkvillage.org) Fugate said that about a year ago Save Leimert was formed and "I'm not sure what we're saving it from."

He, like many of us, want a thriving Leimert Park Village where we will drive (or walk) to spend our money.

"The community they have fought very, very hard to keep out any kind of development here," Fugate said. "I'm not really sure what they fear."

Fugate lamented that some kind of deal couldn't be struck with media mogul Tavis Smiley who wanted to build a three-story TV and radio production studio in the Village. Eso Won and the studio would have been on the first floor, offices on the second and a restaurant on the third floor.

"The community fought against that," Fugate said. "I don't know why it happened."

Fugate said it's time for change - not in the African American nature of the Village, that's why he's there - but in turning Leimert Park into a destination.

"When you look around the city at Chinatown and Koreatown or the Mexican village area on Olvera Street, black people should realize they have as much power that when new businesses come in the community they can retain their ethnic sensibility," Fugate railed. "Chinatown is not overrun with Starbuck's and The Gap and I dont think Leimert Park Village will be overrun with big box stores and not have any African American stores .

"That's a fallacy."

Fugate mentioned some of the great shops in the Village - Ackee Bamboo restaurant, Lucy Florence coffee shop and Zambezi Bazaar.

"They are very good businesses, but we need more," Fugate said.

When Kugelman brought up gentrification, Fugate responded:

"I look at how many peopel leave this part of the city and go out to shop and spend their money elsewhere because there's nothing for them here. There are a number of good stores, but there needs to be some change. We can't have four or five empty stores on each side of the block. That makes no sense."

He said that some of the stores are rented just to keep new tenants poeple out -- vacant but rented.

How much does this viewpoint differ from the one-sided, alarmist interviews from reporters who parachute in and leave the next day? Who only quote people that fear change? Is Fugate the only one that believes we deserve more?