Save Our John Muir Flea Market

The John Muir Elementary School PTA would like to move their monthly Flea Market from its long time location in the parking lot of Olympic High School at the corner of Ocean Park and Lincoln to the John Muir/SMASH parking lot.

There are two main reasons why the PTA would like to move a fundraiser that brings in nearly 20\% of their revenue each year. #1 is that that the Olympic High is scheduled for a construction project that will involve use of the parking lot. While the school district is not requiring the Flea Market to move, the hardworking organizers of the Flea Market (John Muir parent volunteers) are concerned that the construction will have a negative effect on vendors and customers risking long term damage to the profitability of the event so they want to move it. #2 being that if it moves, since it benefits John Muir they would like to move it to the John Muir/SMASH parking lot to more easily allow all members of the John Muir and SMASH communities to be involved.

While not required to do so, the PTA approached the Ocean Park Association officially in May for their support in the move which the PTA felt would be readily given. Instead, because of the vocal opposition of a few members of the group, the OPA Board only agreed to support the move of the Flea Market for two trial sessions - one last weekend and one in August.

The opponents raised concerns about issues such as parking, traffic, signage, etc. Issues with which the PTA had plans or told you they were open to guidance from the OPA as to how to solve. The PTA left the May meeting hopeful that the OPA and its Board would realize your concerns were unwarranted and that the Flea Market's move to the John Muir/SMASH parking lot would be a non event in terms of disruption to the neighborhood.

The first of the two trials was on Saturday. There were no parking issues, no traffic issues, no noise issues and no garbage issues. Many John Muir families attended and the Flea Market organizers considered it a success.

Unfortunately, though, there are still members of the Ocean Park Association who chose to find whatever faults they could with the event to continue trying to push the Flea Market back to its old location.

The opposition sent out an anonymous flyer on Friday trying to stir up the neighborhood which turns out to have been organized by a member of your own Board who was voted down at the meeting in his opposition of even a trial period. As part of their flyer they have organized an online petition.

This one is ours. Those people signing below are showing you their support for John Muir, the PTA and the Flea Market by signing this petition to let the OPA know that we want to Save Our Flea Market!!!! Please listen.

Thank you for your time,