July 31, 2009 at 8:53 PM

Excerpts from Inaugural Chula Vista State of the Community Address delivered by Chula Vista Civic Association President & CEO Ed Herrera on July 29,2009 at the Inaugural Public Meeting of the Chula Vista Civic Association

 

"Good evening friends, neighbors,

Thank you for demonstrating your commitment and dedication to our city by being present here with us this evening. I am humbled by the presence of the many community leaders, elected officials, business owners and residents who I can call friends.

The Chula Vista Civic Association is a non-profit business and community organization dedicated to  Chula Vista families, businesses, jobs and bridging divides, generations, and communities, in order to engage in constructive dialogue and organized action, empowering the present and future generations to move Chula Vista forward as one Chula Vista. We believe businesses are the cornerstone of a sustainable local economy, enhancing the quality of life and securing the safety of our city. We advocate for local government that is both fiscally responsible and accountable to taxpayers. We support responsible and sustainable sources of revenue for core services that do not harm families or businesses, but promote job growth and economic opportunity. And because the destiny of Chula Vista is as far reaching as the morning sun, we advocate responsible planning, development and redevelopment.

We are business owner, residents, black, white, brown yellow, We are men, women, young and old, and we reign from every corner of our city. When I look at the broad spectrum of leaders who have answered the call, I see the hopes and dreams of every Chula Vistan in every one of them. When I look at our organization, I see the hopes and dreams of our city.

Friends, while we gather here in good spirit to celebrate the founding of a wonderful organization, there are many Chula Vistans that are listening and will watch at home, whose attention is not here but focused on the state of our local economy and finances of our city-- with good reason.  We have all been affected by the recession and financial turmoil at City Hall.  If we have been so blessed not to have lost our home, job, or business, we know a family member, friend, neighbor or co-worker that has.

Not only does  our city face the turmoil of the national economic recession but its own self-created financial woe which, according to an independent auditor report completed in 2007,  has been rooted in its spending, overhead personnel costs that equate to 80% of the city budget, and its purchase of a new police department and city hall. Combined with City Council’s extensions of contracts preventing renegotiations with bargaining groups, prolonged deficit spending, and drawing down on reserves, City debt has doubled and now we have to pay the price.  That price has come in the form of various cuts to services. The Chula Vista Civic Association, concerned for immediate preservation of core services and the long term rehabilitation of the fiscal condition of the City of Chula Vista, proposed the “Reform Chula Vista Fiscal & Budgetary Health Plan,” which was co-authored by Vice President Russ Hall and I. It was only a few months ago that Mr. Larry Breitfelder and I stood alone at podium in City Hall saying no to a sales tax increase, and our elected officials resisted costing taxpayers $300,000 that we could not afford for an irresponsible and poorly timed ballot measure with Chula Vistans voting 67% against. The message was loud and clear-- Reform city spending, protect taxpayer money, preserve core essential services, and promote economic opportunity. But thst message was not received by city hall.  Again, with the help of Deputy Mayor John McCann, we spoke, when no one else would, and stood up when others were afraid-- we fought  for reform only to be stifled by business as usual politics.  It was déjà vu.

We cannot help but open the morning paper and not have our confidence and trust shattered into 20 million pieces.  

But my friends, the tide of Change is coming to Chula Vista. The question is not whether, it is when.

This recession did not happen over night, nor did it happen over night that we fell into financial despair at City hall. It is only logical that there is no single quick fix. Nor single budget cycle that will repair all that is fiscally broken. 

What matters now is not how we got here, but where we go.

There will always be those who wish to divide us, who see things in red or blue, in “R” or “D”, instead of “C” and “V.” But my friends, our spirit of community shall overcome. Too much relies on our ability to come together, to move are city forward. There is no question that my trust in our government has been shaken, but my hope in people remains ever vigilant.  Our city is large and will continue to grow. As we struggle for jobs and work we spend most of our time with strangers we are seen as numbers or roles (teacher student employee customer). What  we must do now is build social capital--social capital which increases civic engagement and volunteerism.   Hence, we must strive harder towards achieving a sense of community.  As we have grown our thirst for a "sense of community" has encouraged us to create sub-communities—we call them northwest southwest, east. But we must strive and work towards achieving a sense of community that can be embraced by all Chula Vistans for our destiny is a common one and we must be unified in the pursuit. Because we understand that what happens in south affects the north and what happens in north affects the east. And as Dr.  Martin Luther King Jr. said "...injustice anywhere is injustice everywhere."

Ladies and gentlemen. Let this be the generation that sees light in darkness and opportunity in challenge. Let this be the generation that conquers the barriers and rejects divides. Let this be the generation that asks not why but why not. God bless you , this Association and God bless the City of Chula Vista."