[Council Candidate Forum Meeting]
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GOOD EVENING, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
I AM WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND WAS INVITED BY THE EAST SAN GABRIEL VALLEY LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS TO BE THE MODERATOR FOR THIS EVENING'S CANDIDATE FORUM FOR WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL.
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS IS A NONPARTISAN POLITICAL ORGANIZATION WHOSE PURPOSE IS TO PROMOTE THE INFORMED AND ACTIVE PARTICIPATION OF RESIDENTS IN THEIR GOVERNMENT.
WE PUT ON CANDIDATE FORUMS AS PART OF OUR VOTER SERVICE ACTIVITY SO THAT PEOPLE CAN LISTEN TO AND QUESTION THE CANDIDATES WHO ARE VYING TO REPRESENT THEM IN THEIR LOCAL GOVERNMENT.
OUR CITY GOVERNMENT IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE SERVICES TO THE RESIDENTS AND STRUCTURE AND PLANNING FOR THE EFFECTIVE OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE CITY.
LOCAL ELECTED COUNCIL PERSONS ARE JUST THAT LOCAL AND SHOULD BE ACCESSIBLE AND RESPONSIVE TO THE CONSTITUENTS WHO ELECT THEM.
WE'RE VERY HAPPY TO HAVE ALL OF YOU HERE IN THE AUDIENCE TONIGHT, AND THOSE OF YOU WHO ARE WATCHING ON, UH, CABLE.
BEFORE WE BEGIN OUR FORUM, I WILL READ THE RULES OF, OF, UH, PROCEDURE THAT THE CANDIDATES HAVE ALL AGREED TO, AND I WILL ALSO INTRODUCE THEIR, UH, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS STAFF WHO ARE OP MAKING THIS FUNCTION.
I WILL START WITH, UH, CAROLINE DULLAS, WHO IS PRESIDENT OF THE WEST CO CONVEN OR THE EAST AND GABRIEL VALLEY LEAGUE HAS ORGANIZED THIS AND IS BEING THE PERSON WHO MAKES SURE THAT EVERYTHING HAPPENS.
UH, ROSIE UH, FABIAN AND SALLY MCMAN ARE PASSING OUT CARDS AND PENCILS, SO IF YOU'D LIKE TO WRITE A QUESTION, PLEASE RAISE YOUR HAND AND THEY WILL BRING YOU A CARD.
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION THAT YOU'VE WRITTEN, PLEASE WAVE YOUR LITTLE CARD AND THEY'LL COME AND PICK IT UP FROM YOU.
AND, UH, WE WILL BE SORTING THE, UH, QUESTIONS FOR CLARITY, FOR CIVILITY, FOR RELEVANCE TO CITY GOVERNMENT, AND, AND WE HAVE A TIMEKEEPER SITTING HERE IN FRONT.
SHE IS GOING TO BE KEEPING TRACK OF THE TIME, AND AT THE WARNING, WHICH IS USUALLY 30 SECONDS, SHE WILL RING THE BELL ONCE AND WHEN IT'S TIME TO QUIT, SHE'S GOING TO RING THE BELL TWICE, SO EVERYONE SHOULD BE ABLE TO HEAR THAT.
UM, THANK YOU MEMBERS OF THE LEAGUE FOR BEING HERE TO MAKE THIS FORUM FUNCTION AS, AS WELL AS POSSIBLE.
THESE ARE THE RULES THAT THE CANDIDATES HAVE AGREED TO.
THEY HAVE DRAWN FOR ORDER OF SPEAKING, AND WE WILL REVERSE THAT ORDER FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS.
EACH CANDIDATE WILL BE ABLE TO GIVE A ONE MINUTE OPENING STATEMENT, AND THE TIMEKEEPER WILL GIVE THAT CANDIDATE A 32ND WARNING.
AFTER ALL THE CANDIDATES HAVE CONCLUDED, THEIR OPENING STATEMENTS, WRITTEN QUESTIONS WILL BE, UM, USED TO ASK QUESTIONS OF THE CANDIDATES, AND WE WILL VARY THE ORDER OF WHO STARTS FIRST AND WHO ENDS.
AND I MAY START, GO DOWN THE AISLE THIS WAY FOR A WHILE, AND THEN I MAY TURN AROUND AND COME BACK THE AISLE THIS WAY.
SO I TRY TO, TO SHAKE IT UP A LITTLE BIT.
AT THE END, THE CANDIDATES WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES FOR A CLOSING STATEMENT.
WE'LL BE ALLOWING ABOUT 45 MINUTES FOR THIS QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD.
AND, UM, THE CANDIDATES HAVE A PLACE OUTSIDE THE ROOM WHERE THEY CAN PUT THEIR LITERATURE AND SO FORTH, BUT LITERATURE AND T-SHIRTS AND HATS AND THAT KIND OF STUFF SHOULD NOT BE DISPLAYED WITHIN THIS ROOM.
OKAY, SO THE VERY FIRST THING WE HAVE GOING ON IS A, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE THREE CANDIDATES WHO ARE RUNNING TO REPRESENT YOU AS THE TREASURER OF YOUR CITY WILL BE GIVEN ONE MINUTE TO MAKE A
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STATEMENT ABOUT WHY THEY'RE RUNNING AND WHAT, HOW THEY HOPE TO SERVE YOU AS TREASURER OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA.AND THESE, THE PERSON WHO ENDED UP WITH THE UNLUCKY NUMBER OF ONE
AND WOULD YOU COME UP TO THE MIC AND WE'LL, SHE'LL BE SORT OF ADDRESSING THE AUDIENCE AND SORT OF ADDRESSING THE CAMERA.
UH, THANK YOU TO THE EAST SAN GABRIEL VALLEY LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.
FOR FACILITATING THIS FORUM FOR US, MY HUSBAND AND MYSELF FOR LIFELONG RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA.
WE PURCHASED OUR HOME AND RAISED THREE DAUGHTERS, ALL GRADUATES FROM WEST COVENA HIGH SCHOOL.
I'M COMMITTED TO OUR CITY AND ITS RESIDENCE.
THIS POSITION COMES WITH ZERO FINANCIAL DECISION MAKING, BUT ABSOLUTELY IT COMES WITH A HUGE RESPONSIBILITY TO THE RESIDENTS.
AS YOUR TREASURER, I WILL BE TRANSPARENT, ACCESSIBLE, AND WILLING TO FIGHT FOR THE ANSWERS.
I WILL WORK WITH STAFF IN A PROFESSIONAL, COHESIVE MANNER, ENSURING THE OPEN DIALOGUE.
YOU CANNOT SPEND MORE THAN YOU BRING IN.
OUR TAX DOLLARS SHOULD BE USED RESPONSIBLY, NOT THROWN AWAY FOR EXPENSIVE, POSSIBLY UNREALISTIC PROJECTS.
MEASURE H AND HH MONIES NEED TO BE AUDITED.
CONTRACTS AND SERVICES MUST BE REVIEWED.
I WILL HIT THE GROUND RUNNING, LEARNING AND MAKING MISTAKES.
I'M SURE I WILL SERVE YOU THE TAXPAYERS, MY FELLOW WEST RESIDENTS, AND I THANK YOU AND I WOULD BE HONORED TO RECEIVE YOUR VOTE.
THE NEXT CANDIDATE SEEKING, UH, THE OFFICE OF CITY TREASURER THIS EVENING IS MARSHA SOLORIO.
FIRST OFF, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FOR HOSTING THIS FORUM TONIGHT.
MY NAME IS MARSHA SOO AND I AM A CANDIDATE FOR TREASURE FOR THE BEAUTIFUL CITY OF WEST COVINA.
AS A 20 PLUS YEAR RESIDENT AUDIT MANAGER AND CHAIR OF THE CITY'S AUDIT COMMITTEE, I AM COMMITTED TO HELP OUR CITY REACH FINANCIAL STABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY.
I HAVE WORKED AS AN ACCOUNTANT, AS AN AUDITOR, SPECIALIZING IN AGENCIES LIKE LOCAL GOVERNMENTS, WHICH MAKE ME UNIQUELY QUALIFIED TO BE YOUR NEXT CITY TREASURER.
WEST COVINA NEEDS A TREASURER WHO HAS EXPERIENCED AND QUALIFIED AS YOUR NEXT CITY TREASURER.
I WILL BRING MY AUDIT EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE OF OUR CURRENT CITY FINANCES, AND GET THE JOB DONE ATTITUDE TO WORK.
LET'S GET OUR CITY ON TRACK TO REACH FINANCIAL PROSPERITY VOTE.
MARSHA SOO FOR WEST COVINA CITY TREASURER ON NOVEMBER 8TH.
OUR FINAL THIRD, UH, TREASURER CANDIDATE THIS EVENING WHO IS SEEKING YOUR SUPPORT IS COLLEEN ROSATI.
I'M COLLEEN ROSATI, THE CURRENT ELECTED CITY TREASURER.
THANK YOU FOR LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS FOR PUTTING THIS ON.
I KNOW ALL THE CANDIDATES APPRECIATE IT.
OFTENTIMES WE LOOK AT CHANGE BEING A GOOD THING WHEN IT COMES TO CHANGING THE HAIRSTYLE WHEN IT COMES TO MAYBE THE CAR THAT WE DRIVE OR THE COLOR WE PAINT OUR HOME.
YOUR VOTES HAVE VOTED FOR CHANGE OVER THE PAST.
AND AS MANY OF YOU KNOW, THE CHANGE HASN'T ALWAYS BEEN IN OUR FAVOR.
AS YOUR ELECTED CITY TREASURER FOR MORE THAN A DECADE, I HAVE SEEN FIVE CITY MANAGERS COME AND GO WITH THAT MANY INTERIM MANAGERS.
I'VE SEEN THAT MANY FINANCE DIRECTORS NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO CHANGE CITY TREASURERS.
YOU NEED SOMEONE WITH EXPERIENCE.
YOU NEED SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO FIGHT FOR YOU, YOU, WHICH I HAVE FOR THE LAST DECADE.
I HAVE BEEN THE ONLY CONSTANT IN THIS CITY FOR 10 YEARS PLUS.
SO WHEN YOU GO TO VOTE, I WOULD CONSIDER HUMBLY YOU VOTING FOR COLLEEN ZA.
NOW IS NOT THE TIME TO CHANGE.
BRING THIS CITY AROUND TO FISCAL PROSPERITY, RESPECT.
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
NEXT, WE WILL BE HEARING FROM THE THREE CANDIDATES WHO ARE SEEKING, UH, TO REPRESENT THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN DISTRICT FOUR IN WEST COVIN.
AND THOSE THREE PEOPLE ARE, UM, YARA WOLF, WHO WILL BE CANDIDATE NUMBER ONE.
UH, DANIEL LUNA, WHO WILL BE CANDIDATE NUMBER TWO, AND OLI CONTOS, WHO WILL BE CANDIDATE NUMBER THREE.
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YEAH,IT'S, WE WILL BEGIN WITH MS. WOLF AND SHE HAS A PREPARED, UH, STATEMENT TO OPEN WITH.
GOOD EVENING, EVERYBODY WATCHING FROM HOME.
UM, IF YOU HAVE VISITED MY WEBSITE OR IF I'VE COME KNOCKING AT YOUR DOOR.
I HAVE LIVED IN CALIFORNIA PRETTY MUCH ALL MY LIFE.
I GOT MY BACHELOR'S OF BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF SACA AND THEN CAME BACK TO PURSUE MY MASTER'S IN FINANCE, UM, HERE IN CALIFORNIA.
UM, FIRST JOB OUTTA COLLEGE WAS IN DENVER, COLORADO.
I AM NOT LOOKING FOR POLITICAL CAREER, HAVE NO PERSONAL INTEREST, UM, THAT COULD BE ADVANCED AS FAR AS FINANCIAL INTERESTS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.
I'M JUST A RESIDENT THAT'S LOOKING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE EVERYDAY ISSUES THAT OUR CITY AND OUR RESIDENTS FACE.
SO HOPE I CAN HAVE YOUR SUPPORT ON ELECTION DAY NOVEMBER 8TH.
NEXT WE WILL HEAR FROM DANIEL LUNA.
UM, FIRST OF ALL, I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE EAST, UH, SAN GABRIEL, UH, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND THE CITY FOR ORGANIZING THIS.
UH, I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO THANK THE THE VOTERS IN ADVANCE FOR THEIR ATTENTION TO THIS ELECTION.
UH, IT IS AN IMPORTANT ONE FOR THE CITY, UH, AS WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO, TO CHANGE COURSE WITH, UH, BETTER CITY LEADERSHIP.
I AM SO HAPPY TO BE ABLE TO SHARE, UH, WHY I AM RUNNING, UM, TO BE YOUR NEXT CITY COUNCIL MEMBER AND ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE.
I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT, UH, OF, IN THIS AREA FOR OVER 10 YEARS, UM, AND HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING OUR CITY GOVERNMENT SINCE 2014 WHEN MY WIFE AND I BOUGHT OUR HOME HERE IN WEST COVINA.
SINCE THEN, OUR FAMILY HAS GROWN, UH, WHERE WE NOW HAVE TWO DAUGHTERS ENROLLED IN, UM, UH, ONE OF OUR WEST COVINA PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS, AND A SON WHO JUST STARTED PRESCHOOL.
UH, I HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED A RECENT POLICY DISCUSSIONS AND DECISIONS IN OUR CITY OVER MEASURE WC, OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, BKK LANDFILL, AND OUR PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
AND I AM RUNNING BECAUSE I SINCERELY BELIEVE THAT WITH MY EXPERIENCE BACKGROUND, I CAN BE AN EFFECTIVE ADVOCATE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I BELIEVE WE HAVE A GREAT AND THRIVING CITY THAT NEEDS TO GET ITS FINANCES AND PRIORITIES IN ORDER, BUT THAT OUR BEST DAYS ARE AHEAD.
THAT'S WHAT, MORE THAN TWO RINGS.
OUR THIRD CANDIDATE THIS EVENING IS O CANTOS FELLOW RESIDENTS.
MY NAME IS OLIE CANTOS AND I AM PROUD TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT FOUR.
ALL OF US HERE AS RESIDENTS CARE ABOUT OUR CITY.
WE WANT WEST COVINA TO BE A PLACE WHERE WE CAN BE PROUD BECAUSE THIS IS WHERE WE LIVE, WORK, AND PLAY.
BUT BEYOND THE GENERAL IDEAL, THERE IS THE NEED FOR EACH OF US THROUGHOUT THE CITY TO BE ENGAGED IN THE ONGOING AFFAIRS OF GOVERNMENT.
IT ALSO MEANS THAT THROUGH OUR EFFORTS TOGETHER WE CAN BUILD THE CITY EVEN BETTER.
I HAVE HAD 18 YEARS OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE, PLUS 32 YEARS SEPARATELY WITH NONPROFIT EXPERIENCE SERVING THE COMMUNITY AT THE LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL LEVELS.
AND I AM TRULY APPRECIATIVE FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A DISCUSSION TODAY BECAUSE TOGETHER, AS WE WORK TO MAKE THE CITY BETTER, WE WILL INDEED BE SUCCESSFUL.
THE FIRST QUESTION WILL BEGIN WITH MR. LUNA.
GO TO MR. CANTOS AND END WITH MS. WOLF.
COVINA HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.
DURING THAT PERIOD, HOW HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN MAKING IT A BETTER PLACE FOR RESIDENTS? AND ONE MINUTE.
WELL, I THINK SINCE UH, I FIRST MOVED TO WEST COVINA, I ATTENDED A CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND GOT TO KNOW OUR, OUR CITY GOVERNMENT.
BUT I THINK MOST RECENTLY I'VE BEEN INVOLVED, UH, WITH THIS, UH, IDEA THAT OUR
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CITY HAD TO CREATE ITS OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT.UM, AND I, UH, STOOD UP AND, AND RESPONDED TO A CALL FROM A NEIGHBOR TO ACTUALLY CIRCULATE A PETITION, UH, AGAINST THE CITY AND TRY TO OVERTURN THAT BAD DECISION WHERE IT WAS TO WASTE MONEY.
THE CITY HAS WASTED ABOUT A MILLION DOLLARS IF WE INCLUDE STAFF TIME.
SO I WAS HAPPY THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET A GROUP OF FOLKS, AND TOGETHER IT WAS ABOUT MAYBE 10 DOZEN OF US.
WE COLLECTED NEARLY 3000 SIGNATURES.
AND WE HOPE THAT THOSE PEOPLE ARE, ARE PAYING ATTENTION CUZ WE NEED TO FINISH THAT JOB AND UNDO THAT, THAT HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THROUGH THE TIME THAT I HAVE BEEN HERE IN WEST COVINA, I HAVE LITERALLY MET WITH A NUMBER OF, OF DIFFERENT RESIDENTS WHO HAVE EXPRESSED A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT CONCERNS.
AND WHAT I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO IS TO TAKE THE EXPERIENCE HAVING BEEN A NATIVE SON OF WEST COVINA AND BROADEN IT TO SERVE PEOPLE ALL ACROSS THIS COUNTRY, INCLUDING AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL THAT INCLUDES SERVING BUSINESSES, PEOPLE OF COLOR, THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND OTHERS.
AND THE WAY THAT THAT HAS TRANSLATED INTO, IN TERMS OF MY DIRECT, UH, INVOLVEMENT HAS INVOLVED LITERALLY NOT ONLY LISTENING TO THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN OF CONCERN FOR, FOR OUR CITY, BUT ALSO TO PUT TOGETHER A PLAN OF MOVING FORWARD IN TERMS OF HOW WE ARE TO ENGAGE WITH CITY RESIDENTS.
SPECIFIC WITH REGARD TO INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE HAD EXPRESSED ISSUES WITH REGARD TO THE DELAY.
UM, AS IT'S BEEN HIGHLIGHTED BY, BY SOME OF THE ATTENDANCE TONIGHT HERE, MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE ONLY BEEN IN THE CITY FOR, UM, JUST UNDER THREE YEARS, BUT IT DIDN'T NEED TO TAKE ME 10, 15, 20 YEARS TO BECOME INVOLVED AND TO RAISE SOME OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE DEAR AND NEAR TO MY HEART AS SOME OTHER OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND THE DAUGHTER OF, UM, YOU KNOW, ELDERLY, UM, SICK PARENTS.
UM, I AM A PERSON OF ACTION AND I, I LIKE TO CALL PEOPLE TO ACTION.
AS A MATTER OF FACT, WHEN WE WERE IN ESCROW IN MY HOUSE, UM, THERE WAS A, A POST, A UTILITY POST THAT WAS LEANING.
AND AGAIN, WE WERE BARELY IN ESCROW.
AND I RIGHT AWAY CALLED MY HUSBAND SAID, ARE YOU CRAZY? WHY ARE YOU CALLING? WE HAVEN'T EVEN, UM, CLOSED THE, THE PURCHASE.
I SAID, WELL, IF IT'S UH, GONNA AFFECT US, IT'S GONNA AFFECT THE NEXT PERSON.
SO I DON'T NEED WEIGHT, I DON'T NEED TO DO IT JUST FOR MY OWN BENEFIT.
UM, THAT'S KIND OF HOW THIS STARTED BECAUSE AGAIN, I NEVER HAD AN INTEREST OR THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE AN INTEREST IN POLITICS.
UM, BUT I WAS, WAS REACHING, UM, SORRY.
I WOULD DEFINITELY THINK YOU, YOU CAN FINISH YOUR SENTENCE, BUT DON'T TURN IT INTO A PARAGRAPH.
SO JUST A LITTLE BIT TO, TO COMPLETE YOUR THOUGHT.
UM, THIS TOPIC HAS ALREADY BEEN BROUGHT UP AND I THINK IT'S TIME THAT WE COULD ALLOW YOU CANDIDATES TO DISCUSS IT A LITTLE BIT MORE.
UM, IF I CAN, THERE ARE TWO VERSIONS OF THIS.
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE CITY'S PROPOSAL TO DEVELOP ITS OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT? IS IT FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE AND IS IT NECESSARY? AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH MR. CANTOS.
GO TO MS. WOLF AND END WITH MR. LUNA.
THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IS A MISTAKE.
WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO MOVE IN THIS DIRECTION.
THERE WAS NO NEEDS ASSESSMENT THAT WAS PROPERLY PERFORMED.
WE HAVE ALREADY SPENT MORE THAN $600,000 ON THIS CONCEPT.
THERE HAS BEEN NO EVIDENCE OF THE COUNTY DOING A BAD JOB WITH ITS RESPONSIBILITIES.
AND WHEN LOOKING AT LONG TERM COSTS MOVING FORWARD WITH THIS HEALTH DEPARTMENT, IT WILL BE A DRAIN ON OUR CITY BUDGET.
AND IT WILL ALSO MOVE FORWARD WITHOUT EVEN BEING REPRESENTED OF, OF ANY SPECIFIC NEEDS BEING MET BY THE CITY THAT THE COUNTY DOESN'T ALREADY MEET.
AND IF I'M ELECTED TO CITY COUNCIL, I WILL MOVE THAT.
WE CHANGE DIRECTION AND WE STOP THIS MADNESS OF MOVING FORWARD WITH THE WEST CO HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UM, HAVING BEEN HERE FOR A WHILE, LIKE I SAID, UM, I DIDN'T NEED TO BE HERE A NUMBER OF YEARS TO LEARN ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT AFFECT
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THE CITY.I AM WITHIN A ONE MILE RADIUS OF, UM, I'M SORRY.
UM, GOD, MY ISSUES CONFUSED
I'M NOT PRIVY TO THE FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF EXACTLY HOW MUCH IS SPENT OR HOW MUCH WE HAVE TO SPEND.
I DO KNOW THAT THE CITY IS IN FINANCIAL DIFFICULTY, BUT IT'S ALSO DANGEROUS FOR ANYBODY THAT IS RUNNING FOR OFFICE TO OPPOSE AN ISSUE WITHOUT HAVING ALL THE FACTS.
AND, UM, I BELIEVE THAT FIRST I WOULD NEED TO LOOK AT ALL THE FACTS.
UM, INDEPENDENCE AS FAR AS HAVING A PUBLIC HEALTH DEPARTMENT, I WOULD SAY'S ALWAYS A GOOD THING.
IT WOULD MEAN WE GET TO CHOOSE WHETHER WE WEAR MASK OR NOT.
WE GET TO CHOOSE, UM, A NUMBER OF ISSUES, RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS, YOU KNOW, ISSUES THAT AFFECT THE SCHOOL DISTRICT.
SO AS A CONCEPT, IT'S A GREAT IDEA.
IS IT A GREAT IDEA NOW? WELL, I'D HAVE TO LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND MAKE A DECISION THEN, AND NOT JUST DEPOSIT IT ON THE PRINCIPLE.
I, I RECALL THE, THE DAY THAT, UH, THERE WAS A VOTE ON, ON THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN, IN, IN THIS, UH, UH, ROOM AND SPEAKER AFTER SPEAKER SPOKE UP AGAINST THAT IDEA A LOT OF PEOPLE, AT LEAST 30 FOLKS.
AND THERE WAS MAYBE, I THINK MR. WOO INVITED THREE BUSINESS, UH, FOLKS TO COME IN AND, AND ARGUE FOR IT.
BUT THE COMMUNITY SPOKE UP AND WAS CLEARLY OPPOSED TO IT.
UH, BUT THE CITY AND THE, THE CURRENT CITY MAJORITY MOVED AHEAD AND DID IT, WHICH IS PART OF SOME OF THE DECISIONS THAT THEY'VE BEEN MAKING, WHICH IS JUST NOT IGNORE WHAT THE COMMUNITY'S SAYING AND, AND NOT CAREFULLY ANALYZE OR EXPLAIN THINGS.
SO I, I DO THINK THAT THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IS UNDONE.
UH, THERE IS NO WAY THAT WE WOULD GET MONEY FROM THE COUNTY, SO WE WOULD END UP PAYING TWICE POSSIBLY BECAUSE WE ALREADY PAID THROUGH OUR PROPERTY TAX THROUGH WHAT THE, THE COUNTY PROVIDES.
AND THERE'S ONLY THREE CITIES IN THE STATE THAT HAVE THEIR OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENTS AND THEY'VE HAD THEM SINCE THEIR FOUNDING.
SO I THINK WEST COVINA CAN STEP BACK AND DEAL WITH WHAT WE HAVE TO DEAL, WHICH IS IN THE COMMUNITY.
THIS QUESTION WILL BEGIN WITH MS. WOLF.
UH, GO TO MR. LUNA AND END WITH MR. CANTOS.
IN 2019, COUNCIL MEMBERS GAVE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT RAISES OF 12% PLUS A COST OF LIVING OF 3%.
WHEN OUR CITY'S FINANCES WERE IN DEEP TROUBLE.
WE ARE, WE'RE NINTH FROM MOST AT RISK OF BANKRUPTCY.
WOULD YOU HAVE SUPPORTED SUCH A RAISE? IF SO, WHY? IF NOT, WHY? UM, I ABSOLUTELY WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED SUCH RAISE.
AGAIN, I AM AWARE THAT THE CITY IS IN A FINANCIAL DIFFICULT SPOT RIGHT NOW, BUT, UM, WE GOTTA PUT OUR MONEY, OUR MOUTH, WHERE OUR MONEY IS, OR THE MONEY WHERE THE MOUTH IS.
UM, AND IF WE'RE GOING TO SIT HERE AND SAY THAT WE SUPPORT OUR SA OUR PUBLIC SAFETY, THAT WE SUPPORT OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AND OUR PARAMEDICS, WE HAVE TO AFFORD THEM A DECENT WAGE, A COMPETITIVE WAGE, AND, UM, YOU KNOW, COMPENSATE THEM ACCORDINGLY BECAUSE THEY ARE LITERALLY OUT THERE PUTTING THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE FOR US.
SO WE CANNOT SAY I SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY AND THEN TURN DOWN, UM, A DECENT WAGE AND A COMPETITIVE WAGE, UM, FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.
I THINK THAT'S VERY HYPOCRITICAL.
SO I WOULD SAY AT THIS POINT THAT I, I WOULDN'T FEEL COMFORTABLE SAYING THAT I WOULD, WOULD HAVE SUPPORTED THAT, THAT, UH, WAGE INCREASE WITHOUT KNOWING WHAT THE WHOLE PACKAGE WOULD'VE BEEN.
AND THAT, AND THAT COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT, CUZ FROM, FROM WHAT I RECALL, AND IN READING SOME OF THE, UM, THE NOTES, IT, IT WAS CONTINGENT ON THE CITY GETTING MORE FUNDING AND SO FORTH.
AND THEN IT WAS AROUND THIS TIME TOO THAT WE WERE, THE, THE, THE, I THINK THE, THE UNION OF, OF, UH, POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS WERE CIRCULATING A MEASURE WC TO INCREASE THE SALES TAX.
SO IT, IT SEEMED TO BE IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT.
AND, AND, AND, AND I DON'T KNOW IF IT WAS, IF WE HAD THE FUNDS AND WITHOUT KNOWING IF THERE WAS OTHER THINGS THAT NEEDED TO BE TWEAKED TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT COMPENSATION PACKAGE WAS THE PROPER THING TO DO, I CAN'T SAY THAT I WOULD'VE SUPPORTED IT.
I THINK THAT WHAT IS IMPORTANT HERE IS FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THAT OUR OBLIGATIONS AT OUR, AS OUR, AS A CITY, UH, GO BEYOND JUST LAW ENFORCEMENT.
OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMUNITY ARE CRITICAL.
THEY ARE THE REASONS WHY WE ARE SAFE, WHICH IS WHY WE NEED TO PUSH FOR ADDITIONAL, UH, FUNDING AND SUPPORT TAB MORE OFFICERS ON THE STREET.
THAT HAVING BEEN SAID, WE ALSO NEED TO LOOK AT THE CURRENT BUDGET.
AND I WOULD HAVE ASKED THAT THERE BE AN APPROPRIATE ASSESSMENT TO SEE ABOUT THE EXTENT TO WHICH WE LOOK
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AT OUR PENSION OBLIGATIONS ASSOCIATED WITH ADDITIONAL COSTS.BECAUSE WE HAVE TO LOOK NOT JUST WITHIN THE, THE CURRENT FISCAL YEAR, BUT WHAT ARE OUR LONG TERM PENSION OBLIGATIONS AND OTHER BENEFITS OBLIGATIONS THAT WOULD BE ASSOCIATED.
AND THEN AFTER DOING THE APPROPRIATE ANALYSIS AND WORKING WITH DIFFERENT STAKEHOLDERS, THEN TO DECIDE.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE APPROACH HAS TO BE.
IT HA IT CAN'T BE SIMPLY A KNEE JERK REACTION.
WE NEED TO ENGAGE IN APPROPRIATE ANALYSIS AND SUPPORT.
AND IN DOING THAT, JUST LIKE WE WOULD DO WITH OTHER ISSUES, THAT IS THE WAY TO MANAGE THE CITY IN A FISCALLY SOUND WAY.
THERE SEEMED TO BE A NUMBER OF, UH, FINANCIAL ISSUES BROUGHT UP BY THE AUDIENCE.
UM, THIS PERSON SAYS CITY FINANCIAL STATEMENT, THE CHANGES IN THE NET POSITION SHOW A DEFICIT OF ALMOST 50 MILLION IN FOUR YEARS.
OUR FINANCE DIRECTOR PROJECTED ANOTHER 20 MILLION IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS FOR A TOTAL OF ALMOST 70 MILLION.
HOW WOULD YOU PLAN TO CLOSE THIS GAP? AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH MR. LUNA.
GO TO MR. CONTOS AND END WITH MS. WOLF.
SO I THINK WE WOULD BEGIN BY CAREFULLY ASSESSING WHETHER, UM, THERE COULD BE ANY TYPE OF, UH, OF, OF COST SAVINGS.
UM, IN, IN TERMS OF THE PROGRAMS THAT WE DO HAVE.
UH, CURRENTLY THE CITY BUDGET, I THINK IS PRIMARILY 80% IS, IS FOR OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.
UM, AND, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT, BUT THERE'S ALSO, UH, A LOT OF, UH, LIABILITIES WITH OUR PENSIONS.
AND THERE ARE THINGS THAT THE STATE HAS DONE, FOR EXAMPLE, WHERE EMPLOYEES AND HAVE CONTRIBUTED MORE FOR THAT PENSION LIABILITY.
BUT I THINK IT'S SOMETHING THAT THE STATE OR THE, THE, THE CITY IS OBLIGATED TO MAINTAIN.
SO IT'LL BE PART OF FIGURING OUT HOW TO, UH, BRING DOWN THOSE COSTS BY POSSIBLY, UH, ESTABLISHING A ANOTHER POOL OF MONEY THAT'S INVESTED AND NOT TOUCHED IN THE LONG HAUL TO BE ABLE TO, TO AFFORD THOSE LIABILITIES, WHICH IS WHAT THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DID WITH THE, WITH STATE WORKERS, UH, UH, IN 2013.
AND THAT MONEY SITTING THERE BUILDING TO EVENTUALLY PAY DOWN THE, THAT THOSE LIABILITIES FOR THE PENSION, WHICH IS ARE PART OF WHAT'S CAUSING THE DEFICIT.
WE DID NOT GET TO THIS POSITION OVERNIGHT.
IT TOOK A SERIES OF DECISIONS THAT RESULTED IN FISCAL MISMANAGEMENT, WHICH IS WHY ACTUALLY OUR, WE ARE AT THE, WHERE THE 12TH WORST MANAGE, UH, CITY, UH, BUDGET IN, IN, IN THE STATE, WHICH IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF.
AND SO WHAT WE NEED TO DO HERE IS TO LOOK AT TWO THINGS.
ONE, WE NEED TO LOOK AT NEW, UH, POSSIBILITIES FOR REVENUE GENERATION.
THAT INCLUDES MAKING SURE THAT THIS CITY IS FRIENDLY TO BUSINESS SO THAT MORE JOBS ARE CREATED HERE AND MORE TAXES ARE PAID HERE FROM CITY REVENUE, WHICH THEN WILL CREATE MORE OF A RIPPLE EFFECT.
THE OTHER THING IS FOR US TO LOOK AT EVERY TIME WE LOOK AT OUR SPENDING, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE LONG TERM COST BEYOND ANY SPECIFIC FISCAL YEAR SO THAT WE CAN LOOK AT THE EXTENT TO WHICH SOMETHING IS AFFORDABLE.
AND IF WE CANNOT AFFORD SOMETHING, THEN WE SHOULD NOT GO INTO DEFICIT SPENDING OR CONTINUE.
AND BY THE WAY, WE SHOULD NOT SELL SURPLUS PROPERTY IN ORDER TO, TO, UH, ENGAGE IN BUDGETARY PRACTICES THAT WOULD RE WOULD RESULT IN OUR LOSING CITY INVENTORY WITHOUT NECESSARILY A PLAN.
UM, ONE WAY TO LOOK AT THE FINANCES IS, UM, PRETTY MUCH, UM, HOUSEHOLD FINANCES.
WHEN YOU CAN'T GO OUT THERE AND MAKE MORE MONEY, YOU FIRST HAVE TO START LOOKING AT HOW TO SAVE MONEY.
HOW DO WE DO THAT AS A CITY? WE, THERE, THERE MIGHT BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW CONTRACTS THAT, YOU KNOW, UM, FORMER COUNCIL MEMBERS AND MAYORS MIGHT HAVE, UM, MISTAKENLY SIGNED WITH DEALS AND, UM, AND FINANCIALS THAT DO NOT MAKE SENSE.
UM, AGAIN, I'M NOT PRIVY TO INFORMATION LIKE THAT BECAUSE I AM NOT CURRENTLY IN THE COUNCIL.
UH, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT AREAS OF OPPORTUNITY.
UM, THERE'S A LOT THAT'S SAID ABOUT POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS OVER TIME, SO WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE REASONS WHY THAT'S HAPPENING.
HOW DO WE CUT BACK? UM, WE NEED TO MAYBE REVISIT THE PROCURE PROCUREMENT PROCESS TO MAKE SURE THAT IF AND WHEN WE'RE SIGNING CONTRACTS, WE ARE ENSURING THAT WE GET A, BOTH A SHORT TERM AND A LONG TERM, UM, BENEFIT FROM THESE CONTRACTS.
I DON'T, THIS QUESTION IS CHANGING THE TOPIC, BUT IT ULTIMATELY ENDS UP
[00:30:01]
DEALING WITH MONEY, DOESN'T IT? HOW SHOULD THE CITY HANDLE THE HOMELESSNESS SITUATION? WOULD YOU SUPPORT TINY HOMES OR OTHER INITIATIVES TO HOUSE THE HOMELESS AND WILL BEGIN WITH MR. CONTOS? GO TO MS. WOLF AND END WITH MR. LUNA? WHEN IT COMES TO THE HOMELESS ISSUE, IT REQUIRES A MULTIFACETED APPROACH THAT INCLUDES SUPPORTING ENTITIES LIKE LACAVA LA KAVA WITH, UH, ITS EFFORTS TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREET TO PROVIDE THE TYPE OF SOCIAL SERVICES SO AS TO MAKE THE ISSUE OF ADDRESSING HOMELESSNESS MORE OF A PERMANENT SOLUTION RATHER THAN JUST TRYING TO SHIP PEOPLE OUT AND THEN THEY COME BACK.THE OTHER THING THAT'S IMPORTANT TOO IS FOR US TO HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK, BECAUSE THERE IS REALLY SOMETHING IMPORTANT HERE WITH REGARDS TO THE DIGNITY OF WORK AND GETTING PEOPLE WHO ARE PART OF THE HOMELESS COMMUNITY TO BE A PART OF OUR SOLUTION.
FOR EXAMPLE, GETTING THEM TO HELP CLEAN UP, CLEAN UP OUR GRAFFITI IS AN, IS AN AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT WE CAN DO THERE.
BUT THE THING IS THAT WHEN WE LOOK AT OUR HOMELESSNESS ISSUE, IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US TO RECOGNIZE THE IMPORTANCE TO BUSINESSES AS WELL.
IF WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS, WHO ARE LOITERING AND BUSINESSES DON'T FEEL, AND CUSTOMERS THAT AT BUSINESSES WOULDN'T FEEL SAFE GOING THERE, THEY WILL GO ELSEWHERE.
THEY'LL GO TO, THEY'LL LEAVE THE CITY AND THEY'LL GO SOMEWHERE ELSE.
SO THAT'S WHY WE NEED TO HAVE THE KIND OF APPROACH THAT INVOLVES BUSINESS, NONPROFIT, AND GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS.
UM, THE HOMELESS IS AN ISSUE, OBVIOUSLY THAT AFFECTS THE ENTIRETY OF CALIFORNIA, AND IT'S, UM, SUPER IMPORTANT THAT WE HAVE BOTH AN EMPATHETIC AND A PRAGMATIC APPROACH TO IT.
UM, YOU KNOW, WITH INFLATION AND EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING, IT COULD BE ANY OF US ANY OF THESE DAYS AND WE WOULD WANT TO HAVE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO US.
UM, THERE'S A STIGMA OF COURSE, THAT ALL HOMELESS ARE DRUG ADDICTS OR, OR ALL HOMELESS, HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND THAT'S NOT REALLY THE CASE.
SO WE HAVE TO, UM, FIGURE OUT WAYS THAT WE ARE HELPING PEOPLE.
WE ARE EVALUATING WHAT THE SITUATION IS AND WHAT THE NEED IS, UM, DEPENDING ON WHERE THESE HOMELESS ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHERE THEY'RE CONGREGATING, WHERE WE NEED TO MOVE THEM.
UM, IT'S A, IT'S AN ISSUE THAT REQUIRES A LOT OF THOUGHTS AND, AND DEFINITELY ALSO AN ANALYSIS OF OUR FINANCIAL POSITION SO THAT WE CAN USE THOSE, UM, RESOURCES THAT ARE AVAILABLE AND FIGURE OUT HOW TO HAVE MORE RESOURCES FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE.
SO YES, THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT ISSUE THAT, UM, WE HAVE TO, UH, HAVE A GOOD APPROACH TO HERE IN WEST COVINA.
THERE RECENTLY HAS BEEN SOME, UH, DEVELOPMENTS, UH, I MEAN WITH THE, THE TINY HOMES IN BALDWIN PARK WITH THE GOVERNOR NEWSOME JUST SIGNING THE, UH, THE CARE COURT, UH, LEGISLATION THAT ALLOWS FOR FOLKS TO BE, UM, THAT ARE HOMELESS BUT HAVE SERIOUS SUBSTANCE ABUSE OR MENTAL WELLNESS ISSUES TO ACTUALLY BE COMMITTED BY A COURT SO THEY COULD BE TREATED FOR UP TO TWO YEARS.
I THINK THAT'S AN IMPORTANT ASPECT THAT NEEDS TO BE TAKEN INTO ACCOUNT BECAUSE RIGHT NOW A LOT OF OUR, UH, LAW ENFORCEMENT AND, AND OTHER PEOPLE THAT DEAL WITH THE HOMELESS, THEIR HANDS ARE TIED BECAUSE THEY CAN'T REMOVE THEM UNLESS THERE'S HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY AS WELL.
AND THEN OTHER FOLKS THAT, THAT DO HAVE THESE SERIOUS ISSUES, UH, DON'T GET THE TREATMENT.
AND SO THERE IS SOME MOVEMENT WITH THAT TO PROVIDE SOME INTERIM HOUSING, BUT ALSO PROGRAMS THAT WHERE WE COULD COLLABORATE WITH THE STATE AND, AND THE COUNTY, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT THIS PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL IS NOT REALLY DOING THAT MUCH.
THEY, THEY, THEY WANT TO TAKE THIS LIKE POSTURE OF FIGHTING INSTEAD OF COLLABORATING.
NOW, HEY, THIS PERSON THAT SAYS CODE ENFORCEMENT IS VERY EXPENSIVE.
HOW HAS CODE ENFORCEMENT IMPROVED THE CITY OF WEST COVIN SO FAR? AND FOR THIS, WE'LL BEGIN WITH MR. CONTOS AND MOVE TO LUNA AND END WITH MS. WOLF.
CODE ENFORCEMENT IS, IS ACTUALLY VERY, VERY CRITICAL.
UH, AND, AND, AND THE THING THAT WE HAVE TO KEEP IN MIND HERE IS IF WE ENFORCE OUR EXISTING CODES, IT ACTUALLY IMPROVES THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR OUR CITY.
LET'S SAY THERE IS A OVERGROWN VEGETATION.
IF, IF THERE ARE THINGS THAT HAVE FALLEN INTO DISREPAIR, WE NEED TO REALLY ADDRESS THOSE HEAD ON, AND WE NEED TO BE TOUGH WITH ENFORCING, UH, CODES IN THAT WAY.
UH, AS FAR AS BE IT BEING EXPENSE TO THE CITY, UH, IT, IT, IT ACTUALLY IS, IS REALLY CRITICALLY IMPORTANT BECAUSE THEN WHEN EVERYTHING IS, IS IS FURTHER IMPROVED, IT ACTUALLY MEANS THAT THE CITY IS A MORE BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO LIVE.
AND, AND IT ALSO RESULTS IN, IN, IN PEOPLE RECOGNIZING THAT WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT ENSURING THAT OUR EXISTING ORDINANCES ARE ENFORCED.
IF THERE IS A SITUATION WHERE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO CANNOT AFFORD DIFFERENT SITUATIONS WHERE THERE IS A FINE OR THERE'S
[00:35:01]
SOMETHING THAT'S WHERE WE HAD TO BRING THE COMMUNITY IN TO HELP THOSE INDIVIDUALS.AND THAT, THAT'S WHY IT WAS ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT AT THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING JUST A FEW DAYS AGO.
SO WE NEED TO HAVE A BALANCED APPROACH, BUT WE ALSO NEED TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE CITY THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT IS, IS PART OF THE WAY THAT WE, WE, UH, UPHOLD AND DEFEND OUR PRACTICES HERE TO MAKE THE CITY BETTER.
ONE THING THAT, THAT I DO WANNA DO IF I AM HONORED TO BE A A CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, WOULD BE TO LISTEN.
AND ONE THING THAT I'VE HEARD RECENTLY MORE AND MORE IS THAT THERE ARE PROBLEMS WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT, UH, THAT IT DOES SEEM LIKE IN SOME AREAS THEY BE A LITTLE TOO AGGRESSIVE AND SO FORTH.
IT'S A PRIVATE COMPANY THAT'S DOING THAT CODE ENFORCEMENT TRANSTECH, THE SAME COMPANY THAT, UM, THAT WAS DOING THE, THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
SO I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING ON THERE, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I MEAN, I HAVE SEEN SOME POSITIVE CODE ENFORCEMENT, LIKE WHERE PEOPLE THAT HAVE PALM TREES THAT, THAT NEED TO BE TRAINED AND SO FORTH.
BUT I, I AM HEARING FROM FOLKS THAT THEY DO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH THE CODE ENFORCEMENT.
SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO BE EXPLORED FURTHER, I WOULD SAY THANK YOU, MS. WOLF.
I WAS, UM, RECENTLY A LUCKY RECIPIENT OF A CODE ENFORCEMENT LETTER.
AND, UM, BECAUSE THE PIECE OF FURNITURE WAS RIGHT IN BETWEEN THE PROPERTY LINE OF MY NEIGHBOR AND MYSELF, WE HAD A, A NICE DISCUSSION ABOUT HOW WE SHOULD ALL HAVE A LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP WITH CODE ENFORCEMENT.
YOU KNOW, UM, I DON'T WANNA SEE FURNITURE OUT ON THE CURB OFTEN.
I DON'T WANNA SEE UNKEPT YARDS.
UM, THE LETTER, IT, IT'S NOT A FINE, IT GIVES YOU A DEADLINE, IT GIVES YOU A CHANCE TO, UM, YOU KNOW, FIX THE VIOLATION.
SO IT'S, UM, WHAT I WOULD CALL A NECESSARY EVIL.
UM, AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, THEY SAID, YOU KNOW, SOME PEOPLE FACE HARDSHIPS OR, UM, PHYSICAL, UM, LIMITATIONS TO DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE.
AND IN THAT CASE, YOU KNOW, MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE INSTEAD OF POSTING SOMETHING ON THE WEBSITE, PUT IT ON THE LETTER AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LETTER AND SAY, IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO COMPLY DUE TO PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS OR FINANCIAL HARDSHIPS, WE HAVE X AND Y PROGRAM.
THIS IS A CHANGE OF, OF, UH, DIRECTION.
AGAIN, THIS PERSON ASKS, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS SURROUNDING GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND GUN SAFETY WITHIN THE COMMUNITY? AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH MR. LUNA.
GO TO MS. WOLF AND IN WITH MR. CANTOS.
SO MY THOUGHTS OF WITHIN THE COMMUNITY IS THAT IT'S, IT'S A LEGITIMATE CONCERN THAT SOME FOLKS HAVE ABOUT, JUST IN THE, IN GENERAL, WHAT'S GOING ON IN THE COUNTRY AND THE UNITED STATES.
YOU KNOW, WHAT, WHAT RECENTLY HAPPENED AT THE SCHOOL IN, IN TEXAS AND SO FORTH.
UM, AND, UH, AND, AND, AND IT'S, IT'S SOMETHING THAT I THINK IN CITY GOVERNMENT IS NOTHING THAT WE WERE REALLY HAVE ANY JURISDICTION OVER.
BUT I DO THINK THAT, UM, IT IS A CONCERN THAT SOME PEOPLE HAVE.
I HAVE FRIENDS THAT ARE GUN OWNERS THAT HAVE LIKE 10 GUNS AND THEY LIKE THEM, BUT, UH, BUT THEY'RE RESPONSIBLE WITH THEM.
BUT THERE'S ALSO A LOT OF, UH, UH, OF GUNS OUT THERE THAT ARE NOT LEGAL AND, AND, AND THERE'S A LOT OF MANUFACTURED GUNS AS WELL.
SO IT IS A, AN ISSUE THAT I'M SURE OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT IS, IS, UH, AWARE OF AND, AND, AND STRUGGLES WITH.
BUT I'M NOT SURE IF IT'S THAT BIG OF AN ISSUE HERE IN WEST COVINA NECESSARILY, BUT IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE SHOULD LEARN MORE ABOUT.
UM, AGAIN, AS A MOTHER OF TWO YOUNG CHILDREN AND GIVING EVERYTHING THAT WE'VE SEEN IN, I WOULD SAY THE PAST DECADE, HOW BAD, UM, SCHOOL SHOOTINGS, UM, JUST PUBLIC SHOOTINGS IN GENERAL HAVE GOTTEN THERE DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE EDUCATION.
BUT FOR ME, UM, YOU GOTTA GET TO THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM.
IT'S THE THOUGHT PROCESS AND A PERSON'S HEAD THAT MAKES THAT GUN EVIL.
AND THAT STEMS FROM THE LACK OF NURTURING OF OUR CHILDREN, FROM THE LACK OF, UH, PROGRAMS AVAILABLE FOR MENTAL HEALTH.
THAT'S THE EDUCATION THAT WE HAVE TO TACKLE, AND THAT'S WHAT OUR FOCUS SHOULD BE.
SO THAT IF I'M A RESIDENT WHO WANTS TO HAVE A GUN IN MY HOUSE, YOU KNOW, I WANNA HAVE IT.
I DON'T HAVE MENTAL ISSUES, I DON'T HAVE DEPRESSION, I DON'T HAVE ANGER ISSUES.
UM, THERE'S A LOT OF, UM, BULLIES IN THE SCHOOL AND KIDS THAT ARE OUTCAST THAT UNFORTUNATELY ARE THE ONES THAT ARE MORE LIKELY TO COME BACK, UM, WITH A GUN IF THAT'S NOT ADDRESSED.
[00:40:01]
THIS.I REALLY SUP I SUPPORT THE RIGHTS OF LAW ABIDING CITIZENS TO CARRY GUNS AND TO KEEP GUNS IN THEIR, IN THEIR HOMES IF THEY, IF THEY SO CHOOSE.
THE CRIMINALS ARE THE ONES WHO VIOLATE THE LAW ANYWAY BY OBTAINING WEAPONS OF ANY MEANS.
AND WHENEVER INDIVIDUALS WANT TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND THEY, THEY EXERCISE APPROPRIATE EDUCATION AND SAFETY IN MAKING SURE THAT THEIR FAMILIES ARE SAFE, THEN WE NEED TO DO THAT.
AND WE NEED TO REC, MAKE, MAKE SURE TO UNDERSTAND THAT, THAT IT, IT ISN'T THAT GUN GUNS THAT KILL PEOPLE, IT'S PEOPLE WHO KILL PEOPLE.
AND WHEN, SO WHEN IT COMES TO THE SCHOOLS, WE ALSO NEED TO RECOGNIZE HERE THAT THE NEED TO EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT, ABOUT GUN SAFETY AND SO FORTH, BUT TAKING THE, UH, GUNS OUT OF THE HANDS OF, IN LAW ABIDING CITIZENS ARE SOMEHOW RESTRICTING THAT WHEN THEY ARE FOLLOWING THE LAW, WHILE CRIMINALS CONCURRENTLY DON'T FOLLOW THE LAW.
AND WHAT HALF OF WEAPONS ANYWAY, IS JUST BAD POLICY, IN MY VIEW.
UH, THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED NO CONFIDENCE IN OUR COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY GEORGE GASCON.
WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THIS POSITION? WE'LL BEGIN WITH MS. WOLF.
UM, YOU KNOW, IT'S NO SECRET THAT CRIME CRIME RATES ARE ON THE RISE DUE TO PASCAL'S POLICY.
UM, I THINK THAT A SOFT ON CRIME APPROACH IS NOT THE BEST SOLUTION FOR US.
AND WHEN YOU QUICKLY RELEASE A CRIMINAL ONTO THE STREETS, WE HAVE SEEN WHAT THAT DOES.
YOU KNOW, THERE ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE REPEAT OFFENDERS AND THERE NEEDS TO BE HARSH CONSEQUENCES.
I SUPPORTED THE RECALL EFFORT FOR GEORGE GEORGE GASCON.
HIS POLICIES OF BEING REAL LAX IN TERMS OF ENFORCING THE LAW THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE BOOKS WITH REGARD TO CRIMINALS WHO VIOLATE THE REST OF OUR RIGHTS IS ABSOLUTELY INEXCUSABLE.
I, MYSELF AM A FORMER CRIME VICTIM.
A PERSON WHO WAS HOMELESS TRIED TO TAKE A WALLET OUT OF MY POCKET AND TRIED TO STAY SILENT, BUT IT WAS BECAUSE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND, AND THE WAY THAT THEY HAVE OPERATED THAT THE PERSON WAS CAUGHT.
BUT THE, THE FACT IS HERE THAT WHEN IT COMES, COMES TO GEORGE GASCON, WE NEED TO DO EVERYTHING WE CAN TO CONTINUE TO OPPOSE THOSE PRACTICES.
WELL, THE LAW IS THE LAW, AND IF PEOPLE SEE FIT TO VIOLATE OUR RIGHTS AS AS, AS LAW ABIDING CITIZENS, THEN THEY SHOULD BE PUT IN JAIL AND THEY SHOULD STAY THERE TO, TO FULL, UH, FULFILL THEIR SENTENCES.
AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT THAT PEOPLE BEING PUT IN PRISON IS WAREHOUSING MR. LUNA.
SO FOR MY JOB, I GET TO GO TO PRISONS AND GO BEHIND THE WIRE AND, AND SEE THE BUSES THAT COME FROM LA COUNTY.
AND THE FLOW OF, OF, UH, INMATES HAS NOT STOPPED.
AND I THINK THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN, UH, POLITICIZED.
I THINK IT'S MADE A BEEN MADE A PARTISAN ISSUE.
UM, DEMOCRATS ARE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FOR, UH, CRIMINALS BEING PROSECUTED IF, AND SO I DID NOT SUPPORT THE RECALL OF GASCON.
HE HAD BEEN JUST ELECTED IN 2020.
AND WE, IT'S ANOTHER REPUBLICAN EMPLOYEE TO TRY TO RECALL HIM WASTE MONEY WHEN HE'S UP FOR REELECTION.
WE COULD DECIDE IF ANY OF HIS POLICIES WORKED OR NOT.
AND IN PARTICULAR, AND I'M NOT SUPPORTIVE OF ALL HIS POLICIES, BUT ONE THAT I AM STRONGLY IN SUPPORTIVE IS TO TREAT OUR YOUTH DIFFERENTLY.
NOT TO SAY THAT A 16 YEAR OLD, THE 17 YEAR OLD, THAT GETS CAUGHT UP WITH THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, THAT THEY'RE NOT REDEEMABLE, THEY ARE.
AND MANY TIMES, INSTEAD OF PROSECUTING THEM, IF YOU PUT 'EM DOWN A PROGRAM THAT ALLOWS THEM TO THEN FIND A JOB INSTEAD OF BEING STIGMATIZED.
I HAD A QUESTION HERE, WHICH I HAVE SORT OF MISPLACED.
WHAT WOULD YOU WANT TO SEE HAPPEN AT THE BKK SITE? HOW WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IT UTILIZED? UM, AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH MR. LUNA.
GO TO MS. WOLFE AND END WITH MR. CANTOS.
SO THAT IS A ISSUE THAT, THAT I'VE OUTLINED IN MY, MY WEBSITE AND, AND THEN MY, MY MATERIALS, BECAUSE I DO THINK THAT BKK LANDFILL SITE IS, IS SOMETHING THAT'S BEEN AN ISSUE FOR A LONG TIME.
UM, AND FROM WHAT I GATHER FROM THE EXPERTS
[00:45:01]
AND THE STUDIES IS THAT THERE STILL NEEDS TO A LOT OF ABATEMENT.AND, AND THAT ASSESSMENT OF WHERE THE CONTAMINATION HAS GONE STILL NEEDS TO BE DONE FOR SURE.
IT'S NOT A PRIME SITE FOR A HOTEL DEVELOPMENT.
UM, IF THERE ARE SOME IDEAS OUT THERE, THE COMPANIES THAT PREVIOUSLY, UH, CONTAMINATED THAT SITE HAVE HAD TO PAY MONEY BACK.
SO LET'S DO MORE ABATEMENT AND COME UP WITH A PLAN THAT ALLOWS FOR THAT LAND TO STILL BE, UH, FULLY FIXED AND ADDRESSED.
BUT ALSO, I MEAN, SOME IDEAS THAT ARE OUT THERE, LIKE A SOLAR FARM, A PARK O OTHER THINGS THAT, THAT WE AS A COMMUNITY SHOULD DECIDE WHAT TO DO UP THERE.
NOT INVESTORS OR, OR PEOPLE THAT, BUSINESS FOLKS THAT WANNA DO SOMETHING BUT DON'T EVEN, UH, THINK ABOUT THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THE COMMUNITY.
CAN WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL OF REJECTING IDEAS, UM, MERELY ON THE PRINCIPLE THAT X OR Y PERSON THOUGHT ABOUT IT.
UM, ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS IN BKK, DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE LEVELS OF TOXICITY AND THE HISTORY OF WHAT HAPPENED, THERE HAS TO BE THOROUGHLY, UM, APPROVED AND REVIEWED BY THE STATE, NOT JUST THE CITY.
AND WE CANNOT SIT HERE AND SAY THAT WE'RE GONNA BRING IN REVENUE AND AT THE SAME TIME CONDEMN ANY PROJECT.
UM, YOU KNOW, JUST BECAUSE WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC.
IF WE, I WANNA PARK, I WOULD LOVE TRAILS, I WOULD LOVE HORSES, YOU KNOW, I WOULD LOVE AN OPEN SPACE, BUT THAT WOULD MEAN THE CITY IS MAINTAINING THAT SPACE.
WE NEED TO BRING SOMETHING THAT IS GONNA BRING US REVENUE, BUT WE NEED TO DO IT RESPONSIBLY.
FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF MY CAMPAIGN, I ADVOCATED THAT WE DO A SOLAR FARM, AS WAS SUGGESTED IN A REPORT FROM 2019 AS SUBMITTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL, IT ACTUALLY RESULTS IN REVENUE TO THE CITY.
ITS CLEAN ENERGY AND ALSO IT HAS LOW ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT BECAUSE THE SOLAR PANELS JUST REMAIN ON THE, ON THE SERVICE LEVEL.
AND I ACTUALLY ALSO AGREE, UH, WITH MR. LUNA, WITH REGARD TO A HOTEL THAT IS A WASTE.
WE CANNOT PUT A HOTEL THERE BECAUSE THE FACT IS THAT THE BKK SITE IS REGULATED BY A TOTAL OF, NOT ONE, BUT TWO, BUT EIGHT AGENCIES THAT HAVE AL HAVE ALREADY SEEN THAT THERE ARE A NUMBER OF ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS.
SO IF WE WERE TO ENGAGE IN, IN MOVING FORWARD WITH ACCEPTING THE PROPOSED PLAN OF HAVING A SOLAR FARM, IT WOULD BE GREAT FOR THE CITY.
IT WOULD GENERATE REVENUE THAT COULD THEN, THEN BE USED FOR SERVICES.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, WE WOULD BE REVERSING OUR HISTORY OF BEING THE BIGGEST DUMP IN CALIFORNIA TO ACTUALLY BEING A WONDERFUL PRODUCER OF CLEAN ENERGY.
AND THIS PERSON ASKS, WHAT ROLE DO YOU SEE FOR RESIDENTS WHO WISH TO BE INVOLVED IN CITY GOVERNMENT, HOW WOULD THEY GO ABOUT DOING THAT? AND WILL BEGIN WITH MR. CANTOS.
GO TO MR. LUNA AND END WITH MS. WOLF.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS QUESTION.
WE NEED TO REVITALIZE OUR COMMISSION INFRASTRUCTURE.
WE NEED TO INVOLVE CITIZENS FROM THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL, FROM THE VERY BEGINNING INSTEAD OF JUST HAVING AN OPPORTUNITY DURING ORAL COMMENT, DURING, UH, CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND AND AND SO FORTH.
AND THE WAY THAT WE DO THAT IS BY LOOKING AT THE DIFFERENT PRIORITIES OF, OF THE CITY AND LOOKING AT THE TALENTS AND ABILITIES AND INSIGHT OF PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE CITY.
THERE ARE MORE THAN 105,000 PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE CITY, AND THEY'RE ALL PASSIONATE ABOUT DIFFERENT THINGS.
YOUTH, SENIOR CITIZENS, THE ENVIRONMENT, THIS CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM, WE CAN GO ON AND ON.
SO BY HAVING A ROBUST COMMISSION INFRASTRUCTURE WHERE PEOPLE CAN BE INVOLVED, CAN DISCUSS IDEAS, CAN THEN MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE CITY COUNCIL THAT ARE BASED ON GRASSROOTS EFFORTS, THAT'S A WAY THAT WE CAN OPTIMIZE TRANSPARENCY.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, BEING ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT CITIZENS, OURSELVES, FELLOW RESIDENTS, ARE INVOLVED WITH A DECISION MAKING PROCESS FROM BEGINNING TO END.
BUT YES, UH, UH, PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IS ESSENTIAL.
UH, ONE THING THAT I'VE, UH, REALLY APPRECIATED AND ENJOYED IS IN KNOCKING IN PEOPLE'S HOMES AND CANVASING.
AND WHEN WE WERE CIRCULATING THE PETITION, TALK TO HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF, OF RESIDENTS SEE HOW DIVERSE AND ENGAGED OUR COMMUNITY IS, AT LEAST IN, IN WANTING TO TALK TO EACH OTHER.
BUT, BUT MANY PEOPLE DON'T COME TO CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND, AND DON'T FOLLOW WHAT, WHAT THE CITY IS DOING.
SO WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT A WAY TO, TO ENGAGE MORE FOLKS AND ALSO REALLY HAVE AN EFFECTIVE, UH, COMMISSION SYSTEM WHERE THE PUBLIC PARTICIPATES, CUZ THAT SEEMS TO HAVE, UH, KIND OF GONE, UH, RAY THE LAST, UH, FEW YEARS.
UH, SO JUST MORE INVOLVEMENT OPENING UP THE, THE, UH, THE DOORS OF, OF, OF THESE CHAMBERS TO PEOPLE, BUT ALSO GOING OUT INTO THE COMMUNITY AND TALKING TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE.
SO I, I I THINK THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULD EMBRACE.
[00:50:01]
WOLF.UM, PIGGYBACKING A LITTLE BIT ON MR. LUNA'S STATEMENT, AS WE GO THROUGH THE COMMUNITY AND KNOCK ON PEOPLE'S DOORS, THE ONE THING THAT I TELL THEM IS, I, I WANT YOU TO HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE.
I'M KNOCKING ON YOUR DOOR AND I'M SAYING, THIS IS WHAT I STAND FOR.
I WANT YOU TO GO SHOW UP TO THE COUNCIL MEETING.
AND IF I'M NOT FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH THE THINGS THAT I'M TELLING YOU NOW GO UP THERE AND SAY, MRS. WOLF, YOU CAME KNOCKING ON MY DOOR AND YOU SAID YOU WOULD DO THIS.
AND YOU SAID YOU WOULD DO THAT.
AND YOU SAID YOU STOOD FOR THIS AND NOW YOU'RE DOING THE COMPLETE OPPOSITE.
SO IT STARTS LITTLE BY LITTLE COMING TO THE MEETINGS.
UM, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE A BIG CHANGE.
WE DON'T ALL HAVE THE PERSONALITY OR THE TALENTS OR THE COURAGE TO BE, UM, DOING THIS CUZ IT TAKES A LOT OF COURAGE, BELIEVE ME.
UM, BUT WE CAN ALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
AND I TELL THEM SOMETIMES SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS SAYING, GOOD MORNING, YOUR NEIGHBORS, SO THAT YOU KNOW WHAT KIND OF PERSON THEY ARE.
SOMETHING US TAKING OUT THEIR TRASH CAMP, BRINGING IT IN WHEN THEY'RE ON VACATION.
IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT BUILD A COMMUNITY AND MAKE THE CITY BETTER.
I THINK WE HAVE GOTTEN TO THE POINT AT WHICH WE ARE READY FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS.
AND AS I SAID EARLIER, THE CLOSING STATEMENTS WILL BE ONE MINUTE AND WE'LL BE IN REVERSE ORDER OF THE OPENING STATEMENTS.
SO WE WILL BEGIN WITH OUR CLOSING STATEMENT WITH MR. CANTOS.
THEY GET TWO MINUTES, TWO MINUTES AND ONE MINUTE WARNING.
I, I APPRECIATE HAVING HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS A NUMBER OF ISSUES TODAY AND THROUGH THE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT I HAVE MET IN, IN GOING THROUGHOUT OUR DISTRICT, THE THING THAT I HAVE SEEN VERY SIGNIFICANTLY IS SIGNIFICANT APATHY.
THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HAVE FELT DISILLUSIONED ABOUT THE WAYS THAT THINGS HAVE GONE IN THIS CITY, AND THEY WONDER ABOUT THE EXTENT TO WHICH THEY CAN ACTUALLY MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
BUT THAT'S WHY I HAVE CHOSEN TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL.
I BRING TO THE TABLE MY EXPERIENCE AS A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, HAVING WORKED AT LEADERSHIP LEVELS AT THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, AND AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
I'M ALSO A GRASSROOTS LEADER WHO HAS BEEN ACTIVE FOR THE PAST 32 YEARS WORKING WITH MULTIPLE CONSTITUENCIES.
MY APPROACH IF ELECTED TO CITY COUNCIL IS TO CONTINUE TO BE ENGAGING WITH PEOPLE AND TO BE ACCESSIBLE.
AND THAT LITERALLY MEANS VISITING WITH PEOPLE WHEREVER THEY ARE AT THEIR HOUSES, AT COFFEE SHOPS, HERE AT CITY COUNCIL, MEETING, WHEREVER WE NEED TO BE.
BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT, WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH BUILDING TRUST.
THERE WAS ONCE A TIME WHERE THERE WAS MORE ENGAGEMENT WITH OUR CITY, BUT THE WAY FOR US TO DO THAT IN MOVING FORWARD IS TO LEVERAGE AN APPROACH THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER THROUGH THESE ENGAGEMENT PRACTICES, THINGS THAT I HAVE DONE FOR A NUMBER OF YEARS.
AND IF ELECTED TO SERVE ON THIS CITY COUNCIL, I PROMISE YOU THAT I WILL DEDICATE MY HEART, SOUL, AND ENERGY TO FOLLOWING THROUGH ON THE THINGS THAT ARE ASKED OF ME.
AND I ALSO PROMISE YOU THAT I WILL ENGAGE WITH THE CITIZENRY IN MAKING SURE TO HEAR VIEWS AND MAKING SURE TO ACT UPON THEM.
AND NOT JUST GIVE SPEECHES, BUT ACTUALLY TO FOLLOW THROUGH ON INDIVIDUAL REQUESTS SO THAT WAY WE CAN MAKE PEOPLE FEEL LIKE THEY CAN TRUST CITY GOVERNMENT.
AGAIN, PLEASE VOTE FOR ME, ONLY CANTOS FOR CITY COUNCIL, WWW ONLY CANTOS.COM.
NOW WE'LL HEAR FROM DANIEL LUNA.
UH, I REALLY APPRECIATE EVERYONE'S TIME, UH, THANK YOU TO, TO MY WIFE AND KIDS.
THEY WERE SOCCER PRACTICE AND ONE WASN'T TUTORING.
UH, THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE THAT, THAT ARE SUPPORTING ME AND SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT MY CANDIDACY.
I APPRECIATE YOU AND AS I SIT HERE, I, I DON'T QUESTION THE GOODWILL OF OF MY OPPONENTS, UH, OR PLANS THAT THEY HAVE, UH, OUTLINED, BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT, THAT I AM THE MOST APPROPRIATE PERSON FOR THIS POSITION AT THIS TIME.
UH, BOTH OF MY OPPONENTS ARE, ARE CONNECTED WITH FOLKS THAT, THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN IN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT.
UH, MR. OLEY, HIS TREASURER IS, IS MR. HERFORD.
HE PREVIOUSLY WAS IN THE CITY COUNCIL, UM, OR MS. WOLF, WHO IS, IS CURRENTLY BEING SUPPORTED BY FOLKS THAT ARE, ARE IN THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND I WOULD SUBMIT THAT ELECTING EITHER ONE OF THEM WOULD LIKELY MAINLY RESULT WITH POLICIES AND APPROACHES THAT THIS CITY HAS ALREADY TRIED.
I HAVE THE GREATEST EXPOSURE TO OUR CITY POLITICS THAN ANY OF THEM.
AND I BELIEVE THAT MY EXPERIENCE WITH WORKERS WITH THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA WILL BENEFIT THIS CITY GREATLY AND ENSURING THAT OUR CITY
[00:55:01]
ATTRACTS GOOD PAYING JOBS AND THAT OUR CITY CONTINUES TO THRIVE WELL INTO THE FUTURE.AND FINALLY, WE WILL HEAR FROM YARA WOLF.
IRONICALLY ENOUGH, I'M GOING TO ADDRESS THE RESIDENTS, NOT AS A CANDIDATE, BUT AS A FELLOW RESIDENT.
AND I'M GOING TO ASK YOU TO DO THINGS THAT I WOULD DO.
SO WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING INTO EACH OF YOUR OPTIONS, ASK YOURSELF THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS.
WHAT'S IN IT FOR THIS CANDIDATE? ARE THEY TRYING TO IMPROVE THEIR POLITICAL CAREER? ARE THEY TRYING TO MAKE CONNECTIONS? ARE THEY TRYING TO MAKE SOME MONEY? HOW MUCH TIME DO THEY HAVE TO COMMIT TO THE ROLE? AND WHAT ARE THEIR HONEST INTENTIONS? HOW CAN I TRUST THIS PERSON? IT'S VERY HARD TO TRUST A PERSON WHEN YOU KNOW LITTLE OR NOTHING ABOUT THE PERSON OTHER THAN WHAT'S OUT THERE AND PRINTED MATERIAL.
AND I INVITE YOU TO READ BETWEEN THE LINES.
YOU'RE GONNA BE GETTING A LOT OF MAIL FROM US.
WE'RE ALL GONNA PROMISE YOU THE MOON DOES NOT IN THE STARS, BUT NOT ALL OF US WILL BE ABLE TO DELIVER IT.
UM, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, DO YOUR RESEARCH WHEN ANY OF US GETS ATTACKED, WHEN YOU READ THINGS OR WHEN SOMEBODY ELSE IS TRYING TO, TO DO GUILT BY ASSOCIATION, THEY'RE COUNTING ON YOUR IGNORANCE AS A RESIDENT.
SO SHOW THEM THAT WE'RE NOT IGNORANT, THAT WE KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING AND WE KNOW WHO'S THE BEST CHOICE.
NOT BECAUSE THEY TELL US THAT THEY ARE, BUT BECAUSE WE'VE DONE OUR DUE DILIGENCE.
UH, AS MEMBER OF THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS AND IN, UH, REPRESENTING THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF EAST SAN GABRIEL VALLEY, I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL THREE OF YOU FOR BEING HERE, FOR STICKING YOUR NECKS OUT AND OFFERING YOUR SERVICES TO THE CITY OF WEST COVINA BECAUSE IT'S A LOT OF WORK AND IT'S A LOT OF EFFORT AND YOU DON'T ALWAYS GET COMPLIMENTS ALL THE TIME.
SO I UNDERSTAND THAT, UM, THIS IS A BIG STEP AND I WISH YOU ALL WELL.
AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR BEING HERE TO SHARE YOUR IDEAS.
YOU THINK WE'LL TAKE A COUPLE MINUTES BREAK WHILE WE REORGANIZE FOR THE DISTRICT FIVE UH, FORUM.
THINK WE'RE READY TO RECONVENE.
THE LEAVE WIND VOTERS OF EAST AND GABRIEL VALLEY IS HAPPY TO HOST THIS SECOND, UH, ROUND OF CANDIDATE FORUM FOR WEST COVINA CITY COUNCIL.
AND IN THIS, UH, SEGMENT, WE WILL BE LISTENING TO CANDIDATES WHO ARE RUNNING TO REPRESENT DISTRICT FIVE IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA.
THE CANDIDATES HAVE DRAWN FOR ORDER OF SPEAKING AND THEY ARE SEATED IN THAT ORDER WITH, UM, MR. REYES REPRESENTING NUMBER ONE AND MR. WOO REPRESENTING NUMBER FOUR.
SO WE WILL BEGIN BY HEARING FROM THE CANDIDATES WORKING OUR WAY TOWARD ME, AND THEN AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE, UH, QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD WHEN THEY GIVE THEIR CLOSING STATEMENTS, WE WILL HAVE CLOSING STATEMENTS IN REVERSE ORDER.
SO MR. WOO WILL BEGIN THE CLOSING STATEMENTS AND MR. REYES WILL CONCLUDE THE FINAL STATEMENTS IN BETWEEN.
I WILL SORT OF JUGGLE THE RESPONSES SO THAT NOT ONE PERSON IS ALWAYS ANSWERING FIRST OR LAST, AND SO THAT YOU AREN'T ALWAYS IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE SAME PERSON.
SO IT VARIES YOUR YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO, UH, ORGANIZE YOUR THOUGHTS.
UM, AS I SAID, THIS IS, UH, COUNCIL DISTRICT FIVE AND THE CANDIDATES WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE FOR OPENING STATEMENTS.
THEN WE WILL HAVE OUR QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD.
AND IF ANYONE IN THE AUDIENCE WOULD LIKE TO SUBMIT A QUESTION, UH, OUR USHERS ARE STILL HERE AND YOU CAN SUBMIT A QUESTION AGAIN, THE CLOSING STATEMENTS WILL BE TWO MINUTES.
SO WE WILL WELCOME MR. RICHARD REES
[01:00:01]
AS THE FIRST CANDIDATE WITH AN OPENING STATEMENT FOR COUNCIL DISTRICT SEAT FIVE.MY NAME IS RICHARD REYES WEST.
CONVENIENT HAS BEEN MY HOME FOR THE PAST 14 YEARS.
ALL MY CHILDREN HAVE ATTENDED WEST COVE SCHOOLS.
IT'S BEEN A PASSION OF MINE TO FIGURE OUT HOW I CAN BEST SERVICE MY COMMUNITY.
WHEN THE IDEA OF RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL WAS PRESENTED TO ME, I SAW IT AS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY AND A POSITIVE IMPACT.
IT'S BEEN OVER THE LAST SIX OR SEVEN YEARS THAT I'VE SEEN CHANGES IN THE WAY THE CITY HAS BEEN RAN.
I FEEL IT IS MY CIVIC DUTY TO BE HERE AND ATTEMPT TO REPRESENT NOT ONLY DISTRICT FIVE, BUT ALL OF WEST COVINA.
AS A CITIZEN, I AM SICK AND TIRED OF HOW THE CITY IS RAN.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME AND MY, IT IS IMPORTANT TO ME THAT MY FAMILY GROWS UP IN A COMMUNITY THAT I'M PROUD TO CALL HOME.
OUR CITY'S FINANCIAL SITUATION IS A MAJOR PROBLEM.
I AM A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER HERE IN TOWN THAT IS SOLVING AS A SUCCESSFUL LOCAL BUSINESS OWNER.
I HAVE BEEN AN ENTREPRENEUR FOR 14 YEARS.
THE REAL ESTATE MELTDOWN IN 2008 LAID THE GROUNDWORK FALL FOR IT ALL.
BEING FINANCIALLY RESPONSIBLE HELPED ME WEATHER THE STORM AS A RESULT OF BUDGETING RESPONSIBLY AND CUTTING EXPENDITURES.
WHY I DIDN'T NEED, I DIDN'T SEE A RETURN ON MY INVESTMENT.
WE DIDN'T CLOSE THE DOORS IN THE SAME WAY.
I'M CONFIDENT THAT I CAN TAKE CARE OF OUR NEIGHBORS CONCERNS.
THE DISCUSSION SIDE IS SOMETHING I LOOK FORWARD TO AND I'M ALL IN FOR THIS CITY AND THIS COMMUNITY.
NEXT, WE WILL HEAR FROM SO TODAY, RAMBO, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
SO TODAY, FIRST OF ALL, UM, I LIKE TO, UH, SINCERELY APPRECIATE THE LEAGUE, UH, FOR THE OPPORTUNITY AND THANK UH, EVERYONE THAT'S WATCHING US ON THE INTERNET, UH, FOR BEING HERE AND GIVING US THIS OPPORTUNITY.
UM, I BELIEVE I HAVE THE SKILL AND KNOWLEDGE NECESSARY TO REVIVE OUR GREAT CITY TO A LIBERAL THAT IS NEVER SEEN IN MANY YEARS.
I'M AN ENGINEER WITH OVER 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCING THE PUBLIC SECTOR AMONG MANY OTHER SKILLS.
I WOULD LIKE TO SHARE WITH YOU THE CORE REASON WHY I WANT TO BE THE NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER.
THE NEXT FOUR TO EIGHT YEARS ARE VERY UNIQUE.
ALMOST LIKE, UH, WHEN OUR CITY WAS FORMED.
WE WILL BE SHAPING WEST COVINA OF 30, 40, 50 YEARS FROM NOW BY BRINGING IN NEXT GENERATION OF EMPLOYEES, UH, BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE FUTURE.
WE HAVE THE UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO SHAPE THE WORKFORCE OF THE FUTURE.
I WILL WORK WITH OTHER MEMBERS AND THE CITY MANAGER ON A VARIETY OF PROGRAMS TO MEET THE FUTURE STAFFING NEEDS, INCLUDING THE DEVELOPMENT OF A LONG TERM STAFFING PLAN WITH SIGNIFICANT REVISION TO APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT OF AN AN INTERNSHIP PROGRAM.
NEXT, WE WILL HAVE AN OPENING STATEMENT FROM FREDERICK SYKES.
I'M FREDERICK SYKES AND THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU IN THE AUDIENCE AND, UH, THE WOMEN LEGAL VOTERS FOR PUTTING THIS ON.
I GREW UP IN A VERY TOUGH NEIGHBORHOOD, SOUTH CENTRAL LA AND I OWE EVERYTHING TO MY PARENTS.
I'M ONE OF SEVEN CHILDREN AND FORTUNATELY FOR ME, MY PARENTS WERE RELIGIOUS AND TOUGHER THAN THE GANGS WHERE I LIVED.
I MOVED TO WEST COVENA IN 19, UH, 78.
AND WHEN I, AT THAT TIME I WAS A DEPUTY SHERIFF WORKING AT EASTER LAKE SHERIFF STATION.
AND, UM, I DID THAT FOR 33 YEARS, WORKED FOR LOS ANGELES COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT AND I CAME TO CITY HALL IN 2006 BECAUSE I DISCOVERED THAT, UM, WE WERE ABOUT TO LOSE HALF A SHADOW PARK AND I KNEW SOMETHING WAS GREATLY WRONG.
AND NOW I'VE BEEN HERE SINCE THAT TIME FIGHTING AND STRUGGLING FOR OUR CITY.
AND FINALLY, WE WILL HEAR FROM TONY.
AND THEN 2020 MAYOR, RIGHT? 2018 WHEN I GOT ELECTED OFFICE.
DISTRICT FIVE AND LET TIME THE CITY IN TROUBLE.
PREVIOUS CITY MANAGER TALKING ABOUT OUR CITY IN THE FINANCIAL DISARRAY.
GOING TO THE BANKRUPTCY AND THE, THE UNION POLICE AND FIRE SUING EACH OTHER.
AND WHEN I GOT ELECTED, BEFORE I GOT ELECTED, WHEN I CAME THING I TOLD PEOPLE, WHEN YOU ELECT ME ON THE D THREE FIVE, I'M GOING TO PROMISE YOU TO FIX THE PROBLEM.
CURRENTLY, OUR FINANCIAL STATUS, VERY HEALTHY, CURRENT 25 MILLION IN THE BANK, OKAY? AND WE ARE RUNNING SURPLUS AND THE UNION SITUATION, POLICE AND FIRE.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE A FULL SIZE OF POLICE AND FIRE.
WE HAVE A HUNDRED POLICE OFFICER.
OUR UNION RELATIONSHIP IS GOOD.
THE CITY IS OLDER PEOPLE UNITED.
[01:05:01]
SEPARATE PEOPLE.WE, OUR POLICIES, MAKE SURE IS A PROUD CITY FOR FUTURE.
WE HAVE A NUMBER OF QUESTIONS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE FINANCIAL SECURITY OF THE CITY, AND, UH, WE WILL BEGIN THESE QUESTIONS.
UH, THE FIRST ONE WILL BEGIN WITH MR. UH, SO TODAY, AND WE WILL WORK OUR WAY TO MR. WOO AND END WITH MR. REYES.
THIS PERSON SAYS, CONSIDERING THAT OUR CITY HAS 50 MILLION IN DEFICITS PER CITY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS IN THE LAST FOUR YEARS, PLEASE EXPLAIN HOW THE CITY CAN GRANT 15% PAY RAISES AND SPEND MONEY ON A HEALTH DEPARTMENT, SPORTS SPORTSPLEX AND FESTIVALS, WHICH COST MILLIONS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT QUESTION.
THAT'S THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE MYSELF, UH,
IT, IT, IT, IT TOTALLY BEYOND ME.
I UNDERSTAND HOW THE BUDGETARY PROCESS WORKS AND, UH, UH, PUBLIC RETIREMENT SYSTEM AND OPE, IT'S BEYOND ME HOW THE CITY, UH, APPROVED THIS BUDGET IN THIS FASHION.
AND THE WAY I WOULD APPROACH BY TRYING TO FIXING IT IS ESSENTIALLY TRYING TO GENERATE MORE REVENUE.
UH, CREATE A TASK FORCE TO LOOK AT FUNDING FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
UH, PERHAPS LOOK AT GRANTS, UH, ANY AVENUE THAT I CAN SEE AT MY DISPOSAL, TRY TO RAISE THE CITY REVENUE, TRY TO OFFSET FOR, OFFSET THIS, AND OVERALL, NOT TO LET THIS HAPPEN IN THE FUTURE.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I AGREE WITH.
SELF-INTEREST IS A ROOT CAUSE OF OUR PROBLEM.
THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR DECADES.
GIVING FUNDING IS DONE THROUGH CONVERTING OUR TAX DOLLARS TO PERSONAL GAIN AND POLITICAL ACTIVITY.
A LOT OF THESE THINGS ARE DONE WITHOUT ACTUARIAL STUDIES.
SIMPLE BASIC QUESTIONS NEED TO BE ASKED AND ANSWERED BEFORE YOU START THROWING MONEY AROUND.
ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU'RE FACING BANKRUPTCY.
YOU SHOULD BE ASKING, CAN WE AFFORD THIS? WHERE'S THE MONEY COMING FROM? WHAT'S THE IMPACT ON THE RESIDENTS? ARE WE JEOPARDIZING OUR WELFARE, HEALTH, AND SAFETY? WE'VE BEEN DOING IT FOR TOO LONG.
AND REALLY QUICK, CURRENTLY OUR CITY RUNNING THE BUDGET SURPLUS NOW BANKRUPTCY.
RIGHT NOW WE HAVE 20, 25 MILLION CASH IN THE BANK.
A RECORD YOU CAN CHECK, BUT ALL THIS SO-CALLED THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT OR SMALL PLUG.
THAT IS WHAT WE ARE RUNNING LIKE A BUSINESS, OKAY? FOR HEALTH DEPARTMENT, WE CAN BRING $20 MILLION GO DIRECTLY TO OUR RESIDENT.
RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE TO GO TO COUNTY, COUNTY, BASICALLY GIVE US NOTHING.
BUT THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT BASICALLY GIVE US THE DIRECT OF BENEFIT.
AND THIS $20 MILLION, 50% FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, 20%, 25% FROM THE STATE, ANOTHER 25% FROM THE WHAT SERVICE VENDOR AT LA IS ALL COME TO OUR WASTE COVINA AND THE BENEFIT CODE TO OUR RESIDENT.
CAN YOU GUARANTEE THIS VIRUS WON'T COME BACK TO US? WE NEED TO LOCAL CONTROL, MAKE SURE WE OWE OUR RESIDENT, OUR CHILDREN IS SAFE.
OTHERWISE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO GO THROUGH WHAT COUNTY BEFORE THAT, SHUT DOWN THE CITY, SHUT DOWN THE BUSINESS, AND THEN WE CONTINUE TO SUFFER.
WE NEED TO TAKE THIS AGGRESSIVE ACT TO BASICALLY DO WHAT THE BEST FOR US, WHAT BRING RESULTS, BRING REVENUE TO OUR CITY.
OKAY, THIS, CAN I ANSWER THAT? UH, THE RETIREE DEBT? I DIDN'T GET TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
SO MY OPINION, TRUST CANNOT EXIST WITHOUT TRANSPARENCY.
WE TALK ABOUT, UM, SURPLUS AND 20 MILLION THIS AND 50 MILLION THAT
[01:10:01]
AT THE END OF THE DAY, IF WE CAN'T SEE IT, US AS CITIZEN AND TAXPAYERS, IT'S ALL SMOKE AND MIRRORS AT THE END OF THE DAY.UH, AGAIN, I RUN A SMALL BUSINESS HERE IN TOWN THAT IS SOLVENT.
I HAVE BEEN A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS OWNER FOR 14 YEARS.
I BUILT MY BUSINESS IN THIS DISTRICT SINCE 2008.
I CAN BRING MY LEADERSHIP HERE AND REPRESENT THE TAXPAYERS AND CITIZENS THE RIGHT WAY.
NOW, WHERE AM I? THIS PERSON IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE, UH, PENSION DEBT.
THE RETIREE DEBT IS HUGE IN THE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.
HOW CAN WE ADJUST THE CITY'S FINANCES TO PAIR BACK THE RATE OF INCREASE IN THIS RETIREE DEBT? AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH MR. SYKES.
GO TO MR. WOO, DOWN TO MR. REYES AND END WITH MR. SOTU.
THE THREE AT 50 PLAN, UH, IS AT THE SPEARHEAD OF WHAT'S BEEN TAKEN AWAY OUR SERVICES AND DESTROYING OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION IN OUR CITY.
WHEN I WAS INVOLVED IN 2012 IN LOOKING AT THE FINANCES, WE CAME UP WITH A TWO TIER RETIREMENT PLAN WHERE WE CHANGED IT FROM BEING ABLE TO RETIRE AT 50, TO EXTENDED IT TO 57.
AND WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO KEEP DOING THIS KIND OF RESEARCH AND STUDYING.
HOW DO WE REDEFINE, HOW DO WE REMODEL THIS WEST COLINA PUBLIC SAFETY SYSTEM? IT MAY HAVE TO BE VERY BOLD AND DARING.
MOST OF US WANT TO KEEP, WE WANT TO KEEP WEST COVINA PATCHES, BUT IT'S VERY COSTLY AND WE ARE GONNA HAVE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO ELIMINATE THE POLITICS THAT CONTROL HOW MUCH OVERTIME.
PUBLIC SAFETY IS NOT CHEAP, OKAY? WE NEED POLICE.
WE, WE NEED FIRE TO PROTECT US.
DON'T FORGET OTHER CITY COMP COMPETE WITH US.
IF WE DON'T HAVE THE SAME EQUAL PAY, IT WON'T STAY WITH US.
WE DID TREAT OUR BROTHER AND SISTER IN PUBLIC SAFETY FAIRNESS.
OKAY? 2020, WHEN I WAS A MAYOR, WE RIGHT AWAY DID THE PENSION REFINANCE IS SEVEN OR 8%.
THAT TIME WE, WE DIDN'T DO THE REFINANCE THAT TIME.
NOW WE GOING TO 10% DUE TO CURRENT.
OKAY? AND RATE HIKE, WE DOWN TO 25 YEARS.
WE SAVING BASICALLY $5 MILLION A YEAR OF OUR PENSION INTEREST.
CURRENTLY WE ONLY PAY MUCH LESS, 5 MILLION LESS.
SO WE CAN USE THOSE MONEY TO DO WHAT? TO HIRE MORE POLICE OR GIVE THEM EQUAL PAY.
DON'T FORGET, WE CANNOT SHOW CHANGE PEOPLE.
YOU NEED TO PAY PEOPLE WITH FAIRNESS.
YOU'RE RUNNING A BUSINESS, YOU'RE RUNNING A CITY.
YOU DON'T CHANGE, SHOW CHANGE TO YOUR STAFF BECAUSE THEY'RE GONNA LEAVE YOU.
OKAY? WE NEED TO TREAT PEOPLE WITH FAIRNESS.
CURRENTLY, OUR BROTHER AND SISTER IN UNI, I'M VERY HAPPY WITH US.
THESE CONTRACT AGREEMENTS WERE NEGOTIATED BEFORE I TOOK OFFICE.
AS SOON AS I STEP INTO THE OFFICE, THIS IS ONE OF THE ISSUES I INTEND TO ADDRESS.
WHY? BECAUSE IT'S NOT THE FIRST TIME I HEAR IT.
SOMEONE RAISES QUESTION AS I WAS DOOR KNOCKING IN DISTRICT FIVE A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO.
I PROMISE THEM I WOULD INVESTIGATE THIS AS SOON AS I ENTERED OFFICE.
UM, FOR CLARIFICATION, HOW LONG DO WE HAVE TO ANSWER THE QUESTION? ONE MINUTE.
UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH, UH, FOR THAT QUESTION.
ACTUALLY, THAT'S AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.
UH, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, UM, I HAVE 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THIS ARENA.
SPECIFICALLY HAS TO DO WITH THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT, UH, RETIREMENT SYSTEM, OPEB AND, UH, THE NEGOTIATION INVOLVED IN THIS TYPE OF, UH, UH, CONTRACTS.
UH, JUST TO BE CLEAR AND, AND NOT TO BLAME ANYONE, UH, I WANNA MAKE SURE EVERYONE UNDERSTANDS, ALL THE RESIDENT UNDERSTAND THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED OVERNIGHT.
THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER PAST, MANY, MANY YEARS BEFORE.
SO WE CAN SAY IT WAS THIS ADMINISTRATION, THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, OR THIS HAS HAPPENED OVER MANY, MANY YEARS.
LONG STORY SHORT, I HAVE THE EXPERIENCE
[01:15:01]
HOW TO NEGOTIATE.I'VE DONE IT MANY TIMES, AND I BELIEVE I HAVE A VERY CLEAR AND CONCISE PLAN TO ATTACK THIS AND SAVE THE TAXPAYERS THE MONEY THEY NEED.
UH, THIS PERSON, UH, SAYS WEST COVINA HAS CHANGED DRAMATICALLY IN THE LAST 10 YEARS.
DURING THAT PERIOD, HOW HAVE YOU BEEN INVOLVED IN MAKING IT A BETTER PLACE FOR RESIDENTS? AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH MR. WOO.
GO TO MR. REYES AND WORK OUR WAY BACK TO MR. SYKES.
AND, UH, 10 YEARS, I THINK, UH, BASICALLY 20 YEARS, WE KIND OF WENT TO THE DOWN SPIRAL TO THE CITY SITUATION.
I THINK THE FINANCE ONE ISSUE AND, UH, OF LAWSUIT IS ANOTHER ISSUE.
AND THE PEOPLE SEPARATE TO EACH OTHER.
SO SINCE 2015, WHEN I GET ELECTED, THE FIRST THING I WANNA DEAL WITH, WHAT I WANNA DO IS BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
WE NEED TO UNITED TOGETHER 52% LATINO POPULATION, 30 SOME PERCENT OF ASIAN POPULATION, AND THEN WE HAVE A 4.5% BLACK AMERICAN POPULATION.
THEN WE HAVE ABOUT 10% CAUCASIAN POPULATION.
WE NEED TO UTILIZE THEM TOGETHER.
WE NEED TO HAVE THEM WITH THE PROGRAM, WITH, UH, A LOT OF ENTERTAINMENT.
WE NEED TO HAVE A SENSE OF COMMUNITY.
I THINK THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ABOUT.
BUT FIRST THING YOU WANNA DO IS WE WANT TO FIX THE FINANCE WITH NO MONEY.
SO WHAT YOU WANT TO DO IS WITH THE MONEY YOU HAVE, THEN YOU NEED TO DO IS PUBLIC SAFETY.
YOU WANT TO HAVE A PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND NEXT TO PUBLIC SAFETY IS WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.
YOU WANT THE BEAUTIFICATION OF THE CITY.
WHAT CURRENTLY WANT TRYING TO DO IS BEAUTIFY THE CITY.
MAKE SURE OUR CITY IS A PROUD CITY.
NOW YOU ARE PROUD TO LIVE IN OUR CITY.
UM, I'VE BEEN A MEMBER OF THE LOCAL ROTARY CLUB, UM, FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS.
I WAS DRESSED AS SANTA CLAUS AND HAD OVER 800 CHILDREN SITTING ON MY LAP.
UH, THAT'S ENOUGH TO SAY I WAS, UH, PRETTY GREAT PARTICIPANT FOR, AS A CITIZEN HERE IN THE LOCAL COMMUNITY.
UM, BUT ALL JOKES ASIDE, UM, KNOCKING DOORS, I SPEAK TO PEOPLE HERE IN DISTRICT FIVE ON THE SOUTH SIDE.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, MANY OF THESE RESIDENTS FEEL NEGLECTED.
AND EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE PROMISED REPRESENTATION, IF YOU GO ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN, YOU'LL SEE MY SIGNS AND YARDS.
I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE ASKING FOR REPRESENTATION.
I'M NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH THE DISTRICTS DIVIDE.
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER, WHEN YOU SPLIT DISTRICTS OR CITIES INTO FIVE, I DON'T BELIEVE YOU'RE BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER.
I THINK YOU'RE FRACTURING THE SYSTEM.
UH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
UM, AS I MENTIONED EARLIER, I'VE BEEN HERE FOR 22 YEARS.
UM, I DID NOT KNOCK ON THE DOORS JUST FOR THE ELECTION, UH, PAST FEW WEEKS OR TRY TO, UH, GET VOTES OR GET PEOPLE'S OPINION.
I'VE BEEN INVOLVED, UH, IN MY COMMUNITY FOR MANY, MANY YEARS IN, IN FACT, I HAVE INVESTED MY PERSONAL FUNDS, UH, INTO THE CITY, UH, AND PROPERTY BY PAYING, UH, OBVIOUSLY, UH, PROPERTY TAX.
AND, UH, I HAVE TALKED TO MANY BUSINESS OWNERS TO ENTICE THEM TO, UH, START BUSINESSES IN OUR, UH, BRINGING ME INTO OUR CITY TO, UH, INVEST IN OUR CITY TO GENERATE REVENUE.
AND I'M CONSTANTLY DOING THAT.
AS A PART OF LAW ENFORCEMENT FAMILY, FOR TWO YEARS, I WORKED FOR THE CITY OF CONFIDENCE COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICER.
AND FOR 33 YEARS, I SERVED AS A DEPUTY SHERIFF FOR LA COUNTY.
AND I LOOK AT MY FOUR YEARS OF BEING ON THE WEST CONVENIENT CITY COUNCIL AS BEING JUST AS IMPORTANT ABOUT THE IDEA OF TRUST.
I HAVE DELIVERED ALL MY LIFE FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE MEMBER OF THE LIONS CLUB.
AND WHEN I WAS ON THE COUNCIL ONE CHURCH ALONE, WE HAD TONS OF, UM, ALL OF OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE, UH, GROUPS.
AND ONE CHURCH ALONE BROUGHT 100 PEOPLE TO SUPPORT THE IDEA OF BEING INVOLVED IN CLEANING UP WEST COVINA.
THIS IS WHAT WE NEED TO DO AGAIN.
WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO SAVE OUR CITY.
AND WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE IN, AS MENTIONED SOUTH SIDE, WE NEED EVERYBODY TO REMEMBER YOU LIVE HERE, PAY, SPEND YOUR MONEY HERE.
[01:20:01]
YOU.THIS NEXT QUESTION ASKS, DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE CITY'S PROPOSAL TO DEVELOP ITS OWN HEALTH DEPARTMENT? IS THIS FINANCIALLY FEASIBLE? AND WHAT ADVANTAGES WOULD IT HAVE FOR THE CITY? FOR THIS, WE WILL BEGIN WITH MR. SYKES.
WE WILL GO TO MR. SODAY, MR. REYES, AND END WITH MR. WOO.
WITH, I CIRCULATED A PETITION BECAUSE I WAS GREATLY DISTURBED BY THE FACT THAT WE ARE SOMEWHERE AROUND 300 MILLION WHERE THE TAXPAYERS OWE.
WE ARE SO POOR THAT WE DON'T OWN OUR OWN STREETS.
WE'RE LEASING THE STREETS BACK FOR 25 YEARS BECAUSE OF THE DEFICIT SPENDING AND THE DEEP DEBT IDEA THAT WE GET FROM THIS COUNCIL.
YOU LOOK AT BEVERLY HILLS, JUST, JUST USE YOUR COMMON SENSE.
THEY'RE WORKING ON THEIR PUBLIC SAFETY.
THEY'RE NOT TRYING TO DO A HEALTH DEPARTMENT, AND THEY HAVE THE MONEY TO DO IT.
WHY WOULD WE DO SUCH AN INSANE THING WHEN YOU CALL THE POLICE, THEY HAVE A TOUGH TIME GETTING THERE.
YOU LOOKED AT MY WEBSITE, GO TO FREDERICK SITES.COM.
THERE ARE TWO INCIDENTS, ONE WHERE FEMALE NEIGHBORS OF MINE AND MY WIFE EXPERIENCED IT, AND WHERE I EXPERIENCED IT, PUBLIC SAFETY OVER OVER THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
THANK YOU, MR. SO TODAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION AGAIN, ON THIS PROPOSAL WAS SOMETHING THAT I, AS, AGAIN, BEYOND ME, UH, I DON'T KNOW HOW THIS CITY CAME ABOUT.
UH, ONE THING I TRULY, TRULY BELIEVE IN IS NOT PASSING ON THE DEBT TO MY KIDS.
IF WE DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO FUND A PROJECT OR SOMETHING, I WOULD NOT WANT TO PASS THIS ON TO MY KID, THEN THIS IS SOMETHING I'M, I'M NOT FOR UNLESS I SEE A DETRIMENTAL NEED FOR IT.
UH, MY SUGGESTION WOULD BE WE'D REALLY NEED TO STUDY.
UH, THE CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE SUGGESTING THAT THERE'S BEEN A STUDY DONE.
I'D LIKE TO SEE IT, UH, WITHOUT REALLY LOOKING AT THINGS IN DEPTH.
AND I BELIEVE THERE NEEDS TO BE AN OVERHAUL.
UH, START FROM SCRATCH FROM 0.1.
UH, MR. REYES, I AM 100% AGAINST THE HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UM, THE CITY OF PASADENA'S HAVING A HARD TIME ADEQUATELY FUNDING THEIR HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
UM, I THINK IT'S THE BIGGEST HAIL MARY EVER THROWN BY THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.
AND I THINK THAT HEALTH DEPARTMENT NEEDS TO BE ABOLISHED, LIKE RIGHT NOW.
AND, UM, MR. SIDE, TALKING ABOUT BEVERLY HILL.
BEVERLY HILL HAVE BEEN TALKING TO OUR CITY MANAGER ALMOST EVERY MONTH.
AND TOLERANCE TALKING TO US ALL THE TIME.
SEND MONICA ALL THE, ALL THE CITY.
THEY ALL WANT THEIR HEALTH DEPARTMENT.
OUR COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT'S TOO BIG.
THEY CANNOT GIVE THE RESOURCE TO US.
IF YOU GO TO PA DINNER, PNA GET DIRECTLY FROM THE STATE, DIRECTLY FROM THE FEDERAL, FOR ALL THE BENEFIT OF WHAT WE DON'T HAVE.
WE HAVE TO WAIT IN THE LINE FROM THE COUNTY AND WE PAY TAXES.
OKAY? AND THEN TALKING ABOUT BUDGET.
GO TO CHECK ABOUT LONG BEACH, THIS BUDGET NEUTRAL, EVERYTHING FROM THE FEDERAL AND STAY.
THAT'S WHY WE BILL IN, BRING IN $20 MILLION CASH IN TWO.
YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN WILL BE A NICE WAVE TO ATTACK US.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE A MEDICAL DOCTOR CHECKING OUR SCHOOL, CHECKING OUR, OKAY.
SENIOR CENTER, CHECK OUR SENIOR COMPANY, MAKE SURE THE VIRUS WON'T DESTROY US.
UM, THIS PERSON ASKS, WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS SURROUNDING GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION AND GUN SAFETY? UH, SPECIFICALLY WITHIN THE CITY OF WEST COVENA.
AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH MR. SOTU TODAY.
GO TO MR. REYES, COME BACK TO MR. WOO AND END WITH MR. SYKES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
[01:25:01]
I HAD A LENGTHY CONVERSATION WITH A POLICE CHIEF, UH, BELLS IN REGARDS TO THE NEW SUPREME COURT, UH, RULING ON, AND HE HAS SOME GREAT IDEAS, UH, IN REGARDS TO TACKLING, UH, THE, THE PERMIT ASSOCIATED WITH THAT.AND, UH, I'M IN LINE WITH HIS IDEAS, UH, IN TERMS OF, UM, HOW TO PURSUE, UH, WITH THE SAME TOKEN, UH, THAT IS MANDATED BY THE SUPREME COURT.
I DO BELIEVE PEOPLE SHOULD PROTECT THEMSELVES, UH, IF NEED BE.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UH, WE NEED TO MAKE SURE IT'S DONE IN AN APPROPRIATE WAY.
AS THE POLICE CHIEF INDICATED THAT THERE HAS TO BE A BACKGROUND CHECK.
THERE HAS TO BE CHECKS AND BALANCES IN PLACE, UH, WHERE WE MAKE SURE THE GUN DOESN'T FALL INTO THE WRONG HAND.
UH, AND AT THE SAME TIME, PEOPLE CAN PROTECT THEMSELVES.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR QUESTION.
AT A LOCAL LEVEL, WE HAVE NO JURISDICTION OVER GUN CONTROL LAWS.
WHAT WE CAN DO IS HAVE MORE POLICE PRESENCE TO MATA MAINTAIN A HIGHER LEVEL OF SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I AM A STRONG SUPPORTER FOR SENSIBLE GUN OWNERSHIP BY LAW ABIDING CITIZENS.
HOWEVER, IF YOU BREAK THE LAW, YOU SHOULD LOSE THAT.
OKAY, SO THE SUPREME COURT ALREADY PASSED.
MEANING THAT WE HAVE A RIGHT TO CARRY.
SO MEANING WHAT? IN 2017, WEST COVIN CITY COUNCIL ALREADY APPROVED CCW TO OUR RESIDENT, BUT HAVE BEEN TRANSFERRED TO THE COUNTY.
NOW, COUNTY SHALL BASICALLY, THIS YEAR, KIND OF BOUNCING BACK TO THE, OUR LOCAL, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT HAVE TO ISSUE THE, THE PERMIT.
SO THE THING IS, THIS IS EDUCATION.
IT'S EDUCATION IS EDUCATION, TRAINING.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT IN THE FUTURE, WE HAVE THE RESOURCE.
AND THAT WE HAVE A FACILITY TO TRAIN PEOPLE.
HOW TO SHOW HOW TO CLEAN DOWN, HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELF.
BECAUSE JUST LIKE YOU DRIVING, DRIVING A CAR TO DRIVING LICENSE TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE DRIVING SAFELY YOUR OWN GUN, YOU NEED TO GET TRAINED TO KNOW HOW TO KEEP THE GUN SAFE AWAY FROM CHILDREN.
AND HOW TO MAKE SURE THE GUN, THE GUN DOESN'T KILL THE PERSON, KILL PEOPLE.
BUT GUN IS WHAT WITH US SUPREME COURT, THEY SAY THAT WE NEED TO PROTECT OURSELF AND WE NEED TO DO TRAINING FOR THAT.
AND MR. SYKES WORKING AS A DEPUTY SHERIFF IN EAST LA, SOUTH CENTRAL, AND SO FORTH, I SAW A LOT OF DEATH BECAUSE OF GUN.
SO WITH THAT, HAVING BEEN SAID FOR YOU TO PROTECT YOUR HOME, I BELIEVE IN THAT.
BUT WHEN I LOOK BACK ON WHAT I SAW, IT'S AN EPIDEMIC.
AND I THINK ONE DAY WE'LL RETHINK HOW WE DO THINGS WITH GUNS.
AND I HOPE IT'S SOONER THAN LATER.
BECAUSE WATCHING THOSE CHILDREN IN TEXAS DIE THE WAY THEY DID THAT IS SO UNNECESSARY.
IF WE JUST USE OUR BRAIN, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO PREVENT THAT.
AND MORE GUNS ALL OVER THE PLACE IS NOT THE SOLUTION.
UM, THIS QUESTION ASKS, HOW DO YOU THINK THAT THE CITY OF WEST CO VENUS SHOULD DEAL WITH, UH, THE SITUATION OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY? DO YOU SUPPORT TINY HOMES OR OTHER INITIATIVES? HOUSE THE HOMELESS.
AND FOR THIS, WE WILL BEGIN WITH MR. REYES.
COME TO MR. WOO AND WORK OUR WAY BACK TO MR. SOTU.
UH, I BELIEVE THERE'S NO PERFECT SOLUTION FOR THE UNHOUSED.
HOWEVER, THERE'S A WAY TO MITIGATE RISK, TO ENSURE SAFETY FOR OUR COMMUNITY MEMBERS.
NUMBER ONE, BY INCREASING POLICE PRESENCE.
AND NUMBER TWO, NONPROFITS IN COMMUNITY CHURCHES SHOULD BE EMPOWERED TO IMPLEMENT PROGRAMS THAT ADDRESS ISSUES SUCH AS THE UNHOUSED, ADDICTION, VETERANS, SUICIDE, ET CETERA.
JUST AS MUCH AS WE NEED TO BE AWARE OF THE RISK, WE ALSO NEED TO BE EMPATHETIC THAT THESE ARE HUMAN BEINGS JUST LIKE US.
I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO PEOPLE IN THE, IN THE COMMUNITY.
A FRIEND OF MINE WHO OWNS A AUTO DEALING, AUTO DETAILING BUSINESS IN OUR AREA HAVE NOTICED AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF UNHOUSED.
THE SAME IS TRUE FOR OUR SURROUNDING AREAS.
ADDITIONALLY, A CLIENT OF OURS WAS ATTACKED
[01:30:02]
ALL ON A WALK HERE IN WEST SABINA.IT WAS SHARED WITH ME BY A RESIDENT THAT A WEST COVINA POLICE OFFICER WAS PRESENT AT A RECENT PARENT MEETING AND SAID, AND SAID THAT THERE WAS NO PLAN IN PLACE TO ADDRESS THE UNHOUSED POPULATION.
THE CITY HAS BUDGETED O ONLY 5,000 FOR THIS ISSUE.
MEANWHILE, WE HAVE A HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS SET ASIDE FOR PALM VIEW PRESCHOOL, WHICH IS NOT IN OPERATION.
UH, WE ALREADY HAVE A WEST COVINA HOMELESS INITIATIVE.
BASICALLY, WE WANT TO ADDRESS THIS HOMELESS.
BUT WEST COVIN WANT TO DO IT WHILE WE DO IT.
WE BASICALLY, WE HAVE A, BASICALLY TWO POLICE OFFICER IS A WHOLE TEAM.
AND THIS YEAR WE CONTRACT OKAY, A $250,000.
WE HIRE LA CARTA, L A C A D A.
THEY BASICALLY COME TO THE CITY WITH A TWO FULL-TIME STAFF, WITH OUR TWO POLICE OFFICER.
THEY ALWAYS ON THE STREET TRY TO DO THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH, TRY TO HELP ALL THESE HOMELESS POPULATION WITH SERVICE, WITH THE MEDICAL ATTENTION, WITH A, WITH A LOVE.
SO, WITH LAND WITH THIS YEAR, OUR RECORD ALREADY SHOWING FROM THEM, FROM LATA, WE ALREADY HELP 50 HOMELESS PEOPLE OFF THE STREET GRADUATING TO THE NORMALCY.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE WANT TO DO.
CURRENTLY, WE HAVE ABOUT HUNDRED 87 HOMELESS POPULATION, WEST COVINA WITH THIS LA CARTA CONTRACT RIGHT NOW.
IS THIS, WHERE IS THE FUNDING? WE PAY COUNTY.
WE WANT SOME MONEY BACK SO WE CAN HELP THE HOMELESS.
BUT WHY NOW? WE DOING PRETTY GOOD
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS FOR DIFFERENT REASONS, AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT TOGETHER A REGIONAL RESPONSE.
DOING IT BY OURSELF IS NOT GONNA IT, BECAUSE AS SOON AS ONE LITTLE TOWN SOLVES IT, THEY PUSH IT OVER TO SOMEPLACE ELSE AND IT GOES RIGHT BACK TO THEM.
IT JUST GOES BACK AND FORTH AND BACK AND FORTH.
WE HAVE TO GET MORE COMPREHENSIVE, A REGIONAL SOLUTION.
SO THAT MEANS WE NEED TO BE WORKING WITH THE COUNTY, THE STATE, FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
WE'RE GONNA HAVE TO DEMAND AND SPEAK TO ALL THESE DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND LEARN HOW TO WORK TOGETHER TO FOCUS ON WHAT'S GONNA BE A PERMANENT SOLUTION FOR THE DRUG SITUATION, THE MENTAL SITUATION, DIVORCE, ALL THESE DIFFERENT REASONS WHY PEOPLE END UP HOMELESS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT QUESTION.
AND THAT IS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION THAT THE WHOLE COUNTRY IS GRAPPLING WITH AT THIS MOMENT.
AND I, I REALLY DON'T BELIEVE I CAN ANSWER IT WITHIN THE ONE MINUTE TIMEFRAME.
UH, AND NONETHELESS, UH, I, I DON'T BELIEVE WHAT THE, UH, CURRENT, UH, COUNCIL IS DOING, UH, HAS GONE FAR ENOUGH.
THE NUMBERS THEY HAVE PRESENTED IN TERMS OF, UH, WHAT THEY'VE DONE, UH, 15, WHATEVER THAT WAS, FROM WHAT I HEARD FROM THE LAST, UH, PREVIOUS COUNCIL MEMBER, WAS NOT ENOUGH.
MY PLAN WOULD BE TO CREATE A TASK FORCE, UH, THAT WOULD CONSIST OF, UH, CITIZENS AND CITY STAFF, UH, TO COME UP WITH A COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO ATTACK THIS AS, UH, MR. PSYCH, UH, INDICATED REGIONAL, UH, AND, AND TRY TO GET A GRIP ON THE ENTIRE MATTER.
THIS IS NOT SOMETHING ONE OR TWO PERSON CAN REALLY, UH, SOLVE, BUT IT'S A LONG TERM.
WE NEED A LONG TERM SOLUTION FOR THIS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR QUESTION.
THIS PERSON ASKS, UH, RECENTLY OR IN THE LAST YEAR, THE CITY COUNCIL VOTED NO CONFIDENCE, UH, WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY OF LA COUNTY, GEORGE GASCON.
WHERE DO YOU STAND ON THIS POSITION? AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH MR. SOTU TODAY.
GO TO MR. REYES, COME BACK TO MR. W AND END WITH MR. SYKES.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
I, I'M SURE EVERYONE HAS BEEN AFFECTED BY HIS POLICIES.
I'M NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH IT PERSONALLY, MYSELF, AS I HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY, UH, CRIME, UH, PERSONALLY SEVERAL TIMES.
AND, UH, I, I DO AGREE WITH THE VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE.
UH, OBVIOUSLY, AS WE ALL KNOW, THE RECALL FOR DID NOT GO THROUGH, BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT OUR CITY CANNOT DO OUR PART TO DO THE BEST WE CAN TO, IN TERMS OF LOOKING AT DIFFERENT OPTIONS, UH, TO, UH, HOLD THE CRIMINALS ACCOUNTABLE.
WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS THAT MIGHT BE, YOU KNOW, WE NEED TO DISCUSS THAT AMONG THE COUNCIL AND OTHER STAKEHOLDER TO SEE, UH, WHAT
[01:35:01]
WE COULD DO AT THE CITY LEVEL.SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO OUR CITY AT A MINIMUM.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REQUEST.
UH, GASCON HAS BASICALLY SAID WRONGDOERS WILL NOT BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.
AS A RESULT, CRIME IS SKYROCKETING AND SAFETY OF THE CITIZENS IS AT STAKE.
I BELIEVE YOU HAVE TO BE HARD ON CRIME.
IF YOU BREAK THE LAW, YOU SHOULD BE PROSECUTED TO THE, TO THE HIGHEST EXTENT.
AND WE SHOULD PUSH, PUSH BACK AGAINST THIS POLICIES HERE IN WESTS.
OKAY, MR. LOU, TO DETER THE CRIME TO CRIME, OKAY.
CRIMINAL TO COMMIT A CRIME, THE MOST IMPORTANT THING, TWO THING.
ONE IS THE PUNISHMENT, ANOTHER ONE IS CORRECTION.
AND CURRENTLY, BASED ON
SO MEANING WHAT? THE CRIME PAY.
SO PEOPLE CAN JUST RUB THE PLACE AND THEY CAN RELEASE NEXT DAY.
SO WE NEED TO RECALL HIM BECAUSE HE IS NOT A LAW OLDER ATTORNEY, OKAY.
SO WE NEED SOMEBODY REALLY NEED TO PROTECT OUR RESIDENT, BUT THEY ARE, COMMUNITY IS WHAT PUNISHMENT DETER THE CRIME THAT WOULD BE COMMITTED.
SO PEOPLE DON'T WANT THE COMMIT A CRIME BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE CONSEQUENCE.
CURRENTLY, YOU SEE, IT'S LIKE ROLL THE DOOR, THE PEOPLE IN, PEOPLE OUT, THEY NO BAIL.
THEY'RE COMING OUT AGAIN, AND THEY COMMITTED CREDIT AGAIN TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.
SO THE THING IS THIS, WE NEED TO HAVE A, HOPEFULLY PEOPLE VOTE FOR A STRONG LAW AND ORDER DISTRICT ATTORNEY, OTHERWISE THE POLICE ARREST THEM AND THEY CAN RELEASE RIGHT, RIGHT AWAY.
AND WHAT HAPPENED, THE CRIME WAY WE GO UP.
SO HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE, UH, THIS ISSUE AND PEOPLE UNDERSTAND VOTE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
UH, FIRST OF ALL, THESE, UH, CRIME PROBLEMS DIDN'T START WITH GASCON.
I DIDN'T VOTE FOR IT, BUT WE LIVE IN A DEMOCRACY.
SO THE MAJORITY VOTED FOR THIS PRISON REALIGNMENT.
A LOT OF, A LOT OF PEOPLE GOT OUTTA JAIL, OUTTA PRISON.
AND NOW WE ARE DEALING WITH IT.
ALSO, WE, LORD, WHAT WAS CLASSIFIED AS A FELONY.
WE LOSE A LOT MORE AND THEY DON'T GET PUNISHED TO THE LEVEL THAT THEY SHOULD BE PUNISHED.
NOW TO GASCON IN PERSON, I WANT REFORM.
I WANT FAIRNESS AND EVERYWHERE ACROSS THE BOARD.
BUT WHEN YOU GO TO EXTREME WHERE PEOPLE SHOULD BE IN JAIL AND THEY GET OUT AND THEY KILLED TWO POLICE OFFICERS, THAT KIND OF STUFF BOTHERED ME.
AND SO I DID SIGN THE PETITION, BUT EVEN THOUGH IT FAILED, HE DID CHANGE.
SO WE KNOW THAT THAT HAS AN IMPACT.
THIS PERSON ASKS, THIS IS A COROLLARY TO THE LAST ONE.
UM, HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THE, UH, TALK OF DEFUNDING POLICE? AND WE'LL BEGIN WITH MR. REYES AND WORK OUR WAY TO MR. WOO.
I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF DEFUNDING THE POLICE.
I'VE SPOKEN TO QUITE A FEW FAMILIES IN THE LAST MONTH AND A HALF ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC SAFETY, LOCAL INTERSECTIONS, AND ARE BECOMING INCREASINGLY NOISY WITHOUT VEHICLES BURNING OUT.
NOT TO MENTION THE GRAFFITI PROBLEM.
ON HALLOWEEN MORNING, MY FAMILY AND I HAD AN EXTREMELY DISTURBING EXPERIENCE.
OUR PARK, OUR PARKED SUV, WAS TOTALED DURING A HIGH SPEED CHASE.
TO ME, THE PRESENCE OF POLICE IS VERY IMPORTANT.
ACCORDING TO MY UNDERSTANDING, OUR POLIC, OUR POLICE COUNT HAS REMAINED THE SAME SINCE 2016.
HOW WILL WE FIX THIS? THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IS ANALYZE THE BUDGET AND SEE WHERE SPENDING CAN BE REDUCED.
SCHOOLS, FOR INSTANCE, RECEIVE FUNDING.
MOST OF THE FUNDING GOES TO THE HIGHEST PAID POSITIONS.
WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE'RE LOOKING AT THINGS FROM ALL ANGLES.
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT ARE NO EXCEPTION.
OUR SPENDING NEEDS NEED TO BE MONITORED WEEKLY.
THERE ARE LEAD AND LAG MEASURES.
THE LEAD MEASURES OF THE ACTIONS OF MONITORING THE LAG MEASURES ARE THE RESULTS OF OUR MONITORING.
AN LA COUNTY OFFICIAL THAT I KNOW TOLD ME THAT THE RESULTS OF YOU CAN FINISH YOUR SENTENCE,
THIS IS WHAT I MEAN, TAKING A FRESH APPROACH.
LITTLE THINGS MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE.
OH, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
UM, I ABSOLUTELY DO NOT AGREE WITH THE FUNDING.
UH, IN FACT, UH, WE NEED TO GIVE HIM EVERY, UH, OPPORTUNITY AND UTILITIES THAT THEY NEED.
I'M A TECHNOLOGY TYPE OF PERSON.
[01:40:01]
I BELIEVE IF WE PROVIDE THE TECHNOLOGY TO THEM, UH, WE CAN, UH, SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCE THE WAY THEY CAN ENFORCE THE LAW AND PREVENT CRIMES.UH, RIGHT NOW ON FROM, BASED ON MY ASSESSMENT, THERE'S A DESPERATE NEED FOR, UH, A VERY GOOD TECHNOLOGY FOR OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO, UH, INCREASE ITS IN ENFORCEMENT.
AND THAT'S WHAT IS REALLY MISSING.
SO THROWING MONEY AT IT, UH, MY ANSWER, UH, IS NOT ALL THE DOES NOT FIX THE PROBLEM.
BUT BRINGING TECHNOLOGY INTO ENHANCING THE ENFORCEMENT, UH, WOULD HELP US SIGNIFICANTLY, SAVING US MONEY AT THE SAME TIME, HELPING THE POLICE AND BRINGING RIGHT AWAY, UH, REALLY QUICK, BRINGING THE CITIZEN TO AUGMENT THE POLICE TO, UH, BACKFILL.
SO TAKE SOME LOAD OFF OF THEM AS WELL.
THAT'S ONE OF MY OTHER SOLUTION.
THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY, MR. SYKES.
DEFUNDING IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I WOULD WANT, BUT I DO WANT AND DEMAND PROFESSIONAL, HIGH INTEGRITY, PEACE OFFICERS.
AND AT THIS TIME IN WEST COVINA, THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT.
WHEN YOU'RE UNDERSTAFFED, IT HURTS THAT WHEN YOU COME TO WORK, YOU'RE SO FAR BEHIND THAT PEOPLE, WHEN YOU GET THERE, THEY'VE BEEN WAITING FOR A DAY FOR YOU TO SHOW UP.
SO DEFUNDING THE PLACE IN WEST COVENA IS NOT A GOOD IDEA.
AND WE ARE SO SHORT THAT WHEN WE HAVE THESE PURSUITS AS A, AS, UH, WHAT HAPPENED EARLIER, UH, WE GONNA NEED, AND I WASN'T FOR IT FOR A WHILE BACK, BUT NOW THAT I'M LIVING IN THIS SITUATION, I BELIEVE IN DRONES.
IT'S GONNA HELP THE FEW POLICE THAT WE HAVE.
AND WE NEED TO GET, UH, TECHNOLOGY EMBEDDED.
UM, LAST YEAR, WHEN ALL THE CITY UNDER PRESSURE DEFENDING THE POLICE, WEST COVINA AGAINST LAW, WE HIRE 10 ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICER.
WHY? BECAUSE WE KNOW AT THIS PANDEMIC CRIME WILL GO UP.
WE NEED TO HAVE A MORE POLICE OFFICER TO PROTECT US.
AND FOR THE DEFUNDING POLICE MOVEMENT, BASICALLY THE POLITICAL SOUNDBITE, WE NEED POLICE OFFICER.
WHY? TO PROTECT US, PROTECT OUR FAMILY, PROTECT OUR CHILDREN TO PATROL ON OUR STREET, TO PATROL OUR SHOPPING CENTER TO MAKE SURE WE ARE SAFE.
SO BASICALLY, CURRENTLY WE HAVE ABOUT A HUNDRED POLICE OFFICER, BUT ABOUT FOUR YEARS AGO, WE DOWN TO 70, 75.
CURRENTLY WE ARE UP TO A HUNDRED.
WHY? BECAUSE WE HAVE POPULATION 110, ALMOST 120, BUT 1000 PER POLICE OFFICER.
EVEN WE SAY WE ARE 110, WE STILL SHY OF 10 POLICE OFFICER.
SO WE STILL HAVE TO FIND A BUDGET, CONTINUE TO IMPROVE OUR P POLICE FORCE.
OKAY? SO FOR THAT MOST IMPORTANT THING IS HOW TO RECRUIT AND MAKE SURE WE HAVE A GOOD POLICE OFFICER WORKFORCE, US.
THIS PERSON SAYS CODE ENFORCEMENT IS EXPENSIVE.
HOW HAS CODE ENFORCEMENT IMPROVED THE CITY SO FAR? AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH MR. SO TODAY, WORK OUR WAY TO MR. W AND END WITH MR. REYES.
UM, SO AGAIN, UH, WE CAN ENHANCE OUR CODE ENFORCEMENT WITH THE TECHNOLOGY TOOLS AS WELL.
UM, AND, UH, THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCE.
AS I KEEP HEARING FROM OUR CONSTITUENT, THAT, UH, HOW THE CODE ENFORCEMENT PERFORMS IN TERMS OF, UH, THEIR PROFESSIONALISM WHEN IT COMES TO APPROACHING, UH, THE CUSTOMERS OR THEIR RESIDENTS, IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT FOR US, FOR THE CITY AS A COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, TO UNDERSTAND HOW THEY'RE PERFORMING.
ONE OF THE THINGS I, I STRONGLY SUGGEST EVEN FOR, UH, OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT, I HAD THE DISCUSSION WITH THE CHIEF IS TO HAVE FEEDBACK, A SURVEY, UH, SO THE CUSTOMERS OR CITIZENS CAN, UH, FILL OUT A FORM ONLINE OR SEND IN, SAY, THIS IS HOW MY INTERACTION WENT WITH THE CODE ENFORCEMENT.
THIS IS HOW MY INTERACTION WENT WITH, WITH THE POLICE.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
CODE FOR ENFORCEMENT IS A NECESSARY ITEM THAT WE MUST HAVE TO KEEP UP THE STANDARDS.
IT IS, IT HAS ALL ASPECTS OF SAFETY AND BEAUTY OF OUR, OF OUR CITY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WE HAVE TO KEEP IN
[01:45:01]
MIND, IT, IT CAN BE USED AS A PUNISHMENT, ESPECIALLY IN THESE TOUGH TIMES.I MEAN, WE HAVE THE COST OF LIVING.
THIS IS GOING THROUGH THE SKY AND WE KNOW THAT, THAT THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO JUST CAN'T KEEP UP WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING TO THEM FINANCIALLY.
SO WE HAVE TO THINK OF THEM WHEN WE FIND OUT THAT SOMEONE IS, IS STRUGGLING AND THEY NEED HELP.
WE, WE ACTUALLY HELPED, UH, PAINT SOME PERSON'S HOME BEFORE.
AND WE NEED TO REACH OUT TO OUR COMMUNITY SERVICE GROUPS AND DO THAT AGAIN IN SOME CASES, CUZ I KNOW SOME FOLKS ARE SUFFERING.
AND, UH, CUZ I GO MEALS ON WHEELS AND I SEE SOME OF THESE PEOPLE WITH HOUSES THAT, THAT, THAT NEED PAIN AND FIXED UP.
SO WE, WE, WE WANT TO KEEP CODING FOR THEM, BUT WE DO WANT TO BE GENTLE ABOUT IT AND HELPFUL, UH, AS A COMMUNITY.
UH, WE SET UP A CO ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO BECAUSE WE KNOW HOW IMPORTANT TO HAVE A CO ENFORCEMENT TO BEAUTIFY THE CITY AND TO MAKE OUR CITY SAFE AND CO ENFORCEMENT.
CURRENTLY WE HAVE A, A MANAGER AND ABOUT 4, 4, 4 TIME STAFF AND COUPLE PART-TIME.
AND WE HAVE A FOUR SERVICE DISTRICT FROM FOUR POLICE SERVICE.
AND EACH ONE WE EQUIP ONE CO ENFORCEMENT WORK WITH OUR POLICE.
CO ENFORCEMENT OFFICER IS NOT ONLY TO GO TO THIS RESIDENT, BUT THEY ALSO DRIVING AROUND.
CHECK ABOUT THE CITY FLA, THE PARK, THE STREET.
OKAY? THE ANY ISSUE REPORT TO THE CITY.
WE NEED SOMEBODY DRIVING AROUND ALL THE TIME TO SEE THE PROBLEM OF NOT ONLY THE RESIDENT, BUT ALSO THE CITY.
OKAY? MAKE SURE OUR CITY'S SAFE.
MAKE SURE OUR TREE, MAKE SURE OUR OVERGROWN OKAY.
REINFORCEMENT NEED TO TELL US THAT.
SO NOT ONLY TO GO TO RESIDENT BEAUTIFY THEIR HOME, IF THE HOME DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY, WE ALREADY APPROVE $25,000 ZERO INTEREST LOAN PROGRAM FOR THE HOMEOWNER TO HELP TO IMPROVE THEIR HOME.
UM, I AM IN FAVOR OF CODE ENFORCEMENT.
UM, YOU KNOW, FOR COMMON CODE VIOLATIONS.
WHAT I'M NOT IN FAVOR OF, I BELIEVE THE LAST CITY COUNCIL MEETING, I THINK, UH, MR. OGDEN HAD HAD A CONCERN WHERE AN ELDERLY WOMAN LEFT HER TRASH CANS OUT.
UM, SO IF CODE ENFORCEMENT IS OUT THERE, I DON'T WANT TO, I DON'T WANNA USE A THE WORD PREDATORY, BUT IF THEY'RE OUT THERE LOOK LOOKING TO, TO FIND US CITIZENS, UM, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I'M NOT IN AGREEMENT WITH.
THIS PERSON ASKS, HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK THAT THE CITY SHOULD, UH, SUBSIDIZE THE SPORTS PLEX AND FOR HOW LONG SHOULD THAT TAKE PLACE? AND, UH, WE'LL BEGIN WITH MR. WU AND WE WILL WORK OUR WAY DOWN TO, UH, MR. REYES.
ONCE UPON THE TIME, SPOKE PLAY WAS A BIG LEAGUE DREAM.
A BIG LEAGUE DREAM OPERATE FOR MORE THAN WHAT, 15 YEARS.
THE CITY DIDN'T MAKE THE MONEY.
BASICALLY, CITY LOST ABOUT HALF A MILLION DOLLARS A YEAR.
BUT THE SPECIAL INTEREST GET THE PAY OKAY.
SO FOR THAT, WHEN THEY OUT OF, UH, DIDN'T PAY US FOR THREE YEARS, OKAY? AND THEN WE WENT TO CHECK, WE TOOK THE, THE PROPERTY BACK.
THIS IS NOT PRIVATE SECTOR NUMBER 16 FROM, WE DEVELOP THE DEVELOPMENT AGENCY PROGRAM, OKAY? FOR THAT WE HAVE THIS PARK FOR SIX BASEBALL FIELD, AND WE NEED TO USE THE CT POWER TO LET OUR RESIDENT CAN USE THIS PLACE RATHER THAN SPECIAL INTEREST.
AND THEN THEY MAKE MONEY CITY DO NOT MAKE MONEY AT ALL.
CURRENTLY WE ARE RUNNING A VERY GOOD PROGRAM.
WE HAVE A SPRING FESTIVAL OVER THERE, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF SPECIAL PROGRAM OVER THERE.
WE HAVE LOT OF TRAINING OVER THERE.
I THINK NOW IT'S HAVE BEEN FIXED.
I THINK IT'S GONNA BRING GLORY TO US.
THE BIG LEAGUE DREAMS OPENED IN 2008 AND IT OPENED WITH A MILLION DOLLAR COST OVER A MILLION, MORE LIKE 1.5.
AND BIG LEAGUE DREAMS IS ONLY GIVING THE MANAGEMENT, THEY WERE THE MANAGEMENT ABOUT 300,000 TOWARDS THAT BILL.
SO IT'S NEVER BEEN IN THE BEST FAVOR FOR THE RESIDENTS.
AND NOW YOU GET THE COVID HIT AND WE SEE THAT MAYBE OVERSIGHT WASN'T WHERE IT SHOULD BE AND SO FORTH.
BUT THE PROBLEM NOW IS IT'S NOT BRINGING IN ANY MONEY.
[01:50:02]
WE ARE SPENDING A TON OF MONEY ON SOCIAL EVENTS AND SO FORTH.WE CAN'T AFFORD TO SPEND A PENNY.
WE CAN'T AFFORD TO SPEND A WASTE OF PENNY.
SO WE NEED TO RESTRUCTURE THAT AND TRY TO GET A NEW CONTRACT FROM BASEBALL.
BUT THAT'S WHAT IT WAS DESIGNED FOR, WAS FOR BASEBALL.
AND WE NEED TO GET OUR CITY STAFF BACK TO DOING SERVICES FOR THE RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU MR. SO TODAY, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE QUESTION.
UM, AGAIN, UM, I WANT TO GO BACK TO, UH, IT APPEARS THIS IS AN ISSUE NOT FOR THE CURRENT COUNCIL.
THIS IS SOMETHING HAS GONE, UM, MANY, MANY YEARS BEFORE.
UH, I PERSONALLY SEE, UH, ALL THE COUNCIL MEMBERS GOING BACK RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THIS DEFICIT AND THESE NUMBERS I'M HEARING.
UH, MY POSITION ON THIS IS, UH, IF THIS WAS MY BUSINESS, IF THIS IS MY HOME BUDGET, I'M NOT GONNA RUN IT LIKE THIS.
IF IT'S RUNNING LIKE THIS, AND I'M NOT GONNA LET IT GO ONE MONTH, TWO MONTH, ONE YEAR, TWO YEAR, THREE OR FOUR YEARS, FIVE YEARS AT THE END.
UH, WHAT I LIKE TO DO TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM IS AGAIN, TO CREATE THE TASK FORCE AMONG THE CITY STAFF AND PERHAPS THE RESIDENT TO COLLABORATE, TO COME UP WITH CREATIVE IDEAS OF HOW WE CAN GENERATE MONEY FROM THIS FIELD AS IT WAS DESIGNED FOR.
AND, UH, PUT IT OUT THERE FOR ALL BUSINESSES TO COME UP AND START BIDDING AND GEN START GENERATING MONEY FOR US.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR REQUESTING.
SO THIS IS A TOUCHY SUBJECT FOR ME.
UH, MY FAMILY AND I USED TO FREQUENT BIG LEAGUE DREAMS ON A WEEKLY BASIS.
WE USED TO RUN A A TOURNAMENT TEAM OUT THERE, SO VERY DISAPPOINTED WHEN THEY SHUT THAT DOWN.
UM, BUT IN MY OPINION, UM, I THINK THE SPORTSPLEX, UM, YOU KNOW, FOR WEST COMMUNITY TO TAKE IT BACK AND HOLD THREE EVENTS THERE A YEAR.
UM, I DON'T THINK THAT'S SMART.
UM, IT'S MY OPINION THAT THE SPORTS COMPLEX SHOULD BE DEMOLISHED AND REPLACED WITH A FIRE STATION, A POLICE STATION, AND A CITY HALL.
THIS WILL IMPROVE ACCESSIBILITY ON THE SOUTH SIDE OF WEST COVINA AS WELL.
SELLING PROPERTY IS NOT SOMETHING I ADVOCATE.
HOWEVER, I MOVE TO THE SPORTS COMPLEX WILL FREE UP SPACE THAT CAN BE REZONED FOR OTHER PROPERTY WE HAVE AVAILABLE, UM, IN OUR INVENTORY.
IT'S ALSO BEEN SUGGESTED, UH, THAT A HOTEL BE BUILT.
A HOTEL WHO'S GONNA COME VISIT US, SOMEONE FROM ORANGE COUNTY.
SO THAT'S, UH, THAT'S, I'LL STOP.
UH, FOR THE LAST QUESTION, I WOULD LIKE TO, UM, ASK ABOUT, UH, THE BKK, UH, LANDFILL PROPERTY AND WHAT YOU THINK OUGHT TO BE DONE, UH, WITH THAT FACILITY.
UH, AS FAR AS, UH, IMPROVING THE CITY.
AND WE WILL BEGIN WITH MR. SO, UH, MR. SYKES, WE'LL GO TO MR. W TO MR. REO AND END WITH MR. SOTU.
IN 1984, PEOPLE WHO LIVE NEAR THAT DUMP WERE EVACUATED.
SO FOR SOMEONE TO TELL YOU, IT IS JUST DIRT THAT IS NONSENSE AND DANGEROUS.
AND OF COURSE WE NEED SCIENTISTS TO MONITOR AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.
IF SCIENTISTS CAN APPROVE PERHAPS SOLAR OR SOME OTHER TECHNOLOGY THAT CAN HELP US GAR INTO SOME FUNDS WHILE SAVING THE ENVIRONMENT, THAT'S AN IDEA THAT WE CAN LOOK AT.
BUT A HOTEL OR ANYTHING THAT'S GONNA HAVE A POWERFUL IMPACT WHERE THINGS ARE DIGGING DEEP INTO THE DIRT AND MOVING WATER AND EVERYTHING AROUND THAT IS JUST UNBELIEVABLY DANGEROUS.
SO BKK SHOULD NOT BE MESSED WITH WITHOUT SCIENTIST APPROVAL.
IN THE BEAUTIFUL CITY OF WEST COVINA IN THE MIDDLE OF BEAUTIFUL CITY, WE HAVE A DUMP.
OKAY? WE DON'T DESERVE THIS DUMP.
AND THEY NEVER FIXED, SUPPOSEDLY PROMISED EARTH.
THEY'RE GOING TO BUILD A TREE, PLANT THE TREE, MAKING NICE LIKE A NATURE HILL.
WHERE IS THE FREAKING TREE? WELL IS LOOK LIKE A NATURE WE CAN ENJOY.
NOW WE SEE NOTHING BUT A DUMP WITH A BUNCH OF WHITE TUBE STICKING OUT, LAUGHING AT US.
[01:55:01]
WE NEED TO BEAUTIFY THIS DISPLAY.WE'VE BEEN TELLING THE DTC CONTROL, THE TOXIC DUMP.
WE TOLD THEM THEY NEED TO QUIT THEIR PROMISE, BUT THEY SAY THIS, THEIR MONITOR THE PLACE.
HOW CAN THAT BE FAILED TO CROSS STREET, THAT DUMP INDUSTRY DUMP BECOME PACIFIC PUMP.
THEY PUT A HOTEL, THEY PUT A GOLF CART.
HOW CAN WE HAVE SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL OVER THERE? WHY ARE WE SECOND CLASS RESIDENT? WE NEED SOMETHING OVER THERE TO BE NICE TO BASICALLY WITH TREE, AT LEAST WE CAN PROTECT, MAKE SURE CAB ON THE TOP, NOTHING LIKE THIS.
WE HELP US IN THE MIDDLE OF CITY WITH THIS GIGANTIC MONSTER, WHICH WE CAN SEE FROM FAR AWAY.
WE NEED TO BEAUTIFY THIS PLACE.
SO AGAIN, IT'S BEEN SUGGESTED THAT A HOTEL BE BUILT, AN ACTUAL HOTEL.
WHO WOULD WANNA TRAVEL HERE? PEOPLE FROM ORANGE COUNTY.
WHAT MAKES WEST COVIN SO SPECIAL? IS THERE A FINANCIAL GAIN INVOLVED? IS THERE MONEY TO BE MADE? I AM ALSO A REAL ESTATE BROKER.
I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE'S MONEY TO BE MADE.
IS THAT WHAT THE CITY NEEDS? I DON'T THINK SO.
DTSC, WE TALK ABOUT, UH, I THINK BRIAN JOBS HAS A SMALL READ ABOUT BKK.
WE HAVE ABOUT 5.5 MILLION TONS OF TOXIC WASTE IN THAT HILL BUILDING A HOTEL.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? THANK YOU.
I, I'VE BEEN PERSONALLY HIT, UH, BY, UH, TOXIC WASTE.
UH, IN TERMS OF HEALTH ISSUES, UH, IT'S A VERY SENSITIVE SUBJECT TO ME, UH, PERSONALLY, UH, AS MY, UH, THE OTHER CANDIDATES INDICATED, UM, THE FEASIBILITY IS STUDIED BY A SCIENTIST IS DEFINITELY HELPFUL NONETHELESS, UH, BUILDING A HOTEL OR ANYTHING ELSE, UH, UM, IT, IT IS KIND OF MIND BOGGLING.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, UH, THE SOLAR PANELS, UH, WINDMILL, SOMETHING THAT WOULD GENERATE, UH, REVENUE FOR THE CITY.
UH, I DO SEE THAT AS A POSSIBILITY AS WELL.
WITH THE SAME TOKEN, AGAIN, MY SUGGESTION IS, UH, TO HAVE THE TASK FORCE REVIEW THE MATTER IN DEPTH ALONG WITH THE SCIENTISTS AND, AND SEE WHAT IS THE BEST SCENARIO FOR THE CITY TO GENERATE SOME MONEY FROM IT.
UH, AT THE SAME TIME, IT'S A LAND THAT WE NEED THE MONEY.
IT IS NOW A LITTLE BIT AFTER NINE O'CLOCK, SO IT IS TIME TO, UH, DO OUR CLOSING STATEMENTS.
AND AS I SAID PREVIOUSLY, UH, THE CLOSING STATEMENTS WILL BE DONE IN REVERSE ORDER OF THE OPENING STATEMENTS AND THE CANDIDATES WILL HAVE TWO MINUTES TO, UH, GIVE THEIR STATEMENT.
AND ONE CANDIDATE SAID, WHY DON'T YOU LET ME KNOW WHY I SHOULD VOTE FOR YOU? SO
SO OUR FINAL, UH, OUR CLOSING STATEMENT.
THE FIRST ONE COMES FROM MR. TONY.
FOUR YEARS AGO, OKAY, I GOT ELECTED DISTRICT FIVE AND I SAY I CUT MY PR PROMISE.
FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IN 2019, AFTER THREE MONTHS, BY LAW, WE FIRED THE PREVIOUS CITY MANAGER BECAUSE HE TALK ABOUT BANKRUPTCY AND THAT WE HIRED A NEW CITY MANAGEMENT TEAM.
OKAY? THEY HAVE A VERY GOOD, OKAY.
FINANCE DIRECTOR IS THE MOST IMPORTANT.
OKAY? THE STAFF THAT WE MUST HAVE BECAUSE THEY, HE OR SHE'S THE PERSON THAT FIX OUR FINANCE.
AND WE GOT ROBIN BUR, UH, SUCH AN EXCELLENT FINANCIAL OKAY? AND DIRECTOR, FINANCE DIRECTOR FOR US.
AND BASICALLY SHE FIXED ENTIRE OUR 20 YEARS, A BUNCH OF MISTAKE AND CREATE BY THEM.
SO, SO CREATED BY PREVIOUS CITY MANAGER AND PREVIOUS CITY COUNCIL.
AND THAT'S WHAT WE CAN BECOME.
WHAT TODAY WE HAVE, WE HAVE THIS NEW TEAM BASICALLY MAKE OUR CD FINANCIALLY STRONG.
WE CURRENTLY IN PUBLIC RECORDS.
NO MATTER YOU BELIEVE IT OR NOT, YOU'RE LAUGHING OR NOT.
AND WE BASICALLY OUR BUDGET SURPLUS.
SO THE SURPLUS, THAT'S HOW WE CAN HIRE MORE POLICE HIRE, OKAY? OUR FIREFIGHTER IMPROVE OUR PUBLIC SAFETY.
AND THAT IS WHAT IS TODAY WHAT WE HAVE.
AND MOST IMPORTANT THING, YOU HAVE TO TREAT YOUR UNION MEMBER WITH THE FAIRNESS, POLICE AND FIRE THAT WE HAVE TO GIVE THEM WHAT THE FAIRNESS, WE CAN COMPETE WITH ANY OTHER CITY.
WE CURRENTLY HAVE A NIGHT UNION MEMBER OR WORK WITH US WITH THREE
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YEARS OF A CONTRACT.AND DALE CAME TO THE CITY COUNCIL, THANK US.
NEVER EVER HAVE SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THAT THE CITY UNITED TOGETHER.
SO THAT IS IMPORTANT FOR OUR STAFF.
YOU HAVE TO TAKE CARE, YOUR STAFF, YOU HAPPY STAFF, HAPPY CITY, HAPPY RESIDENT BECAUSE WHAT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS MOST IMPORTANT THING.
WE NEED TO TAKE CARE THE STAFF AND MAKE SURE OUR CITY, SO WORK FOR ME, CONTINUE IN THE POSITIVE OF OUR CITY TO BETTER NURSE FOR OUR FUTURE.
IN 2006, I GOT AN ALARM, A WAKE UP CALL, AND IT WAS ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN MY COMMUNITY.
LOSING HALF THE PARK IN THE MOST CROWDED PART OF THE CITY WAS UNACCEPTABLE.
YOU NEED THAT SPACE FOR YOUR HEALTH.
YOU NEED THAT SPACE TO MEET ORGANIZED MM-HMM
SO I CAME TO CITY HALL ALONG WITH, UH, SOME OTHER FOLKS THAT ARE STILL HERE, THE MESSMAN WILLIAMS. WE CAME IN TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.
AND BASICALLY IT BOILS DOWN TO SELF-INTEREST.
THEY WERE TAKEN THE PARK FOR THEIR OWN PERSONAL BENEFIT AND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PEOPLE WHO CONTRIBUTE TO THEIR CAMPAIGNS.
FOLKS, IF PEOPLE WERE DOING THE RIGHT THING, I WOULDN'T BE HERE.
I'M HERE BECAUSE I KNOW THAT IF I CAN GET MY COMMUNITY TO REALIZE THE TRUTH ABOUT OUR SITUATION AND TO GET INVOLVED, WE WILL BE ABLE TO TURN WEST COVINA AROUND.
YOU MUST START WITH THE TRUTH AND ALL MY NEIGHBORS WHO ARE GOING TO WALNUT AND LA POINTE AND OTHER PLACES TO BUY THINGS, PLEASE THINK OF WHAT YOU CAN SPEND HERE FIRST.
THAT'S THE ONLY WAY WE ARE GONNA TURN AROUND.
WE HAVE TWO FEW PEOPLE THAT KNOW THE SITUATION WITH OUR CITY.
TWO FEW PEOPLE WHO DO NOT KNOW THAT WHEN THEY DRIVE OUT OF THEIR DRIVEWAY, THEIR OWN STREETS THAT DO NOT BELONG TO THEM.
NOW WE HAVE RAMBO, SUDAY, AND AGAIN, AND THANK YOU VERY MUCH, UH, FOR EVERYONE TO GIVE ME THE OPPORTUNITY.
UH, JUST TO BE CLEAR, THE 22 YEARS I'VE LIVED HERE, UH, I'VE SEEN MANY THINGS.
UH, I'VE NEVER DONE THIS BEFORE AND UH, I DON'T COME WITH ANY BAGGAGES.
UH, IN TERMS OF BEING A COUNCIL MEMBER IN THE PAST OR, UH, PUTTING US WHERE WE ARE RIGHT NOW.
UH, SPEND A CAREER BUILDING STRONG TIES TO BUSINESS AND COMMUNITY GROUP THROUGH THE REGION.
WORK WITH ELECTED OFFICIALS AT ALL LEVEL, LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL.
IF I'M HONORED TO BE YOUR NEXT COUNCIL MEMBER, I PLEDGE THE FOLLOWING TO EVERYONE FROM DAY ONE ON THE JOB, TO BE HONEST.
HAVE AN OPEN DOOR POLICY FOR EVERYONE.
CREATE A LONG TERM PLAN FOR THE CITY TO BRING BUSINESSES BACK AGAIN.
WORK HONESTLY WITH ALL CITIZEN AND UNIONS TO COME UP WITH THE LONG TERM CONTRACT THAT'S ADVANTAGED TO BOTH UNION AND CITY CONSTITUENT.
REVIEW OUR FUTURE CHALLENGES AND WORK ON MEETING, UH, WITHIN OUR REASONABLE TIMEFRAME.
COMMUNICATE EFFECTIVELY WITH EVERYONE.
STAFF CONSTITUENT, INCLUDING STATE AND MAJOR STAKEHOLDER WORK ON INCLUSION RATHER THAN EXCLUSION.
AND I WANNA BE CLEAR, UH, ON PLEDGING EVERY PENNY EARNED FROM WORKING ON THIS COUNCIL.
I WILL DONATE THAT TO AN ANIMAL RESCUE.
I WOULD NOT BE KEEPING A PENNY OF IT.
AND, UM, I ASK YOU TO BE INVOLVED.
VISIT MY WEBSITE, WWW TU S OT, O O D E H REVIVE, R E V I V E WEST COVINA.COM.
LEAVE COMMENT, CALL ME PERSONALLY IF YOU LIKE TO, AND
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MAKE SURE TO VOTE ON NOVEMBER 8TH.AND FINALLY, WE WILL HEAR FROM RICHARD REYES.
UH, FIRST AND FOREMOST, I'D LIKE TO THANK MY WIFE, DEBBIE AND DAUGHTERS, FOR SPENDING THIS EVENING SUPPORTING YOUR DADDY.
THANK YOU TO MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS WHO ARE WATCH IT FROM HOME OR IN THE AUDIENCE.
I WOULD LIKE TO EXTEND MY SINCERE GRATITUDE TO ALL OF YOU.
IN ADDITION TO BEING A LEADER, I AM AN ACTION TAKER AND A MATTER OF FACT PERSON HAVING ZERO INTEREST IN ANYTHING OTHER THAN REPRESENTING MY LOCAL WEST COMMUNITY COMMUNITY.
WE HAVE TO TAKE THE BLINDERS OFF.
A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE GONNA TELL YOU WHAT YOU WANT TO HEAR.
I'M GONNA TELL YOU WHAT YOU NEED TO HEAR.
IT IS NO LONGER POSSIBLE TO CONTINUE WITH THE SAME TIRED ALL THE IDEOLOGY THAT WE HA OR THAT WE ARE EXPERIENCING TODAY.
INNOVATION AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP ARE MY STRENGTHS.
THE KIND OF PERSON WHO REALLY SEEKS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
IT IS THE REASON THAT I HAVE DECIDED TO RUN FOR CITY COUNCIL.
IN MY OPENING STATEMENT, I STATED, I'M JUST LIKE EVERYONE ELSE HERE IN THIS CHAMBER AND AT HOME WHO IS LISTENING.
AS I SAID EARLIER, I WANT MY FAMILY TO GROW UP IN A COMMUNITY.
IN LIGHT OF THAT, I ASK YOU HUMBLING TO CAST YOUR VOTE ON NOVEMBER 8TH.
COUNCILMAN RICHARD RAY, DISTRICT FIVE.
THAT IS ALL THESE GIRLS NEED TO GET TO BED.
AND ON BEHALF OF THE, UH, LEGAL AND VOTERS OF EAST SAINT GABRIEL VALLEY, I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR BEING HERE, FOR PUTTING, PUTTING YOURSELVES FORWARD TO TRY AND, UH, MAKE THE CITY OF WEST CONVENIENT A BETTER PLACE.
AND I'D LIKE TO ENCOURAGE EVERYONE ON THE AU IN THE AUDIENCE HERE AND AT HOME TO PLEASE REMEMBER TO VOTE.
YOUR BALLOT WILL BE IN YOUR MAILBOXES IN THE NEXT WEEK.
YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE THAT VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT.
YOU CAN DROP IT IN THE MAIL IF YOU WOULD LIKE.
YOU CAN TAKE IT TO THE DROPBOX.
THE DROP BOXES WILL OPEN ON TUESDAY AND YOU CAN GO TO A VOTE CENTER STARTING I THINK OCTOBER 29TH THROUGH THE EIGHTH IF YOU'D LIKE AND PREFER TO VOTE IN PERSON.
OR YOU CAN TAKE YOUR BALLOT THERE TO, UH, DROP IT IN A DROPBOX AT THE POLLING PLACE.
THE IMPORTANT THING IS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT YOUR CANDIDATES AND TO MAKE YOUR OWN DECISIONS.
AND I'D LIKE TO REMIND YOU THAT THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS RUNS A WEBSITE CALLED VOTERS EDGE.ORG.
WE HAVE INVITED EVERY ONE OF THESE CANDIDATES, UH, TO PARTICIPATE BY POSTING INFORMATION ABOUT THEMSELVES ON THE WEBSITE.
AND THEY'RE DEFINITELY ENCOURAGED TO LINK THEIR OWN PERSONAL WEBSITES TO VOTERS' EDGE.
I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT IT, YOU WILL FIND THAT IT'S VERY ATTRACTIVE AND VERY HELPFUL.
AND THERE IS INFORMATION ABOUT ALL THE STATE BALLOT MEASURES IN GREAT DETAIL ON VOTERS' EDGE.
YOU CAN START WITH THE EASY STUFF AND WORK YOUR WAY THROUGH.
IF YOU NEED MORE INFORMATION, JUST KEEP SCROLLING.
UH, AND AT THE VERY END OF THAT SCROLLING, THERE IS, UH, INFORMATION ABOUT HOW MUCH MONEY IS BEING SPENT ON ADVERTISING FOR THE VARIOUS BALLOT MEASURES.
SO THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE.
WE APPRECIATE YOUR PARTICIPATION.