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[District 1 Candidate Forum ]
AWESOME TO YOU.I'M YOUR UNCLE HERE HAD DIFFERENT HEIGHT, 70 PROTEIN.
THE CHAMBERS AND LET US BEGIN.
I BELIEVE TO ALLEGIANCE, TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD, THERE WERE T JUSTICE.
FIRST THING I'D LIKE TO DO IS I'D LIKE TO THANK THE CITY FOR HELPING US TO PUT THIS FORWARD.
I'D LIKE TO BRING UP, UM, OUR CITY MANAGERS NAMED DAVID CARMANI.
I WANT SEAN GRANTOR TO BE THANKED AND MARK PIQUILLO FOR HIS AND HIS COM AND HIS GROUP FROM THE, UH, I TECH DEPARTMENT.
UH, THEY DID A WONDERFUL LOGO AND, AND, UH, THEY, THEY HAVE WORKED REALLY HARD WITH US BECAUSE WE, WE HAD TO CHANGE, CHANGE OUR ROUTE IN THE MIDDLE, UH, TO GET THIS FORWARD.
AND WE DEFINITELY WERE NOT GOING TO, TO LET THIS OPPORTUNITY GO.
THIS IS THE ONLY CHANCE THAT YOU'LL GET TO MEET OUR CANDIDATES AND SEE THEM AND HEAR WHAT THEIR VISION IS FOR OUR FUTURE.
WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT THERE WERE MORE THAN 70 QUESTIONS SUBMITTED.
AND SO IF LISTENERS, IF YOUR QUESTION DOESN'T YET ASK TONIGHT TUNE IN A WEEK FROM TONIGHT FOR THE DISTRICT THREE CANDIDATE FORUM.
NOW I WANT TO INTRODUCE OUR MODERATOR.
SHE COMES TO US AS A GRADUATE OF CAL POLY AND HER MAJOR WAS POLY SCIENCE.
AND YOU CAN SEE THE THREE CANDIDATES BEFORE BEHIND ME.
THEY ARE ANXIOUS TO TELL YOU WHAT THEIR VISION IS FOR THIS CITY FOR THE NEXT FOUR YEARS.
SO I'M GOING TO TURN THIS MEETING OVER TO MESA.
MS. MESA, DID I SAY YOUR FIRST NAME WAS MIRANDA? DID I SAY THAT? OH, GOOD, GOOD.
I WANT TO DO EVERYTHING RIGHT.
UM, CITY OF WEST COVINA RESIDENTS CANDIDATES.
MY NAME IS YESENIA MIRANDA MISA.
I AM A COMMUNITY LEADER ADVOCATE AND ACTIVIST FOR THE CITY OF POMONA.
AND I AM VERY PLEASED THAT THE WEST COVINA IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION HAS ALLOWED ME TO BE HERE.
UM, AS YOUR MODERATOR TONIGHT, WE DO ALSO HAVE A TIMEKEEPER.
THAT'S GOING TO BE KEEPING TIME.
SO IT'S VERY IMPORTANT THAT WE KEEP THE THREE MINUTE RULE HERE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO BEGIN WITH OPENING STATEMENTS.
SO PLEASE KEEP IN MIND ONCE AGAIN, THE THREE MINUTE RULE THAT YOU GUYS HAVE.
UM, AND WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, I WILL CUT YOU OFF IF I HAVE TO.
SO, UM, SO WE'RE GOING TO START WITH TRANSPARENCY.
AND WE'RE GOING TO START RIGHT WHERE? YES.
SO BRIAN GUTIERREZ, IF WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND START WITH YOU.
AND BEFORE I BEGIN, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THE WEST SCREENER IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION AND EACH AND EVERY ONE OF YOUR VOLUNTEERS WHO MADE TONIGHT POSSIBLE, I WILL ALSO LIKE TO WALK ON MY WEST SCREEN ON NEIGHBORS.
THE PEOPLE WEST SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, WHO ARE WATCHING FROM HOME.
I WAS BORN IN EAST LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA BOYLE HEIGHTS.
AS A CHILD, I WAS PHYSICALLY IMMENSELY ABUSED AND EVENTUALLY WENT INTO THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM AND EVENTUALLY ADOPTED BY MELENA AND THE H SAN.
WE MOVED TO THE CITY OF WEST GALENA.
AND EVER SINCE I'VE BEEN A RESIDENT OF SERENA PEOPLE WITH DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, I'M PROUD TO BE A NATIONAL VOLUNTEER AMBASSADOR TO AUTISM SPEAKS A CALIFORNIA STATE COMMISSIONER, AND ALSO THE EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS FOR A MAJOR RECORD LABEL
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WHERE SONY LATIN MUSIC, DELL RECORDS AS A CHILD GROWING UP IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM, I WAS TAUGHT NEVER TO USE MY PAST AS AN EXCUSE TO FAIL IN LIFE.I WAS TAUGHT THE MOST MORAL VALUES OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND ALWAYS HELPING OTHERS.
I WAS TAUGHT TO ALWAYS USE COMPASSION AND DEDICATION IN ALL I DO, AS IT WILL MAKE ME A BETTER PERSON AS I GREW UP.
I'M PROUD TO SAY THAT DESPITE THOSE CHALLENGES, I AM THE SUCCESSFUL PERSON I AM TODAY BECAUSE OF THAT BELIEF.
I, IF I AM ELECTED TO THE WEST UNICITY CONSOLE, I STAY COMMITTED ON FIGHTING FOR WHAT'S RIGHT? IF I'M ELECTED, I WILL SOLVE THE HOMELESS, RESOLVE THE HOMELESS ISSUE IN OUR CITY ONCE.
AND FOR ALL, IF I AM THE ONLY, I AM THE ONLY CANDIDATE THAT HAS A BACKGROUND IN MENTAL HEALTH AND BUSINESS, I'LL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH OUR POLICE OFFICERS TO CREATE A TEAM OF FOUR BIKE POLICE OFFICERS AND PUT THEM ON BIKE PATROL.
THESE OFFICERS WILL BE TRAINED IN HOW TO HANDLE MENTAL HEALTH, AND WE'LL BE BEING ABLE TO BE HANDS ON THE HOMELESS ISSUE IN ORDER TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE.
WE MUST BE HANDS ON AND HAVE THE PATIENTS WHERE YOU NEED TO ONE BY ONE, SOLVE THIS ISSUE AND MAKE SURE THAT THOSE WHO NEED HELP AND WANT HELP ARE PLACED INTO SHELTERS.
AND THOSE WHO WANT TO STAY AND COMMIT CRIMES, WE'LL MAKE SURE OUR POLICE OFFICERS HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO ENFORCE THE LAW ONCE.
AND FOR ALL, IF I AM ELECTED, I'LL CLEAN OUR PARKS.
I'LL MAKE SURE OUR PARKS ARE ONCE AGAIN, A PLACE OF FUNDAMENTALLY WHERE OUR FAMILIES CAN UNITE AND ENJOY.
I'LL MAKE SURE REBUILD SAFE NEIGHBORHOODS.
I'LL MAKE SURE WE PUT MORE OFFICERS BACK IN OUR LOCAL STREETS ONCE.
AND FOR ALL I LIVED IN WESTFIELD SINCE I WAS 10 YEARS OLD.
I KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF SCENE OFFICERS IN OUR LOCAL STREETS.
I REMEMBER TODAY WHEN I USED TO BE ABLE TO SEE PATROL CARS, PATROL CARS IN OUR LOCAL RESIDENTIAL STREETS, AND I'LL SUPPORT OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES AND ENSURING THAT WE CREATE MORE JOBS FOR WEST COVINA.
I'LL MAKE SURE THAT THERE'S NO NEW TAXES.
RAISING TAXES IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO SOLVING OUR CITY'S ISSUES.
AND I WILL ENSURE A CALIFORNIA CITY HALL ONCE.
AND FOR ALL, I WILL SUE PARTNERSHIPS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CREATE MORE PROGRAMS FOR SCHOOL PROGRAMS. THE FACT IS OUR CHILDREN TODAY ARE THE LEADERS OF TOMORROW, AND IT WILL BE A TRUE HONOR TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT ON NOVEMBER 3RD.
THANK YOU, MR. GUTIERREZ, FOR THAT.
WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND MOVE ON TO MR. LLOYD JOHNSON.
I AM YOUR WEST COVINA CITY COUNCILMAN FOR ALMOST FIVE YEARS.
I HAVE LIVED IN WEST COVINA FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
95% OF THAT TIME HAS BEEN IN DISTRICT ONE.
I'VE BEEN MARRIED TO THE SAME GREAT WOMAN FOR 46 YEARS.
IT WILL BE 47 YEARS IN DECEMBER.
OUR SON IS 45 AND A DAUGHTER AS 40.
BOTH OF MY CHILDREN WENT THROUGH THE RESCUE COVINA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT AND GRADUATED FROM RESCUE BEING A HIGH SCHOOL.
AND TWO OF MY GRANDCHILDREN THEY'RE ENLISTED, ENROLLED AT MONTEVISTA.
YOU KNOW, MY DAUGHTER AND THREE OF MY GRANDCHILDREN LIVE WITH MY WIFE AND ME CAUSE SHE'S DIVORCED.
YOU KNOW, OUR HOME IS THE HOME.
I AM MORE THAN JUST A COUNCILMAN.
I HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH THE CITY FOR OVER 30 YEARS FOR THOSE RESIDENTS WHO WAS NEVER HERE A LONG TIME, I LED THE PROTEST AGAINST A PILLOWCASE RAPIST MULDREW TO KEEP HIM OUT OF, FROM BEING PAROLED IN WEST COVINA.
I HAD PROBABLY ABOUT 15 STATION WITH THE MICROPHONES AND EVERYTHING ON THE BACK OF A PICKUP TRUCK.
I'VE GET RID OF THE POOR OFFICE AFTERWARDS.
THEY WANTED A 25 YEAR EXTENSION TO THEY WANT, AND THEY ALSO WANT TO BRING IN ANOTHER 1500 POLIES.
I AM A WOUNDED VIETNAM VETERAN.
I FOUGHT IN VIETNAM IN 1968 IN THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS.
YOU KNOW, I MAY NOT A COLLEGE DEGREE, BUT I DO HAVE A DD TWO 14.
I CARRIED THE TORCH AND THE LOS ANGELES OLYMPIC RELAY IN LOS ANGELES IN 2004, PARTICIPATED IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, THE HOMETOWN PROGRAM WITH THE 2015 OLYMPIC WORLD GAMES.
I'M A HOMETOWN HERO, A CANCER SURVIVOR ACTIVE MEMBER IN THE WEST COVINA DFA.
I JUST GIVE ME AN ALEX CLUB, A HORSE RANCH BAR AND BOYS THAT STOICAL SOCIETY, THE WOMEN'S CLUB OF COVINA.
AND I'M VERY PROUD OF THAT ONE.
I'M A LIFETIME MEMBER OF THE NAACP AND A LIFETIME MEMBER OF THE DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS.
I HAD A PART IN BRINGING PORTALS INTO RESCUE VENA BEFORE I WAS EVEN ON THE CITY COUNCIL, JUST BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT ON THE CITY COUNCIL DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T BE INVOLVED.
I WAS ALSO A BLUE COLLAR WORKER, AN IRON WORKER WORKED ON, I WORKED AS AN LA CERTIFIED STRUCTURAL WELDER FOR MANY YEARS IN CONSTRUCTION BEFORE I HAD
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CANCER AND HAD TO RETIRE.THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. JOHNSON, UM, NOW TO YOU, MR. BRIAN TABATA BY, I WANT TO THANK THE WEST COVINA IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION FOR ORGANIZING THE FORUM AND EVERYONE WHO'S WATCHING ON YOUTUBE IN THIS GREAT VALLEY OF OURS.
I AM A SAN GABRIEL VALLEY KID, UH, WAS RAISED BY THIS VALLEY.
MY SON IS GOING TO BE RAISED BY THIS VALLEY LITTLE LEAGUE BASEBALL FOOTBALL ON THE STREETS, FRIDAY AT THE THEATERS, SATURDAYS AT THE MALL EVERY DAY, ALL DAY IN MY VANS.
THIS IS MY HOME WEST COVINA IS MY HOME.
IT'S A LIFE MADE POSSIBLE BY MY DAD WHO ESCAPED A REVOLUTION TO CREATE THE AMERICAN DREAM.
MY MOM, WHOSE STORY IS THE STORY OF THIS PLACE, GREAT GRANDFATHER WHO BUILT THE RAILROAD GRANDMA WHO FOUGHT COUNSELORS TO GET HER KIDS ACCESS TO COLLEGE.
IT'S THEIR SPIRIT THAT DROVE ME TO EXCEL ON THE DIAMOND, ON THE GRID, IRON IN THE CLASSROOM, IN THE COMMUNITY.
IT DROVE ME TO GET ACCEPTED TO THE NUMBER ONE PUBLIC UNIVERSITY IN THE NATION.
UCLA AT UCLA, I WORKED AT RIEBER HALL, WASHING DISHES.
I MET MY WIFE AT SPROUL HALL AND I DOUBLE MAJORED IN POLITICAL SCIENCE AND HISTORY FOR 20 YEARS.
I'VE MENTORED THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS AND ATHLETES.
I'VE LED CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS AND I'VE DEDICATED MY LIFE TO PUBLIC SERVICE.
MY YOUNG FAMILY MADE THE DECISION TO SET OUR ROOTS HERE IN WEST COVINA, SAME DECISION.
MY MOM HAD MADE 20 YEARS EARLIER.
WE CHOSE WEST COVINA BECAUSE OF ITS SCHOOLS.
IT'S BEAUTIFUL NEIGHBORHOODS AND THE VIBRANT COMMUNITY, BUT AS I BECAME ACTIVE IN LOCAL POLITICS, I QUESTIONED WHETHER OUR COUNCIL WAS ACTING IN OUR BEST INTEREST.
I SAW COUNSEL MAKING DECISIONS BEHIND CLOSED DOORS.
A COUNCIL NOT EXPLAINING THEIR DECISIONS TO RESIDENTS AT COUNCIL, IGNORING RESIDENT COMMENTS, A COUNCIL IGNORING LEGITIMATE CONCERNS FROM THE PUBLIC.
WE HAVE A CITY COUNCIL THAT ROUTINELY SHOWS A WILLINGNESS TO SACRIFICE OUR CITY'S BUDGET AND OUR VALUABLE LAND.
THIS COUNCIL DOES NOT REPRESENT US.
I WILL DECIDE BY THE WILL OF THE RESIDENTS AND NOT BY SPECIAL INTERESTS.
I WILL BE INTENTIONAL IN ADDRESSING OUR HOMELESS PROBLEM, FACILITATING WEEKLY GAME PLANNING WITH ALL STAKEHOLDER GROUPS WHO ARE CURRENTLY TACKLING THE ISSUE IN A VACUUM.
I WILL GUARANTEE THE RETURN OF TRANSPARENCY AND DISCUSSION HERE IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER.
I WILL ENSURE A BUDGET PROCESS.
THAT'S INCLUSIVE OF RESIDENTS AND PROVIDES FOR THE FISCAL HEALTH OF OUR FAMILIES.
I WILL WORK TO BRING A SENIOR CENTER TO DISTRICT ONE AND WORK WITH THE SCHOOL BOARD TO MAKE SURE WE HAVE ACCESS TO THE SPORTS COMPLEX.
IT'S A CITY WE HAVE CHOSEN TO LIVE AND SERVE.
SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO GET INTO OUR QUESTIONS THAT WERE SUBMITTED, UM, BY THE PUBLIC AND BY THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA.
SO OUR FIRST QUESTION IS GOING TO BE ON TRANSPARENCY.
SO WE'RE GONNA START WITH YOU, MR. GUTIERREZ, UM, WILL YOU BE AN ADVOCATE FOR TRANSPARENCY AND COMMIT TO ADDRESSING ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE RAISED DURING OPEN COMMENTS AT CITY COUNCIL? THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE INDIVIDUAL WHO SUBMITTED THAT CHRISTIAN IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE ALWAYS ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY AT CITY HALL, AND IT'LL BE MY COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THAT WE ALWAYS HAVE AN OPEN BOOK HERE AT CITY HALL AND OUR DOORS ARE ALWAYS BE OPEN.
BEING ELECTED TO OFFICE, REQUIRES A PERSON TO HAVE TO BE COMMITTED TO THE PUBLIC.
THE PUBLIC, THE VOTERS OF OUR COMMUNITY ARE THE VOTERS WHO ELECT THOSE SO OFFICE.
AND WE ALWAYS HAVE TO BE ASSESSABLE TO THOSE VOTERS.
I'LL MAKE SURE ONE OF THE THINGS I'LL DO IF I'M ELECTED TO CITY CONSOLE IS REQUIRED, THE UPLOADING OF ALL THOSE FILES.
SO OUR RESIDENTS WILL ALWAYS HAVE ACCESSIBILITY TO THOSE FILES ONLINE.
I WANNA ENSURE THAT OUR REP SITE IS MORE ACCESSIBLE TO ALL WEST COVINA.
SO IT'S MORE EASIER FOR PEOPLE TO ACCESS.
OUR ECS HAVE ACCESSIBILITY TO THOSE FILES.
I STAY COMMITTED ON ENSURING THAT CITY STAFF HAVE THE RESOURCES THEY NEED TO RESPOND TO THE CONCERNS OF OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS FOR FAR TOO LONG.
OUR CITY HAS BEEN IN A BUDGET CRISIS AND I'M READY TO FIX THAT WITH THE COMMUNITY.
WE'LL GET THINGS DONE TOGETHER AND ONCE, AND FOR ALL, WE'LL PUT OUR CITY BACK ON THE RIGHT.
THERE'LL BE MY COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THAT THERE'S ALWAYS ACCESSIBILITY TO PUBLIC RECORDS.
PUBLIC RECORDS IS A PUBLIC SITES ARE NOW AND I STAY COMMITTED
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ON IS SHOWING THEM.I BELIEVE THE PEOPLE ARE MY VOICE AND I WILL ALWAYS BE ASSESSABLE TO THE VOTERS OF WEST COVINA.
AND I WILL ALWAYS BE AN ADVOCATE TO THE VOTERS OF WESTFIELD TO ENSURE THAT THEIR VOICES ARE HEARD LOUD AND CLEAR.
AND IT WILL BE MY HONOR TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT THIS COMING NOVEMBER 3RD, BECAUSE I BELIEVE IF WE WORK TOGETHER THE BETTER AND MORE PROSPEROUS WE CAN MAKE OUR CITY.
I BELIEVE THAT WHEN WE WORK TOGETHER, THE IMPOSSIBLE IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE BECAUSE WHEN WE WORK AS A TEAM, WE CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING.
AND I JUST MIGHT COME IN TO BALANCE THE BUDGET, MAKING SURE THAT WE ARE TRANSPARENT AND TRANSPARENT IN DOING SO.
UM, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO REPEAT THE QUESTION, MR. NO, I THINK I UNDERSTAND.
YOU KNOW, WHEN I RAN FROM COUNSELING IN 2015, ONE OF MY PLATFORMS WAS TRANSPARENCY, YOU KNOW, AND I FEEL THAT, YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN VERY TRANSPARENT WITH THE CITY OF RICE CONVENER.
THERE WAS SOME THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND.
THERE WERE SOME THINGS THAT ARE SAID IN CLOSED SESSION AND THINGS THAT HAVE TO STAY THERE.
YOU CAN'T BRING THAT OUT INTO THE PLEBE, UNLESS IT WAS A FORM THAT WE HAVE TO DO IF WE VOTED ON IT AND THAT HAS TO COME OUT AND THEY HAVE TO BE TRANSPARENT OUT HERE, BUT I SAID, NOTHING SHOULD EVER BE HELD.
AND YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHY REMEMBER WE WERE TALKING ABOUT NOT LETTING THE EMAILS COME THROUGH OVER THE, WHEN THEY WERE SENDING THEM IN FOR THE COUNCIL MEETINGS.
AND I MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT I WANTED EVERY ONE OF THOSE EMAILS READ.
I WAS THE ONLY ONE THAT SAID IT, BUT I DID SAY IT.
AND I KNOW THAT IT GOT RUST UNDER THE DOORMAT, BUT I STEPPED BACK DOWN.
I TOLD THE MAYOR THAT I WANTED TO EMAILS TO BE RED BECAUSE THAT'S TRANSPARENCY.
YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH YOU HAVE SOME EMAILS, YOU MAY HAVE 10, 10 DOES IT OR THE SAME.
I THINK ALL THE NAMES SHOULD HAVE BEEN RED AND THEN READ THE EMAIL WITH ALL THOSE NAMES AND EACH ONE OF THESE NAMES.
AND IF THEY'RE DIFFERENT, THEY SHOULD BE VERY DIFFERENT.
TRANSPARENCY ALSO IS THAT WE DON'T HIDE THINGS FROM THE RESIDENTS.
YOU KNOW, I TELL THE RESIDENTS WHEN IT IS, AND I TELL HIM, YOU CAN AGREE WITH ME OR DISAGREE WITH ME.
BUT BEING TRANSPARENT IS ABOUT, IF YOU THINK I'M NOT BEING TRANSPARENT, I WANT YOU TO TELL ME, AND I TELL YOU EXACTLY WHY I'VE GIVEN YOU THE ANSWER THAT I HAVE.
I WILL NEVER HIDE ANYTHING FROM THE RESIDENCE.
SO THAT'S BEEN MY GOAL FROM THEN.
IT'S BEEN A PLEASURE OF MINE IS BEING TRANSPARENT AND I ALWAYS WANT TO BE TRANSPARENT.
THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON, UH, MR. TABATA BY, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO REPEAT THE QUESTION? SO WILL YOU BE AN ADVOCATE FOR TRANSPARENCY AND COMMIT TO ADDRESSING ALL OF THE ISSUES THAT ARE RAISED DURING OPEN COMMENTS AT CITY COUNCIL, AS SOMEONE WHO'S STOOD AT THAT, UH, DYESS, UH, SPEAKING TO THE COUNCIL, I UNDERSTAND THE NEED FOR TRANSPARENCY.
UH, THIS IS THE PLACE OF THE PEOPLE.
THIS IS THE RESIDENTS CHAMBER AND EVERYTHING NEEDS TO BE DISCUSSED.
UH, I HAVE BEEN AN OPEN CRITIC OF THE COUNCIL.
UH, I'VE BEEN AN OPEN CRITIC OF OUR BUDGET PROCESS.
UM, THE PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE ACCESS TO OUR BUDGET.
UH, CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE HAS AN OPEN BUDGET PROCESS WHERE RESIDENTS CAN GO ONLINE AND SEE SPENDING IN REAL TIME CAN SEE HOW MONEY IS SPENT ON POLICE, BUT NOT JUST POLICE, HOW IT'S SPENT ON DIFFERENT UNITS, HOW MUCH MONEY GOES TO HEALTH INSURANCE, RIGHT? THAT RESIDENTS NEED TO SEE THAT WE HAVE SOME BRILLIANT RESIDENTS DOCTORATES IN BUSINESS WHO IF THEY HAD ACCESS TO THOSE NUMBERS COULD COME IN FRONT OF THE COUNCIL AND PRESENT TO US.
I'VE SEEN SOME WONDERFUL PRESENTATIONS BY RESIDENTS OF THIS COMMUNITY WHO ARE EXPERTS IN THEIR FIELDS.
AND I INVITE THEM TO COME AND PRESENT TO US.
YOU KNOW, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT TRANSPARENCY, TRANSPARENCY ALSO MEANS CREATING A SAFE SPACE FOR RESIDENTS TO SPEAK.
WE NEED TO REALLY ENHANCE WHAT WE SEE AS THE STANDARD OF BEHAVIOR FROM OUR COUNCIL MEMBERS.
THERE IS A POWER DIFFERENCE WHEN YOU ARE SITTING UP HERE, YOU GET NOT ONLY THE LAST WORD, BUT YOU GET AS MANY MINUTES TO SPEAK AS POSSIBLE AND YOU NEED TO RESPECT THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE THAT POWER DIFFERENCE.
AND SO WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IS THAT THE COUNCIL AGREED TO A STANDARD OF BEHAVIOR THAT WE DO NOT ADDRESS RESIDENTS BY NAME.
AFTER THEY'VE SPOKEN IN A NEGATIVE FASHION, WHICH I'VE SEEN IN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS WHERE RESIDENTS BECOME TARGETED BY COUNCIL
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MEMBERS.IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TRANSPARENCY, WE NEED TO CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR RESIDENTS TO COME SPEAK, FEEL COMFORTABLE TO SPEAK, BE INVITED TO SPEAK OUTREACH TO THE RESIDENTS.
AGAIN, TRANSPARENCY IS SOMETHING WE NEED.
IF WE WANT TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY AND I AM HERE TO SERVE, YOU CAN GO ON MY WEBSITE.
YOU CAN SEE EVERYTHING I STAND FOR.
MY PUBLIC COMMENTS ARE ON THAT WEBSITE.
I GUARANTEE YOU, IF YOU VOTE FOR BRIAN TABATA BUY, YOU WILL KNOW WHERE I STAND ON THE ISSUES.
SO MOVING FORWARD, WE'RE GOING TO, UM, FOCUS ON LA COUNTY SERVICES AND THE QUESTION MR. GUTIERREZ IS WHAT MR. JOHNSON, I APOLOGIZE.
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON RETAINING WEST COVINA FIRE DEPARTMENT OR MOVING TO LA COUNTY FIRE? AND WHY? I CAN SAY THIS VERY QUICKLY WITHIN A FEW SECONDS, I WILL NEVER, NEVER, EVER VOTE TO GO COUNTY FIRE.
I THINK WE LOSE A LOT OF SERVICE.
YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU HAVE THAT HOME TALENT GRAB, THIS IS OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, YOU KNOW, COME TO YOUR HOUSE.
THEY KNOW WHO YOU ARE WHEN YOU HAVE A COUNTY FIRE, THEY COULD COME FROM ANYWHERE ELSE.
I'M NOT GOING TO USE YOUR THREE MINUTES.
I'M NOT EVEN GONNA USE A MINUTE.
NO, I WILL NEVER VOTE TO GO TO COUNTY.
WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO REPEAT THE QUESTION, MR. TABATA, BYE.
WHEN SERVICES ARE TAKEN AWAY FROM THE CITY, IT ALSO MEANS THOSE SERVICES ARE NO LONGER ACCOUNTABLE TO RESIDENTS.
IF WE HAVE AN ISSUE WITH OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT, WE CAN COME TO THE DIOCESE AND WE CAN SPEAK TO THE COUNCIL.
WE CAN SPEAK TO OUR FIRE CHIEF.
WE CAN MAKE OUR CONCERNS KNOWN.
IF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT GOES TO COUNTY, THEN WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THE COUNTY.
WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH A COUNTY OF OVER 2 MILLION PEOPLE, RIGHT? SO HERE WE ARE RIGHT AT A CITY OF OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND WHERE WE HAVE A VOICE WHERE OUR POLICE AND FIRE ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO THE RESIDENTS.
BUT AS WE MOVE THE SERVICES AWAY FROM THE CITY, WE RELINQUISH OUR POWER.
AND SO, NO, I WILL NOT SUPPORT OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT MOVING TO COUNTY.
CAN YOU REPEAT THE QUESTION? SO THE, THE NEIGHBORS ARE RESIDENTS WHO ARE ONLINE.
GO AHEAD AND REPEAT THE CRACK.
WHAT IS YOUR POSITION ON RETAINING WEST COVINA FIRE DEPARTMENT OR MOVING TO LA COUNTY FIRE AND WHY? YES, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
AND THE REALITY IS, BEFORE I BEGIN ON THAT QUESTION, I WOULD LIKE TO THINK THE MEN AND WOMAN OF OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO ARE CURRENTLY ASSISTING OTHER FIRE DEPARTMENTS AND THE BOBCAT FIRE IN OUR LOCAL MOUNTAINS, THANK YOU FOR BEING OUR LOCAL HEROES AND SERVING OUR COMMUNITY.
WHAT PASSION AND DEDICATION YOUR LOCAL HEROES ARE.
WE CAN MAN, YOU ALWAYS THE PEOPLE AT WEST CAMINO AND IT'LL BE MY COMMITMENT TO ENSURE THAT WE ALWAYS KEEP OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT WILL BE MY COMMITMENT TO BALANCE THE BUDGET AND DO IT EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY.
WE MUST WORK WITH ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WE MUST WORK WITH, WE MUST WORK WITH OUR LOCAL RESIDENTS BY WORKING TOGETHER.
WE CAN RESOLVE THESE ISSUES AND TOGETHER WE'LL GET THINGS DONE WHERE REALITY IS, WE NEED TO BALANCE OUR BUDGETS.
AND WE YELL AT THE IS, IS THAT IF WE EVER WENT TO KELLY SERVICES, IT WILL HURT OUR RESIDENTS.
I WILL ALWAYS WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT IF OUR RESIDENTS STYLE NINE 11, THAT THEY COULD GET A RESPONSE FROM OUR AMBULANCES IN LESS THAN FIVE MINUTES.
IT'S MY COMMITMENT ALWAYS TO PROTECT THE LIVES OF THOSE RESIDENTS WHO LIVE ON OUR COMMUNITY AND IT'LL BE MY COMMITMENT TO RESOLVE OUR BUDGET ISSUES.
SO WE COULD KEEP OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR YEARS TO COME.
IT WILL BE MY COMMITMENT TO BALANCE THE BUDGET AND ENSURE THAT WE ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY.
SO WE COULD BALANCE A BUDGET AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH MONEY TO KEEP OUR FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE OFFICERS AND POLICE DEPARTMENT.
IT TAKES LEADERSHIP AND I'M READY TO LEAD THE CHARGE AND NOT FIGHT TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY IN OUR CITY THAT WE KEEP VITAL SERVICES IN OUR COMMUNITY BECAUSE AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE VOTERS OF OUR VOICE, OUR VOICE, AND WILL BE MY VOICE AND I WILL FIGHT ALWAYS FOR WHAT'S.
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AND THANK YOU FOR THAT.UM, THE TOPIC IS E K K AND MR. BRYAN TABATA BITE.
THE QUESTION IS, WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE DONE AT THE B K K LAND FIELDS LEFT ALONE OR MILE DEVELOPMENT OR SOMETHING ELSE? THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
UH, I HAVE BEEN A CRITIC OF THE CURRENT PLAN WITH SEEING POLI AT THE BKK.
UH, I HAVE BEEN AGAINST, UH, THE HOTEL ON THE DUMP, UH, FROM THE BEGINNING, YOU KNOW, NOT EVERY PIECE OF LAND NEEDS DEVELOPMENT LAND IS THE MOST VALUABLE PIECE OF PARCEL THAT A CITY HAS.
AND TO GO AHEAD AND USE THE LAND FOR A DEVELOPMENT THAT RESIDENTS MAY NOT EVEN SEE THE BENEFITS OF FOR 25 TO 30 YEARS, UH, TO ME IS A WASTE OF RESOURCE.
UH, THE BKK IN MY OPINION, UH, SHOULD BE A PLACE FOR, UH, FAMILIES TO ENJOY.
UH, IT SHOULD BE A NATURE PRESERVE.
WE SHOULD LOOK AT SOLAR FARMS, BUT IT SHOULD NOT BE A PLACE THAT WE DEVELOP.
UH, ACCORDING TO THE MOST RECENT POLICE, UM, REPORT THAT WAS PRESENTED AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING, AZUSA AND EMAR IS THE MOST DANGEROUS INTERSECTION IN THE CITY, RIGHT? ANYONE WHO LIVES THERE, MY MOTHER LIVED THERE FOR OVER 20 YEARS, UNDERSTANDS THE TRAFFIC UNDERSTANDS THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT WOULD BE IMPACTED BY DOING A MAJOR DEVELOPMENT ON THE BKK.
NOW I UNDERSTAND WHY COUNCILS LIKE HOTELS, RIGHT? THEY SEE IT AS A BIG TAX.
THEY SEE IT AS MORE REVENUE, BUT WHAT HAVE WE BEEN DOING WITH THE REVENUE WE ALREADY HAVE? HOW CAN WE TRUST THAT WE ARE GOING TO SACRIFICE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR MORE REVENUE? NO, YOU KNOW WHAT THIS, UH, WHAT I WILL DO AS, AS A COUNCIL MEMBER IS I WILL ACTUALLY PUSH FOR THE INVESTMENT IN THE HEART OF THE CITY, WHERE WE HAVE A BRANDED PLACE, THE PLAZA WEST COVINA, A PLACE THAT IS REALLY THE CULTURAL CENTER OF OUR CITY TO CREATE AN OPEN AIR SPACE, OPEN AIR MALL, TO CREATE AN ECONOMY THAT IS PANDEMIC RESISTANT.
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE A MODEL CITY WITH A MODEL ECONOMY THAT ENJOYS THE 340 DAYS OF SUNSHINE, SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SUNSHINE.
SEEING POLI WANTS TO INVEST IN WEST COVINA, LET THEM INVEST IN THE PLAZA WEST COVINA AND GIVE SOMETHING THAT THE RESIDENTS WILL ENJOY.
MR. GUTIERREZ, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO REPEAT THE QUESTION? UH, YES.
FOR THE LISTENERS FOR OUR ONLINE, WHAT DO YOU THINK SHOULD BE DONE AT THE BKK LANDFILLS LEFT ALONE OR MILD DEVELOPMENT OR, YES.
AND THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION AS WELL.
AND I WILL LIKE TO DANK SINGAPORE EARLY, UH, EXCUSE ME, IF I'M NOT SAYING THEIR NAME, RIGHT, BUT THANK YOU FOR LOOKING AT WEST COVINA TO DEVELOP, BUT I BELIEVE THAT WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD AND WE NEED TO REALLY LOOK AT HOW IT WILL IMPACT OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY NOW MOST IMPORTANT, OR WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT IT'S A SAFE SITE TO BUILD ON.
SO IF I AM ELECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL, I WILL MAKE SURE WE DO DUE DILIGENCE DUE DILIGENCE TO TEST THE SITE, TO MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE.
IF IT IS IN FACT SAFE, WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD BECAUSE I BELIEVE IT'S MISSING A IMPORTANT, UH, ASPECT TO THAT DEVELOPMENT.
I UNDERSTAND THERE IS GOING TO BE A CANINE PARK.
THERE'S GOING TO BE A WHOLE TOWN, BUT WHAT PART OF THAT DEVELOPMENT WILL BENEFIT THE ACTUAL AVERAGE CITIZEN OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND IT'LL BE MY COMMITMENT TO REDRAW THOSE PLANS TO INCLUDE A REGIONAL PARK.
AND I THINK THAT WE CAN WORK WITH OUR COUNTY LEADERS.
WE CAN WORK WITH OUR CONGRESSIONAL MEMBER.
WE COULD WORK WITH OUR SENATOR AND ASSEMBLY WOMAN TO REALLY COME WHEN OUR COMMUNITY AND LISTEN TO THE VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK IT WILL BE BEAUTIFUL TO HAVE A REGIONAL PARK ON THERE.
AND IF A HOTEL WITH A HOTEL, IF THEY WILL, IF IT'S, IF THAT SITE IS THEME SAFE, AFTER DUE DILIGENCE IS DONE, THEN WE IN FACT SHARE, FIND WAYS TO CREATE REVENUE FOR OUR COMMUNITY
[00:30:01]
SO WE CAN BALANCE THE BUDGET, BUT I WILL NEVER VOTE ON SOMETHING OR ADVOCATE FOR SOMETHING THAT HARMS THE VOTERS WHO ARE ELECTED TO OFFICE.I WILL ALWAYS BE A FIGHTER FOR CHANGE AND AN ADVOCATE FOR THE PEOPLE AT WEST COVINA.
AND IT'LL BE MY COMMANDMENT TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD WITH THAT DEVELOPER, MAKE SURE THAT WE COME TOGETHER AND THEY CAN PAY FOR TESTS TO BE DONE, TO MAKE SURE THE SITE IS SAFE TO BUILD ON.
AND IF IT'S DEEMED SAFE, THEN WE'LL GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD BECAUSE I THINK IT'S MISSING THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF THAT DEVELOPMENT.
HOW DOES IT BENEFIT THE LOCAL AVERAGE RESIDENT AND PUTTING A CANINE PARK? IT'S BEAUTIFUL AND I'LL ALWAYS SUPPORT OUR POLICE OFFICERS, OUR AND OUR REGIONAL AND MANY OFFICERS AND DEPARTMENTS WHO WANT TO USE THAT SITE.
BUT I BELIEVE IT'S MISSING A VERY IMPORTANT ASPECT.
AND THAT ASPECT IS WHAT SPECIFICALLY DOES IT DO TO BENEFIT OUR COMMUNITY? AND I WILL LIKE TO SEE A REGIONAL PARK ON THERE, A BEAUTIFIED PARK THAT ALSO INCREASES BEAUTIFICATION TO OUR CITY TO IMPROVE OUR PARKS AND MAKE SURE THAT WE CREATE MORE REVENUE.
SO WE COULD ENSURE SUSTAINABILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AT CITY HALL ONCE AND FOR ALL.
THANK YOU, MR. GUTIERREZ, MR. JOHNSON.
AS OF ONE OF FIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS RIGHT NOW, I AM ONE THAT AS OPPOSED FROM THE VERY BEGINNING, THE SYMBOLIC PROJECT UP THERE AT THE BKK I USED TO LIVE WHEN I FIRST MOVED TO CALIFORNIA, I USED TO LIVE IN WHAT'S THE VILLAGE THAT'S OVER 50 YEARS AGO, YOU KNOW, EMAR STOPPED BY THROUGH HIS TEMPLE.
I USED TO SEE THE BIG OLD TRUCKS GO UP THERE.
THEY GO TO TALK TO, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE TRUCKS GOING UP THERE, THE TRAILERS COMING BACK AND LEAVING THE TRAILER ZONE.
NOTHING SHOULD BE BUILT UP THERE.
I MEAN, WHEN THEY BUILT THAT DUMP SITE, THEY DIDN'T EVEN PUT A LINER IN IT.
SO THAT IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST DUMP TOXIC DUMP SITES IN THE UNITED STATES BECAUSE GUYS CAN LEACH OUT.
IT COULD GO FROM SIDE TO SIDE.
WE DON'T KNOW WHERE HE'S GONE YET THAT THE TESTS HAVEN'T BEEN DONE YET.
SO I FOUGHT, LIKE I SAID BEFORE, I'M ONE WHO PRESENT AGAINST ANY HOTEL BEING PUT UP THERE.
LIKE I SAY, YOU KNOW, I THINK A SOLAR UP THERE COULD BE UP THERE BECAUSE THE REASON WHY WITH THE SOLAR, THEY DO NOT DIG INTO THE GROUND.
THEY PUT THE SOLDIERS ON PADS AND THE PAD SET ON TOP OF THE GROUND.
THEY DON'T INVADE INTO THE GROUND.
ONCE YOU START INVADING INTO THE, YOU DON'T KNOW HOW FAR YOU DON'T GO DOWN WITH ALL THAT TOXIC MATERIAL.
NOW I LEACHING OUT AND NOW IT STARTS AFFECTING THE RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA.
THAT'S WHY NONE OF THE RESIDENTS IN THAT AREA WANT SIMPLY THE BUILDING THING UP THERE, EVEN THOUGH I DON'T LIVE NEAR THERE, I LIVE OVER HERE.
I'M STILL WITH THE RESIDENTS OVER THERE.
WHEN I GOT ELECTED, I SAID, I WILL ALWAYS REPRESENT ALL THE RESIDENTS RESCUE RAVINA AND THEY STILL WILL.
SO LIKE I SAID, YOU KNOW WHAT? NO, I WOULD NEVER SUPPORT ANY TYPE OF BUILDING, LIKE A HOTEL AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
A SOLAR FARM UP DELL, I THINK THE FANTASTIC FOUR WEST COVINA WHERE YOU CAN ACTUALLY MAKE SOME MONEY OFF OF IT.
YOU COULD PAY, PAY OUR BILLS, ELECTRIC BILLS.
I KNOW WE'RE PLANNING ON DOING OTHER STUFF, BUT YES, I THINK A SOLAR FARM WOULD BE THE BEST THING OUT THERE ALONE.
MAYBE YOU COULD HAVE A PARK OVER THERE, BUT THEY HAVE TO STAY OFF THE TOXIC DUMP CLASS.
SO I'M JUST SAYING NO, I WOULD NEVER SUPPORT A HOTEL THOUGH.
SO MOVING FORWARD TO ALCOHOL SALES AT SERVICE STATIONS.
SO MR. GUTIERREZ, THE QUESTION IS THE CITY COUNCIL IS CURRENTLY CONSIDERING REMOVING ITS SPAN ON ALCOHOL SALES AT GAS STATIONS.
ARE YOU FOR OR AGAINST REMOVING THE BAN? I AM A 100% AGAINST REMOVING THAT BAN.
AND UNFORTUNATELY, A MEMBER WHO'S RUNNING FOR REELECTION, UH, IN THIS ELECTION HAS FLIP FLOP ON HIS DECISION TO AUTHORIZE THE SALE OF ALCOHOL IN OUR LOCAL GAS STATIONS, UNFORTUNATELY, BUT I'LL STAY COMMITTED OVER THE SCENE TO THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA.
AND THE FACT IS THAT THE MAJORITY OF RESIDENTS DO NOW WANT ADDITIONAL VALUE EVERY YEAR OF SELLING ADDITIONAL ALCOHOL.
THERE'S BEEN NO BUDGET PRESENTATION SHOWING THAT HOW MUCH REVENUE WITHOUT CREATE FOR OUR LOCAL CITY.
IT HAS BEEN, THERE HAS BEEN NO PRESENTATION SHOWING WHERE THAT MONEY WILL GO FOR THE GENERATION WHEN THAT MONEY IS GENERATED.
DO WE JUST THROW IT IN THE GENERAL FUND? WHERE DOES THAT MONEY GOING TO GO TO OUR LOCAL PARKS? SO THERE'S QUESTIONS THAT HAVE BEEN LEFT ON THE ANSWERED.
AND IT'S A SHAME BECAUSE THE PEOPLE'S VOICES OF OUR COMMUNITY SHALL ALWAYS COME FIRST AND WE SHOULDN'T HAVE NO SPECIAL INTERESTS DICTATE THIS CONSOLE.
AND I STAY COMMITTED ON BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
I STAY COMMITTED ON FIGHTING FOR WHAT'S, RIGHT, BECAUSE OF ANDREW, THE DAY, THE VOTERS OF WEST COVINA WILL ALWAYS BE MY VOICE.
AND I WILL MAKE SURE THAT THEIR VOICES
[00:35:01]
ARE HEARD ONCE.AND FOR ALL, THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON.
WELL, WE KNOW WHO HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
HE'S TALKING ABOUT ME, WHICH IS FINE.
YOU KNOW WHAT? I'VE ALSO CHANGED MY, MY VOTE ON OTHER THINGS ON THE ENGINE FOR, FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT VERSUS TIME TIME I VOTED, I VOTED FOR THEM TO KEEP IT RUNNING.
AND I SAID, NO, IF WAS GOING TO COST TOO MUCH MONEY OVER A MILLION AND A HALF DOLLARS.
I THINK AS A COUNCIL, MAN, WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE ISSUES ON AN UNANSWERABLE.
YOU KNOW, WHAT IS IT? AND I THOUGHT AT THAT TIME WITH THE FIRE FISHER, WITH THE FIRE ENGINE, I WANT TO CLOSE IT.
THEN I TOOK BACK AND I LOOKED AT IT BEFORE.
I SAID, NO, WE REALLY CAN'T AFFORD IT.
SO LET'S GO TO THE ALCOHOL AND THE GAS STATION.
YOU CAN CALL FLIP FLOP OR WHATEVER.
I SEE A COUNSELOR AS A RIGHT TO LOOK AT IT UNTIL THEY GET OTHER ISSUES.
THEY ARE ALLOWED TO REVISIT IT.
AND NOW I WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN MADE TO ME A FEW TIMES.
IT HAD BEEN MADE AT THIS COUNCIL.
I WANT TO SAY, IF ANYONE THINKS I CAN BE BOUGHT FOR A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS, THEY DON'T KNOW ME AT ALL.
NO MONEY HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH DONATIONS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.
YOU KNOW WHAT? YOU REALLY, THIS ISN'T LIKE I SAID, ISN'T THE FIRST TIME I'VE CHANGED MY MIND.
I THINK WHAT IT IS IS THAT AS I'VE BEEN CAMPAIGNING ON IT, I ASKED HER, I ASKED HER QUESTIONS.
I ASKED THE RESIDENT, WHAT DO YOU MEAN ISSUES THAT YOU HAVE IN WEST COVINA? AND WE CAN ALL SIT HERE.
WE CAN SAY, YES THAT'S NO, YOU HAVEN'T TALKED TO A LOT OF PEOPLE.
I'VE ALREADY WALKED THROUGH THE WHOLE DISTRICT.
AGAIN, I'VE HAD SIX PEOPLE AS OF TODAY THROUGH EMAILS, NOTHING WRONG.
TALK TO ME ABOUT THE ALCOHOL AND THE GAS STATION IN DISTRICT ONE.
AND LET'S REMEMBER ONE THING AS A STATE COUNCIL.
IF IT ENDED IT'S UP HERE, WE'LL ASK THEM FOR THE RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT ONE.
SO I'D LIKE THIS TO THE CITY COUNCIL.
AND THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT WE HAVE TO LISTEN TO.
I KNOW IN THE PAST I REMEMBER FORREST FOR CONSENT.
IT WAS ALSO, AND I UNDERSTOOD THAT, BUT YOU KNOW WHAT? I THINK WE HAVE TO LOOK AT IT A DIFFERENT WAY.
THE LAST THING I WANT TO SAY ABOUT THIS, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THIS IS A PRO RESCUE VENA BUSINESS PROPOSITION OR GAS STATION OPERATORS NEED TO COMPETE ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.
THIS IS A LEGAL WELL RUN BUSINESS, SELLING A LEGAL PRODUCT.
YOU KNOW, NOW WE'RE ONLY TALKING ABOUT, I DON'T KNOW WHERE WE GOT OFF AT 23, 25 OR 28.
GOSH, IT'S ONLY FOR GAS STATION AND THERE'S ONLY ONE GAS STATION RIGHT NOW IF HE WANTS TO APPLY FOR IT.
SO IT AIN'T LIKE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE EVERY GAS STATION SELLING ALCOHOL.
THANK YOU, MR. JOHNSON, MR. TABATA, BY, WOULD YOU LIKE ME TO REPEAT THE QUESTION AS A RESIDENT OF DISTRICT ONE AND AS A CANDIDATE FOR DISTRICT ONE? UH, I AM OPPOSED TO, UH, CHANGING THE ORDINANCE TO ALLOW GAS STATIONS TO SELL ALCOHOL.
AND, UH, THE REALITY IS IN DISTRICT ONE, WE HAVE THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF LIQUOR STORES.
WE ALSO HAVE THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF GAS STATIONS.
WE ALSO HAVE THE MOST TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.
WE ALSO THE HIGHEST CONCENTRATION OF HOMELESS.
AND SO TO BRING MORE ALCOHOL INTO OUR COMMUNITY.
AND I UNDERSTAND, UH, COUNCILMAN JOHNSON SAID THAT IT WAS ONLY GONNA BE FOUR ORIGINALLY.
IT WAS ONLY GOING TO BE FOUR, BUT FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, IT WAS OPENED UP.
AND THE IDEA THAT ONLY FOUR GAS STATIONS WILL APPLY.
WELL, I UNDERSTAND WHEN SOMETHING'S ILLEGAL, YOU DON'T WASTE YOUR RESOURCES AND APPLY, BUT WHEN SOMETHING IS MADE LEGAL, WELL NOW IT'S FAIR GAME.
AND SO AGAIN, WHEN WE LOOK AT THIS ISSUE, WE NEED TO LOOK AT A FEW THINGS FIRST OFF, IS IT GOING TO GENERATE REVENUE FOR THE CITY? WELL, IF IT IS GOING TO GENERATE REVENUE, THEN WE'RE SAYING THERE'S GOING TO BE INCREASED ALCOHOL SALES.
AND THAT MEANS WHAT COMES WITH INCREASED ALCOHOL SALES.
THAT MEANS MORE TRAFFIC ACCIDENTS.
THAT MEANS UNDER AGE DRINKING, THE CHEVRON ON SUNSET AND MERCE SAID IS WALKING DISTANCE FROM EDGEWOOD HIGH SCHOOL GAS STATION SELL SINGLE BOTTLE MALT LIQUOR, WHICH IS, YOU KNOW, THE CHEAPEST BRAND OF ALCOHOL AND IS THE ONE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE WITH NO MONEY, THE HOMELESS THAT IS THE TYPE OF ALCOHOL THAT THEY PURCHASE.
[00:40:01]
AND IT ALSO IS THE TYPE OF ALCOHOL THAT LEADS TO BEHAVIOR THAT PUTS RESIDENTS IN DANGER.THE OTHER THING WE NEED TO CONSIDER IS ONCE YOU INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF ALCOHOL IN THE AMOUNT OF PURVEYORS THAT SELL ALCOHOL IN THE CITY, WELL, THIS MEANS THE POLICE ME TO GO AHEAD AND, UH, ROAM THOSE AREAS.
THERE'S GOING TO BE MORE CALLS TO GAS STATIONS, TAKING THEM OUT OF OUR RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS.
AND AGAIN, THAT'S A COST TO THE CITY.
YOU KNOW, WE WERE HEARING PEOPLE TALK ABOUT, WELL, WE WANT TO HIRE MORE POLICE.
WELL, WHEN YOU HIRE MORE POLICE, YOU INCREASE OUR PENSION OBLIGATION, RIGHT? WE HAVE OVER $200 MILLION IN UNFUNDED PENSION OBLIGATION TO OUR PUBLIC SAFETY UNIONS.
AND SO THEN TO GO AHEAD AND BE IN FAVOR OF CHANGING AN ORDINANCE THAT IS OVER 43 YEARS OLD, THAT GAS STATIONS HAVE COMPETED IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA FOR 43 YEARS, WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO SELL ALCOHOL IS SHORTSIGHTED AND IN THE END WILL COST THE RESIDENTS.
THANK YOU SO MUCH, MR. TABATA.
SO ARE MOVING FORWARD TO FINANCES.
AND, UM, THE QUESTION IS MR. JOHNSON, WHAT IS YOUR VIEW OF A SALES TAX IN MEETING WEST COVINA? SO BUDGET CRISIS VERSUS NO, THE RESIDENTS WHO SPOKE THIS LAST ONE THAT THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TRIED TO PUT ON.
IT SAID, NO, I REF I WILL RESPECT THE RESIDENTS ON THAT, WHERE YOU CAN SIT HERE AND TALK ABOUT IT ALL NIGHT LONG.
I CAN TALK FOR THREE MINUTES ON IT AT THE END OF THE DAY WHEN I'M DONE, THE ANSWER IS STILL GOING TO BE NO, I'M NEVER GOING TO VOTE FOR A SALES TAX IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA.
OKAY, MR. TOBACCO, UH, AGAIN, UH, WHEN I LOOK AT OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION, UH, IT'S NOT A REVENUE ISSUE.
IT IS ALSO AN EXPENDITURE ISSUE.
AND, YOU KNOW, TO, TO HEAR COUNCILMAN JOHNSON SAY HE WOULD NEVER BE IN FAVOR OF A TAX INCREASE WHILE HE WHOLEHEARTEDLY ENDORSED THE, UH, TAX WC.
AND TO SAY HE WILL, HE WILL NEVER DO IT.
HE'S ALSO SAID THAT HE'S OPEN TO CHANGING HIS MIND.
AND SO I THINK STATEMENTS LIKE THAT, UM, REALLY DON'T SERVE THE PUBLIC.
THE RE THE REALITY IS WHEN WE'RE TALKING ABOUT OUR CURRENT BUDGET SITUATION, 80 CENTS TO EVERY DOLLAR WE TAKE IN GOES TO POLICE AND FIRE.
SO IF WE REALLY WANT TO HAVE A CONVERSATION ABOUT DEALING WITH OUR BUDGET, WE HAVE TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION.
NOW WE'VE STARTED TO HAVE IT IN TERMS OF FIRE TO COUNTY, AND HOPEFULLY WE WILL BE PRESENTED WITH DATA.
THE LAST TIME WE WERE PRESENTED WITH DATA, FIRE TO COUNTY WAS GOING TO COST THE CITY OF WEST COVINA.
AND SO GLADLY, WE DID NOT MAKE THAT MOVE.
AND I GUARANTEE WHEN THAT PRESENTATION COMES AROUND AGAIN, WE WILL PROBABLY FIND THE SAME RESULT AND FIRE WILL STAY IN THE CITY OF WEST COVINA.
SO WE NEED TO HAVE THESE CONVERSATIONS, YOU KNOW, SO WE NEED TO START DEALING SERIOUSLY WITH OUR POLICE AND FIRE UNION.
AGAIN, I WAS VERY CRITICAL ON THE 12% RAISE THAT WAS GIVEN WHEN WE WERE IN A BUDGET DEFICIT.
AND I WAS OBVIOUSLY ONE OF THE 80% THAT VOTED AGAINST TAX WC.
SO UNLESS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THAT CONVERSATION, WHICH SHOULD HAPPEN IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, WHICH SHOULD BE BROUGHT OUT TO THE PUBLIC WHEN, WHEN WE DID THE SURVEY, THE BUDGET SURVEY, RIGHT, THE, THE RESIDENTS, AND IT WAS ONLY 200 BECAUSE THE CITY WITH ITS LACK OF TRANSPARENCY, DIDN'T GET IT OUT TO EVERYBODY.
BUT THE MAJORITY OF PEOPLE SAID, WE NEED TO LOOK AT THAT POLICE BUDGET.
AND SO WE DO NEED TO HAVE THAT SERIOUS CONVERSATION, AND I KNOW THAT QUESTION'S GOING TO COME UP.
AND THAT QUESTION IS GOING TO BE ASKED OF ME.
AND I'LL SAY MY ANSWER FOR WHEN THAT QUESTION IS ASKED, BUT IF WE REALLY WANT TO DEAL WITH THE FINANCES OF THE CITY OF WEST COVINA, THEN WE NEED TO SPEAK HONESTLY ABOUT HOW WE ARE DEALING WITH OUR PUBLIC SAFETY UNIONS.
AND WE CAN NO LONGER COMMIT TO SALARY INCREASES AND COMMIT TO MORE BUDGET EXPENDITURES, BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT GETTING THAT POLITICAL SUPPORT OF POLICE AND FIRE WILL GET US ELECTED TO COUNCIL.
SO, MR. GUTIERREZ, UM, W WHAT IS YOUR VIEW ON A SALES TAX IN MEETING WEST COVINA HIS BUDGET?
[00:45:02]
YES.WELL, I AM AGAINST ANY NEW TAXES TO THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA AND I'M AGAINST, I WAS AGAINST, UH, THE GUESTS ON WEST COVINA BECAUSE IT'S AN ACCOUNTABLE FOR ONE OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE WHO'S RUNNING FOR REELECTION, UH, WAS A PROUD SUPPORTER AND VOTED TO PUT THAT ON THE BALLOT.
UH, SO HE'S KINDA KIND OF CONTRADICTING, BUT REGARDLESS THE VOTERS SHOULD BE MY VOICE.
I WILL MAKE SURE THERE'S NO NEW TAXES, BECAUSE THE FIRST THING WE GOTTA DO IS BALANCE THE BUDGET.
WE NEED TO ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY IN THE BUDGET AND STOP THE DEFICIT.
AND BY ENSURING ACCOUNTABILITY, WE CAN MAKE OUR CITY PROSPER.
RACY TAXES IS NOT THE SOLUTION TO SOLVING OUR CITY'S DEFICIT.
IT'S ABOUT WORKING WITH THE PEOPLE AND PUTTING ALL STAKEHOLDERS ON THE TABLE TO NEGOTIATE, COMPREHENSIVE REFORM, TO MAKE OUR DISTRICT PROSPER AND OUR CITY PROSPER.
IT WILL BE MY COMMITMENT BECAUSE I HAVE A BACKGROUND IN BUSINESS.
I'LL BE ABLE TO WORK WITH OUR POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS TO NEGOTIATE COMMON SENSE.
BARGAINS BARGAINING NEGOTIATIONS REALITY IS, IS THAT OUR POLICE OFFICERS CIRCUIT DRAGS TO CUT OVER THE YEARS.
BUT THE REALITY IS RAISING BERNIE A PROPOSITION ON THE BALLOT IS NOT THE SOLUTION BECAUSE THE VOTERS WANT ACCOUNTABILITY FIRST, AND I STAY COMMITTED.
THEN IF YOU ELECT ME TO OFFICE, I WILL ENSURE ACCOUNTABILITY IN CITY HALL AND WE'LL BALANCE THE BUDGET.
AND WE'LL PUT MORE PROGRAMS BACK IN OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY.
I WILL ENSURE WE GET THE MONEY WE NEED IN LOCAL GRANTS FROM OUR STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.
I'LL BE COMMITTED ON BEING AN OVERSIGHT AND ENSURING WE GARDENED THE FUNDING.
WE NEED TO BALANCE THE BUDGET ONCE.
AND FOR ALL, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, THE VOTERS WILL ALWAYS HAVE MY ASSESSABILITY.
AND THAT'S WHY MY CELL PHONE NUMBER IS LISTED ON ALL MY MATERIAL, BECAUSE I WANT THE VOTERS.
SO ALWAYS CONTACT ME, NOT JUST THROWING AN ELECTION TIME, BUT IF I'M ELECTED, I WANT YOU TO CALL ME AT ANY TIME ANY DAY, IF YOU HAVE A CONCERN, BECAUSE IT'S MY JOB TO SERVE YOU.
IT'S MY JOB TO LEAD THIS TRICK.
IF I'M ELECTED TO OFFICE, I STAY COMMITTED ON MAKING AN IMPACTFUL DIFFERENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND TOGETHER WE WILL GET THINGS DONE.
SO WE'RE GOING TO MEET MOVING FORWARD TO OUR LAST QUESTION, BUT DUE TO TIME, WE'RE GOING TO GO AHEAD AND LIMIT THAT ANSWER TO TWO MINUTES PER CANDIDATE.
SO OUR LAST QUESTION, MR.
AND THE QUESTION IS BUSINESS OWNERS IN OUR CITY HAVE HAD BREAK-INS THAT RESULTED IN LOSS AND DAMAGES.
TRANSIENTS ARE SLEEPING, DWAYNE DRUGS, ET CETERA.
WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO HELP THE BUSINESSES TO SOLVE THIS ISSUE? THANK YOU.
UH, I DO HAVE A PLAN FOR OUR HOMELESS POPULATION.
UH, NUMBER ONE, WE NEED TO IDENTIFY WHO IS OUR HOMELESS POPULATION.
WE, WE GO ON A ONE A YEAR COUNT AND THAT DATA IS AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC, BUT THAT DOESN'T GIVE US REAL ACTIONABLE DATA.
WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS WE NEED TO HAVE DAILY COUNTS AS A TEACHER.
I UNDERSTAND THAT I NEED TO DIFFERENTIATE FOR MY STUDENTS.
I NEED TO FIND OUT WHO MY SUBGROUPS ARE.
AND SO IN ORDER TO DO SO, WE FIRST MUST IDENTIFY WHO'S HOMELESS ON OUR STREETS.
WHAT ARE THEIR NEEDS? AND THEN WHAT WE NEED TO DO IS WE NEED THIS, THIS COUNCIL, THIS CHAMBER SHOULD BE WHERE CONVERSATIONS GET FACILITATED.
WE NEED TO BRING IN ALL THE STAKEHOLDERS, THE NONPROFITS, THE CHURCHES, OUR COMMUNITY GROUPS.
WHO'VE BEEN WORKING REALLY HARD ON THE HOMELESS ISSUE.
AND WE NEED TO HAVE THE GAME PLANNING, WEEKLY GAME PLANNING ON WHAT IS NEEDED RIGHT NOW, A LOT OF OUR NONPROFITS ARE DUPLICATING THE WORK, LEAVING SOME WORK UNDONE WHILE OTHER WORK GETS OVER DONE.
SO AS WE BRING THEM IN, WE CAN GAIN PLAN WEEKLY AND WE CAN DO THE WORK OF GETTING PEOPLE HOUSED, USING DATA, RIGHT? DATA DRIVEN SOLUTIONS, RIGHT? SO ONCE WE GET OUR SUBGROUPS, SOME PEOPLE NEED BRIDGE HOUSING.
WE GET THEM IN THEIR BRIDGE HOUSING.
SOME PEOPLE ARE GOING TO NEED MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT.
THEN WE PROVIDE THEM WITH THE MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT AND SO ON.
BUT UNLESS WE HAVE REAL DATA AND WE PROVIDE THAT DATA TO THE PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS PROBLEM, THEN WE ARE NOT GOING TO SOLVE THE HOMELESS ISSUE.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO SOLVE ANY OF THE CRIME THAT COMES WITH THE HOMELESS ISSUE, AND WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET THOSE MEASURE H FUNDS.
[00:50:01]
DEAL WITH THE HOMELESS ISSUE, WE MUST BE INTENTIONAL.WE MUST BRING THE STAKEHOLDERS INTO THE CHAMBER.
AND THEN THANK YOU, MR. GUTIERREZ.
AND I SAY, COMMITTED AND SOLVING IT AND RESOLVING THAT ISSUE.
REALITY IS MENTAL HEALTH IS A CRISIS IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE THAT HAS A BACKGROUND IN SERENE SERVING IN THE MENTAL HEALTH CAPACITY AND BEING IN BUSINESS EXECUTIVE THIS PAST WEEK.
AND WELL, FIRST OF ALL, BEFORE I BEGIN ON THAT, I LIKE TO COMMEND THE GROUPS THEY'RE ON FACEBOOK AND IN SOCIAL MEDIA, THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE RESIDENTS WHO REPORT HOMELESS ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I THINK THOSE WEBSITES ARE VITAL IN CREATING AWARENESS.
AND I COMMEND PEOPLE LIKE KAREN AND SUE AND OUR OTHER RESIDENTS THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY WHO ARE ON THAT PAGE, WHO WORKED TIRELESSLY TO CRADLE RARENESS FOR OUR HOMELESS ISSUE.
THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY AND THE SERVICES YOU DO FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, IT WILL BE MY COMMITMENT TO RESOLVE THAT ISSUE ONCE.
AND FOR ALL, I'LL MAKE SURE WE PUT OFFICERS ON BIKE PATROL.
I'LL MAKE SURE THOSE OFFICERS ARE FULLY TRAINED AND GET THE TRAINING.
THEY NEED TO HANDLE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES.
THOSE OFFICERS WILL BE TRAINED HOW TO WEED OUT THOSE WHO NEED HELP IN ONE HOUSE, AND WE'LL GET THEM INTO SHELTERS.
THOSE WHO WANT TO WHO HAVE COMMITTED CRIMES AND CONTINUE TO COMMIT CRIMES AND TAKE DRUGS IN OUR LOCAL PARKS OR WHATEVER THEY'RE DOING TO BREAK THE LAW.
WE'LL MAKE SURE WE ENFORCE THE LONG AS THE LAW SEES OUR OFFICERS HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO SO BY, BECAUSE OF IN THE END OF THE DAY, WE MUST WORK WITH OUR COMMUNITY, OUR RESONANCE TO RESOLVE THAT ISSUE.
AND IT WILL BE MY COMMANDMENT TO RESOLVE THAT ISSUE ONCE.
AND FOR ALL THIS PAST WEEKEND, UH, I SPOKE THREE AND A HALF HOURS, SO HOMELESS INDIVIDUAL, AND SHE FINALLY AGREED TO TAKE SERVICES.
IT TAKES COMPASSION AND DEDICATION TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE.
AND I STAY COMMITTED ON ALWAYS BEING ACCESSIBLE AND WORKING HARD AND TIRELESSLY TO RESOLVE THAT ISSUE.
AND I HOPE I CAN RECEIVE YOUR VOTE AND THE HONOR OF YOUR SUPPORT THIS COMING YEAR.
YES, LET'S, LET'S ALL REMEMBER ONE THING ABOUT OUR HOMELESS, AND I'M GOING TO SAY THIS RIGHT OUT FRONT, AND THEN I'M GOING TO MOVE ON.
HOMELESS IS A TRAGEDY, AND THE PROBLEM IS IT'S A GOVERNMENT TRAGEDY.
AS CITIES WE SPEND, WE SPEND A LOT OF MONEY TO DO IT.
THEY HAVE THE MAJOR H MONEY VICE CONVENIENT AS SPENT OVER $10 MILLION IN OUR TAX MONEY DONATED TO MEASURE.
AND WE'VE ONLY GOT A FEW HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS BACK AND THAT'S A TRAGEDY.
YOU KNOW, WE WE'VE USED OUR SALES TAX TO GO INTO IT AND WE ONLY GET PENNIES ON THE DOLLAR BACK.
SO MOVING ON, YOU KNOW, THE LAWS HAVE CHANGED FOLKS BEFORE YEARS AGO OR LAW ENFORCEMENT'S GREW OUT THERE AT NIGHT TIME AND MAKE THE HOMELESS MOVE OUT OF OUR PARKS.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS TAKEN THAT OUT OF THEIR HANDS, UNLESS YOU HAVE A PLACE FOR THEM TO GO.
THEY CAN'T, WE DON'T HAVE TO LEAVE THE PARKS.
AND EVEN IF YOU HAVE A PLACE FOR THEM TO GO, THEY STILL DON'T HAVE TO GO.
SO WE DO EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN DO.
YES, WE DID HAVE ONE OR TWO OTHER OFFICERS.
I KNOW ONE WITHIN AN ACCIDENT REAL BAD SOMETIME BACK IN.
I DON'T THINK HE'D BEEN BACK YET, BUT THE WHOLE TEAM GOES OUT THERE AND YES, IT ISN'T JUST WITH ONE OF THE CANDIDATES OVER THIS.
AND HE KNOWS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH.
THEY HAVE CASE WORKERS THAT GO OUT WITH THEM THAT DEAL WITH MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE.
SO, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE NOT GOING OUT THERE AND LA LA LAND THINKING, I DON'T KNOW HOW TO DEAL WITH HOMELESS.
SO I'M JUST SAYING, YOU KNOW WHAT? WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
AND NO, NOT ONE OF THESE COUNSELORS CANADA'S SETTING UP HERE.
YOU CAN SAY, IF YOU WOULD LIKE THE, I WILL ELIMINATE HOMELESS.
SO NOW WE'RE GOING TO BE MOVING FORWARD TO CLOSING STATEMENTS.
AND AGAIN, WE HAVE A TWO MINUTE TIME SIMPLY BECAUSE OF OUR TIME CRUNCH.
WE'RE ON A TIME CRUNCH RIGHT NOW.
SO GO AHEAD, MR. GUTIERREZ, THANK YOU.
AND TO RESPOND TO MY OPPONENTS, UH, CRUSHING, WAS IT, IT, I COMMEND THE PEOPLE WHO ARE WORKING TIRELESSLY TO DO THEIR JOB WHEN OUR MENTAL HEALTH ISSUE.
AND, UH, THE PROBLEM IS, IS THAT WE NEED LEADERSHIP.
WE NEED A LEADER TO GUIDE THEM.
AND WITHOUT THAT GUIDANCE, WITHOUT THAT LEADERSHIP, WE WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO RESOLVE THAT ISSUE IN CRIME RATES WILL CONTINUE TO INCREASE.
UH, I STAY COMMITTED ON THE RESONANCE AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, I LIKE TO THANK EACH OF YOU WHO ARE WATCHING AT HOME.
I STAY COMMITTED ON BEDDING, RAIN, OUR DISTRICT
[00:55:01]
ONCE.AND FOR ALL, IT WILL BE MY HONOR.
AND I'LL BE A BLESSING TO HAVE YOUR SUPPORT THIS COMING NOVEMBER 3RD.
I BELIEVE THAT THE IMPOSSIBLE IS ALWAYS POSSIBLE AND NO MATTER WHERE ONE PERSON COMES HOME IN LIFE, WE ALL HAVE THE POWER TO MAKE CHANGE.
AND SO WE BELIEVE IN OURSELF, ALL THINGS CAN BE ACHIEVED AND IT WILL BE MY HONOR, AND MY PRIVILEGE TO SERVE YOU ON THE WEST COVINA CITY CONSOLE, THE PEOPLE WILL BE MY VOICE AND I WILL ALWAYS BE AVAILABLE TO THE PEOPLE.
PLEASE VISIT MY WEBSITE AT
I STAY COMMITTED ON FIGHTING FOR WHAT'S RIGHT? AND I WILL BE YOUR ADVOCATE ON THIS CITY CONSOLE ONCE.
AND FOR ALL THE PEOPLE ARE THE LEADERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.
AND IT'S TIME THAT WE GIVE OUR RESONANCE A VOICE ON THIS IN DISTRICT ONE ONCE AND FOR ALL AND TOGETHER, WE'LL GET THINGS DONE.
FIRST OF ALL, I REALLY WANT TO THANK CAROLYN ART AND THE RESCUE VINA IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION FOR HOLDING THIS FORUM TONIGHT.
YOU NEED TO EXPERIENCE LEADERSHIP TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THIS ROUGH WATERS.
I'VE BEEN ON THE COUNCIL FOR ALMOST FIVE YEARS WITH THIS PANDEMIC AND ALL THE LOST TAXES REVENUES AND OUR CITY.
WE NEED STRONG LEADERSHIP RIGHT NOW.
I HAVE PROVIDED THAT LEADERSHIP.
NOW'S NOT THE TIME TO TAKE A CHANCE FOR SOMEONE WHO IS UNTESTED THE NEXT FEW YEARS ARE CRITICAL TO THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY.
PLEASE PARTNER WITH ME TO NAVIGATE THROUGH THESE UNIQUE TIMES.
IT'S ONE THING TO TALK THE TALK, BUT YOU NEED TO WALK THE WALK AND I HAVE WALKED THE WALK AND I AM STILL WALKING TONIGHT.
YOU HAVE HEARD FROM ALL THREE CANDIDATES FOR THE CITY, FOR THE DISTRICT.
ONE ONLY ONE OF US HAS THE EXPERIENCE TO LEAD OUR CITY THROUGH THESE TOUGH TIMES.
AND ONLY ONE OF US HAS LIVED IN DISTRICT ONE FOR OVER 50 YEARS.
MY FRIENDS, PLEASE REMEMBER THE BALLOTS ARRIVE IN YOUR MAILBOXES ON OCTOBER THE THIRD AND THEREAFTER.
YOU CAN DO YOUR MAIL IN THEN, OR YOU CAN WAIT AND DO THE WALKUP.
IT STARTS ON OCTOBER THE 24TH.
SO TONIGHT I HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE AND I WANT TO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH.
SO MR. RYAN TOBACCO, IT'S BEEN AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE TALKING TO ALL THE RESIDENTS OF DISTRICT ONE TO HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE OPEN THEIR DOORS FOR USUALLY A MASK TO FACE.
SOME HAVE EVEN INVITED ME INTO THEIR HOUSE.
AND I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR HEARING ME OUT.
UH, WE LIVE IN THE MARSHALL HOUSE.
IT WAS BUILT IN 1948, A HOME THAT'S A SPECIAL PLACE THAT A LOT OF RESIDENTS IN DISTRICT ONE, A LOT OF RESIDENTS LEARNED TO SWIM THERE, UH, HAD THEIR SUMMER BARBECUES THERE.
IT WAS THE PLACE TO BE IN WEST COVINA.
IT PROVIDES A CONTEXT FOR UNDERSTANDING A PLACE.
IT GIVES INSIGHT INTO THE DREAMS OF OUR CITY AND INSPIRES THE VISION FOR THE FUTURE.
WE ARE LIVING DURING A TIME OF UNCERTAINTY, A TIME OF TRANSITION, BUT WE'VE BEEN HERE BEFORE.
HISTORY HAS TAUGHT US THAT THESE ARE THE TIMES OF GROWTH.
THESE ARE THE TIMES WHERE LEADERS WITH VISION WORK ETHIC AND THE WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE IN THOSE HARD DISCUSSIONS IN ORDER TO MAKE THOSE DIFFICULT DECISIONS ARE NEEDED.
THIS IS WHAT I'VE ALWAYS BROUGHT TO MY CLASSROOM, TO THE SIDELINES, AND I WILL BRING IT TO THE COUNCIL.
MY VISION FOR WEST COVINA IS THE VISION THAT BROUGHT US HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
A COMMUNITY THAT CELEBRATES OPENING DAYS AT DEL NORTE PARK, A COMMUNITY THAT PULLS TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE RESIDENTS ARE NOT SLEEPING IN OUR STREETS.
A COMMUNITY BROUGHT TOGETHER BY REINVESTING IN THE CULTURAL HEART OF THE PLAZA WEST COVINA.
MY VISION IS A COUNCIL THAT ASKS HARD QUESTIONS OF EACH OTHER OF OUR CITY MANAGER OF THOSE OFFICIALS.
WE HAVE PLACED IN POSITIONS OF POWER, A COUNCIL COMMITTED TO METICULOUS OVERSIGHT AND REVIEWING THE BUDGET THAT OPENS ITS BUDGET PROCESS TO RESIDENTS MAKES DATA EASILY AVAILABLE AND HOLD ITSELF ACCOUNTABLE.
SO PLEASE VOTE BRIAN TABATA BY FOR CITY COUNCIL, OCTOBER 5TH, YOU GET YOUR VOTE EARLY, SO MAIL IT IN.
YOU DON'T HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO ALL THE CANDIDATES.
YOU GUYS DID A GREAT JOB AND ON BEHALF OF THE WEST COVINA IMPROVEMENT
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ASSOCIATION, UM, THANK YOU SO MUCH.WE REALLY APPRECIATE THE TIME THAT YOU TOOK TO PROVIDE THIS TO THE RESIDENTS OF WEST COVINA.
UM, MR. JOHNSON FOR ONE WOULD LIKE TO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, YOU DID A FANTASTIC JOB.
AND I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO LISTENING THROUGH THE NEXT THING YOU'RE ALREADY ON THE MONITOR THAT WENT THROUGH, AREN'T YOU? YES, SIR.
YOU DID A FANTASTIC, AND ONCE YOU DENSER INTO THE RESTAURANT IMPROVEMENT ASSOCIATION, THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, YOU DID A REMARKABLE JOB AND THANK YOU FOR VOLUNTEERING YOUR TIME.
AND I, I GUESS I GET TO SAY A THANK YOU ALSO FOR SAYING TABATA BY CORRECTLY ALSO.
AND SHE WORKED SO HARD ON IT EVERY TIME YOU SAID IT, RIGHT.
I WANT TO THANK YOU AND THANK EVERYONE.
AND THANK THE RESIDENTS, UH, WATCHING ON YOUTUBE.
UH, I'LL BE ON INSTAGRAM LIVE.
NOW, IF YOU WANT TO ASK ME QUESTIONS, BRIAN, FOR WESTCO.