SIX CANDIDATES VIE FOR DISTRICT 2 SEAT IN EL CAJON
Homeless, COVID-19 top issues for those on Nov. 3 ballot
EL CAJON
Six people are competing for the District 2 seat on the El Cajon City Council in the Nov. 3 election — Humbert Cabrera, Letitia Dickerson, Stephanie Harper, Juan Carlos Mercado, Michelle Metschel and Martin Van Dinteren.
The San Diego UnionTribune asked the candidates to weigh in on some issues.
Humbert Cabrera, 54, business owner, planning commissioner in El Cajon
On homelessness: “As a member of the current
Homeless Task Force, I can inform you that the publicprivate partnerships are helping. At the Salvation Army, over 55 homeless have been reunified with families out of state. Harold Brown endorsed my campaign and he heads up ECTLC (East County Transitional Living Center). They are under construction of a new facility to revitalize the homeless. Most of the solution comes with an in-depth understanding of the homeless conditions and making private and public partnerships functional. Jobs, housing, zoning f lexibility and awareness of the needs of the citizen are all parts of what the Homeless Task Force has embraced.”
On COVID-19: “COVID affects District 2 more than other districts. Not only do
we have housing within District 2 but we also have momand-pop small businesses and Parkway Plaza. Some businesses are just attempting to stay af loat and the business owners are not taking paychecks for themselves. We should not as a city be thinking that the first thing we need to do is send out code enforcement officers to harass them about getting engineering for tents. We cannot forget the citizens we serve.”
Top three most impor
tant concerns facing city: “Support small business and create jobs, clean and safe streets (includes homeless), responsive citizencentered government.”
Letitia Dickerson, 53, tech support worker for communications company
On homelessness: “I’ve been homeless and even lived at St. Vincent de Paul Village for a while. I want to continue to work with or
ganizations like East County Transitional Living Center, Home Start and others. However, I also want to add focus toward homeless children and transitioning youth that are aging out of the system. In addition, connect with programs that help with education and navigation so that the individuals getting assistance don’t stay on a merry-goround or live in perpetual homelessness. We need to deal with the root of the issues and not just the fruit.”
On COVID-19: “COVID-19 is real and should be treated with its reality of transference of infection. People should take precautions to protect themselves and others. We need to do the basics like washing our hands, social distancing and masks if they feel the need. It’s very unclear if the masks we all currently wear have any effect in protecting us from COVID-19 so I feel the aforementioned is most diligent. However, COVID-19 is not a reason to shut businesses down, shut schools down and shut the community down. This shutdown has done more to hurt the community than help it. It has weakened our immune system, weakened our morale and certainly weakened many of our pocketbooks. I believe we can find a balance in a safe and full re-opening.”
Three most important concerns facing city: “Homelessness, public safety and protection of our residents and businesses, getting our businesses and community back open safely but surely.”
Stephanie Harper,
48,
relief staff worker
On homelessness: “I believe that a transitional storage unit center would be a great start to help to end this cycle, somewhere people could keep their belongings and they would be safe. We could start a ‘Dreams for Change’ in a city parking lot that would allow the citizens that live in their vehicles to have someplace safe to park and sleep. Mobile showers, daily jobs opportunities, so