Letters Our image problem

As a life-long resident of Vallejo for almost 70 years, I have heard first-hand the comings and goings of most of the political rhetoric that has graced our city over the years. I have voted for, and against, the good and not-so-good candidates who have run for the various offices of our local government.

I love this city, having spent most of my working career as a health professional to its residents, but have become embarrassed as to what it has become.

I remember a time back in the ’60s when Vallejo was declared an “All-American City.” It was a time when Vallejo was the essence of the successful middle-class community in the Bay Area, with most of its success due to its marriage to Mare Island Naval Shipyard, which offered Vallejo plenty of employment opportunity and lots of financial stability.

All went well until 1996, when the shipyard closed.

With the closure came the loss of jobs and the financial collapse that accompanied it. The local politicians at the time were caught unprepared — unable to deal with the shrinking tax revenue that ensued, and eventually had to declare bankruptcy in 2008, claiming it could no longer afford to pay wages and benefits promised to its employees.

Vallejo has never fully recovered. With the bankruptcy came a reduction in city services, the most obvious being the reduction of staffing to our police and fire departments. Other city services were also cut. City Hall — with less staffing — seemed to slow down. Communications between the local government and Vallejo’s citizenry seemed to become dysfunctional.

This little bit of history brings us to our present day election. If ever there was a time for the City of Vallejo to get its act together, it is now. I’m not writing this to endorse any one candidate, but to pose a question directly related to Vallejo’s image, to all the candidates.

Vallejo has an image problem. Ask anyone who isn’t from Vallejo and listen to what they have to say. Thus, my question: If elected, what would be your immediate short-term, and long-term plan for the beautification of our city?

The dumping of garbage and trash within our city limits has become a malignant cancer to our city. And like a malignancy, it’s growing. There is trash everywhere, and it only seems to be getting worse.

Our current mayor addressed this issue on his “State of the City” comments back in February, mentioning the “trash and blight” in Vallejo.

Unfortunately, his words are too little, too late. He had nine years as a public servant in our city, and yet it seems like the trash and blight to which he referred has gotten worse during his watch.

Thus, my question to our future candidates: If elected, what would be your immediate short-term, and long-term plan for the beautification of our city? I can only hope that the citizens of Vallejo won’t be asking this question again in four years.

— Gary Cullen/Vallejo