CHULA VISTA MAYORAL HOPEFULS DISCUSS ISSUES FACING RESIDENTS

Forum held for candidates ahead of election on June 7

Six candidates running to become Chula Vista’s next mayor discussed how they would address homelessness, help small businesses and prevent drug-related harm to local youth in a forum Thursday.

The event was held at the Chula Vista Presbyterian Church and was hosted by the Chula Vista Chamber of Commerce, Institute for Public Strategies and South Bay Youth 4 Change. Students from Chula Vista High Tech High posed a series of questions to the candidates largely focused on public safety, economic development and youth-related topics to drive an overall conversation on how to build a more equitable and prosperous city.

The candidates are Ammar Campa-najjar, who previously ran for Congress; Spencer Cash, an Army veteran who served as a medical evacuation helicopter pilot; Zaneta Encarnacion, the chief of staff to Southwestern College’s president; Jill Galvez, the District 2 council member; John Mccann, the District 1 council member; and Rudy Ramirez, who served on the council between 2006 and 2015.

Chula Vista police officials said earlier this year that they are seeing a rise in the amount of fentanyl on the streets, a trend seen across San Diego County. More than 460 people in the county died in 2020 from a fentanyl overdose, an increase from 151 in 2019, according to the county Medical Examiner’s Office.

The candidates agreed that more can be done on the local level to prevent drugs from reaching youths.

“It’s not just enforcement. It’s not just prevention. It’s empowering our young people to take their talents and do something good,” said Campa-najjar, adding that he would like to see a full return of Parks and Recreation activities and back-to-school programs after monthslong, COVID-19 related pauses.

With a shortage of about 40 police offers, Cash said the police department must fill those positions “and that will help prevent the drugs from getting in our community.” Mccann said the city’s school resource officer program must be fully funded so that officers can educate and build relationships with the youths.

Zaneta said there needs to be better communication about various boards. She envisions bringing together “all of our school board members and fellow elected officials and coming up with a plan on how we can support our youth comprehensively and holistically.”

Galvez said she wanted to see “what we all need to do to be more aggressive and put an end to this drug.”

Educating youth on the dangers of drugs is insufficient, said Ramirez. “We need to be able to give life skills to kids so they know how to act on information,” he added. He proposes a youth sports tourism program that would be funded without draining other vital resources.

The candidates agreed more can be done to address the local homeless crisis. City officials and homeless advocates estimate there are more than 700 people living without shelter.

Mccann said he led efforts that created the police department’s Homeless Outreach Teams and would continue to support their work. Ramirez said the community knows what it needs to do to address the issue and that the resources, including nonprofits focused on helping homeless individuals, are there but not enough action is taking place.

Campa-najjar said Chula Vista should replicate wraparound services the city of Redlands offers, which includes case management and offering basic needs like food and shelter.

Cash said local nonprofits are the best to lead the efforts but added that creating a “pipeline for the homeless to move on” is also needed. He suggested family housing for students and trade schools.

Zaneta, who said she was homeless for two years as a teenager, and Galvez applauded the city’s efforts in soon opening South County’s first homeless bridge shelter with prefab units that will house up to 138 people. Partnering with expert nonprofits to offer wraparound services and having a detox facility nearby will also be needed, they said.

On helping small businesses, the candidates agreed the city must streamline its permitting process and make it more affordable so that there is an equitable distribution of resources. Ultimately, they agreed, new businesses will help the community live, work and play locally.

The election, which will also include races for Districts 1 and 2 and city attorney, will be held on June 7. The filing period ends March 11.