Image credit: City of Oxnard
Oxnard – Ventura
county league
women voter district
1 candidate
Forum continues with moderator David Mallon asking candidates how they endorse
The youth of Oxnard. Christopher Arevalo said he would advocate for a youth budget that could expand youth programs.
“For the kids, the elementary school district has an after-school program,” he said. “My 30-year-old daughter attended a youth basketball program that was held in the city gymnasium. I think it depends on.”
Doug Partello said the city can implement more cost-effective programs and bring nonprofits and local governments together to bring partnerships with the private sector.
“There is a benefit for everyone, so more costs need to be shared,” he said. “We are all benefiting from this investment. A 14-year-old boy was shot dead at a bus stop by a 15-year-old boy in gang violence. We need to offer taekwondo, martial arts, basketball, and other programs, and Parks and Recreation can scale our programs in a more cost-effective way.”
He said the YMCA, Boys Club and other partnerships can share the costs and create mutual benefits for the community.
“Young people are not getting the investment they need to become future leaders, and we need to make that investment,” said Patello.
Incumbent alderman Bert Perello acknowledges that the city has an entertainment program in place and that each candidate agrees money is a big issue.
“When you want to take more money and put it into youth programs, you’re dealing with a budget. You have to figure out what to cut,” he said. “Major E allowed me to do certain things that I couldn’t do before. He points out that one of his opponents, his Partello, was a strong supporter against Measure E. To improve what we are doing with young people.”
He says there are parental and responsible issues when it comes to young people, and admits that gang violence and killings are a tragedy.
“It’s a mistake to get politically confused about it,” he said. “The crime problem across the country is real. Parents need to watch over their children. Many parents are involved with their children. Too many parents live alone and don’t get the chance to be home with their children.They have to get another job to support their families.”
Eduardo Huerta advocated working with school districts and superintendents and said he was an asset to undereducated school districts.
“I didn’t graduate, but at the same time, my mentor believed in me and trusted me and my work, so I was able to do everything I could,” he said. “I am working with the school district to ask questions about my youth and think seriously about what we can do to make future youth better.”
He said he had a town hall for his parents and got the idea from them.
“There are a lot of things I used to do when I was a kid,” he said. “I actually love outdoor fishing for real guppies and loved going fishing here in the harbor. At the same time, many of us lost interest as we grew up because we went to work, but at the same time, we want our parents to renew their childhoods and develop themselves with their children. We help you express yourself.
The conversation turned to the environment, where Huerto said many of his neighbors own solar panels and have contracts for more than 30 years.
“Many of these residents are people who probably won’t even live long, and they’re not using this energy, they’re supplying this energy to Edison, and at the same time Edison is selling it to us. he said. “At the end of the day, homeowners still have to pay their bills. Where is it sold and what can the city do to buy that energy and have it saved in our county?”
He also suggests paying attention to residential developments in the beach area.
“Seabridge is a great area, but I don’t know if deteriorating sea levels is a wise idea,” he said. “We have our farm.”
Perello said the big problem is the amount of water the city has.
“I am on the Groundwater Authority and the City of Oxnard Public Works and Transportation Commission,” he said. “We are working to get water sources from the state when surplus water is available and we are working to get a better deal on the price of the water we put into the aquifer. And, with the foresight of our visionaries, we have the ability to create great programs to provide pure water, but state law is changing. Therefore, it cannot be used to produce pure water for drinking.”
Through Oxnard City staff, staff urgency, and subsequently the entire council, he aims to get the rest of California to approve the same thing he approved in Orange County.
“They can use pure water and make it potable,” he said. “Bury it in the ground and pump it up.”
Partello said he paid off $14 million in debt through the Grate Water Program in 2012 and the city hasn’t seen a single drop of water.
“We are building those wells right now,” he said. “It’s a technology they put in the taxpayer’s pocket and they’re experimenting with this and it’s not proven yet. There are a lot of questions about fairness and the cost of water, an acre foot of water for a farmer costs $250, for a resident it’s about $2,500, so you need to invest a bit more in water We need to invest more in solar panels.Desalination is very costly, so getting solar panels that reduce the operating costs of these plants means you have a more reliable source of water. I can.”
Mr. Arevalo says the city of Oxnard has done a good job with water and has a 30% utilization rate at its filtration plant, but disagrees that it’s a waste of money.
“I’m also looking at desalination. I think we’re on the verge of this big water shortage right now,” he said. “I also know Monterey and San Diego. San Diego is the best example of using reclaimed water for non-agricultural uses.”
He said the people who run the Ventura factory are giving water to people who want it so they can water their gardens.
“If you have a system in your garden and you’re a farmer and want to do dust control, you can use it all,” he said.
