Southwest
CV Civic Association: 2012-Questionnaire Seat 3
This has been filled in with information from websites, news articles,
questionnaire for other organization and financial reporting documents for
incumbent. Other candidates submitted answers.
·
Pamela Bensoussan_ did not submit answers Business or
Occupation: Number of
Years you have lived in Chula Vista __ Previous and Current Civic
Participation in the City of Chula Vista ____
·
·
Larry Breitfelder: Number of Years you have lived in Chula Vista lived in
Chula Vista almost all my life Business or
Occupation: Business Development and Property Management Previous and Current Civic Participation in the City of Chula Vista: Proud
long-time membership in the Southwest Civic Association, board membership on
the Conservation Garden Museum at Cuyamaca College, Membership with the San
Diego Conservation Action Committee, possibly the only non-Filipino ever
elected to the board of the Council of Philippine American Organizations
(COPAO), volunteer for the Chula Vista Adult Literacy Center (the most
gratifying volunteer experience of my life).
For experience more directly related to holding city council office -
Please see the answer to question #1.
Guillermo Briseno: Number of Years you have lived in Chula Vista Over 30 Business or
Occupation: owner Pacific Bay Auto, 150 Jacqua, CV 91911 Previous and Current Civic
Participation in the City of Chula Vista: board member of SWCVCA for three years,
Robert Castaneda: Number of
Years you have lived in Chula Vista All combined, less than a year Business or Occupation: Energy Workforce Development Consultant Previous and Current Civic
Participation in the City of Chula Vista: community organizer for STOP Espanada Campaign (2005),
1. Please provide a brief
resume of your experience and training qualifying you to be a member of the CV
city council.
Pamela Bensoussan: no answer
submitted
Larry Breitfelder: Other than
some time away for school and working in Los Angeles for a few years,
I have lived in Chula Vista
since infancy. I first became involved
in the community as a child walking next to my mother as she went door-to-door
for the March of Dimes.
In 2002, I was elected to
the Board of a utility that was enduring a governance melt down: massive employee
turnover, lawsuits and criminal investigations that included one from the FBI.
That was serious business because that was a public asset worth hundreds of
millions of dollars and essential to the health and economic well being of this
community.
A few years later, that
organization was recognized as an industry leader in finance and strategic
planning. Its bond rating had been
increased (saving money for the public), productivity was up thanks to
investments in information technology (better service to more people by fewer
employees) and a million dollars a year was being saved by having non-core
functions provided by outside companies.
I enjoyed the lessons you
learn having a share of responsibility for a combined billion dollars or so in
budgeting. As the troubles of Chula
Vista City Hall became more apparent, I was prompted to establish the Chula
Vista Taxpayer Association. The vision
was to give a voice to independence and to put the good of Chula Vista ahead of
the desires of political parties or special interests.
It’s been my privilege, as
President of that organization, to stand up for needed fiscal reforms and “blow
the whistle” on the recent unnecessary, and in my view crazy, attempt to lay
off our already over-stretched police officers.
Guillermo Briseno:
First
of all, I am NOT a politician, I don’t
have anyone funding my campaign and I have no experience in this political game
. I’m a small business owner with the
same issues many Chula Vista citizens are facing today. I have lived here over 30 years, I own a
small business in Chula Vista and my kids attend school here as well. I am
fully aware of deep pocket developers who want to come in and change our
scenery overnight, and I don’t have a problem with that as long as its a high
quality development that will bring in
more jobs and enhance our quality of life. I want to be the voice of
small business and the thousands of non-voting citizens that still want to be
heard.
Robert Castaneda: INDEPENDENCE:
I will not take special interest money - unlike others in this election -
rather, my interests and primary consideration -- once elected -- is to
represent the people of Chula Vista given their interests and priorities, not
deep pockets with designs on public money and self-serving agendas;
EXPERIENCE: I have
three-decades of Government and Business "know-how." additional
resources and program services to Chula Vista to better serve seniors with
social services, re-open our recreation centers for MORE than two days a week (as
they are now); fund graffiti abatement programs; open our libraries for
additional hours, and bring police and fire protection to sustainable and
necessary levels insuring public safety. I am the only candidate with that
level of experience to make this happen.
INTEGRITY: I am NOT, nor do
I intend to be a professional politician; what does that mean? Unlike the
incumbent, I will not ask the people of Chula Vista to make do with less public
safety; public employees being laid off; fewer library hours; street lights
that are not operating 24/7; recreation centers that are only open two days a
week, etc. This is now happening with an incumbent taking a $6K a year car
allowance and taking the perks of elected office. Rather, I will donate that
car allowance to the Norman Park Senior Center and donate 10% of my salary to
the Urban Corps for graffiti abatement.
2. What organizations, developers, mobile home park owners and relatives
as well as well known individuals are supporting you and how much money has each
contributed?
Pamela Bensoussan: did
not submit answers
According to 3/31 campaign reporting document raised $13,022 from mobile home park owners, MacMillan and other developers, and various individuals, DECEMBER 2011 CAMPAIGN FINANCE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT; March 2012 Campaign Finance Disclosure
Larry Breitfelder: I am proud to have the support of the Chula Vista Police Officers
Association, Chula Vista Fire Fighters, Deputy Sheriffs Association, former
Police Chief Bill Winters, and community advocates like the founders and
leaders of Crossroads II, and Mobile Home Park Residents Association.
DECEMBER 2011 CAMPAIGN FINANCE DISCLOSURE DOCUMENT; March 2012 Campaign Finance Disclosure
Guillermo
Briseno: I have been
funding my own campaign.
Robert
Castaneda: Many
within your organization may know my brother, Steve Castaneda; he is termed-out
this November. Steve has worked harder than anybody I know to make a difference
and represent the communities of Southwest Chula Vista at City Hall; I hope to
maintain that legacy that he has established. I have just begun my fundraising;
I own my business and have been putting in my own money to date. I have not
asked, nor will I take money from political organizations, other politicians or
PACs; that is the only campaign I intend to run. March 2012 Campaign Finance Disclosure
3. What are the names of the people who do not live in Chula Vista who
have contributed to your campaign and how much money have they contributed?
Pamela
Bensoussan: no answer submitted
Larry
Breitfelder: Few and not very much. My financial support tends to reflect neighborhood grassroots
support.
Guillermo
Briseno:
NONE
Robert Castaneda: NONE
4. If you are
an incumbent or have held this office before what significant accomplishments
did you achieve in your time in office?
Pamela Bensoussan: (from her answers to
questionnaire for Eastlake Democrats, did not submit answers) Led effort along with Councilman Mitch Thompson to denounce Arizona’s
anti-immigrant legislation bringing a resolution to Council; Led opposition to
Prop G (the Anti labor initiative); sponsored resolutions and ordinances
supporting environmental sustainability, renewable energy and decommissioning
South Bay Power Plant and the polluting Peaker Plant on Main Street; defended
funding( through CDBG and HUD) of local social services for the
underprivileged, homeless and abused (recently elected Democrat on Council
wanted to withdraw the city’s funding for social programs in favor of anit
graffiti programs). Lend political support to organizations like Planned
Parenthood and movements for livable wages. In addition I have caused progress
on the Bayfront to advance by bringing forward a resolution (in early 2009) for
a unanimous Council to send to the Port to redirect their focus on finishing
(and funding) the Masterplan EIR. Helped negotiate agreement with Labor and
Environmental groups on EIR mitigation for the Bayfront Master Plan, which
allowed it to move forward with full support of Business, Labor and
Environmental organizations. Successfully lobbied colleagues on Council to
support a rigorous Green Building Code, the Clean Business program and adoption
of aggressive Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation policies. Worked to
bring labor and environmental stakeholders to join with business stakeholders
to support economic development in the region and to join forces to oppose Prop
G. Worked as Co-Chair throughout 2010 and 2011 for Chula Vista’s Centennial
Celebration. Sponsored artist groups and stakeholders in their efforts to
expand activities locally. Supported and led efforts to adopt a historic
preservation ordinance in Chula Vista. With my staff members, brought back the
annual Harbor Days Festival on the bayfront. Worked with TAVA (Third Avenue
Village Association) to advance Third Avenue Streetscape, art and culture
activities, popup stores and ongoing revitalization of the village. As SCEDC
representative worked with owners and managers of C.V. Center to promote
upgrades and renovation (plans in progress). Lobbied SANDAG for more long term
funding for transportation and transit infrastructure for South Bay region.
Worked on planning improvements and trails for the Otay Valley Regional Park
and assisted ongoing efforts to fund the completion of the Bayshore Bikeway
project. Always mindful of creating opportunities for diversity on boards and
commissions, I have advocated and successfully supported many applicants who
through these appointments bring fresh perspectives to civic service.
5. What do you see as the
greatest challenges to Chula Vista for a council member, and how do you plan to
address those challenges?
Pamela Bensoussan:
did not submit answers
Larry
Breitfelder: Everything our city
government does should be for the purpose of preserving and enhancing the
neighborhoods we live in. That includes
strengthening our local economy so that we have the jobs and resources we need,
adequate police and fire protection, improving our schools and ultimately
restoring our library, park and other services.
All of these important things are interdependent. And none can be fully successful without a
foundation of public trust. We need
people of principle who know the difference between selling out and working
things out. We need people who can
build bridges - not just in city hall, but throughout all segments of our
community.
Guillermo
Briseno: Communication.
I believe 9 out of 10 citizens are disengaged
with the issues that are facing our city.
One of the primary reasons could be
that most working people do not have the time to attend city council meetings
that start at 4pm. As a councilman, I would use every communication tool
possible. Email, twitter, Facebook, or
whatever social media is available to reach out to the public in English and
Spanish. I would set up a weekly
internet chat room and talk about any topic that might be of interest. We also
need to expand our bulletin board to a bigger electronic board that will face
the corner of F and 4th Ave.
Economic Development:
Chula Vista must focus on attracting and
maintaining quality businesses in order to sustain and enhance our quality of
life. The bayfront
project will bring over 2000 permanent jobs but Southwest Chula Vista is still
being neglected.
Robert
Castaneda: (1) Good sustainable jobs
(2) Ensuring that EVERY community is well represented and gets its
fair share of both resources;
(3) Fighting special interest that is alive and well and attempting
to garner a three vote majority and the lion’s share of city resources.
No one person can do or
make change by themselves – community support is vital. I will seek and work
for the support for at least two other members on the city council. I believe I
have the best chance to do just that based on ALWAYS; I mean always taking a
position on the best thing to do for the city, and knowing and articulating why
to as many Chula Vistans that will listen. I have no interest in seeking any
other political office; therefore, I am no threat to anybody but special
interest. If I can help politically the members that I serve with given a good
job they want to do in other arenas of public service, I can and will do that.
5a. Do you agree that Chula
Vista must stop emphasizing housing and start promoting more commercial and
industry in order to finally get us balanced sometime in the future?
Pamela Bensoussan: did not submit answers
Larry
Breitfelder: Houses are
for living in. If we want to keep and
enhance good neighborhoods (including streets that don’t look like the surface
of the moon), we need a balanced local economy with healthy commercial and
industrial sectors.
On this basis, Southwest
Chula Vista is key to the well being of Chula Vista as a whole. More than ever
before, we have to work together to have our city reach its full potential as a
great place for us to live.
Guillermo
Briseno: YES
! but at the same time we need more services and low income housing programs
for the huge wave of baby boomers we will begin to see in the next 1-15 years.
Robert
Castaneda: In order to ensure a quality of life (environment)
based on not exceeding the city’s carrying capacity there must be a balance
between local employment, infrastructure and housing. Chula Vista must focus on
developing local business and securing for community services, public safety,
needed infrastructure and maintenance that revenue those businesses create. I
have spoken with many business owners across Chula Vista and they are burdened
by a non-responsive City Hall to their issues, that must change.
6. What is your position on
District elections for council members?
Pamela
Bensoussan: On 2/28/12
Voted against putting issue on the ballot because did not like the way the
motion was worded. On city's website entire discussion can be viewed.
Larry Breitfelder: The
incumbent should finally say whether she believes district elections are good
or bad for Chula Vista. It’s far too
late to be leadership, but at least it could be honest. District
Elections is an important issue. It's
about whether big-spending, out of town interests continue to have more control
over Chula Vista than you or I do as people who actually live here. Right now, it's
too easy for these groups to simply buy our elections. The result is that the
voice of special interests are louder in city hall than yours and mine put
together. These out of town special interests love the status quo. Influence is their bread and butter. The last thing we get out of the system is a
"concern for the broader interests of the community.” No
system can guarantee virtue. However,
with a smaller neighborhood-based system, candidates can actually meet and talk
to most of the voters. Outside money
will still come in but will have a very hard time overcoming that effect.
Above all else, our election system should assure this in the minds of
our electeds: our residents and our neighborhoods come first.
Guillermo
Briseno: I'm
not happy because its costing taxpayers
over $100k to bring it up for a vote but if it means that we will have better
representation from our council members then I am all for it.
Robert Castaneda: I support a District Election system in Chula Vista.
7. What is your position on
whether we need a legislative council, term limits, and/or reduced pay for our
elected City Attorney?
Pamela
Bensoussan: Voted against it at 2/28/12 council meeting. Said it
was not necessary and objected to spending the money to put it on the ballot.
Larry
Breitfelder: Approx. $250,000 a year in salary is excessive. Term limits are, on balance, desirable. In limited circumstances, the occasional use
of outside legislative council is appropriate.
Guillermo
Briseno: If
we are doing this to save money across the board, then let’s take it a step
further and have every elected official take a 20% cut off their salary and
donate it to their favorite organization in Chula vista until all our vital
services and programs are restored.
Robert
Castaneda: The Chula Vista City Attorney should not make more
money than the Attorney General of both the United States (Eric Holder) and the
State’s Attorney General (Kamala Harris); the City Attorney is an elected
official (politician), and should not be exempt from term-limits, nor should
the City Attorney be allowed to police and conduct an investigation on
themselves. The people of Chula Vista never intended for the “fox to watch the
chicken coop” as is the case that we have now.
8. Should an Infrastructure
Bond be put on the ballot to pay for maintenance of roads, buildings and
streets?
Pamela
Bensoussan: (no answer submitted, never
discussed at council)
Larry
Breitfelder: Our city government has a long way to go discussing
with us the depth of our infrastructure problem and the merits of each option
available to us. If it’s done right, we
should have the consensus we’ve so often lacked in recent years. Mishandled, we’ll just get more division.
This is a challenge of and
opportunity for Leadership.
Guillermo
Briseno:
Not with this economy
Robert
Castaneda: The
current level of bond obligations given schools that is shouldered by many
property owners is taking its toll on homeowners in Chula Vista. To add to that
burden is not something I can support at this time.
9. Should money be taken
from one area of the city for projects in another area?
Pamela
Bensoussan: did not submit answer
Larry
Breitfelder: No part of this city should get the short end of the
stick.
Guillermo
Briseno:
No
Robert Castaneda: Absolutely not!
10. Do you support the City
Council’s plan to continue taking as much money as Redevelopment had been
taking away from the General Fund, schools, the County and special districts
for projects that the will not be able to maintain in the future? (20% of the
14 million that went to the Redevelopment Agency in the past would be 2.8
million almost enough to totally eliminate next year’s deficit.)
Pamela
Bensoussan: Voted with
rest of council to continue taking as much money as possible. (Did
not submit an answer.)
Larry
Breitfelder: The public needs and deserves police and fire
protection as well as an effective good quality educational system. Whether we continue to invest in particular
projects should be based on their benefit to the public, not just old habits.
Guillermo
Briseno:
No.
Robert
Castaneda: stated in 11: However, the
Governor believes like I do that we as Californians – given this economy
–cannot afford to divert billions in tax revenue away from schools and public
safety. That being said, the Governor and the State Legislature needs to work
with cities to develop real solutions that allow municipalities to address the
issues of affordable housing and the refurbishment of truly blighted areas of
our cities.
11. What is your plan for
encouraging economic development in the city without Redevelopment funds?
Pamela Bensoussan: did not submit answers
Larry Breitfelder: City Hall
doesn’t get it. Millions have been
invested in old-fashioned “redevelopment." What improvements to our local
economy do we have to show for it?
For a start, we need to get back to the basics. In
particular our regulations should be periodically revised so that they protect
the public while not imposing excessive inconvenience and expense on those
investing in jobs producing businesses in our community.
Having booths at economic development conferences is not
going to bring us tax and job producing companies. We must invest wisely in our future.
Chula Vista has a lot to offer. Our city government must rise above itself to enlist our most
respected business leaders to help us (with some city support) recruit good
companies to move into or expand in Chula Vista.
Guillermo Briseno:
We must recruit quality companies that will bring sustainable jobs to our city .
Robert Castaneda: I intend to
work with both the Governor, Mayors of other cities and the state legislature
on addressing this issue. There are some prescriptions on the table now, not
only with Chula Vista, but with many other cities and in Sacramento. The
Governor who eliminated the redevelopment agencies knows the value of
redevelopment when done and operated right; Brown was the Mayor of Oakland and
that city benefited from redevelopment greatly in revitalizing the city’s
downtown and added to the affordable housing inventory.
However, the Governor believes like I do that we as Californians – given this economy –cannot afford to divert billions in tax revenue away from schools and public safety. That being said, the Governor and the State Legislature needs to work with cities to develop real solutions that allow municipalities to address the issues of affordable housing and the refurbishment of truly blighted areas of our cities.
12.
What ethical guidelines do you feel are important for a candidate for CV City
Council?
Pamela Bensoussan: did not submit answers
Larry Breitfelder: More
loyalty to the people of Chula Vista than interest groups in San Diego.
The character to respect and appreciate those who disagree
with us.
A commitment to Honest and open communication with the public.
To be Motivated by the desire to do well for the people of
Chula Vista rather than the pursuit of excessive car allowances and petty
perks.
Guillermo Briseno:
Transparency in government. OPEN and HONEST communication with our fellow
citizens with no b.s.
Robert Castaneda: Obey the
law and lead by EXAMPLE. Too many politicians cannot be taken at their word,
shame on them. I have had senior positions with three California Governors;
what does that mean? An over inflated ego, fancy meals, lavish car allowances
and perks have never been part of my past nor will they be part of my future in
serving the people of Chula Vista. That will be a welcome change to many of us
here!
13.
Do you agree that it is unethical for former elected members of the council to
represent or work on city projects for businesses that receive contracts from
the city of Chula Vista for at least a year after leaving elected office? (This
is a requirement now in the city's Charter.)
Pamela Bensoussan: (declined to answer this
question on questionnaire for Eastlake Democrats also)
Larry Breitfelder:
Yes, of course.
Guillermo Briseno:
Of course .
Robert Castaneda: It is unethical and should
be illegal; that was the case with a former council member and his work for the
Espanada project.