In the beginning of the year, the city spent $100,000 for its “This is Chula” marketing campaign. On Tuesday night, Chula Vista’s mayor used the slogan as the focal point of her second State of the City address.
She used “This is Chula” as a way to bring community and show everything Chula Vista has to offer.
Casillas Salas’s 20-minute speech explained how wonderful of a place Chula Vista is, citing its residents as what makes Chula Vista what it is.
“Chula Vista is great because of its people,” she said. “The people who have chosen to live here, who have chosen to raise their families here, who have chosen to work here, who have chosen to start their businesses here, and who have chosen to visit here.”
Casillas Salas said it is the same people who realized how important it was for the city to support Measure P, a temporary half-cent sales tax increase to fix infrastructure. She said since its passage, the city has replaced two deteriorated fire engines with two new fire engines, repaired a street on Floyd Avenue and expanded the Police Department’s body-worn camera program.
She said the city is working on a $50 million bond that will be paid for by Measure P funds and allow the city to demolish and replace two fire stations, repair and renovate recreation centers, the senior center, libraries, the animal care facility and the Living Coast Discovery Center.
The speech took a different tone from last year, where Casillas Salas was in the first few months of her tenure as mayor.
In her inaugural address, Casillas Salas highlighted the city’s progress with its development projects with Millenia, a potential university project and the bayfront. Last year, she also talked about budgetary success and the growth of eastern Chula Vista. This year, the mayor did not address the university development project and barely mentioned the bay front, but did speak about the opening of hotels on the eastside of town.
Casillas also highlighted the renaissance on Third Avenue with a few microbreweries set to open as well as newer businesses that attract a younger crowd like the coffee shop and art gallery The Nest on Third the clothing store Human Catalyst. A beer tasting room also opened up last year in downtown Chula Vista.
Steve Pavka, a 58- year Chula Vista resident living in District 2, said he thought the mayor’s speech was average at best.
“It was OK,” he said. “I’ve seen more inspiring speeches. We have a great city, that’s true, only wished she would have focused more on issues facing the city.”
He said while Casillas pumped up the city she failed to address Chula Vista’s growing homeless population. He also said he would have liked to see her discuss the city’s future budgets.
While Pavka was not impressed with Casillas Salas’ speech, Gabby Arredondo,36, a stay at home mom, said she was intrigued what the mayor had to say.
“The mayor hit the nail on the head with her speech,” she said. “Chula Vista is a city on the rise and she did a wonderful job explaining that tonight.”
Casillas Salas started her speech with the “This is Chula,” slogan, and ended the night with the same slogan.
“This is Chula,” she said. “This is Chula Vista. A beautiful community with a bright future as our horizon.”
