“The people in power before had a [small town] mentality [and] didn’t anticipate population growth,” Padilla said. “We have to start bringing profitable jobs with good money [so that people] can spend money on our [businesses].”
This is unbelievable. He was one of the people in power when our balanced General Plan was updated, and he consistently voted to change commercial and industrial zoning especially in the Otay Ranch villages to residential to please developers. He is one of the ones that voted to change 100 feet of the 200 foot buffer around the landfill from industrial to residential. More recently he allowed Millennial’s developer to change commercial to residential and gave up commercial property in the Otay Ranch Mall to 900 residential units. You can’t bring profitable jobs when you don’t have the zoning for them.
He also was mayor when 101 million plus dollars was spent on renovating the Civic Center and 65 million on a police station in the northwest corner of the city without a vote of the people to be paid for with development fees which should have gone to and be going to providing services for the residents, but still are going to paying 2/3rds of the debt on these projects- one of which replaced a small shopping center. This year some of Prop P money even went toward paying principle and interest on these and other debts.
People should not look to measure A to solve all the public safety problems, but what they should do is vote new people into office who will protect existing businesses and commercial and industrial zoning.
September 4 at 6 p.m.at the south library on Orange Development Services will have a community meeting to discuss proposal to put seven thriving businesses that have been in Chula Vista at 676 Moss St. for up to 35 years out of business by converting the 6.7 acres they are on to high density residential-a potential loss of engineering jobs, $45 an hour mechanic jobs, etc.— for a total loss of 150 good paying jobs, and Padilla has probably already accepted campaign contributions from the property owner.
Theresa Acerro resides in Chua Vista.
