Jose Preciado is running for Chula Vista City Council District 2 being vacated by Council member Jill Galvez. He is running a tight race against candidate Steve Stenberg, which in June, were separated by 323 votes. A life-long resident of South Bay, Preciado has lived in Chula Vista since 2006.
Preciado is currently serving his fourth term as director for the South Bay Irrigation District Division 3/Sweetwater Authority, chairing the Water Resources Committee, is a member of the Imported Water Committee, and the Colorado River Task Force. He also represents Chula Vista as the director of the San Diego County Water Authority. Preciado also has worked as a student services professional with SDSU, serving a variety of roles and focusing on serving the region by supporting projects such as Compact for Success, a partnership between SDSU and the Sweetwater Union High School District.
Preciado said he believes he has the experience to make an impact on some of the challenges the city is facing, with housing, job creation, public safety, and homelessness being his top priorities.
Preciado said that the recent closure of Harborside Park showed the need for affordable housing in Chula Vista, and he believes that it is the most viable solution in helping the unsheltered.
“I saw the whole meeting that dealt with Harborside Park,” he said. “I think it was a really tough situation. But I think moving forward we cannot let any of our parks be so impacted. I cannot imagine any park in District 2 being set aside or basically being taken over for homeless, or houseless people’s shelter.”
Preciado said South County needs a regional approach on how to support families and people who are experiencing homelessness. He said homelessness is a housing problem.
“We need to figure out how National City, County of San Diego, Chula Vista, and Imperial Beach can work together because there is no sense from moving from one park to another park, or one community to another community. We need to find reasonable solutions. And since Harborside Park is closed for 90 days, new solutions need to emerge.”
Preciado said he still believes housing is the number one issue that District 2 residents are facing.
“Wages are not keeping up with the costs of housing. Even though there has been a slight decline in home value for sale, given the fact that interest rates went up, home ownership and rentals are not really accessible,” he said. “I do not think that we are going to be able to support a labor force and strong communities if we do not find a way to support, for example, accessory dwelling units as a first and quick initiative, and then the development of high rises where they are planned.”
Preciado said there are corridors, with some vision, you can go up 10-12 stories, just to make more housing available.
“I look forward to the Sears property being developed. I look forward to the property next to the E Street MTS developed, and each of these projects brings 150 to 200 new units, and they cannot be built fast enough,” he said.
“Some of those have affordable units as part of the project.”
Preciado said the city is “built out,” so making it easier for residents to put a rental unit in their backyard or another appropriate place would be the quickest solution, but solutions are needed on a larger scale.
Preciado said attracting businesses is a priority but said the City and the County needs to find a “broader structure” that may include additional nonprofits into the community to support the growing problem of homelessness, addiction, and mental health.
“Those are critical,” he said. “We saw in the tragedy at Harborside Park, two things are very needed,” he said. “Being able to address addiction, mental health. The other thing is there are people who do not want resources. We need to understand better how to deal with that.”
Preciado said the governor and County Supervisor Nathan Fletcher are working on “community courts” for people who do not want help on their own, may be encouraged to get help. He said ideas like this is good for communities that are not prepared, to start taking advantage of.
“The current leadership of the city has invested in the facility on Broadway [pallet homes near Broadway and Main Street], and hopefully by January that facility will be available,” he said. “And I do not see a problem in finding partners that can provide the support services.”
Preciado said what he is hoping to bring to council is beginning to work with partner governments that have responsibilities in the region so they can plan together, work together, and create a better Chula Vista.
