Editor’s observe: This story is one in a sequence on the Nov. 8 basic election. For extra protection, go to vcstar.com/information/elections.
Twelve candidates are operating for 4 seats within the Ventura Metropolis Council election.
Candidates will face off in Districts 1, 4, 5 and 6 for the Nov. 8 election.
Alyona Brody, Liz Campos, Marco Cuevas and Helen Eloyan are candidates in District 1. Incumbent Sofia Rubalcava just isn’t operating.
Candidate Jim Rundle and incumbent Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios will face off in District 4.
Marie Lakin and Invoice McReynolds will compete in District 5. Incumbent Jim Friedman just isn’t operating.
For for District 6, incumbent Lorrie Brown faces Jim Duran, Danny Carrillo and Steph Karba.
The Star requested every candidate questions impressed by public suggestions. Under are their responses, which have been edited for readability and area.
District 1
Alyona Brody
Age: 25
Occupation: Administrative assistant
Training: Affiliate’s levels in political science, administration of justice and basic research; enrolled in a bachelor’s diploma program
What three concepts do you must handle housing affordability and homelessness?
Homelessness is a California problem and insurance policies which have been introduced down from the state have solely elevated this downside. As a metropolis, we are able to solely hope to help in personal enterprises that might apply aggressive ways to seek out options that don’t solely depend upon charity and meals pantries. What we’d like is precise work for meals and housing packages to be developed — mainly, one thing that may profit the homeless emotionally and bodily, offering them with fundamentals corresponding to meals and in a single day shelter just isn’t sufficient. We should put money into packages that present them with dignity and an opportunity to work as we now have seen different cities do throughout this nation.
What do you plan to do to draw extra high-paying jobs to the town?
For one what’s the goal to bringing high-paying jobs to Ventura and who does this profit? That’s the main query we must be asking and searching into. Attracting high-paying jobs to the town at this level in our nation would solely imply to usher in company entities which directives are polar opposites of what the vast majority of the residents of this metropolis need.
Do you assume it is a good suggestion to make downtown extra dense and enhance constructing heights to 6 tales?
As I see it, the vast majority of residents of Ventura are attempting to grasp the reasoning as to why we’re beginning to over develop this metropolis is in query. Everybody I’ve talked to, so far is disgusted by the quantity of constructing that is occurring. I’m not speaking about personal residence properties, I’m speaking about duplexes, condos and flats, which can enhance Ventura’s inhabitants within the densest method potential. In fact, personal residence values will soar when the majority inhabitants is renting and trying to purchase. What the Metropolis Council and native politicians appear to not care about is the standard of life that folks transfer to Ventura within the first place for.
Liz Campos
Age: 68
Occupation: Retired trainer
Training: Grasp’s diploma in English, bachelor’s diploma in chemistry with a minor in plant biology
What three concepts do you must handle housing affordability and homelessness?
First, a holistic method, together with regulating short-term trip leases; adopted by a wide-ranging inclusionary housing ordinance with hire caps, tenant protections and incentivizing developments to incorporate models for very low and very low-income residents; and eventually, a housing-first mannequin to carry the unsheltered inside. We should develop revolutionary concepts and collaboration to seek out applicable options.
What do you plan to do to draw extra high-paying jobs to the town?
I would not concentrate on attracting high-paying jobs. Ventura ought to concentrate on offering coaching to her clever and employable residents. Generally bringing in a high-paying business with its high tier of staff skews the housing market, leaving housing unaffordable. Ventura introduced the Commerce Desk in, with the best paid CEO within the U.S, and now my neighbors are working three jobs to pay their hire. We must always begin coaching job abilities in center college and highschool, train the abilities wanted to acquire excessive stage employment with no faculty schooling, encourage commerce colleges and take care of our residents. That is construct our financial system, maintain our residents housed and have delight in our metropolis.
Do you assume it is a good suggestion to make downtown extra dense and enhance constructing heights to 6 tales?
Is it essential to make downtown extra dense, rising the constructing heights to create the phantasm we adjust to the state-required enlargement of our housing numbers? Will we consider we’d like taller buildings to accommodate the inhabitants that will or could not explode within the subsequent decade? We, as a metropolis, can’t make an remoted determination with out the entire image earlier than us. We’ve got little public transportation within the downtown, and no area for automobiles, no electrical car infrastructure. I do not assist high-rise buildings with out supportive infrastructure, corresponding to a transit hub adjoining to downtown, and a tram to Metropolis Corridor, harbor village, authorities middle, and many others.
Marco Cuevas
Age: 24
Occupation: Assistant vp
Training: Bachelor’s levels in enterprise and economics
What three concepts do you must handle housing affordability and homelessness?
Homelessness is a multi-faceted problem encompassing our financial system and public security. With over 70% of the 500-plus homeless residents in Ventura unsheltered, we should always enhance the capability to shelter these people. Doing so in a central location can create economies of scale and make a “one-stop store.” Moreover, we’d like to ensure the companies offered are efficient to find a everlasting residence for them. Some might have transitional housing and assist searching for work. Others might have entry to psychological well being companies. For housing to be inexpensive, we’d like a mixture of incentivizing inexpensive models and bringing extra high-paying jobs.
What do you plan to do to draw extra high-paying jobs to the town?
We have to entice the kinds of companies that can carry these high-paying jobs to Ventura. We do can do this by a mixture of things. We want to ensure our infrastructure is of the best high quality. This implies having effectively paved roads, secure walkable sidewalks and brighter lighting. Many corporations are rising their use of expertise, so we’d like to ensure we now have broadband web that may assist this. We’ve got native schools and universities which can be rising our expertise pool, so let’s match their abilities with new jobs.
Do you assume it is a good suggestion to make downtown extra dense and enhance constructing heights to 6 tales?
Residents perceive the necessity for housing however are annoyed by problems with site visitors and our water scarcity. I’ll work to create a extra sustainable infrastructure and convey an financial lens on housing. It is a supply-and-demand problem. I feel our limits on growth have most likely held downtown again from what it might be and stored rents larger than they need to be. I assist extra growth as a result of I assist methods to make housing inexpensive. Whereas this can be inevitable sometime in understanding residents, we are able to see how redevelopment of parcels which can be beneath the present acceptable requirements goes earlier than we transfer to 6 tales.
Helen Eloyan
Age: 27
Occupation: Environmental/land-use planner
Training: Bachelor’s diploma in environmental science and useful resource administration, grasp’s diploma in public coverage and administration
What three concepts do you must handle housing affordability and homelessness?
Housing and homelessness points require a collaborative method to be efficient and the next choices are a superb begin:
- Facilitate lower-density housing options like accent dwelling models or tiny properties, for instance, provide pre-approved plans.
- Reimagine dwelling models, that’s, models which can be gotten smaller however provide communal dwelling areas.
- Provide a “one-stop-shop” growth program for property house owners who’re fascinated about creating ADUs in trade for long-term affordability.
- A multidisciplinary method to homelessness that includes supportive companies at every contact level with unsheltered people.
- A tailor-made method to satisfy every unhoused particular person’s distinctive wants, whether or not it’s psychological well being companies or habit counseling.
- Transportation choices to return people residence after they’re discharged from the county jail or hospital.
What do you plan to do to draw extra high-paying jobs to the town?
I intend to create an incubator zone inside District 1 to foster the event of a extremely expert workforce and provide native job alternatives for residents. I consider we are able to leverage the artistic and entrepreneurial nature of our group to create extra job alternatives that provide larger pay. For instance, the event of a vocational college specializing in healthcare, building trades, culinary arts, enterprise administration, and many others. would inherently diversify and create a extremely expert workforce that may straight contribute to our native financial system. This setting can be enticing for the event of latest native companies and would give residents an opportunity to pursue their desired employment alternatives.
Do you assume it is a good suggestion to make downtown extra dense and enhance constructing heights to 6 tales?
I don’t consider that rising constructing heights is a possible choice for the downtown space. The group character and historic nature of downtown are extremely necessary to our group, and it’s crucial that we search choices that match greatest with our current constructed surroundings. I additionally consider that the parking and site visitors circulation points must be addressed first, earlier than including further density to the downtown space.
District 4
Jim Rundle
Age: 55
Occupation: Emergency medical technician
Training: Bachelor’s diploma in historical past
What three concepts do you must handle housing affordability and homelessness?
I consider the homeless problem is of nice concern, and we because the Metropolis Council — and myself particularly — must look to having a more in-depth relationship with the organizations who’re already addressing this problem, corresponding to Ventura Social Companies Process Power and Houses for All. I wish to have an in depth relationship with these organizations and search for methods to proceed the work they’re already doing, as effectively ask work collectively to see how we are able to go ahead to deal with the homeless downside even additional and discover options to their issues, not simply band-aids.
What do you plan to do to draw extra high-paying jobs to the town?
In my view, Ventura has a whole lot of larger paying jobs already. We’ve got many roles within the authorities middle in addition to by our hospitals and well being care methods. I do not know that attracting extra high-paying jobs is the issue. I wish to focus extra on retaining our small companies and addressing the wants of our native companies which can be already part of our group. There are various charges that these companies pay which can be pure authorities overreach and must be addressed, corresponding to the price charged simply to hold a enroll at a place of work. We must be working with these companies to encourage their progress and alternative, not making it tougher for them to even exist.
Do you assume it is a good suggestion to make downtown extra dense and enhance constructing heights to 6 tales?
I undoubtedly don’t assume rising the density of downtown is a good suggestion nor rising constructing heights. We’re not L.A. nor do any of our residents wish to be. Sufficient mentioned.
Jeannette Sanchez-Palacios
Age: 48
Occupation: Councilwoman, district director for state lawmaker
Training: Bachelor’s diploma in girls’s research with a minor in political science, grasp’s diploma in public administration and enrolled in academic management doctoral program
What three concepts do you must handle housing affordability and homelessness?
Housing affordability and homelessness challenges won’t be solved in a single day. Nonetheless, strengthening partnerships with public housing companies, personal companions and nonprofits may also help produce a collaborative answer. Land-use insurance policies may be re-imagined with all stakeholders on the desk to advertise inexpensive and inclusive communities. Lastly, permitting denser growth in suitable areas for inexpensive and mixed-income housing developments.
What do you plan to do to draw extra high-paying jobs to the town?
A method of attracting companies to the town is to be conscious of companies once they wish to come to Ventura. Not too long ago, the council voted to additional streamline our constructing allow overview course of by chopping down on exterior contractors by utilizing three corporations slightly than a large number of contractors. This permits for cohesion, effectivity and improved customer support. One other method of making high-wage jobs is by investing and supporting entrepreneurship. Town of Ventura is the headquarters for companies like Patagonia, The Commerce Desk and two main hospitals. Town should proceed supporting start-up companies in addition to main firms by offering assets that assist begin, retain or develop companies in Ventura. Lastly, working with the chamber, guests bureau and different group teams to collaborate on attracting companies to Ventura can be elementary.
Do you assume it is a good suggestion to make downtown extra dense and enhance constructing heights to 6 tales?
Native zoning laws within the metropolis of Ventura already enable six-story buildings in lots of components of the town. Relating to downtown, I feel it’s too early to determine. We want plenty of public enter earlier than we make that call. I’m in favor of creating further housing in Ventura to create numerous choices for all revenue ranges. Since Ventura is operating out of area to construct, dense housing is certainly one of our few choices, in addition to peak choices. I encourage a mixture of makes use of, together with dense housing to create strong neighborhoods. Dense housing, nevertheless, must be suitable with the encircling neighborhood and be aesthetically interesting.
District 5
Marie Lakin
Age: 62
Occupation: Nonprofit president
Training: Bachelor’s diploma in journalism and mass communications with an emphasis in public relations
What three concepts do you must handle housing affordability and homelessness?
A lot of the housing we’re presently constructing in Ventura is market fee and costly. We’re in want of inexpensive and workforce housing for the households who work on this group. Ventura ought to have a look at an inclusionary housing coverage which mandates a portion of each new rental mission embrace inexpensive models or an in-lieu price paid to construct it elsewhere.
I spent two days with the individuals working to fight our homelessness and felony vagrancy points. They want extra assets. Town ought to prioritize partnering with the county on everlasting supportive housing efforts corresponding to constructing out the flooring above the ARCH shelter. Venture Roomkey, which presently homes 198 individuals in native motels, is about to run out quickly. A substitute or extension of this program should occur.
What do you plan to do to draw extra high-paying jobs to the town?
Individuals and firms can now select to find wherever they need. These with selections need Ventura’s life-style. We have to put money into what individuals already love about this metropolis — the seaside, open area, downtown, neighborhood facilities and parks. We aren’t doing sufficient of that.
New companies need certainty and timeliness when opening new services. Our group growth division suffers from employees shortages and tech issues. We have to do higher.
Do you assume it is a good suggestion to make downtown extra dense and enhance constructing heights to 6 tales?
The state legislature has handed plenty of payments that incentivize denser housing. Precedence must be given to denser progress in our extra urbanized walkable industrial facilities close to transit alternatives, however on the identical time sustaining neighborhood compatibility by form-based code and particular plans. Our current 2007 plan for downtown must be adopted.
Infrastructure enhancements to deal with the inflow of latest housing must be a paramount concern. Employees reviews for our housing ingredient level to growing older water infrastructure which have to be upgraded. Builders must tackle these prices. Close by streets and freeway entry must also be improved.
Invoice McReynolds
Age: 51
Occupation: Residential builder
Training: Bachelor’s diploma in political science
What three concepts do you must handle housing affordability and homelessness?
To make sure the creation of inexpensive housing, Ventura must replace its inclusionary (inexpensive) housing ordinance to incorporate rental models. That replace will result in the creation of low-income housing the place the demand exists probably the most. The council must advocate to our state legislators for the creation of a devoted inexpensive housing funding supply, which we now have not had since 2011. The opening of the ARCH emergency shelter in Ventura was a step in addressing homelessness. We have to proceed working with our private and non-private companions to develop the social companies provided on the ARCH, whereas persevering with to develop the patrol process pressure, the frontline law enforcement officials which can be addressing vagrancy.
What do you plan to do to draw extra high-paying jobs to the town?
As we enter a post-COVID world, discovering a way of group in a possible location has develop into extra necessary to companies as they appear to relocate or start-up. That is certainly one of Ventura’s strengths. Ventura must market this energy to the enterprise group. That advertising and marketing effort should embrace the story of Ventura’s most profitable start-up Commerce Desk. Commerce Desk began in Ventura for that reason and has dedicated to stay in Ventura due to the group right here. We have to help Commerce Desk in beginning building on its headquarters in Ventura, as this may add to our group and create an vitality that can entice different companies with high-paying jobs.
Do you assume it is a good suggestion to make downtown extra dense and enhance constructing heights to 6 tales?
Proper now, I don’t assume it is smart to construct six-story buildings or alter the historic appeal of downtown. The demand for housing may be met in different areas of the town nearer to the companies we use each day. Our focus must be on finishing the energetic transportation plan, then finding the housing at or close to Ventura’s transportation facilities.
District 6
Lorrie Brown
Age: 47
Occupation: Authorities service
Training: Grasp’s diploma in public coverage and administration
What three concepts do you must handle housing affordability and homelessness?
I plan to proceed being an unapologetic advocate for inexpensive housing on the dais, in committee and thru coverage.
I’ve already carried out many issues in these three positions as chair of Basic Plan Advisory Committee, delegate to the Southern California Affiliation of Governments and as former chair of the Housing Alternatives, Proactive Engagement, and Options committee. It has been my intent to ensure the chance for inexpensive housing options have been critically thought-about and mentioned whereas furthering the concept housing is required for our residents, our staff, our seniors and our youngsters. I’ll proceed this battle.
What do you plan to do to draw extra high-paying jobs to the metropolis?
Ventura is enticing due to all it has to supply. Transferring into the longer term, it might be helpful to accomplice with the county for workforce funding initiatives, promote native hiring, assist expert apprenticeships, advocate for healthcare necessities to maintain our staff wholesome and proceed to assist our vibrant small enterprise group. Many industries on this county are faltering as a result of expert staff flip down profitable job presents after discovering they’re unable to discover a place they will afford. Persevering with the battle for housing affordability for starter households, graduates popping out of school and seniors on a set revenue is integral in sustaining a robust workforce.
Do you assume it is a good suggestion to make downtown extra dense and enhance constructing heights to 6 tales?
First, I wish to acknowledge that elevated constructing heights and density is a extremely controversial problem.
Do I personally consider that the metropolis ought to solely promote infill developments throughout downtown that lead to six-story buildings? The reply is not any.
Might there be just a few choose areas throughout the metropolis that might enable for it? I invite the general public to hitch the Basic Plan Advisory Committee dialog by visiting Planventura.com and provides your opinion as a result of I consider that’s what really issues. Future metropolis planning ought to proceed to return from the voice of group residents.
The query that must be requested is, are six tales already allowed? The reply to that query is technically, per state legislation, sure. The following query is, does any metropolis plan require that six tales be constructed? The reply to that query is a powerful no.
The presently proposed plan would lower the variety of larger heights and denser initiatives than presently allowed throughout the metropolis, by figuring out particular core areas the place sure heights and density usually are not simply potential however possible. It is a higher method.
Danny Carrillo
Age: 61
Occupation: Regional director for native union, personnel commissioner for faculty district
Training: Affiliate’s diploma in liberal research, bachelor’s diploma in enterprise administration
What three concepts do you must handle housing affordability and homelessness?
We want to ensure the builders are in actual fact offering new housing that matches in to the affordability vary the place native staff and residents have a possibility to stay the place they work. In lieu charges mustn’t at all times be accepted as a method out for builders to solely construct high-end properties right here. I consider there are various packages, each on this State and all through the nation, the place we shouldn’t have to reinvent the wheel to assist our homelessness downside. This downside didn’t occur in a single day. and a treatment won’t be produced in a single day both. We’ve got to have a look at the three elements that exists in addressing this downside. Primary is the legislation; quantity two is the psychological well being of those that select to stay within the streets; and quantity three is ensuring we now have sufficient staff and professionals who deal in case administration right now and have been.
What do you plan to do to draw extra high-paying jobs to the town?
There are alternatives to proceed instructing a greater inexperienced surroundings to not solely our college students who will likely be studying these packages however to our communities as effectively. Persevering with to discover makes use of of photo voltaic, wind, the ocean and different technological fields will assist entice not solely inexperienced jobs however larger paying jobs. Working with our native college districts and group and college schools will assist to replenish that pipeline for generations to return.
Do you assume it is a good suggestion to make downtown extra dense and enhance constructing heights to 6 tales?
I want to review the professionals and cons of this newest choice as I do know that area for constructing extra housing and making it extra inexpensive is at a premium right here in Ventura. I feel there are areas within the metropolis the place we are able to have blended use buildings/housing the place residents stay above enterprise on the bottom ground. On the floor, I don’t consider constructing larger to 6 tales within the downtown space is the correct approach to go.
Jim Duran
Age: 61
Occupation: Pastor, govt director of nonprofit
Training: Affiliate’s diploma in Biblical research, bachelor’s diploma in ministry, grasp’s diploma in theology
What three concepts do you must handle housing affordability and homelessness?
Homelessness is available in all sizes and shapes, and we can’t implement a one dimension matches all to unravel this downside. We’ve got some superb packages, and I plan on persevering with to assist these packages which can be making a distinction. We have to cope with the highest two causes for homelessness, psychological sickness and drug habit.
With respect to inexpensive housing, I’ll assist our inclusionary housing plan. I can even work with my colleagues in creating a plan for workforce housing. I like to recommend that our state cash put aside for homelessness be used for inexpensive housing. If extra inexpensive housing just isn’t constructed, our homelessness problem will solely enhance.
What do you plan to do to draw extra high-paying jobs to the town?
In an effort to entice extra higher-paying jobs, we have to entice the businesses paying these wages. I’m a lifelong resident of Ventura, and I’ve had the chance to handle, personal and function a number of companies in our metropolis. I’m dedicated to supporting a robust native financial system to make sure we now have the cash to pay for the issues we’d like.
I’ll work exhausting at reducing obstacles in our present course of that maintain companies from opening and prospering. I consider we have to deal with each enterprise as a buyer and do what we are able to to assist them succeed. As a result of when companies prosper, so does our metropolis.
Do you assume it is a good suggestion to make downtown extra dense and enhance constructing heights to 6 tales?
I consider there’s a place for high-density buildings however not in downtown Ventura. We have to maintain the individuality of our downtown. Because of this it’s so necessary that our group become involved within the basic plan course of. Be engaged so you don’t get up someday and end up in the midst of six-story buildings.
Steph Karba
Age: 32
Occupation: Environmental researcher
Training: Bachelor’s diploma in hydrology in 2012, grasp’s levels in environmental science and administration
What three concepts do you must handle housing affordability and homelessness?
Housing is a human proper. If elected, I’ll push for a hire management ordinance to guard weak renters, in addition to work to finish the town’s inclusionary housing coverage. On behalf of the unhoused, I can even encourage the institution of an ordinance whereby the town has to create a three- to five-year roadmap plan for increasing a full vary of emergency shelters, transitional housing and everlasting housing models. I can even put money into the creation of a clear, on-line dashboard that exhibits the open mattress rely and availability in city-wide emergency shelters.
What do you plan to do to draw extra high-paying jobs to the town?
We are able to’t put the cart earlier than the horse. Inexpensive housing is a vital step in attracting new employers into the town. Nonetheless, I can even closely concentrate on constructing out common, broadband web in Ventura to put a basis for the way forward for distant and tech-based work.
Do you assume it is a good suggestion to make downtown extra dense and enhance constructing heights to 6 tales?
I firmly consider that growth within the downtown space ought to align with the downtown particular plan and the westside imaginative and prescient plan these residents have already drafted. And whereas Ventura must develop inexpensive housing and enhance densities all through, it additionally must retain the appeal and group really feel that Venturans have come to like. If elected, I’ll push the town to determine design requirements in order that new developments match an architectural fashion, sit additional again from the road and have applicable parking designations or are transit oriented.
Wes Woods II covers West County for the Ventura County Star. Attain him at wesley.woodsii@vcstar.com, 805-437-
