IV Press Voice: Calexico Residents Speaking Out

elchrist

Disclaimer: These writings were not submitted to Calecia.com, but to the local newspaper. These writings are copyright of their respective owners and even though Calecia.com is posting them without their consent, I don't give a damn cause sometimes Calexico residents have good points and everyone should get to read them, not just Imperial Valley Press subscribers.

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elchrist

Calexico residents must take back city

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 2:03 PM PDT

RE: Front page headline on Sept. 12, “Calexico Shops Struggling.”

I love to go downtown shopping. Sad to say it looks terrible. The city must enforce the Wednesday only sidewalk shopping and even then limit the horrible big open boxes of toilet paper rolls, which must be their biggest ticket item because it’s always the main attraction.

We definitely need to enforce our code regulations so we can have a clean downtown. The signage is illegal along with filthy sidewalks and the alleys reek of raw sewage. Especially galling are the torn blue awnings on a retail location located on the 100 block of Heffernan. The city should not spend money to close First Street; instead they should concentrate on Second Street with better lighting. It’s too dark and scary in the evening hours. Years ago shops and restaurants stayed open until 9:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

The city should also revitalize the vacant apartments located in downtown buildings. New residents could provide life into this area. Another recommendation is planting oleanders. A lot of labor is being spent on planting small flowers. We definitely need a Beautification Commission for the city.

I applaud the council for finally raising development impact fees. I was personally not aware that we taxpayers have been paying for the services of all the new houses that have been built in recent years. A local community member told me that these fees should have been increased years ago and the city would have had millions of dollars to benefit our public services. Yes, we do have new houses but we have should have created new job industries. Instead we are filled with low-end 99 cent stores, used car lots and gasoline stations plus very expensive houses. We need more affordable housing.

It is time for local residents to look out for ourselves and not wealthy developers. Calexico citizens wake up, it is time to defend ourselves. Attend this meeting tonight at Calexico City Hall, 608 Heber Avenue at 6:30 p.m. and take care of our city.

MARGARITA P. De NECOCHEA

Calexico

elchrist

Calexico should not subsidize business

Tuesday, September 19, 2006 2:03 PM PDT

First, I want to say I am not against the arts, but the price is too steep for the taxpayers of Calexico to dish out at the moment. The city of Calexico has been subsidizing private enterprise (Calexico Ten Theatres) from the start and wishes to continue to do it. I don’t feel the residents of Calexico should do so.

The theaters have not done anything to promote themselves and now the city is going to help them do it with the Redevelopment Agency. I feel in the beginning, the theaters had good attendance, but the theaters at the mall have more things to offer and it is only six miles away.

We are already getting a water/sewer rate hike that is long overdue and needed for the sewer plant. But I do not feel that any new charges should be given to private enterprise or the arts. We need more police officers, more firemen, and definitely more upgrades to the downtown business community. We have what no other city in Imperial Valley does, the walking customer traffic from Mexicali; and they’re not charge customers, but cash.

I am urging Calexico residents to attend today’s meeting and voice your concerns; get involved. Our freshman councilman is on top of things, but he is only one vote. Do it for your community!

NENE TORRES

Calexico