“The way we see things is affected by what we know or what we believe.”
– John Berger
During our time together, we discussed the challenges of leading cities and the types of issues leaders face in a world of tighter budgets and fewer resources. As a career law enforcement officer, including a stint as the leader of what was then called the California Youth Authority, Walt believes making the city a safe place for residents to live, work, play, and raise a family, is the foundation for a strong healthy city. While John had to make balancing the city’s budget during a struggling economy his top priority when he led the city of Grover Beach.
The time I spent with them in Sacramento while working on last week’s VOICE featuring Riverside Mayor Rusty Bailey and this issue covering Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren, allowed me some time to think about the type of vision needed to lead cities. In only his second year as Riverside’s leader, Mayor Bailey presented a clear vision of a cosmopolitan and innovative metropolis in his 2014 State of the City address. The city’s Long Night of Arts & Innovation, modeled after a similar celebration in Riverside’s sister city’s Erlangen, Germany, is a testament to that vision. As is his plan to expand the local transportation system to physically connect the various educational institutions to the downtown area.
Like Mayor Bailey, Mayor Warren is truly Fontana’s #1 cheerleader and visionary leader. She sees a city that offers an environment for healthy residents, one that nurtures physical, mental, and economic vibrancy. Anyone who knows Mayor Warren knows she is unwavering in her enthusiasm for the city she leads, and her State of the City speech outlined why Fontana residents should be proud as well. In this issue, we feature highlights from her remarks.
Earlier this week, the City of San Bernardino went to the polls and elected a new leader. As a sign of their desire for positive change, residents elected Carey Davis over longtime recalled Councilmember Wendy McCammack as their new mayor. Reformers and residents who believe the San Bernardino’s next leader must be fiscally responsible if the city is to progress post-bankruptcy, favored Davis, a CPA by profession. That is his vision for the city as well.
While we find the sensational news of misbehaving elected officials tantalizing (around these parts we only have to look as far as Moreno Valley and San Bernardino for examples), we really have more good honest leaders than bad ones, and Mayor Warren and Mayor Bailey are just two excellent examples. As John Berger notes in his book Ways of Seeing, “the way we see things is affected by what we know or what we believe.” It’s clear these two leaders believe and know that Inland Southern California’s cities are thriving and poised for future growth. paulette@bpcmediaworks.com