Through the eyes of the Valley: City councilman acts on his platform By VICTOR MORALES, Staff Writer
Thursday, February 14, 2008 11:12 PM PST
TODD KRAININ PHOTO
Calexico City Councilman Louis Fuentes discusses his vision for the city.
CALEXICO — Councilman Louis Fuentes threw himself in the limelight last month by asserting Calexico’s economic woes in a spur-of-the-moment press conference while the mayor was of town. While applauded by some, the press conference drew some criticism from Mayor John Renison, who requested the council procedures be reviewed in light of the event.
The junior councilman showed some muscle by resisting the three-term mayor’s motion and accusing him of censorship.
Already a vocal member of the council, Fuentes appears to be in midst of a shift from a sideline councilmember to marquee member, especially in fiscal matters.
Fuentes talked to the Imperial Valley Press about his gripes with the city and his vision.
Question: One of the issues you say you are committed to on your new Web site is addressing the transparency of city hall. Why does this top your list? Do you feel that city hall has not been forthcoming or evasive in the past?
A: My goal is to create a system and a process so people are aware of what happens. People are working to pay their bills. They don’t have time. (In addition) High unemployment in this area just limits their ability to participate in the political process….They don’t have time to be part of the politics that really have the impact in the city in which they live….
So my proposal on the table is to have means (broadcasting public meetings) for the citizens to have a way to see how their elected officials act, vote, contribute and what proposals they bring to the table. It’s important for the public to see how the member they voted for is working for and following through on what their campaign platform was.
So my goal is at least to provide a way so that perception of backroom dealings can be diminished. We can’t hide from the camera. People can see it.
Q: How close are you to achieving it?
A: Our tech department has already looked into what we need. There is a local channel that we can access similar to what IID does. When Tom Nixon was here I talked to the cable company to determine what was required. So our tech person as already contacted a couple of local companies that can record….We have put it up to bid for the costs, so I’d say we are pretty close.
Q: You have certainly demonstrated your economic credentials. You have captured the attention of Gov. Schwarzenegger’s administration. You have served on multiple economic advisory boards in Imperial County, California and Baja California and you hold an economics degree from a prestigious university. But how will all that experience and knowledge convert to fiscal improvement in little ole Calexico?
A: You know I was fortunate enough that my parents worked their whole lives and able to give me and sisters an education. Part of the reason I wanted to come back to Calexico (because) there were other job and career opportunities, but I wanted to live in Calexico. I was born and raised in Calexico and I wanted to contribute….
So your question, it opened my eyes to what we were lacking. That was another reason why I wanted to run, because I just couldn’t live in the city and known that we could be so much more if we just certain systems in place….
I don’t have a solution, cure for the city’s economic situation but I do have the experience and I do know what’s needed to get us to a certain point that we can say we’ve seen growth, drop in unemployment, more activity, future potential because we have zoned areas properly, because we worked with manufacturing industry that is in Mexicali that says ‘I wish we had something in Calexico but there is not so I’m going further north’.
So we need to identify all these pieces and put a process together. For example, there is no protocol when a company calls the city to follow through the process…there is no follow up mechanism. There needs to be a clear definition of roles. There is no person in charge of marketing, business attraction and development. Nothing frustrates a site-selection consultant or a company looking to open a business more than not having somebody who knows what their request is or how their request is being handled….
Time for them is money.
That’s why we decided to restructure that whole department. We need to have a clear defined task for that department as its head because we can’t rely on council.
You have people that want to set up business, contacting somebody local and tried to get their project through that route. That gives the perception that things are handled in backroom deals. That’s what I want eliminate so there is a clear process, someone that walks them through legal parameters and not rely on the social-political network. It has to be done over the table.
Q: There has been much talk about the relationship your company, Becerril Air Solutions, has with builders doing business in Calexico. Becerril employees are seen at construction sites all over town. Can you clarify this?
A: Sure. I was already doing business in the Valley before I ran for council. Our company has been around for 56 years. It’s a family company.
I have requested staff to publicly state whether I have competed for city projects.
There are a few expansions the city has undergone and I have never bid on them even before I was in the council.
I am all over the Valley. Business is a priority that’s how I feed my family.
But I have never engaged in anything.
I think I have the sense to not do things that will come back and bite you.
I have seen some blogs, where I have requested to join and participate to have people ask me directly. There are information requests that I am sure the Press is more than willing to look into and I invite you to look into.
But the contracts I have I had even before I ran for council… So, I hope people don’t get that perception because it’s not true.
Q: Are these contracts you have with the builders? And you had them before you were on the council. So basically you are a sub- contractor for the general contractor?
A: Right. And there has not been a project before us that I have had to vote on. We only have three. The projects were approved, gone through planning the process before I even ran for council.
" I too am a Calexico Daughter but i was one who grew up and left only to visit on Holidays. But I am extremely happy to see that the city in which my family still resides is able to count on a young man who loves that city as much as my parents and family do. Calexico YOU are lucky. Now everyone is complaing that the city needs jobs and they need funds to come in to the valley, He could have choosen to set up business else where and make more money. But he chose the city that gave him the building blocks to be the man he is today. You are lucky and in 4 years lets hope your still lucky to have him. "
soulman wrote on Feb 15, 2008 10:54 PM:
" Calexico should feel lucky? Did we break a mirror or walk under a ladder? Good thing this "luck" only lasts 4 years. "
ricocafe99 wrote on Feb 15, 2008 10:20 PM:
" Calexico is darn lucky to have a well educated son of the city who is willing to help manage the city. He could leave the valley and find work and a good live elsewhere as so many of the smart children do but he prefers to live in his hometown and try to make it a better place. Calexico has sent many of their sons and daughters to Harvard, Yale and Stanford but how many have come back to share their ediucation with the city who raised them? Very few.... very few of them have done anything for their hometown except to leave and never come back except maybe on holidays. Calexico you have a good man on your council who loves Calexico, don't drive him away. "
localmotion13 wrote on Feb 15, 2008 8:06 PM:
" isn't there a conflict of interest when voting on building contracts??$$$$ "
localmotion13 wrote on Feb 15, 2008 7:47 PM:
" isn't there a conflict of interest when it comes to voting on a contract that will eventually be in his interest?? $$$$ "
soulman wrote on Feb 15, 2008 3:40 PM:
" "So my goal is at least to provide a way so that perception of backroom dealings can be diminished. We can’t hide from the camera. People can see it"
So you want openness and transparency but you hide behind a loophole? You're a subcontractor? Nice way to set the example. "
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Calexico Daughter wrote on Feb 19, 2008 6:36 PM: