Thursday, Dec. 14, 2006 | Sometimes things just happen, you know, those “once in a lifetime opportunities.” My wife, Myssie, and I both grew up in Chula Vista and we love raising our four children here. I believe this opportunity is beneficial to Chula Vista (the Chargers agree) and is definitely worth pursuing. The response has been overwhelmingly positive and I hope we can keep building on that momentum.
Chula Vista is perfectly positioned to help San Diego keep the Chargers right here in the county. The Chargers are important to so many individuals, not just one city. Chula Vista has the land and the necessary infrastructure readily available and this has allowed us to immediately begin a positive dialogue for the past year in our community and Chargers officials.
Chula Vista is a diverse city with a population of approximately 225,000 residents. Located just south of downtown San Diego, Chula Vista has a bustling urban area of over 33,024 acres. We have award-winning master planned communities, a charming downtown, entertainment venues, beautiful views, preserved open space and all this has contributed to Chula Vista becoming one of the most livable communities in the nation.
We are building new parks, police stations and fire stations to keep Chula Vista safe and maintain the quality of life for future generations. In addition, the city recently approved a master plan to develop the our 500+ acre bay front, complete with conference facilities, hotels, preserved open space and a signature park. The City Council also passed a General Plan last year and has been working diligently with community and business leaders to revitalize our downtown and the western portion of Chula Vista.
Chula Vista has quickly become a city of opportunity for many, and capitalizing on those opportunities is contributing to a better quality of life for our residents and the region. We have made their priorities our priorities, such as, developing a comprehensive master plan to properly utilize our water front, attracting new business to create jobs and economic opportunities; and building neighborhood schools and a four-year university so our children receive a quality education. Safe neighborhoods, good jobs, new schools, and higher educational opportunities will continue to be the foundation on which we build.
With the Olympic Training Center and willing private investors, it makes sense to look at Chula Vista. Chula Vista provides so much to the region and a stadium located near an Olympic Training Center would put San Diego County in the position to host and facilitate major sporting events for decades to come, like the Super Bowls, World Cup Soccer Championship, and possibly one day, the Summer Olympic Games.
It is my sincere hope that everyone in the region embraces this rare opportunity, engages in the public process and continues to support our efforts.
You’ve heard mine, now I’d love to hear your thoughts!