6th Ward debate

Johnson begins. He says he's a 43 year resident of the city. He mentions his three children. He says four years ago he saw the 6th ward as a ship piloted with no sense of direction.

He says he laid out a vision for the future. He says over the last four years he has laid a foundation thru development of relationships and partnerships.

He says he has strived to be available to the public and held townhall meetings. He says he's endorsed by Josie Gonzales and Pat Morris. He says he's endorsed by Tobin Brinker, Esther Estrada and Dennis Baxter.

He says he's been endorsed by newspaper's that "truly have the pulse of the community."

Anderson comes next. She says she's a 47 year homeowner in the city. She says she served the city very well as a leader. She says she's been on many local boards.

She says she raised three children thru the San Bernardino Unified School District.

I have eight years of leadership and experienc, as a councilwoman, she says.

"I have been a leader all of my life," she says.

As a councilperson she led the 6th ward on a progressive movement that has never been equaled, she said.

She touts her record of development as a councilperson.

"I want you to know that saying there was no leadership, that is not true," she says, rebutting Johnson.

She said that as a councilperson, we had the lowest time rate the 6th ward has "ever had."

Cumming is next. He says he was raised in West Covina and enlisted in the U.S. Coast Guard, where he served for six years.

After the coast guard, he became an L.A. county paramedic, he says.

He says he has 25 years of experience with the Red Cross. He says he's in law school.

First question to Cumming and others: What about water resources in our city, what opportunities?

Cumming says they are valuable assets. He says he's not a fan of "creating lakes and streams throughout our city."

Anderson says she has not seen any resources from water in our city. She says we have Seccombe Lake, and that is a resource that turned out badly. "Where homeless people reside," making it unhabitable for the average person to enjoy.

She says Seccombe Lake should have been more elegant. It didn't produce the beauty and enjoyment, giving us a negative feeling on water features.

"Water is going to be at a premium," in the U.S. and the world, she says. She says Bob Holcolm, ex-mayor took a stand to keep our water.

Johnson says three things with water he wants to see. 1 is Arrowhead Springs, which should be an "international destination spot." 2 is a series of tributaries throughout the city, instead of lakes and streams. He says that would beautify the downtown area. 3 would be fountains throughout the city that "highlights the water that we have."

Question three is what opportunities exist between city and school district?

Anderson commends the question. She says the opportunity is great for collaboration. Particularly on after school programs.

Children have a void between 3 and 6 p.m. she says.

She says collaborative sports programs would be an excellent anti-crime tool.

The city and the schools work together for the crossing guards, she says, evidence that the entitities can work together.

Johnson says the problems on the horizon are the schools that will be expanding in the city and the eminent domain issues that will present themselves. He says eminent domain can be an asset and not a liability.

"We're serving the same population, our children," he says.

Cumming says when he was growing up every school had a parks and recreation program staffed until dusk by city recreation staff.

"We need to bring that type of program back into our school systems," he says.

He says school sites could also be used for incorporating community gardens in cities for learning opportunities and fresh produce and vegetables.

These types of collaborations that would prove beneficial, he says.

Next question is how to get funds with tight budget?

Johnson says we need to adjust how we split up the pot. He says we need to analyze the police department to make sure we are getting the bang for our buck. He says crime needs are at an all-time high, but so are all the other needs. His argument is that the police department has hogged the budget to the detriment of other city services.

Here is Johnson:

Anderson says we need to increase the wattage of the lights in the 6th Ward. She says the voltage is way below those in the rest of the city.

We need to reprioritize our spending, she says.

Cumming says revenues are not sufficient, which is what city hall would say. Yet people say they are already paying too much.

Retirement plans are poised to take plenty of senior personnel. We have to be willing to make investments in ourselves before we'll attract outside investments. We should invest more in our streets, parks etc. Infrastructure must be improved, he says.

***

On next question, how to recover from loss of industry in recent decades, Anderson begins by saying city must be more business friendly.

We need to look at ourselves and find out why businesses have a hard time starting up in our city.

We need to streamline our business department and "put out a red carpet instead of red stop signs" for business, she says.

Johnson says businesses are coming back to San Bernardino. He mentions the airport and the robust growth there. Hospitality Lane is flourishing, he says.

He mentions Lowe's and other businesses coming into the 6th Ward.

Cumming says we're going to need to focus on improving our infrastructure, that it is a key to attracting business.

He says big-boxed warehouses provide very few jobs per square foot. He says development services department needs to be looked at closely. He says processes need to be streamlined for businesspersons.

Closing statements are next.

Johnson is first. He says there is no I in team. Collaboration is key, he says. A few weeks ago he was challenged by a candidate to check records. He says an accomplishments is Arroyo Senior High School, he says Arroyo Valley High School was initiated by the efforts of Hardy Brown. This is a slam at Anderson, who he is accusing of being disengenuous.

He says her boards are mostly not in the 6th Ward.

"My time, talents and treasures go directly to improving life in the 6th Ward."

Do you want a councilperson who is just a neighbor, or do you want a neighborhood councilman, he says.

Anderson is next. She says she didn't know she had to respond to attacks.

I have been a very good councilperson, she says.

How many organizations has he belonged to that have a $5 million budget. She says she is insulted. She says Johnson acts "repulsive" and that she "resents" the charges he made.

Cumming says problems are not insurmountable. He says we're on a stagnated path, a clear swipe at Johnson. He says do you want to return to the past (Anderson)? He says he is the candidate for change.

He says he will help make the changes necessary.

There are snacks provided by Gerald Bear Realty in between the 6th and 7th ward forums.