Results from Phase III Community Forums:

Bakersfield Senior Center - March 16, 2000

Our Slogan:
· Look at us now!
· Everything is possible!
· The California utopia!
· Mission Possible
· From wagon travel to space travel


Our Image
· Fairness
· Open-minded
· Caring
· Understanding
· No racism
· Scenic
· Smart
· Fresh!
· Silicon Valley South


Our Reputation
· Friendly
· Multi-cultural
· Parents going back to good strong principles and discipline


Business Environment
· More businesses - non-Ag - non-oil
· Encourage 24 degree businesses - factories
· Enviro-friendly/aware
· Showers (after biking)
· Jobs for unemployed not just for friends
· Opportunities
· Jobs with training in more than one field


Arts & Culture
· Diverse
· Active
· Intellectually stimulating
· Events for children
· Summer music festivals


Heart of the City
· More compassion for the less fortunate
· More resources directed into less developed areas of the city
· God first
· Our children values and self respect
· Higher paying jobs
· No more crimes
· Vocal & outspoken against KKK and other groupparticipation with race and hatred
· Color blind society
· Care for the elderly and mental disabled people


Technology
· Computer in every home!
· Video games with less violence
· A lot of garbage off the internet


Transportation
· 24 hour bus service
· More frequent routes
· Better connections to outlying areas
· Bullet train to LA, Fresno, Sac. S.F.
· No one walks from place to place unless they want the exercise
· Better access to transport sick,elderly, handicap


Biggest Changes
· Air we can breathe
· Not dependent on OPEC - lower gas prices
· Better resources for seniors
· Everyone is employed with a job they like and a job that supports their family


Break Thrus
· Color barrier broken
· Became the generation of reconciliation and peace
· Stronger numbers in hiring city and county employees
· Bigger health department
· Everyone is looked upon as being someone special
· Females being women; Males being men


Looking back I'm most proud of…
· Southeast Bakersfield developments
· All the volunteers throughout the city
· Getting involved


What's Our Vision for our Economy over the next 10-20 years?
· Prime jobs include: data/computer tech; Teachers; day-care providers
· Jobs with flexible hours (7-3) to allow parents to be home with kids after school
· Hourly wage: $8/hour
· Affordable senior housing (i.e.Senior Village Center)
· Reduction in apts./increase in single family dwellings
· Total redevelopment of retail/strip malls
· More multi-generational recreation centers = merging ages together
· A diversified economy less dependent on Ag and Oil
· Elimination of blighted areas, especially the Southeast
· More opportunities (educ. & jobs) for citizens in the urban areas
· No discrimination


What kind of Economic Development Initiatives do we want to create?
· Alternative energy development (i.e. solar, electric)
· Strong incentives for 1st time businesses & push for home-based businesses
· Mass transit system (i.e. Oakland BART system - also connect outlying areas such as Delano, Shafter, Mojave, etc.)
· More full-service grocery stores including dry cleaners, banks, etc.
· Environmentally friendly industries
· More business opportunities and more jobes in So.East


What kind of Jobs do we want to attract here over the next 10-20 years?
· Hub for space center (i.e. Edwards Air Force base, China Lake, etc.) = employment opportunities
· Higher paying jobs
· Business development for the people in SouthEast
· Industry


Our Vision for Downtown
· Trolley cars
· Locally owned shops: clothing, books, antiques, cafes, etc.
· Little Grocery stores downtown
· Big park in the center
· Carnival
· Reroute the canal and have Gondola rides
· Recreation Center in 34th street area
· Recreation Center near Brundage Ln
· Baseball Stadium
· Lakeview Area: One stop shops for jobs; social service; multi-agency sites
· Lakeveiw Area: Market Place II
· Major grocery store - Ralphs
· Redevelopment for friendship there! Child care center
· Bike lanes
· A healthy community
· Quality low-income luxury senior housing (between Truxtun & California/Oak & Chester)
· Supermarket between Truxtun and California
· Supermarket on E. California
· Between California & Brundage/ Union & Chester: commercial development; one-stop center; shopping center; keep from looking unkept; recreation inside gym
· Lakeview area: Developed city plan for economic growth; Business Association; To be seen as a part of the over-all city and not a special project
· Lakeview Area: New development; good image; Street lights; Events; housing improvements


In our Community's Future: What we wanted and we got:
· Unification of diverse cultures/working together
· Commercial development/grocery stores/outlets
· A political structure that is inclusive of all of the citizens
· All geographic areas of the community to feel that they are receiving their fair share of government services
· Homeownership
· Increased property values
· Consideration of the needs of low income senior citizens
· More medical help for school districts
· Money
· Better government leadership
· Respect for one and other
· Lead-safe community
· Uniform development standards between city and county
· Show growth
· Curbside recycling
· No styrofoam
· Charter school
· City county cooperation for the best interest of Greater Bakersfield
· Activities/programs for youth (mentor programs, job training, volunteerism)
· Community Centers
· Tool lending library for economically distressed areas to help with repairs/facelift to community - Berkely has one.


In our Community's Future: What we didn't want and didn't get:
· Crime, homeless people
· Teens with not jobs or direction
· Undeveloped Southeast community
· Uneducated mothers, hopeless fathers, uncaring children, broken homes, families without
· Redlining in the urban areas
· Not to become a rental community
· Child abuse
· No more deadend freeways
· No more movie theaters
· Poor city/county relations


Common Themes
· Better than minimum wage jobs
· Diversity where we are all on level playing ground
· Grocery store in Southeast
· SE overdue for economic development
· More job training - more competitive skills
· City of compassion
· Solid trade school
· Recreation activities to curb crime - multi-rec centers in neighborhoods
· Affordable education
· Transportation to improve air and to get around
· Reduction in crime/gang activities
· Encourage family values
· More city/county cooperation


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