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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