Phase III  

Visioning Meeting

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 group participation 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 jobs in S.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 Lane

�        Baseball Stadium

�        Lakeview Area:  One stop shops for jobs; social service; multi-agency sites

�        Lakeview 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