Local Jobs First Campaign Releases New Bayfront Poll
Local Jobs First Campaign Releases New Bayfront Poll
Poll Shows Chula Vista Voters Want Environmentally-Friendly Development and Jobs Given to Local Workers
Chula Vista, Calif. — The Local Jobs First Campaign released a poll of what Chula Vista’s voters want from their bayfront development at a press conference this morning. The poll, conducted by David Binder Research, documents that Chula Vista’s voters want a bayfront development that is built by local workers in an environmentally-conscious way.
Tom Lemmon, business manager of the San Diego County Building and Construction Trades Council was joined by Humberto Peraza of Congressman Bob Filner’s office, Al Shur and Jen Badgley of IBEW Local 569, Lorena Gonzalez of the Labor Council, Lois Balfour of SEIU 221 and other community and labor members of Local Jobs First in releasing the poll.
Labor, environmental and community groups have clashed with Gaylord Entertainment Co., a Nashville-based developer, over the company’s plans to build a convention and resort complex on the Chula Vista bayfront. The Binder poll shows that Chula Vista voters are strongly inclined to support the demands of the Local Jobs First coalition.
The poll noted that while the majority of Chula Vista’s voters want to see the bayfront developed, they have specific ideas about what that bayfront development should include:
- 88% of voters say that it is very important that any development that occurs along the waterfront be conducted in an environmentally-friendly way.
- 83% of voters find it very important that development along the waterfront be done by local workers.
- 74% of voters prefer that local workers are offered training opportunities and new jobs first.
- When respondents were asked to rank how city funding should be prioritized, providing subsidies to out-of-state developers ranked dead last. Chula Vista residents want to see public money go to essential city services — like fire and police protection.
“The findings of today’s poll are similar to the findings that the Citizen’s Advisory Committee, released nearly six years ago when bayfront development talks began,” said Tom Lemmon. “The people of Chula Vista have not changed what they want out of their bayfront. Our hope is that six years later, the City and the Port will finally get the message.”
Jenifer Badgley, of IBEW Local 569 said, “We, along with our community and organized labor allies, are committed to bringing the right development to the bayfront — one that is built in an environmentally-friendly way. We are pleased, but not surprised, that the voters of Chula Vista support the same goal. We were here before Gaylord came to town, we will be here long after they leave. We owe it to our community to make sure that the bayfront is done right.”
About The Local Jobs First Campaign:
Local Jobs First is a campaign dedicated to making sure all work in the San Diego area is done in an environmentally-compatible way with a legally-binding agreement to hire local workers first. The Local Jobs First coalition is made up of labor, environmental, religious and community groups that are committed to bringing the right developments to their area.
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