The speech of Mrs. Gonzales transcribed by Carrie Sue Lane, C.S.R. No. 8882. on April 25, 2005.
Supervisor Gonzalez: Good evening, Mayor, Council members and Water Board members and the audience.
I have the pleasure of being here this evening to very clearly state my support for the project. I will
preempt what I am going to say by telling you that I understand how difficult change is, how scary change is. However,
change is essential. If we are to survive, if we are going on, if we are to become productive and continue the responsibilities
that we have to provide for the future, all of that painfully comes accomapnied by change. Good planning takes foresight.
Foresight must be governed by insight and vision. The water was here first. We weren't
here first. The water was. We have tried to keep it out unsuccessfully. The water continously undermines our buildings
and destroys our property. The same vision that it took to begin the planning of this very building back many years ago was
a vision that was opposed by many in saying that it was too exorbitant a plan. Yet we are here this evening filled to capacity
with people standing out in the lobby. And I will tell you that we are grateful today for the vision and the support that
it took years ago to build this building.
So, too must we now prepare for what is to come. The Lakes project has vision. I support it as we prepare
for the future. This project brings exciting new business opportunities and will make the City of San Bernardino an
important and major point of destination. Fair compensation is something that is a state mandate. Yes. There will be
relocations. But all of the relocations will be followed by strict adherence to State mandate. Fair and equitable compensation
is something that I am very much in support of. And I will diligently monitoring, along with the Mayor -- we have a very good
relationship. And I will make sure of that, if there, are any glitches along the way, that I will be instumental in helping
things along.
I wll say God bless all of you and guide you and make this very difficult decision, one that you
will be able to stand up and be very proud of whichever way you decide to go in.
Ms.Clark: Supervisor Gonzales, your time is up.
Supervisor Gonzalez: Thank you very much. And remember the responsibility we have for the
future. It is not about us now. It is about the future.
Rebuttal to Gonzales: ( ----) quoted by Ms. Gonzalez. please note her speech written above for reference.
"Forced Changed by Government is slavery; a form of Corporate Welfare."Deanna
"The problem is not change but the Government's will imposed to perform an unnatural act that
goes against the natural social contract of Man". Deanna
-
The Supervisor's argument pertaining to "water" (we weren't here first, the water
was) is flawed because entire countries derived from "water". A classic example is "Nederland", a country below
water. (Nederland is a country in Europe adjacent to Belgium and Germany) Seventeen million people depend on dykes
to protect the country from going under water. If Ms. Gonzales arguments are true than seventeen million people
would have to vacate the land or drown in order to return to the original state, "the Ocean".
The word "Nederland" in Dutch is "land under water" and to return to the original source is removing the dykes
and the Atlantic Ocean would take the Land.
-
On a local level we must not forget New Orleans, a City under water when hurricane
Katrina moved aside the failed levee.
- There is no evidence the water project ( a major point of destination) should transform
San Bernardino into a destination. On the contrary, major downtown projects of San Bernardino failed.
- There is no evidence the project will attract new business. The project was not properly
examined (good planning) because the project was a done deal at the very beginning. Reviewing the loss
of shared property tax, sales tax, and bond indebtedness of new infrastructure, relocation cost, and the psychologically
impact of the citizens was dismissed as something "unavoidable". Any project is based on hope,
a hope that people will flock and enjoy a type of Riverwalk like San Antonio is unsound and a step in the
wrong direction.
- The 47 businessess and 6 churches are very very successfull. Every one in the project area is busy
and there is no need to disturb an area that has proven Good. (exciting new businesses)
- Ms.Gonzales must enhance her consciousness and realize people are our most precious
resource. People before profit;however, the Supervisor finds profit more appropriate opposed to loyal and hard working
citizens. Personally, I am appalled a person in power has the need for greed to replace
our people with new people for a project that is based purely on "Risk". Surely, this
is a mark of a consciousness trapped in a state of primitive thinking. She must focus her energy in
serving people and protect the integrity of her office.
- (It is not about us now, it is about the future) Well, there is no evidence of a future. San Bernardino Municipal
Valley Water District owns all the land, infrastructure, and in the future the City has to purchase the acres for development.
The areas surround the project are blighted and an increase of violence in San Bernardino creates an atmosphere
unpleasant for upscale people.
