Economic development

A restaurant developer who said the city lacks incentives other cities offer, and urged using federal funds for downtown restaurant and retail lending.

Supported continuing Love Your Block and urged reviving the Paintbrush Program and using CDBG Section 108 loans for small business.

A restaurant developer said the city lacks incentives and proposed leveraging Section 108 to borrow up to $13 million for a downtown-focused development fund.

Called for Route 66 heritage banners on Mount Vernon and urged the city manager to recruit a Route 66-themed diner to revitalize the corridor.

Urged the city to celebrate its Route 66 heritage with banners on Mount Vernon and to recruit a Route 66-themed diner to rebuild the corridor's economy.

A longtime resident shared local history, welcomed the new economic development director, and said he'd keep pressing his vision for rebuilding the city.

A second-ward candidate tying corridor investment (Highland, Baseline, Waterman) to public safety, supporting local businesses and a forensic audit to build investor trust.

Seventh-ward resident who wants the city to treat housing as economic development, reactivate the Housing Authority, leverage AB 2011 and opportunity zones, and create a friendlier path for local developers.

A Ward 2 council candidate said safe communities are built through opportunity and pride, championed the Baseline corridors, and backed the forensic audit as proof the city can be trusted with investment.

A Ward 7 resident urged the city to think bigger on housing — activate the housing authority, use state tools like AB 2011, and lower barriers for local developers building lot-by-lot rather than relying only on outside capital.

Known on Facebook as "San Paulas," she said she once gave the city a development plan to rival Victoria Gardens and Ontario Mills, but accused the Council of listening without truly engaging residents — and warned she's losing sleep over the city's stalled progress.

A frequent speaker presented a mosaic and a 50-year vision for downtown — jobs, affordable housing, plazas and the mall — urging implementation without government money.

Said the budget spends ~65% on public safety but under-funds actual housing production and economic development; urged corridor-focused investment, pre-development dollars, and faster permitting.

Mayoral candidate outlined a redevelopment-zone plan, SBX bus changes, and homelessness proposals.

Presented a proposed downtown mall plan intended to generate jobs and long-term retail revenue.

Presented his design concept for the former mall site as a destination development he estimates could bring $1 billion in revenue over 30 years.