When I think about what makes Bakersfield home, I think about Ward 3. From the Bluffs to our historic neighborhoods, there is so much to appreciate. It\u2019s why my family and I chose to live and raise our children here. I believe Bakersfield\u2019s best days are still ahead, and I want east Bakersfield to share in that future.<\/p>\n
For years, residents watched some of East Hills Mall\u2019s largest retailers leave before the mall eventually closed. After years of watching that property sit empty, City Lights gives residents something to be excited about. But the investment shouldn\u2019t stop with one development; we also need to support the businesses that are already here. Longstanding local shops deserve attention alongside the new stores coming in. Their owners should have a chance to talk about what would help them stay open, make improvements and grow.<\/p>\n
Business roundtables are one way to have those conversations. They can bring owners together to discuss the concerns they share and work toward solutions. The important part is what happens afterward. If someone takes time away from running a business to participate, the conversation should lead somewhere. Making permits easier to navigate would also help. An owner trying to improve a storefront should understand what\u2019s required and what to expect. We can make that process more straightforward while keeping the standards that protect the public.<\/p>\n
Public safety needs to remain a priority, as well. My work as a local and federal prosecutor has reinforced how much protecting people matters. Families should feel safe at home and out in their neighborhoods. Business owners should be able to focus on serving their customers without worrying about their safety. That means supporting public safety and making sure our first responders have the resources they need to do their jobs. It also means keeping up with roads and the everyday services our neighborhoods rely on. As Bakersfield grows, those responsibilities grow with it. People need to know their neighborhoods will continue to receive that attention.<\/p>\n
East Bakersfield families also deserve more grocery stores and retail choices close to home. Access to fresh food and prominent retailers shouldn\u2019t depend on which side of town you live on. More options here would make everyday shopping easier and give families more reasons to spend their money locally.<\/p>\n
Welcoming new businesses and helping existing ones grow can create jobs and strengthen the economy across Bakersfield. An investment in east Bakersfield is an investment in the city as a whole. As our city continues to grow west, it is important to keep advocating for the neighborhoods that are already here. Families in east Bakersfield deserve the same attention to their everyday needs and the same opportunities to see their community grow.<\/p>\n
City Lights is something to be excited about. Now we need to carry that attention beyond one property and into the surrounding neighborhoods. More places to shop, opportunities to work, and safe neighborhoods to raise a family are the improvements people should be able to see in their daily lives.<\/p>\n
Pedro Naveiras is a father, husband, attorney, and candidate for Bakersfield City Council Ward 3.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"When I think about what makes Bakersfield home, I think about Ward 3. From the Bluffs to our…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":469232,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[35],"tags":[151,153,152],"class_list":["post-469231","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bakersfield","tag-bakersfield","tag-bakersfield-headlines","tag-bakersfield-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/469231","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=469231"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/469231\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/469232"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=469231"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=469231"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=469231"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}