Protecting the Rural Character of Bonita & Sunnyside
One of the things that makes the Bonita and Sunnyside communities special is that they don’t look or feel like everywhere else in San Diego County.
For generations, residents have valued the area’s open spaces, trails, larger properties, horses and other animals, and the opportunity to enjoy a more rural lifestyle while still being close to everything our region has to offer. That character is worth protecting.
I also have a personal connection to Bonita. As a parent raising my family in the South Bay, I frequently took my kids to Rohr Park for soccer practices, birthday parties and other family activities. We also enjoyed watching the miniature trains run through the park. Those are the kinds of simple family experiences that become lasting memories and make a community feel like home.
That’s part of what I want to preserve.
As a candidate for Chula Vista City Council District 1, I support protecting the rural and equestrian character of Bonita and Sunnyside and ensuring that future decisions respect the qualities that have made this area special for generations.
A Lifestyle Worth Preserving
People who choose to live in Bonita and Sunnyside often do so for a reason. They want some breathing room. They may want to keep horses, chickens or other animals. They value equestrian trails, open space and the ability to enjoy their property without seeing every available piece of land transformed into dense urban development.
That lifestyle is becoming increasingly difficult to find in Southern California.
We should recognize what we have here and be careful not to lose it.
I believe good planning means recognizing that different communities can have different identities. What works in a more urban neighborhood is not necessarily appropriate for an established rural or semi-rural community.
Protecting Equestrian Traditions
Horses and equestrian activities are an important part of Bonita’s history and identity.
Our equestrian trails and facilities aren’t simply recreational amenities. Together, they form a network that allows people to ride, exercise their horses and travel through the community in a way that few places in our region still offer.
As development and infrastructure decisions are made, we should consider their effect on that network. Once a trail connection or open area disappears, getting it back can be extremely difficult.
I want future generations to be able to ride horses through Bonita and enjoy the same traditions residents enjoy today.
Respecting People Who Keep Animals
Keeping animals is also part of rural living.
Residents who responsibly maintain horses, livestock, poultry and other animals should not be treated as though their lifestyle is an inconvenience simply because surrounding areas have become increasingly urbanized.
Reasonable health, safety and animal-welfare standards are important. But within those standards, our policies should respect property owners who have chosen this lifestyle and responsibly care for their animals.
Growth Without Erasing Our Neighborhoods
Chula Vista will continue to grow, and we need additional housing and economic opportunities. But growth does not require every neighborhood to become the same.
I support making it easier to build housing where appropriate while also respecting the established character of our neighborhoods.
Bonita and Sunnyside should not lose what makes them unique simply because density is increasing elsewhere.
Preserving rural character also fits into a larger principle behind my campaign: local government should listen to the people who actually live in a community before making decisions that fundamentally change it.
Residents deserve a meaningful voice when development, zoning, trails, traffic or infrastructure proposals could affect their neighborhood and their way of life.
A Commitment to Bonita and Sunnyside
My campaign is built around four priorities: Public Safety, Opportunity, Affordability, and Infrastructure & Financial Responsibility. Protecting established neighborhoods cuts across all four.
Good infrastructure planning should preserve trails and community assets. Responsible development should respect existing neighborhoods. Financial responsibility means maintaining what residents already value rather than constantly trying to remake communities.
Most importantly, elected officials should understand that sometimes progress means protecting something that is already working.
Bonita and Sunnyside offer something increasingly rare: a place where families can enjoy parks and open spaces, where people can keep horses and other animals, where equestrian traditions remain part of everyday life, and where children can grow up experiencing a little bit of the rural lifestyle that once characterized much more of our region.
I’ve experienced some of that with my own children—from soccer practices and birthday parties at Rohr Park to stopping and watching the miniature trains together. I want today’s families, and the generations that follow them, to have those same opportunities.
Some things don’t need to be reinvented. They need to be protected.
As your representative on the Chula Vista City Council, I will listen to Bonita and Sunnyside residents and work to preserve the rural and equestrian character that makes this community such a special place to call home.
Join Our Campaign
Our campaign is powered by neighbors who want a stronger voice in the future of their community. If you believe in preserving the character of our neighborhoods and would like to get involved, we welcome volunteers and contributions to help us reach voters throughout District 1.
You can volunteer to walk neighborhoods, distribute campaign materials, put up a yard sign, or help us in other ways. And if you don’t have time to volunteer, please consider making a contribution. Every donation helps us communicate our message to more voters.
Greg Martinez Candidate for Chula Vista City Council, District 1
Website: GregForChulaVista.com
Phone: 619-777-6548
Volunteer. Donate. Get involved. Help us protect what makes our communities special.
Written by Greg Martinez, Candidate for Chula Vista City Council, District 1
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