Should Bonita-Sunnyside be Annexed? What Would Be the Pros and Cons?

I recently wrote the candidates running for the offices of Chula Vista Mayor, Councilmember District 1 and Councilmember District 2. I asked them a few questions for the benefit of our Sunnyside Common Sense readers, to assist them in picking candidates that are inline with their own beliefs.

Here is the FINAL question asked and answered by the participating candidates discussing the annexation of Bonita-Sunnyside. Their names appear in the order that I received their responses.

Question 8: Would you support the City of Chula Vista annexing the remaining parts of Bonita-Sunnyside? What advantages/ disadvantages do you see from that action?

MAYORAL CANDIDATES

Yair Gersten

I would not support annexing the remaining parts of Bonita-Sunnyside unless the residents of Bonita-Sunnyside clearly want it and the service, tax, land-use, and public-safety impacts are fully disclosed first. The possible advantages are more local municipal services, stronger coordination on roads and parks, and a clearer voice in Chula Vista decisions that already affect the community. The disadvantages are serious: residents may fear losing Bonita-Sunnyside’s semi-rural character, community planning identity, county service arrangements, and control over future development. Annexation should never feel like a land grab or a backdoor way to increase density. My position is neighbor-first: improve coordination, protect quality of life, and respect self-determination before any boundary change is considered.

John McCann

No response

Francisco Tamayo

No response

DISTRICT ONE CANDIDATES

Chuck Sanfilippo

I feel the Constituents should have the say in a vote, but I would support it. Clearly City manages better, than the County does. 

Joy Emmanuel

I will support placing this issue on the ballot for the voters of Chula Vista to decide. I will support and aid the City of Chula Vista in requesting that on the same ballot the County also places this same issue so that every impacted resident for the proposed annexation has the opportunity to vote.

Carolina Chavez

Any conversation about annexation should come from the community and be driven by the residents who would be most directly impacted. I’m proud to serve this community, and I believe decisions like these should be led and shaped by the people who call Bonita-Sunnyside home. 

Greg Martinez

No response

Sergio C. Vargas

No response

DISTRICT TWO CANDIDATES

Russ Hall

Whatever happens on this issue should be done by a vote of the people. The question for the folks in this area is simply this: Who are they better served by…the county or the city of CV? My position is simply this: any annexation has to make common sense and be supported by the taxpayers.

Jose Preciado

No response

Angelica S. Martinez

No response

Jesse Navarro

No response

Look for a second question regarding traffic in the Q&A in today's Common Sense:

The County of San Diego has reported 19,000 vehicles using Bonita-Sunnyside

roads daily. Most of this traffic is traveling between Chula Vista and Eastlake (both

directions) and avoiding tolls on SR-125. All of this traffic travels on San Miguel Road, a

narrow residential road. What are your thoughts on reducing this traffic? Would you be

in favor of removing the Proctor Valley Road connector section? Please also elaborate

on other ideas you may have to relieve Bonita-Sunnyside of excess Chula Vista traffic.

Today is the final day for the Question and Answer period with the Chula Vista Candidates. Five of twelve candidates participated. It causes one to wonder how responsive candidates will be in office to answering questions if they avoid the exercise when they are trying to be elected.

Kudos to Yair Gersten, Chuck Sanfilippo, Joy Emmanual, Carolina Chavez and Russ Hall for participating. We have enjoyed their honest and informative responses.

Remember to vote on Tuesday, June 2nd or before!

Bonita-Sunnyside Branch Library - Community Room

4375 Bonita Road, Bonita

May 23 to June 2

May 23 - June 1, 8 A.M. to 5 P.M. | Election Day, June 2, 7 A.M. to 8 P.M.

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