Candidates of the Pomona Chamber of Commerce Candidate Forum (Mayoral, Districts 1, 4, 6) were provided a list of questions, however during the forum only a few were actually asked due to time. Below are my responses I wrote out before the forum, including my opening and closing statements, which were all supposed to be brief (only about 2 minutes long).
OPENING
Good evening Pomona and thank you Chamber of Commerce for this opportunity.
I am Chará Swodeck, District 4 candidate for Pomona City Council.
I have been an active and engaged resident for nearly 21 years. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to connect with many students, families, business owners, community leaders, and elected officials. In my listening and advocacy, I have developed priorities critical to the betterment of Pomona, all starting with engaging and equipping our community with the resources they need to thrive. By building upon relationships and collaborations over the years, we will also see transformation in areas of Public Safety, Housing Stability, and Business Development.
My Dad used to call me the dot-connector, capable of finding a way where there didn't seem to be a way by connecting a person or resource to another, by introducing folks to an out-of-the-box idea. Even having some “crazy” idea come to life by placing the right people in the right spots at the right time.
It is past time to see these dots connected in our City. We have a wealth of resources available to us. We've finally made useful connections that have people paying attention to Pomona, but we need to amplify those efforts and make them available to our community.
I don't pretend to know everything, but I do know some things and probably know somebody who knows the thing you need to know.
My goal is to be a generous listener and creative problem solver, shifting policy and narrative to affect the entire community for generations to come.
Again I appreciate the opportunity to share with you today and earn your support to represent District 4 on Pomona City Council. www.VoteChara.com or follow my @votechara social accounts for more information
1. If elected, what are your top two priorities that you will work on within
the first 90 days to improve the city and what are your plans to
accomplish them?
There are several areas of concern and many milestones I believe can be accomplished my first 90 days in office, however these two will be a catalyst to making a lasting impact in other areas as well.
Community Access and Engagement is critical! I helped develop Pomona Connect and worked for two years to build trust and communication between the City and our “hard to reach” residents. Soon, the City will announce a new web portal to help provide better access to resources available to our residents and a new Resource Hub on North Garey for walk-in support. This model will be duplicated throughout the City through various partnerships with Community Service Providers. Whether its services, resources, or knowing when the Pomona Concert band is playing. We must invest time and energy in effectively communicating which also includes effectively listening.
Secondly, prioritizing Public Safety. I have built great relationships with many of our officers over the years. I worked with Deputy Chief Hsu years ago when I started the Lincoln Remembers 9/11 program at Lincoln Elementary School inviting our officers and fire department on campus to help shift the relational dynamics between our families and those in uniform. I remember watching Corporal Rios sitting down with students and compassionately supporting them during times of trauma. I’m sure Chief Ellis would agree, policing isn’t just enforcement, community building is imperative in having effective neighborhood watch groups, addressing preventative measures with our young residents instead of always being reactive. Partnering with Just Us 4 Youth, Brother’s Forum, Dr. Payne (our new Violence Prevention and Neighborhood Wellbeing Director), Tri City Mental Health, God’s Pantry, and more to broaden our impact and cohesively rethinking how Public Safety can and should be engaged.
2. Community involvement is important for both the City Council and
Mayor to have residents feel connected with their elected officials. How
have you been involved in the community over the years?
I attended Blair High School Health Careers Academy in Pasadena and became a CNA - Certified Nursing Assistant in 10th grade but when I got to college recognized the impact that could be made in public relations working with the LA Caregiver Resources Center at USC, being able to speak up and providing equitable resources to those daily impacting the life. My goal from that point was to be an engaged listener and problem solver for even just one resident or one student, shifting policy and narrative to effect the entire community and those to come.
My community efforts in Pomona are similar, focusing on forward movement, safety, and successful development of our neighborhoods, businesses, and culture; something we create collectively, working together.
I have worked on numerous projects since 2020, helping connect-the-dots, and have built solid relationships with the Mayor and Council, our Senator's office, County Supervisor’s office, as well as many City and County staff members. Overall, it’s been 20+ years of active community engagement.
“Imagine the Possibilities” has been my mantra and has led me to imagine and manage community events like the Pomona Children’s Festival, Kwanzaa Joy Celebrations at the Fairplex, Pomona PTAs Summer Trainings, creating 500Block at ArtWalk, Shop Downtown Pomona, Girl Scouts Takeovers at the LA County Fair, and support others’ ideas like Pomona Placemaking workshops, Pomona 5K/10K, and serving as Volunteer Coordinator the last 11 Pomona Christmas Parades. I also currently serve as an Executive board member for the Fairplex Child Development Center and Service Unit Manager for all our Pomona Girl Scouts.
Since the start of the pandemic, I have served as Historic Preservation Commission (Chair for a year and a half) working to ensure clearer design guidelines and communication with our community, as well as fought to be more inclusive in the history we protect and share.
I continue to work every week with the Mayor and other community leaders to continue the COVID Recovery Action Committee's vision and mission, stay on track and continue to support our many needs within the community. I am currently the Chair of the Vision & Strategy subcommittee.
I worked with the City to build Pomona Connect as a way to ensure even our "hard to reach" residents and businesses had access to resources and support, especially during the pandemic. We helped connect residents to food relief, mental health, and housing relief (over $2.3M in funding to help tenants pay rent, the only program that supported BOTH tenants and property owners).
I continue working with Anti Human Trafficking organizations, Pomona Police, and the community at Montvue engaging residents along Indian Hill in finding real solutions to this challenging issue.
I helped start the African American Advisory Alliance (Pomona4As), serving as the founding President, and opened the Alliance Cultural Community Center in Downtown Pomona on 2nd street to provide a space for programming and collaborations.
3. Numerous non-profits and other organizations are continuing their
work, hand in hand with the police department, in efforts to remedy
the issue of human trafficking in Pomona. What is your approach to
address the criminal element of human trafficking and all of the
challenges that surround it?
Following the lead of one of our neighbors who lives off Indian Hill, we started our neighborhood Anti-Human Trafficking meeting working to specifically address what we see everyday all day along Holt Blvd. We have learned so much about the changed laws and discrimination charges that hinder swift action by our Police department, however, the "our hands are tied" dialogue does not work and cannot continue.
While many have been complaining because of SB 357, many of us have continued to work to find creative solutions, like “Say Something, See Something” signs on Indian Hill and Holt and posters in storefronts to support store customers as well as victims of Trafficking with easy to use QR codes. We have consistently shown up as a neighborhood pulling together several entities working within the City (including anti-human trafficking organizations, residents, Pomona School District, Pomona PD) that have helped to amplify our efforts in creatively finding a solution.
Myself, along with PD and community partners have continued to meet monthly at Montvue for a year and a half, talking and listening to residents. We are working with our organizations doing the day to day work like Project Resilience, Project Sister Family Services, Revive, EveryONE Free, and more. I have helped residents on streets adjacent to Indian Hill and Holt come up with creative ideas, like parking their cars in spots regularly used for prostitution, and reporting broken street lights to deter Johns from feeling comfortable using our neighborhoods. We must work to get our county and state funded programs to communicate and collaborate better with each other to provide basic needs like housing, protection, transportation to victims.
I was corresponding with a resident just recently reminding them we will not have an overnight solution, but there is something about consistently showing up and connecting with those doing the work in this field of anti-human trafficking to provide preventative measures and calling to account the legislation we need changed to make a difference in our streets.
4. The city is in its first year of a waste disposal contract with Athens
Services. While the contract is an exclusive 10-year franchise
agreement, there have been a growing number of community complaints.
a. What is your opinion of how the contract is currently being
managed and what would you say to the business owners who
feel they are being treated unfairly with potential rising costs
that residential customers are not subject to?
We can't place complete blame on our City Council and Athens for the increase on our bills as there was insufficient funding allocated from the state to support the implementation of SB 1383, which now requires residents and businesses to separate organic waste from other garbage, such as food scraps and yard waste. However, there is much to be said about the management of the roll out over the years since the bill was introduced and lack of strategy and management infrastructure over the years to ensure Pomona was on track to be in compliance.
The Athens contract should have annual and even bi-annual reviews taking into consideration concerns of the community regarding their service as I've had numerous conversations with residents and businesses sharing the lack of follow up and even extra contamination left on the streets and on properties. Their calls continue to go unanswered.
The impact on businesses is the hardest to hear as many have either closed or looking to close because they cannot keep up with the massive increase in cost for services. We have two trash companies in our City and we can’t utilize either one. While I understand the benefits of having one company service residents and City properties, taking away the ability for businesses to contract a service with a provider that meets their specific needs and hiking prices 3 or even 4xs their accustomed rate is unreasonable. We need a review and renegotiation immediately. The one shining light within the contract was the partnership with the Teamsters to ensure our City employees received fair wages and benefits throughout the transition to Athens.
5. To obtain a liquor license in the City of Pomona for markets, stores
and restaurants, the process requires them to obtain a conditional use
permit. In some instances, the City of Pomona can take over 18
months to approve or disapprove an application. That means an
entrepreneur does not know if they are going to get a liquor license
and as a result, might leave to go to another City.
a. What is your stance on this approval process and length in time it takes for a review of the application?
While so many of our City staff are truly great, our process for expediting so many areas of operation needs drastic improvement. I attempted to get a sign permitted last year for our building in Downtown Pomona. If it had not been for someone from Planning walking past an imaginary line to Building and Safety to approve some quick and easy changes or clarify specific in-house department phrases, I may still be standing there today. In fact, several businesses are still waiting more than a year later for approvals.
b. What would be your approach to try to simplify this process in an
effort to encourage business growth within the community?
There are rules and precautions to getting a liquor license, especially in certain areas yet without compromising these regulatory standards, expediting the process should be as easy as creating realistic expectations, clear guidelines, check lists, and online approvals.
Collaborating with local business associations, chambers of commerce, and other entities to help identify barriers and work together to address them effectively is another solution.
No business should need to wait 18 months for an approval especially with no status updates on process.
The City of Pomona can create a more business-friendly environment, attract entrepreneurs, and stimulate economic growth within the community.
6. Long-term owners of industrial properties (i.e., distribution-oriented, or fulfillment-oriented industrial uses) in the City of Pomona and their tenants provide good paying and skilled jobs for residents of Pomona and neighboring communities. Some industrial property owners feel there is unfair treatment towards industrial-oriented development and
redevelopment even though there are potential benefits such as workforce development, LEED- certified facilities, and tax revenue to the city to name a few.
What would be your approach to address this business community that could potentially promote economic growth and environmental sustainability?
I have long supported the efforts of Clean and Green in fighting against historically oppressive 1949 zoning codes written in the age of redlining. This led to a warehouse moratorium of large warehouses and trucking facilities in 2022 while staff worked on new and more relevant regulations for the logistics industry of 2023. In December, the council allowed this moratorium to lapse due to “No” votes by Councilmembers Elizabeth Cole and Robert Torres, bringing the zoning code back to its horrific 1949 status once again. It is imperative we complete the new zoning code, which staff has been feverishly working on and move our City into this millennium in regards to environmentally just and stable forward growth.
Refocusing on collaboration and community-driven business support is crucial for District 4. Despite the influx of new businesses, many have closed or relocated, highlighting the need for sustainable growth. By ensuring responsible City business policies and enhanced accountability measures, we prioritize supporting our existing businesses while actively seeking to attract new ones that align with Pomona's vibrant culture and diversity.
Leveraging Public Business / Property-Based Improvement Districts to revitalize Holt and enhance local employment opportunities through training and accessibility, we streamline processes and help business grow. We must rethink our approach by leveraging collaborations and empowering community experts to bridge gaps and foster connections.
It is crucial to implement environmentally sustainable practices alongside sensible City business policies and increased accountability measures. Pomona's economic development strategy must include a clear focus on sustainability, simplifying processes, encouraging eco-friendly business growth, and ensuring effective project management.
8. Diversity is a strength within a community and can lead to positive outcomes through collaboration of personal backgrounds and experience. Are you willing to stand up and protect the rights of all people, and designate the City of Pomona as a safe and inclusive
space for all?
If so, how would you do that?
Not only am I willing to stand for all our residents, I have been doing this since my initial work in Pomona over 20 years ago. I remember when I was PTA President over 23 schools in Pomona, we would remind all our members and partners, we are here for Every Child with One Voice. We instilled the culture of inclusivity early on and fought for those who fell through the cracks, including socioeconomic, ethnic, gender, and cultural differences.
The DEI conversation has become more common lately, but the part that seems to be missing is the word Belonging. It’s not enough to say we are diverse, say all are included, taut equity, we must dig in to create space for our entire community to feel a sense of belonging. I spend time with families from Abbey/Karesh, Cordova, Kingsley, but also know residents on San Antonio, Jefferson, and Alvarado need to feel welcomed and part of the community. I am all about building community. I will continue to believe that Community Changes Everything. True community is inclusive, not blind to our differences, but embracing of the unique individuals who make up our beautiful community.
CLOSING
Thank you once again to Pomona Chamber of Commerce and all those involved in pulling together this opportunity to share with our community.
This is my community. I've been in the community volunteering in all but one of the items on my community engagement resume but it's about getting into the community, knowing the community, having a relationship with the community being able to speak to the community but also listen and connect this resource, connect this organization, connect this person, or neighbor to facilitate a solution.
“Community Changes Everything” is literally a way of being; a way of building the neighborhood. Advocating for our businesses, advocating for our students, advocating for my next door neighbor who needs help trying to understand their new electric bill, the business on the corner that has to deal with the heartbreaking and sometimes infuriating sights down Holt.
I look forward to sharing your specific concerns with our new City Manager and colleagues that we've gathered at my monthly community chats and other correspondence, putting into action tangible quantitative approaches in areas not yet addressed by this seat including unpaved/overgrown alleyways, uneven hazardous sidewalks, implementing effective traffic measures, and actively addressing safety concerns.
I appreciate you taking time to hear my heart and drive to build a better Pomona. An opportunity once again to prove myself, my competence, and my capacity to continue the work I've already done in the community. I appreciate the opportunity to amplify our efforts as an elected official prioritizing policy important to you.
Thank you for your vote to represent you on Pomona City Council.