Celebration and caution

If there’s a buzz that needs killing, I’m your man.

Are your employees having too much fun on the job and costing you precious productivity? Call Davalos. I’ll remind them that even though the economy appears to be rebounding ever so slightly, executives have learned that fewer employees can get the job done for half the cost, meaning no one is safe in this age of streamlined operations and desperate replacements.

Or if you’re at a restaurant and the party seated next to you celebrating a birthday is getting too raucous, text me. I’ll remind the guest of honor that while the anniversary of his birth is a special occasion, he is one year closer to old age and death. Furthermore, just because he’s made it this far doesn’t mean he’ll make it another year. Car accidents, disease, mass shootings, burst aneurysms — the list of things that can suddenly end your life goes on and on. Better that 10-year-old hear it from me rather than his parents (because even though they’ll probably be responsible for that kid’s therapy, no need to give him more to gripe about).

My gift for administering doses of reality by the shovelful is probably what will keep me from getting invited to the ground-breaking party when construction on the bayfront is finally under way.

Years ago, when Gaylord Entertainment signed what was the equivalent of a letter of intent to build in Chula Vista, business and civic leaders did cartwheels   as they serenaded each other with songs of economic windfalls and a bayfront rebirth.

But then the reality of getting things done in California set in. Economic and labor hurdles gave developers pause.

Then the housing market crashed. And all that was left where dreams of what was supposed to be as Gaylord moved their operation out of state.

Optimists, Pollyannas and the cool kids will say things are different now. The South Bay power plant is finally torn down and large scale development on the bayfront is a greater reality today then it was even five years ago. The Port of San Diego even introduced its latest round of consultants to the Chula Vista City Council recently.

Of course there’s room for some celebration and jubilant chortles. But I’ll temper mine with the knowledge that it’ll be years before the grand vision of Chula Vista’s sparkling project on the bay becomes a reality, and once it does there will be a host of other issues to consider. Will the final product be what was initially agreed upon and sold to the public (remember there was hubbub over the changing dimensions of a signature park not too long ago) and will the infrastructure be in place and adequate to handle the region’s growth? Will the service industry jobs pay workers a livable wage? Will the area be for all the residents of Chula Vista and South County or will the working class get squeezed out in favor of tourists and those who can afford life by the ocean? Only time will tell.