Advocates for the east

West Chula Vista has several community groups that vouch for better neighborhoods.

There is the Southwest Chula Vista Civic association, which is about the preservation, planning, development and protection of the underrepresented Southwest region.

And there is Crossroads II, an organized group aimed at addressing land use issues throughout Chula Vista, although it focuses a lot of its efforts on the west side.

And at one point the Northwest Chula Vista Civic Association was a mainstay in the west before dissolving two years ago.

But on the east side of town, there weren’t any community groups where residents could voice their concerns on issues that plague their neighborhoods.

That was until Southwestern College Governing Board Member Humberto Peraza, former City Councilwoman Patty Chavez and former Port Commissioner Mike Najera stepped in to form Eastside Neighbors, a community group for Chula Vista residents east of Interstate 805.

“There was nothing drawing the people together in east Chula Vista,” Najera said. “We just thought that this group would be a great opportunity to create dialogue.”

Peraza credits the Eastlake Business Association with a resource for Eastlake businesses, but he said Eastside Neighbors is a group more tailored for residents that will bring in community leaders for discussion on issues that east side residents really care about.

Peraza said Eastside Neighbors is a non-partisan group where community members can just come and talk about localized issues.

Community concerns range by neighborhood.

Peraza said the Rolling Hills Ranch community, where he lives, doesn’t have a local supermarket after an Albertson’s closed down last year.

San Miguel Ranch is left without a gas station in their community forcing residents to fill up their tank in Eastlake, Peraza said.

Peraza said the Eastside collectively cares about transportation issues in and out of their city as well as the quality of education children are receiving.

At its Sept. 10 meeting, Sweetwater Union High School Superintendent Karen Janney will speak to Eastside Neighbors about her new role and the latest developments at the district.

Peraza said the group will hardly ever hear him, Najera or Chavez speaking to the group as they just want to remain as facilitators.

“This isn’t supposed to be about us,” Peraza said about the group. “This is supposed to be about our community, our neighbors and about the issues that are going on in there. There’s nothing else to it.”
Najera said the group isn’t created “to be political” but rather to serve the east side community.

All three of the current or former political figures said they have no plans to run for Chula Vista City Council next year.

Still in its infancy, Eastside Neighbors started a few months ago with about 30 people showing up to their inaugural meeting. The group will meet every second Thursday of every month..

Peraza said he hopes Eastside Neighbors is just the start to more community organizations to come from the Eastside.

“(Community groups is) the way a lot of leaders in the community really decide how to do things,” Peraza said. “By having people in their neighborhood telling them what they care about.”

He said community groups also provide an opportunity for elected officials to educate themselves on issues that their communities face.

Peraza said the group also remains active on Facebook, although it is using the social media tool right now on promoting Eastside Neighbors.

While Peraza’s name always comes up as a potential city council candidate, he insists that Eastside Neighbors is about the community and not for political gain.

“..This is an opportunity for community members to really reach out to their leaders and ask questions and to find out what’s going on,” he said. “Having a super market or a gas station in a neighborhood is not a partisan issue.”