View video of full Lemon Grove mayoral candidate forum
Hear audio version aired on radio (edited slightly for length)
By Miriam Raftery
October 13, 2024 (Lemon Grove)—All three candidates for Lemon Grove mayor fielded questions on issues ranging from housing and homelessness to infrastructure, the business community, and the city’s sales tax measure during a forum moderated by East County Magazine editor Miriam Raftery on Oct. 10. The candidates are Mayor Racquel Vasquez, Councilmember Alysson Snow, and Councilmember Liana LeBaron.
Scroll down for highlights, or click the link above to view the complete one-hour forum.
In opening statements, each official was asked to name their accomplishments and goals if elected or releected to lead the city as mayor.
Mayor Vasquez said she is seeking reelection because “I believe in the future of our city and I want to continue the work that we started together.” She’s married to a Navy veteran, raised her two daughters here, and a 26-year municipal public employee, so her commitment to this community is personal. She says she believes in the power of service, which drives her daily to create a “better, safer, and more vibrant Lemon Grove for our families.” She says real progress has been made on improving infrastructure, and improving public safety, but there’s still work to be done. She urges people to support her to keep Lemon Grove moving forward.
Councilmember Snow, a lawyer, educator, and mother of five active in supporting youth sports, said, “I love this community.” She’s worked as a corporate lawyer and later, as an attorney for the Legal Aid Society, where she worked to help people losing homes due to the mortgage crisis and facing soaring property taxes. She later worked at the state and national level to implement reforms. “I’m going to take this same power to problem solve for our streets, our housing issues, homelessness, and our businesses.
Councilmember LeBaron, a Lemon Grove native, mother, and former Lemon Grove planning commissioner, is also a sales professional and the first Latina elected to the Council. Due to these experiences, she said she is a “person of action who sees things through to the end.” She praised her opponents and said getting things done requires “a team” and endorsed Steve Faia and Jessyka Heredia for City Council. Her main goal if elected mayor is to “give the people of Lemon Grove honest and passionate representation...I will stand up for the people of Lemon Grove and give them a voice that they don’t currently feel that they have.”
Lemon Grove has over 200 homeless residents. Candidates were asked what solutions they support, and where they stand specifically on shelters or sleeping cabins, as well as day facilities for the homeless during extreme heat and winter weather.
Snow ran for City Council on a platform of helping on housing and homelessness. “I really hit the ground running,” she said, adding that within two weeks, she sat down with the city manager to identify how the city was helping the homeless. “It wasn’t much,” she said of meager funding and outreach. “As a result, it has exponentially grown.” She says she has been working with nonprofits and government at higher levels. Supervisors voted unanimously to make Lemon Grove a pilot program with resources the city couldn’t afford . Now rolling out this will provide “outreach, housing navigation, case management, mental and behavioral health solutions to address the causes of homelessness. She also supports bridge housing such as sleeping cabins with wrap-around services, so homeless people have a place to sleep at night, with their pets, while getting help. “I’m bringing solutions to our community.”
LeBaron says going door to door, one of residents’ top concerns is homelessness. She voiced concern over neglect. “It’s not safe for anybody.” She says as an elected official, she’s been very involved to make sure resources are actually getting to the most vulnerable, unhoused neighbors. She is working with county and state agencies to assure that Lemon Grove gets its fair share of funds, that they’re used property, and that beyond band-aid solutions, “We’re actually addressing the root causes of homelessness” such as mental health issues and drug abuse. “My plan is to tackle the root issues.” She says she’ll be advocated for mental health facilities and drug treatment to help people make sound decisions.
Vasquez notes that homeless is a “complex crisis” that requires a comprehensive and compassionate approach. She has been working with other cities and the counties on a regional approach. In 2022, a memorandum was signed and efforts are being made to get federal funding. “Last year, we were able to help 400 people, with housing being some of that,” she said, though challenges remain. In August, a declaration was signed at a symposium hosted by San Diego Rescue Mission with help from the Rincon tribe. “Each city agreed” to help a list of people to receive targeted housing. Another event was held in August for Lemon Grove to come up with its own strategic plan.
Infrastructure is a key concern of Lemon Grove residents, including roads, sidewalks, and after the January floods, storm drains. Candidates were asked what needs to be done to prevent future flooding, and to improve other infrastructure in the city?
LeBaron said she went to work right after election to the Council to look at how money was being spent. She says there is a “deficit of planning for preventative maintenance. “For the long time our city has taken a stance of fix it in the absolute worse conditions.” She advocates for preventative maintenance to prevent damage and lawsuits over storm drains. She calls neglect in street maintenance “intolerable.”
Vasquez says once elected in 2016, the city was investing only $125,000 in fixing streets; this year it will be $5.4 million,and $2 million of that will be invested to fix the worst streets. “That’s a big difference. There is a $171 million dollar backlog in infrastructure improvements” due to lack of funding over the years. “Under my leadership we created the first storm drain master plan” which will help the city apply for future grants “We need the funding to make it happen.”
Snow: “You will not find a single one of here who does not prioritize, streets, sidewalks, street signs and storm drains,” but adds that the problem is because of a lack of money. Much of the recent money came from the American Recovery Act Fund through the Biden administration. “Whoever is in that office needs to bring money into Lemon Grove. I’ve spent a lot of time trying to bring money into Lemon Grove,” she says, adding that she’s on the California Jobs First board, East County Economic Development Council, and is endorsed by East County Chamber of Commerce. She’s also backed a loan program to help businesses survive. “I am the one with experience and the ability to solve these problems.”
With Lemon Grove’s limited budget, some have suggested disincorporation, with control reverting back to the County. ECM asked candidates if they favor or oppose having Lemon Grove remain an incorporated city, and do they support the sales tax initiative on the ballot?
Vasquez states, “We should remain a city and we should support the tax measure” adding that during her leadership, “We have maintained financial stability, increased our revenues by 40%, and improved our credit score” as well as winning awards for transparency and accountability. But she adds, “We’ve got to make sure we set the city up” to “continue to be viable” and invest every dollar of the initiative in a “safer, cleaner city” including street repairs and a “thriving economy.” She notes that the measure has an oversight committee to monitor how the money is spent.
Snow says during the January floods, “I went out to the homes where people were impacted” and saw huge sinkholes preventing children from playing. ”When we were county...nobody cared what developers were doing...I am very opposed to disincorporation,” she said. “I also am in favor of Measure T,” the 1.5 cent sales tax measure which is estimated to bring in $5.9 million a year. She agreed with the mayor that there is large gap to be able to fund the deferred maintenance, but says there are other options. For example, “we were able to reach out to our federal delegation” to get funds to fix a street in front of San Miguel Elementary. “We’ll be able to make sure that our community is safe by staying incorporated.”
LeBaron says “improving our city requires money.” She suggests wiser management is needed of the public’s funds. “People want to explore disincorporation because they feel “disconnected” from current leadership and thus are willing to consider something as “drastic as disincorporation.” She recalls walking door to door for an earlier sales tax measure, but that residents said they didn’t trust how it might be spent. “I am for doing anything that is going to help our community,” she says, but adds that government has to have the public trust. “I will support something if it has promises guaranteed to the public that the tax dollars will be used for addressing their concerns.”
The state is urging all cities to increase housing, particularly affordable housing. While the needs are significant, there have also been concerns by some over older affordable housing being removed to make way for higher end homes or businesses. Candidates were asked, what are their priorities for housing in Lemon Grove?
Snow: “Housing is very near and dear to my heart. I run the housing rights legal clinic over at the University of California Housing Rights Clinic.” She cites soaring rents that are pricing out working families, such as a neighbor whose rent rose from $1700 to $3300 a month. She calls for a multi-faceted approach including help with rents to keep people in houses now. “I carved out $250,000 with the support of my colleagues” for housing problems, such as if they miss a house payment because they need a car repair. “We also need more affordable housing” long-term. She suggests building affordable senior housing on top of the senior center. She calls for rethinking new housing, such as more condos and homes for purchase in the downtown corridor, as well as started homes that would be “a huge boom for our community.”
LeBaron: “People work very, very hard to be able to afford their mortgages” and rent, making life tough. “We need to be a city or have a mayor that is very pro business, pro production and seeing results.” She says developers are trying to build condos, apartments and ADUS, but the process is cumbersome, not housing friendly. “We have people who are desperate to provide more housing...We want to be known as a community that will welcome people to build” homes of all types.
Vasquez: “Under my leadership, Lemon Grove is the only city in the entire county of San Diego that met the state of California affordable housing mandate” and one of only 13 cities in the entire state. “That’s a huge achievement.” She says when the Governor called for making it easier for developers to build more housing, “We made it so developers can do just that.” She said the city got a SANDAG grant to expand Lemon Grove’s Downtown Village Specific Plan to grow economically and provide housing and mixed use to create a “vibrant and welcoming space” downtown for both businesses and residents.
ECM asked candidates what is their vision for enhancing the business community in Lemon Grove, including retaining existing businesses and attracting new ones such as restaurants beyond fast food and quality retail establishments?
LeBaron: In 2020 she says she saw a disconnect between residents and the business community. “Right away I got started on building those relationships” after her election to the Council. She started having Business Improvement District (BID) meetings and now need support from city hall. “I do have this plan laid out on my website and flyers” to work with businesses to revamp the downtown area.
Vasquez: “Under my leadership, we stimulated our businesses and our economy” through a gift card program funded by ARPA funds. There were only 215 businesses when she was elected; today there are 400 businesses generating tax dollars, she said. “Now we are partnering in investing $20 million in a small business revolving loan program” that shows the city’s commitment to “energize our business community with grants and funding...”
Snow: She went door to door asking businesses what they need, she said. The number one issue was homelessness; second was lights, and third was the difficulty in getting a business license. “We really want to make sure that is working well,”she said, adding that the planning department is understaffed. “Those are the basic areas where we need to start.” In addition, she said because of work she has done, she’s endorsed by the East County Chamber, delivering information to businesses about the revolving loan program. “I’m a big supporter of our businesses and looking forward to helping them more.”
Elected officials often have to make tough and at times, contentious decisions. Candidates were asked if there any actions you’ve taken that in hindsight that they might handle differently, and also what steps will each take if elected to heal rifts among councilmembers and build trust with community members?
Vasquez: “I truly appreciate Lemon Grove’s trust in me,” she said, adding that on Monday’s after 4 p.m. she meets with anyone who wants to speak with her. Her commitment remains “to build a city where every feels a sense of belonging and can thrive. This election is important,” she said. “I believe it is important to maintain experienced leadership to tackle the issues ahead. We need leaders who are ready to deliver from day one.”
Snow: “I’m grateful for this question,” she says, hoping for city councils that can conduct business “without animus. It’s just unfornate.” She says she has strived to work with colleagues” adding that as mayor, “I will respect my council members’ right to speak and have their voices heard” and will work to restore congeniality. “She promises to make sure that everyone feels safe. Some restrictions the city has ”have made it difficult to have conversations, so she’s gone out to the community with another councilmember to encourage people to share their thoughts and visions for Lemon Grove.
LeBaron: “I applaud my fellow councilmembers for their responses,” she said. “On any leadership team we all don’t need to agree. The strength of the team comes from having respect for one another. It’s giving space for everyont to speak, to listen and to allow everybody to share their opinion,” she said. She voices concern over efforts to “make us all think alike” which has caused contention in her view. Trust is earned by being honest, she said. “As the new mayor, I promise that that is exactly what I will do.”
ECM asked if candidates see a way to reopen the rec center and senior center.
Snow said she is all for it, but that it all comes down for money, “in fact I would love to expand what we have,” such as expanding the skate park and supporting Little League, and bringing in more recreational activities. “I am wholeheartedly in favor of that.” She says the sales tax measure T is needed to help bring some of these services back on line. “I want parades. I want fun community fairs,” she said, citing a firefighting fair she recently helped organize.
LeBaron calls it “unfortunate” that the city is in such neglect that it does not have a functioning senior or rec center. “It’s something I have advocated for...since I was elected. Bottom line, the city requires a culture change...to a residents-first approach” such as investing in reopening the rec and senior center.
Vasquez stated, “While the city of Lemon Grove does not offer a free recreation program, we provide a variety of activities for all ages” some in collaboration with the school district as well as seasonal camp, health fairs, events such as Trunk or Treat and more. “I am dedicated to ensuring our community has access to a valuable space, our recreation center because it creates connections, but also there is an opportunity for wellness. To expand, we know that it takes more...which is why I am a supporter of Measure T.”
Candidates were asked to provide closing statements, including any key endorsements and where people can learn more about their candidacy.
Councilmember LeBaron said her most-prized endorsement is “the endorsement of the people of this beautiful community” to represent it with “honesty and with passion.” She adds, “Regardless of what happens this election cycle, I am very proud of the community coming forward...I am a Lemon Grove native, I love the city whole-heartedly, and I am super excited for the opportunity to become the first elected Latina mayor for the city of Lemon Grove.
Mayor Vasquez said she is “so honored to serve” and hopes to continue so the city can keep moving forward. “Lemon Grove deserves a steady and experienced leader, and I am that person. I’m known for my commitment to transparency and collaboration, and I tirelessly advocate for our community up and down the state of California.” She said every voice is important, adding, “I’m dedicated to representing our best interests,” to improving infrastructure and community services, and passing the tax measure that will provide resources for a better future. “Experience matters and I will be honored to have your vote.”
Councilmember Snow says she was raised by hard workers and is a hard worker herself. “The job of mayor requires hard work. It is a part-time job with a full-time commitment. ”The community members “see me out there working to bring resources into Lemon Grove.” She cites endorsememts by Lemon Grove firefighters, AFSCME’s local chapter, the Labor Council, San Diego Democratic Party, elected Democratic officials from the legislature to Congress, and many individual donors “who believe that I can achieve change and progress for Lemon Grove...I have a proven track record of taking on huge challenges” including nationally, and she has won awards for her work in housing. “I am what we need for progress,” she concluded.
