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About Us
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The South Bay Forum is a non-partisan, political action committee (PAC). It is committed to addressing the
educational, social, and political needs of the Chicano/Latino community in the San Diego South Bay area while
building coalitions with other communities. Our goals include developing, promoting, supporting, and/or endorsing
candidates or entities that will meet those needs, regardless of race, ethnicity, or political affiliation. State Id. #
981699
educational, social, and political needs of the Chicano/Latino community in the San Diego South Bay area while
building coalitions with other communities. Our goals include developing, promoting, supporting, and/or endorsing
candidates or entities that will meet those needs, regardless of race, ethnicity, or political affiliation. State Id. #
981699
History of Activities
• March 1, 1998- The official founding date. South Bay Forum is registered with the State of California as a non-
partisan political action committee (PAC), registration number 981699.
• July-October 1998- Invited various organizations to make presentations (pro/con) to the general membership
regarding Propositions/Initiatives on the November ballot.
• October 12, 1998- Hosted a formal public Candidates Forum at the C.V. Civic Center Library for all south bay area
School Board candidates. Of the nine (9) endorsements made that evening, seven (7) were successful (4 were non-
incumbents).
• November 6, 1998- Election Victory Celebration held at VFW in Chula Vista!
• December 1998- Presented at five south bay area school board meetings to introduce SBF to district Board
Members.
• January-May, 1999- Held individual meetings with area School District Superintendents; presentations at Board
meetings addressing specific concerns.
• March 2,1999- 1st anniversary celebration, recognition of Charter members.
• April 1999- Correspondence to Governor Davis and Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante regarding mediation of
Proposition 187.
• May 8, 1999- Workshop on Redistricting & Reapportionment for California and San Diego.
• June 1999- Lunch meeting with Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante.
• July 16, 1999- First “fun” raiser at the Cazares home.
• November 20, 1999- Joint fundraising effort with MAPA (Noche de Amistad). Lt. Cruz Bustamante is the special
guest, introduced by Assemblymember Denise Ducheny.
• December 15, 1999- Meeting with joint South Bay area Superintendents.
• January 22, 2000- South Bay Leadership Symposium held at Southwestern College. 500 in attendance,
represented by parents, students, elected officials, business, and community!
• February 29, 2000- Hosted a public Candidates Forum for Chula Vista City Council seats and 79th Assembly
District candidates at the Chula Vista Civic Center Library.
• April 1, 2000- Census 2000 Press Conference held in collaboration with South Bay Leadership Symposium and
California Complete Count Campaign. Speakers; Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante, Congressman Bob Filner, and
Assemblyperson Ducheny.
• June 16, 2000- Co-sponsored the San Diego Southwest Voter Registration & Education Project-Latino Vote 2000
Fundraiser/Dinner at the Holiday Inn Embarcadero. Keynote Speakers; Henry Cisneros, President of Univision
(former Secretary of H.U.D.) and Antonio Gonzales, National President of SVREP.
•July 10, 2000- Hosted a public forum, “How will the Brown Field Airport Expansion Affect your Life and Community?”
SBF joined other civic, educational, business, and community groups in official opposition to the expansion, due to its
environmental & educational impact.
•July/August 2000- Presentations at numerous Chula Vista City Council meetings regarding the November ballot
measures to repeal the current term limits of the Mayor and Council members. SBF appeared in the ballot as
opposing the measures, Propositions E & F.
•September 3, 2000- Tardeada Fundraiser at the Cazares home, featuring local artists!
• October 5 & 10, 2000- Held two public Candidate Forums at the Central C. V. Civic Center Library, inviting
candidates from (1) all local school boards, and (2) City council seats, 77th State Assembly District, and SWC.
Endorsements, contributions, and news ads were generated.
• October 23, 2000- Hosted a public debate on Proposition BB at the South C.V. South Library, represented by
Sweetwater Union H.S. District and the Committee on Chicano Rights.
• November 10, 2000- Election Celebration recognizing endorsed and newly elected officials and honoring outgoing
Assemblymember Denise Ducheny.
• February 7, 2001- Co-sponsored the South Bay District 8 Candidate Forum with Latina/o Unity Coalition, Casa
Familiar, and MAAC Project, held in San Ysidro.
• March 7, 2001- Co-sponsor of Fundraiser/Reception for Mayor Dick Murphy, San Diego
• April 28, 2001- 2nd South Bay Leadership Symposium, held at Rancho Del Rey Middle School, Chula Vista. 550 in
attendance, represented by parents, students, elected officials, business, and community!
• May 31, 2001- Presented a Community Energy Forum, held at the City of Chula Vista Council Chambers, with
panelists Loretta Lynch (CPUC Pres.), Michael Shames (UCAN Pres.), Attorney Michael Aguirre, and Scott Horsely
(KPBS).
•Summer 2001- Participated in Redistricting meetings/debriefings/hearings (Co. St., & Fed.)
•August 2001- Initiated an investigation of SDSU’s discriminatory policies regarding native Spanish speakers
pursuing a degree in Spanish. With support from the Concilio on Higher Education of San Diego, SDSU
administrators agreed to immediate changes.
•October 28, 2001 – SBF Fundraiser, honoring human rights activist, Roberto Martinez.
•October 30, 2001 – Testified at the Chula Vista Civilian Review Board Task Force community meetings in support of
a civilian police review effort. (Due to it’s involvement in bringing this issue to the forefront, SBF was represented in
this task force.)
• December 4, 2001 – Participated in a community forum by the National Latino Peace Officers Assoc.
• January 31, 2002 – Sponsored the City of C.V. Mayoral and Council Candidate Forum, C.V. Civic Center Library
• February, 2002 – Co-sponsored (with MABPA) a reception with Mayor Murphy and four Baja California Mayors.
•March 16, 2002 – Sponsored and coordinated the 3rd Annual South Bay Leadership Symposium, at Rancho del Rey
Middle.
• September 18, 26, 2002 – Held two public Candidate Forums at the C.V. Civic Center Library, inviting candidates
for 1) local elementary school boards and, 2) District Attorney and 78t District Assembly Seats. Endorsement ads
were generated.
•October 3, 2002 – Held a public Candidate Forum at the C.V. Civic Center Library, inviting candidates for the
Southwestern College and Sweetwater Union High School District Governing Boards. Contributions and endorsement
ads were generated.
•2002-2003 – Ongoing participation with other community groups regarding the Midbayfront development.
•Feb/March 2003 – Community panelist for City of Chula Vista Police Department officer training on Racial Profiling
(an outcome of the Chula Vista Citizen’s Police Review Task Force.)
•March 30, 2003 – 5th Anniversary celebration and fundraiser recognizing endorsed 2002 elected officials and
honoring former Assemblyman Peter Chacon with the SBF Cesar Chavez Service Award, for his leadership in
bilingual education.
• April 2003-ongoing – Collaboration with eleven community and environmental groups regarding the south county
Bay front and Mid –bay front development. Includes representation and presentations at community and City-
sponsored meetings.
• July 29, 2003 – SBF and Crossroads II joint meeting on Affordable Housing in City of Chula Vista.
• October 4, 2003 – Sponsored and coordinated the 4th Annual South Bay Leadership Symposium, at Montgomery H.
S.
• November, 2003 – Joined human rights groups for a press conference and picket of JC Penny’s in National City
due to the racial profiling and deportation of 2 shoppers suspected but cleared of shoplifting.
• December 2003-September 2004 – Numerous oral and written communications with National City Council on
matters related to the JC Penny incident and call for a police review board with subpoena powers.
• January 29, 2004 – Held a public Candidate Forum at C.V. Civic Center Library, inviting candidates for the 78th
Assembly District and Chula Vista City Council, Seat 4.
• January 2004-present – Involvement (Citizens Advisory Committee member, oral and written communication) with
the City of Chula Vista & Port of San Diego on issues related to the bay front development, General Plan update,
Urban Core plans, etc.
• June 2004 – As Chair of the Herman Baca Archives Committee, assisted in UCSD’s acquisition of archives
primarily chronicling the Chicano Movement in San Diego. Community celebration to be held in Spring 2005.
• September 26, 2004 – End-of-the-summer fundraiser honoring the 1st Latina Superintendent/President of a San
Diego County Community College, Norma Hernandez of Southwestern College.
Update on SBF Activites April 2005 – April 2006
National City Issues:
• NC Community & Police Relations Commission (CPRC)
• Community Development (Eminent Domain)
• 1% Sales Tax Initiative (on ballot June 6, 2006)
Chula Vista Issue:
• General Plan on development for the next 10 years approved December 2005. SBF involved for over the past 2
years.
• Out of the General Plan came the Urban Core Specific Plan specific to western CV. The area covers on the
north “C” Street, on the south “L” Street, on the east 2nd Avenue, and on the west I-5.
This plan will dictate height limits, setbacks, floor area ratios, parking requirements and allowed uses. There are
concerns that the residential density will triple and that too many 7 story buildings will be allowed compromising the
historic character of Third Avenue.
SBF has also remained engaged with this plan, co-sponsoring a Community Character Workshop in May 2005 with
Roosevelt Street Coalition, Crossroads II, and ACORN. This workshop reviewed alternative development plans for the
Westside of CV. The next public meeting to look at the Public Review Draft is scheduled for tomorrow, April 24th, 6:00
– 8:30 p.m. at the Civic Center Library Auditorium (365 F St.).
• Proposition C will be on the ballot June 6th. SBF took a position supporting this proposition. As you may know,
the US Supreme Count approved the ability of a governmental unit, such as a city, using eminent domain to take
private property from one party in order to transfer the ownership to another private party, such as a developer, for
redevelopment purposes. However, the Court did say that local governments may choose to make tighter rules.
CV residents began collecting signatures for an initiative that would forbid the City of CV from taking property by
another private person or company. 14,000 signatures were gathered and the City Council took action to put it on the
ballot for June 6. It is called Proposition C.
It will not prohibit the City from using eminent domain in the traditional sense, such as for new roads or fire stations or
other public facilities and improvements. It would prohibit the City from using its power to take private homes and
businesses for the purpose of leasing or selling property for private development. Exceptions would have to be
approved by a vote of CV citizens on a case by case basis. 6 citizens signed on as petitioners for the ballot
proposition, including Gus Chavez and myself, as private citizens.
• South Bay Power Plan. Duke Energy, operators of the SBPP, are applying to tear down the existing power plant
and build a cleaner and smaller new plant. Once cleared, it will take 12-18 months to review the process, including
public workshops to examine potential impacts and benefits of the proposal. SBF, along with CRII and other
community groups have concerns regarding air emissions and pollutants that could impact the health of CV residents.
SBF will stay engaged with this issue.
• CV/NC Council and Mayor seats candidate forums (concern voiced regarding the process used to fill the vacant
Council seat resulting from Patty Davis’ resignation.) Endorsement for 51st Congress (Filner) and 79th Assembly
(Salas) made.
• SWC naming of the Cesar Chavez building- approved by Board at Jan. 11, 2006 meeting.
• Campaign for College Opportunity- Jan. 26, 2006
San Diego Issues:
• Affordable Health Care. UCSD Medical Center presentation to SBF- impacts on health care access. August
22, 2005
• Campaign Finance Reform
• San Diego County Concilio on Higher Education
• Jan. 11th 2006- Presentation to the SD County Office of Education Board members regarding professional
abilities and experiences for the new Superintendent.
• Meeting with Mayor Sanders and representatives from other ethnic communities. Follow up meeting April 27th.
• Medicare Part D Fair with Senator Denise Ducheny
• Meeting with Supervisor Greg Cox- March 13, 2006
• Immigrant March- SBF donated $500 to April 9th march, 50,000+ marchers.