“These expenses, including personnel (such as code enforcement and the DARE officer), need to be put back in the General Fund to truly define the deficit once and for all. That way the budget can be used as a tool for the council to make better decisions.”Wisda doubts that the budget is balanced and believes “everybody should be on the same page for a big reality check.”Retooling CDBG would save a “tremendous amount of money that would go to senior and other programs, take it out of the government sector, put it in the private sector and really invest in Santa Paula. If CDBG dries up in any way the city is out of luck; by shifting costs to the General Fund it guarantees the money will be there year after year.”Merchant incentives, housing improvements and housing creation should be priorities, Wisda added.“There are a lot of opportunities out there aside from massive development. We have to invest in the community and raise income levels by building on what we have and rebuilding. There’s tremendous potential for Santa Paula; right now it’s the best real estate buy in the county. And, if we could get our low-end housing to appreciate - fix one house on a block and the property values go up for everyone - it would benefit the General Fund in increased property tax, especially in the RDA areas.”Wisda wants council meetings videotaped for replay on cable television as a way to “create more community involvement and a better understanding of city government and how it works. That’s also a way to invest in Santa Paula, have a better informed community.”A graduate of the USC School of Business and a former business manager and owner, Wisda said “I’m very familiar with budgets, the budget process and how to make it work. I’ve been a concerned citizen of Santa Paula since 1988, attended many council meetings and served on many committees.”Wisda said the reaction to his council bid has been “really positive; people are excited about getting good people on the council that are open-minded, will represent the whole community and have a specific plan. There are some real serious issues that council members will have differences of opinion over, but I respect the council and am confident we could work together. I’m going to run on the issues and hope others don’t focus on the petty.”Wisda has two children, Anna and Charles, and three stepchildren through his wife, Trish.“This is just a great place to live; I had tremendous hopes for Santa Paula, but the city councils of the last decade have not made it what it should be. I want more available money to go into the local economy and for the council and staff to be very, very accountable.”
Wisda: Revitalizing economy, retooling finances top Council campaign
August 02, 2002
Santa Paula News
“I’m going to start slow and finish big,” said John Wisda, who has pulled papers to run for the City Council.
Wisda, a Realtor, ran for the council in 1994, and said he has been thinking about the 2002 campaign for about a year. “What made me decide to run? The city needs me,” and his ideas about redefining City Hall finances and revitalizing the economy.
By Peggy KellySanta Paula Times“I’m going to start slow and finish big,” said John Wisda, who has pulled papers to run for the City Council.Wisda, a Realtor, ran for the council in 1994, and said he has been thinking about the 2002 campaign for about a year. “What made me decide to run? The city needs me,” and his ideas about redefining City Hall finances and revitalizing the economy.“You’ve heard ‘Shop Santa Paula,’ but I also want to invest in Santa Paula,” including “step-by-step planned growth.”Wisda wants development of the 32.5-acre parcel owned by Scott Anderson’s Del Financial - which will make a bid for CURB inclusion through a March 2003 ballot measure - and Fagan Canyon.“I’m against the proposed development in Adams Canyon; it’s remote and not contiguous with city limits and before we can even think about development the city has to grow out nearer to it,” Wisda said.Wisda supports new urbanism and establishing “overlay districts in blighted areas; we have to rebuild the existing infrastructure for work space and affordable housing.”A strong supporter of local public safety, Wisda, who was a member of BOCCA, which studied police issues, said he wants to ensure retention and improvement of the city’s police and fire departments.Wisda, a member of the city’s mid-1990s Citizens Finance Committee who recently served the Community Development Block Grant Advisory Committee, wants to eliminate General Fund budgetary shortfalls being covered by supplemental funding sources such as CDBG and RDA.
