Desert 29 Endorses Steve Whitten For City Council | Desert 29

Desert 29 officially endorses Steve Whitten for City Council. Steve is who we need in this town to make a difference. Instead of the same old ‘stick in the muds’, Whitten offers new ideas and a lot of promise to this town. He cares about what other people think when they go into Twentynine Palms. He wants them to like what they see and not just to get gas, food and leave. I like that about him because I feel the same way. That is a big plus for a candidate which you rarely hear about from the past councilmen/women.

“It is very important to me how others perceive the community of 29 Palms and I am concerned with our perception of the visitors to our City. As I drive through the city commercial district on my way to work, I sometimes imagine I’m a first time visitor to the city, a parent coming to visit my son or daughter who just returned from war or someone on my way to Vegas, Laughlin or the river, I ask myself one question “what do I think of 29 Palms?” Curb appeal is the first impression most people have of an area, a reason to slow down, stop and shop. The area also requires functionality. Does it satisfy your needs? If the area has both of these qualities, then you have a combination for success. There are a few “bright” exceptions, but the “curb appeal” of our commercial district is terrible. There is trash, over growth and unsightly building issues. We also have the issue of an over abundance of tattoo & massage parlors. I suggest driving the commercial corridor and taking a look. Bet you’ll have the same opinion. We can fix this as a City and community under the right leadership. We all should have “pride in ownership” feeling of our community.”

The above statement is what caught my eye. For years, I have felt this way and wondered why I never seen anyone speak out about this. I have always swore that it will take someone with a good perception and a good eye to see what it ‘really is’ out there. None of this crap about how great this town is the way it is and blah blah blah. Finally, someone sees this town for what it is.

“We have a real chance at prosperity if we make some adjustments of how the city conducts business and changes to the Development Code. Smart Growth never makes more sense then when economic times are tough. Smart efficient development decisions save taxpayers money and allow governments to stretch their dollars farther. I suggest if Smart Growth makes sense in tough economic times, then it should make sense all the time. Smart Growth invests time, attention, and resources in restoring community and vitality to center cities. It is town–centered, transit and pedestrian orientated and has a greater mix of housing, commercial and retail uses. This is why I believe in and support the Economic Development Action Plan and The Downtown Economic Revitalization Plan and will be committed to their full implementation. These plans are a push in the Smart Growth direction. Imagine what our city could look like if we take advantage of the available economic resources. I believe the community feels the way I do. Imagine the money you would save annually in transportation cost alone if you were able to purchase the items you need right here within the City limits.”

Another important point. We can have growth and it doesn’t all have to be all of the same type of businesses. It takes someone who understands the Economic Development Action Plan and that will make way for Smart Growth in a positive direction. Again, I don’t know how many times I was told that if we need basic needs, to go to Yucca Valley or down below. Why should we have to spend our money in other cities when we have a town right here and don’t have to drive all over God’s creation for a pair of socks or underwear? We shouldn’t have to go to a grocery store to buy socks or Rite-Aid to buy panties. Sorry, but ‘no can do’!

These are just some of the points Steve Whitten talks about. There is plenty more and also about his background as a U.S. service man. If you would like more information on Steve Whitten and his campaign, you can learn more on his Facebook page here. If you want change in this town and believe in the potential this town has for growth, vote Steve Whitten in November.