Though optimistic, members see challenges to business, and the city’s financial future
Avalon City Council members expressed cautious optimism about the year ahead, even as acknowledged the challenges caused by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic in response to an informal survey.
The Islander recently emailed each council member to ask: “What do you see as the opportunities and challenges facing Avalon in the year ahead?”
Four of them answered. The following are the replies the Islander received by editorial deadline.
Councilmember Yesenia De La Rosa:
“It is difficult to imagine what the world, or our small community, will look like after what we experienced in the year 2020. We’ve faced traumatic and extreme conditions that will never be forgotten. Through these experiences we’ve grown together, we’ve learned to adapt and evolve with COVID-19, and will continue to do so. Committed actions from our community is the reason we will move forward and find the best adjustment to this crisis.
“Avalon shares the extensive economical, health, and educational impact that the entire world is experiencing. COVID has disrupted our day to day, yet has allowed us to reflect, and reconsider. Our community is held together by strong families that formulate our workforce. They’ve pushed for innovations that will continue on to this new year. Being grateful for their willingness to continue their hard work through these threatening times, is a crucial opportunity for this year.
“Our priority is, and will be, our children’s mental and social health. COVID has casted restrictions on them but it has also directed them towards an understanding of technology, and an opportunity to develop a new set of life skills, such as cooking, gardening and nurturing human values. We are raising powerful children who will overcome all adversity.
“‘Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.’
— Henry Ford”
Councilmember Lisa Lavelle:
“I’m encouraged by the number of people excited to travel in the new year and with the work that was done prior to the 2020 Spring season and though the pandemic. Avalon & Catalina Island are in the position to be the place to visit in Southern California, especially as we head toward the latter half of 2021. I know that the lack of travel in 2020 will drive large numbers of people to visit the island on 2021 and beyond. This influx of people will likely feel very overwhelming to most of our town after such a long duration without large crowds, so I’m hoping for extra levels of patience and grace from myself, our residents, and our visitors.
“We will continue to face the economic fallout from the pandemic as a community and a city. Knowing that anything we do over the next 3-5 years financially will be done through the lens of COVID-19 is challenging but Avalon is resilient and is the type of destination people are looking for right now.
“I’m motivated by the residents of the island who are ready to get back to come semblance of normalcy—we’ve all done so much to keep each other as safe as possible. While I’m not naive to think we can snap our fingers and make this disappear I know that we’re making our way toward that point and that should give us all a dose of hope for the upcoming year. “
Councilmember Cinde MacGugan-Cassidy:
“The upcoming year will be a difficult financial one for the City of Avalon. We will need to work diligently as the Island begins to open up to recover funds lost during this pandemic. The City Council is currently working as a close knit team and I feel confident we can weather this financial storm together and come out the other side stronger for our community. We have critical infrastructure needs that should be addressed and hopefully with a new Administration in place, there will be more openness for discussions on recovery not only for the wealthy and large cities but for the working class and those smaller communities such as ours.
“As vaccinations roll out further and our communities are able to begin opening up we have a unique opportunity to market to a more local audience the charms of the Island. So much change is beginning to happen all around us and change provides for unique opportunities to see how well some things are working and where others can be improved. I am looking forward to growth and rejuvenation for all of us.
Mayor Anni Marshall:
“The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought many economic, social, and political challenges with it in 2020. Many of us lost jobs and benefits, struggled emotionally as a social distancing took its toll on our physical and emotional connections with our loved ones, and became sick ourselves. Looking forward, 2021 will be filled with many of the same challenges, but will also have great opportunities for the City and community members of Avalon.
“As COVID-19 positivity rates increased during the first part of the New Year, rates have finally started to stabilize and even decline statewide. While our community will need to remain vigilant and prepare for small surges throughout the year, the deployment of vaccines has started, bringing with it hope for a better tomorrow and a return to a pre-pandemic lifestyle.
“COVID-19 will continue to have an impact on our economy throughout 2021. Many of our businesses remain closed or limited on operations as a result of state and country health officer orders. Tourism and leisure travel continue to bear the brunt of the impact and will also be one of the slowest sectors to return. Continued limits on the number of people able to ride on the Catalina Express will also slow recovery efforts. Businesses should take time in early 2021 to revisit and modify business plans and operations, align marketing strategies with current realties and consider promoting messages that show we are still here and will be ready when timing is right and it is safe to travel for recreation again, take advantage of free offers and resources available to small businesses, promote consumer and employee confidence, and seek out federal and state government assistance.
“As a result of the loss of revenue to the city, the city has had to make tough decisions to help ensure we can balance our budget and continue to operate without significantly jeopardizing public health and safety. Budget cuts made last year (such as employee layoffs and furloughs, city hall closures, reduced spending, and postponement of planned major capital improvement projects) will likely continue well into 2021. To reduce direct costs, the city will look for new ways to conduct business by developing public private partnerships to complete projects and provide services to the community, working with our legislative partners to advocate for relief to help offset revenue loss, seeking out grants that cover operational and major capital improvement project cost, and continuing to find innovative ways to reduce overhead and trim costs.
“City Council will continue to focus on creating policies that are reflective and adaptive of community needs, priorities, and values. While 2020 was a year of turmoil and uncertainty, 2021 will be a year of recovery, reflection, and hope. I am optimistic that better time lie ahead and that we will weather this storm together. Our community has been through difficult times before and each crisis has made us stronger and more resilient.”
Editor’s note: Councilmember Michael Ponce apologized for not responding, but said he did not have a good answer for the question.
