City council candidate Francine Castañon says the trick to bringing more resources to South Oxnard is showing people what potential there is in the district without compromising what makes it beautiful.
“There’s a lot of opportunity for South Oxnard,” said Castañon in an interview with VIDA Newspaper. “It’s just a matter of getting resources out there.”
But Castañon, who is running for the 6th District City Council seat, emphasizes that understanding what struggles families are going through is critical.
To that end she has been active in the community even during the pandemic, checking on neighbors and making sure they have basic necessities.
The Army veteran – she drove trucks while deployed in Kuwait — ran for the 6th District seat in 2018, getting beaten by Vianey Lopez.
Lopez was appointed to the Board of Supervisors by Gov. Gavin Newsom in September to fill a vacant spot, leaving the city council seat open for Castañon to take another run at.
A fourth generation Oxnard resident who has raised four children in South Oxnard, Castañon sat on the city’s Commission on Homelessness for 10 years and chaired it for three years.
She supports Oxnard’s plans for a downtown navigation center to help the homeless community, with reservations.
“In theory it’s a good idea, but I don’t have a lot of confidence in management,” said Castañon to VIDA Newspaper, adding that she doesn’t think the center will have enough mental health or housing services.
Castañon says that without more transitional housing in Ventura County for the unhoused to move into, or comprehensive mental health services, “there’s still a lot of pieces missing.
“You’re going to have predominately men, isolating women and families, so that’s what needs to be in place,” Castañon said.
Castañon is even more skeptical of the city’s plans for an aquatic center, although she supports having a community swimming pool.
“We need to put a YMCA or something more community oriented there, I’m fine with a community pool, but not more than that when they can’t even manage current facilities,” said Castañon to VIDA Newspaper.
Castañon supports the Port of Hueneme’s plans for expansion because it means revenue for South Oxnard. She isn’t concerned about it bringing more traffic or air pollution.
She says the parking lot at Perkins and Hueneme roads that was opposed by environmentalists is only temporary, there until a larger facility can be built the cars elsewhere.
“No, they already drive those cars there, there’s no additional traffic coming,” Castañon said. “They’re just parking them there instead of at the port.”
Castañon has gotten lots of support from local labor unions as well as the endorsement of Ventura County Supervisor Jeff Gorell.
Ironworkers 433, Southwest Carpenters, the Tri-Counties Building and Construction Trades Council, Laborers International Union or North America Local 585, Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Local Union No. 104, International Union of Operating Engineers 12, Plumbers and Pipefitters Union 495 a18nd International Brotherhood of Teamsters 186 have all endorsed Castañon.
Her website is vote4francine.com.