Cathedral City candidates' answer about CV Link

Updated 2016.11.09
The editorial board of the Desert Sun asked this question of all candidates for City Council:

"Do you support CV Link? And if so, how do you think it will benefit Cathedral City residents?"

Here are the candidate responses:

• John Aguilar winner, 2016 with 37%: "Yes, I along with the Mayor and colleagues on the City Council full support the development of the CV Link. This will provide a substantial recreational opportunity for our citizens, promote tourism which will help create new job opportunities, and help reduce greenhouse emissions by reducing vehicular traffic and helping to build/grow a stronger neighborhood community."
  
  Aguilar is among three candidates with unequivocal support of CV Link. I suggest that voters use this endorsement along with other considerations in their decision November 8.
  
  
• Sergio Espericueta not winner, 2016 with 23%: "Right now, I do not feel like I can support something that is not too clear about how it will impact residents in order to make it function. I think that it is necessary to from a committee, that includes residents, to debate this topic so that together we can discuss a project that would be costly. More people need to be informed and involved from the beginning and not just towards the end when the final concept is being presented."
  
  Espericueta has not done homework on CV Link. The community meetings about CV Link occurred in 2014 and 2015, meeting near-unanimous support from Cathedral City citizens in attendance and receiving many helpful suggestions on implementing the project. I suggest that the candidate read at least the CV Link Conceptual Master Plan to understand the current state of the project.
  
  
• Stan Henry unupposed for 2016 mayor: "Yes, I support CV Link, and feel it will give the residents of Cathedral City better opportunities to use other sources of transportation in a safe environment to get around the valley and safe physical exercise. We had a Cathedral City disabled resident testify that he rides a bike every day from Cathedral City to College of the Desert and he is looking forward to the CV Link to have a safe path to get to school. If you look at the Valley’s tourism studies, it shows people are looking for other safe outdoor recreational facilities like CV Link. With Cathedral City having four major hotels along the route of CV Link this is a great opportunity for us to market to these tourists. We held a local community meeting regarding CV Link, and the majority was in favor."
  
  Henry is among three candidates with unequivocal support of CV Link. I suggest that voters use this endorsement along with other considerations in their decision November 8.
  
  
• Greg Pettis winner, 2016 with 39%: "I support CV Link. Any additional recreation opportunities for our residents is welcome. We have a higher rate of obesity than some of our neighbors so this will also help in that regard. Additionally, the bike path is slated to run through one of our most economically challenged neighborhoods giving them an avenue for recreation that they may not have otherwise."
  
  Pettis is among three candidates with unequivocal support of CV Link. I hesitate with endorsement because he evidently considers CV Link to be merely a recreational amenity, rather than a necessary transportation corridor.
  
  

Of course, there were other questions. See more at the Desert Sun Election Questionnaire. Meanwhile, the first segment of what will be CV Link is coming to Cathedral City in the next few months, from Vista Chino to Ramon Road. The map of the full, planned CV Link through the city is at the right.