CITY OF STOCKTON
Q: What are the main issues your organization is addressing in Stockton?
Seeing Stockton go through bankruptcy (in 2012) was really tough, but what happened as
a result is that the community came together and rallied and supported (measures like the
3/4 cent sales tax in 2013) to forge a pathway out of bankruptcy. Six years later, we were
ranked as the second-most fiscally sound city in the country (in a 2018 report by Truth in
Accounting), which is not by mistake — it’s because of very hard work by great leaders. The
ongoing concern now is making sure we continue to stay on the right track and not re-
create a problem we’ve seen before. Our focus needs to be on collaborating with other
industry leaders and investors to raise Stockton’s profile. We have 80,000 people in the
Central Valley who go over the hill every day (to work in the Bay Area) — we need to create
a better quality of life and opportunities here (to keep our workforce local).
BOB GUTIERREZ
President and CEO
San Joaquin Partnership
Q: What makes Stockton stand out?
In January, Stockton was recognized as the most racially diverse city in the nation (by U.S.
News & World Report). … Our geography also affords us some great opportunities as a
unique place to do business. With the port, deep-water channel, airport, public transport
and commercial-industrial rail systems, and two freeways (Highway 99 and Interstate 5),
we’re the artery of the state.
Q: What developments are you most excited about?
Stockton is in a strategic position to be ahead of the curve with its economic development.
Opportunity zones like the airport corridor, waterfront (which is undergoing significant
transformation) and downtown are growing. Construction and housing development inter-
ests are coming back after being in a holding pattern.
Q: What are the main issues your organization is addressing in Stockton?
Stockton is no different from the rest of California: There’s a lack of funding generated at
the state level to support and continue the progress we’ve made (as a school district). We
need to be prepared for the influx in population that’s coming as people move here from
the Bay Area, which means the state needs to dramatically invest in preschool-through-12
education. We’re also the largest county in California without a California State University
campus, which is totally unacceptable. In order to maintain the dramatic improvements
we’ve already made and continue our focus on college and career readiness to support our
workforce, we need to stick with the initiatives (like professional growth for teachers and
trauma-informed care for students) that are working to lift our community out of poverty.
JOHN E. DEASY
Superintendent
Stockton Unified School District
Editor’s note: At press time, John E. Deasy resigned as
superintendent, and his last day with the district is June 15.
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comstocksmag.com | May 2020