Community Overview & Government Day Session

By Joe Iniguez, CASA of Tulare County

Like embarking on a ship for the first time, Mr. Walter Deissler christened our commissioning not by the breaking of an expensive bottle of wine on the buttocks of a ship, but by melting our hearts and brisking our minds with the exciting future and importance of preserving historical heritage. Establishing the City of Visalia Historic Preservation Ordinance and being a founding member of Visalia Heritage, Mr. Deissler passionately yet humbly shared how ordinances preserve the exteriors of Victorian-style homes located in the historical district of Visalia for future generations to enjoy. 

Train robberies, ladies of the night, and jailbreaks seemed to be an unknown part of Visalia’s historical past. As we gayly trotted behind Mr. Terry Ommen (author and historian and our guide for the day), the thirteen members of our cohort imaginatively encountered the smells of the tobacco-spit-covered floors of saloons and smoke from the fires that brought so many buildings to their demise during the late 1800’s. We heard the train whistles blowing as they loaded and unloaded freight and passengers at the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe Depots. From the Rocky Pointe excavated granite that decorates the curbs to the opium-smoke-filled basements of Chinatown, it was pleasing to see how enriching the past makes the present.

When potholes, floods, or chickens threaten the livelihood and safety of your homes, do you ignore such nuisances and assume that eventually someone from the city will come and take care of it? What can Visalia residents do about such issues? Well, attend a Visalia City Council meeting to ensure that your voice is heard respectfully. We had the privileged opportunity of receiving a “crash course” on the inner workings of how “things get done” in Visalia. Mayor Brian Poochigian, County of Tulare Supervisor for District 3, Mrs. Amy Shuklian, and Policy Analyst for Senator Shannon Grove, Mrs. Shannon Major, educated the cohort on the process of ordinances, legislation, and resolving issues at the city, county, and state level. I myself was surprised to learn how accessible our representatives at the city and county levels are. One of the memorable moments was how the panel spoke of establishing “friendships” and relationships to make that personal connection with constituents. “Relationships are invaluable,” stated Mrs. Shuklian. Another emphasized point to note was that the best thing a resident or leader-in-formation can do is to “Get involved.”

The icing on the cake was the Mock Visalia City Council meeting we held. Yours truly dramatically volunteered to present himself as one of five council members for the dramatization. Councilman, Steve Nelsen and City Manager, Leslie Caviglia of the City of Visalia were our instructors for the activity. It was nice to see how a real meeting might be conducted. One can easily be dismayed by the jargon and vernacular of legal procedural proceedings but take heart and know that such meetings are led by council members who take the time to sincerely guide you and listen to you when you participate; especially if it is your first time. 

There was so much information and insight shared at our first Day Session. I know that my explanation of such events and happenings merely scratch the surface, but I trust that the journey the cohort has embarked on will come with its waves of challenges. It may seem at times that the ship has been shredded by the waves, and we find ourselves clinging to pieces of the shipwrecked wood afloat in the sea of the unknown. I hope and trust that we will always be there for each other as we navigate our way through the foggy murky water toward the land of becoming strong future leaders.