Jonathan Becerra Seeks Vacant Seat in Indio

Jonathan Becerra Seeks to Represent District 4

INDIO — Jonathan Becerra, who was raised in District 4, is now looking to represent it on the City Council. He is seeking the seat Oscar Ortiz now holds. Ortiz did not seek reelection.

Becerra and one other candidate are contending far the seat, Each was asked a series of identical questions. Following are Becerra’s unedited answers,

Uken Report (UR): Why are you a better candidate than your opponent?

Jonathan Becerra: I’m the best candidate for the position of District 4’s Indio City Council Member for a number of reasons: I was raised in district 4; I’ve been previously elected by District 4 residents; I served them, and Indio, when I was elected in 2020 to the Desert Recreation District Board; I’ve organized for meaningful change in Indio this year against ICE and Data Centers and for Indios first ever Pride event; and, I have a clear vision for Indio’s future and a plan to help the working class families and residents of Indio. Those are all reasons why I feel I’m the best candidate for Indio City Council in District 4.

UR: Would you ever approve a data center in Indio? Why or why not?

Jonathan Becerra: I would not approve a data center centers in Indio. I’ve organized all year against data centers in Indio and Coachella and the County. The “potential benefits” of building data centers in Indio are far outweighed by the threat to quality of life, property values, water, agriculture land, environment, mental/physical health and more. We do not want data centers in Indio.

UR: What is your vision for the city?

Jonathan Becerra: My vision for the city is one that prioritizes the people and working-class families who live here. Where we have affordable housing because we’ve made great partners with local organizations and regional partners. Where we have affordable childcare and universal pre-k because we’ve directly tapped into the success of the large events on behalf of our youth and families. Where we have more beautiful streets, sidewalks and bike lanes that allows us to enjoy district 4 more comfortably and more safely. Where we’ve prevented data center, hyper-scale warehouses and mass surveillance from taking away what makes our city great: the people living here and their loved ones. My vision for Indio is where we can grow and create more diverse development that doesn’t forget that this city’s people and their future are the true priority.

UR: How much do you plan to spend on your campaign? Keep in mind your spending and contributions are public record.

Jonathan Becerra: This race can be won with the right strategy for under 20k. My goal is to focus on initial fundraising efforts to connect with voters on the ground and in meaningful ways through digital and social outlets. My campaign will not accept corporate PAC money or corporate developer money.

UR: Who or what prompted you to run?

Jonathan Becerra: When I learned Oscar Ortiz wasn’t running, I knew we needed to maintain the work he, myself and other organizers started during his first race in 2018. I knew we still needed someone who was gonna fight for affordable house, fight for district 4’s streets and parks. I knew we needed someone who was gonna continue to fight ICE and mega warehouses. I then had a conversation with my opponent after he reached out via Instagram for a coffee chat. I had already been talking to local leaders about running by this time; and I had already started working on the platform I wanted to make part of District 4s election conversation (affordable housing, checks on AI & data centers, affordable childcare, etc. During my chat with my opponent, I heard him talk about himself for about 30 minutes, but without any clear vision for Indio and without him really giving a clear sense of what his principles were or who he was. Then, he asked if I would support him and said that he needed people like me (locals with experience in the community) around his circle to make sure he was in touch with Indio and the people of Indio’s needs. I said I was considering running and that changed his responses to me immediately and effectively ended the conversation. We left the coffee meeting separately and I decided right then and there that I was running. I knew that we wouldn’t have the leadership we needed with my opponent and that we would if I was on City Council instead of him. That’s when I decided to run, but every days since then I’m reminded of more reasons to run for and win District 4’s city council seat; especially, when I’m talking to residents and walking my district.

UR: Is there a project unique to your district? What will you do about it?

Jonathan Becerra: There’s a certain neighborhood in District 4 (Palo Verde neighborhood across from Kenner Elementary) that hasn’t had sidewalks in decades. It’s my personal goal to finally get them a real and beautiful sidewalk. That neighborhood and a bunch of other street level improvements (a restroom at shields park, new/safer bike lanes, new street safety features and more) are what I want to focus on on top of the Monroe Bridge and Pawley Pool. Myself and other District 4 members are happy and proud of Indio’s overall growth, but we can also clearly see the parts of District 4 that have been left behind in that growth. I plan to rectify that when I’m elected to Indio City Council.

UR: What is the best quality about your opponent(s)?

Jonathan Becerra: I think it’s nice that he wants to be a leader in the city he moved to so recently; it shows Indio has made a good impression on him.

UR: Is it appropriate for members of the City Council to campaign against a fellow councilmember without really saying why? Why or why not?

Jonathan Becerra:  I believe in free speech and the first amendment; but I also believe people should be ready for the consequences that come from their words and actions. If any member of the community, including Council Members, want to campaign or run against or with other council members (on non official time) then they should. But they should also do their best to communicate their intentions and actions to the community they serve when appropriate.