Success for Small Business in California

Salami, pistachios and cheese, an odd combination for success, but it’s working in Fontana, CA as Mayor Acquanetta Warren explains.

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Transcription

David Martin: This is the good government show.

Acquanetta Warren: My came from two great parents that just tried to help everyone.

I’m a war baby. I grew up doing the what’s right. Stood on my porch and saw the businesses burnt down and I swore. Then I’m going to fix this one day. My dad would not let us. Why? He said, don’t cry about it. Don’t talk crap about it. Do something about it. That was the motto in our.

Good government is being transparent to the people you represent, whether it’s bad or good.

Well, I’m not finished. There’s so many more things I want to do, and I’m there because I want to get things done.

We do what you want us to do. And if you don’t say anything, that course goes in a whole different direction. They can’t be on the couch. At. They got to get off the couch and come on. I’m.

David Martin: We can help you. That’s the message the mayor of Fontana, California, has for anyone looking to start their own business in the city. Welcome to the good government show. I’m Dave Martin. Acquanetta Warren is a four term mayor of the city of Fontana in southern California. Fontana, east of LA. Sort of on the way to Palm Springs.

I met her at the Conference of Mayors when she was speaking at the women mayors Leadership Alliance. And let me tell you, as you’ll hear, she has a lot to say. There’s a lot of good government going on in Fontana. Oh, and some really good cookies. First, help us share the message of good government by liking us and sharing us where we are on Facebook, x YouTube, Instagram and blue Sky.

Please share a show with your friends or viewers where you’re listening and join our good Government Show community. Check out our website for the link. Mayor Warren is dynamic. She’s a talker and we love that here on The Good Government Show. First, she explains how they help people who have an idea for business. We say yes. The mayor says when someone comes to the city with an idea, the answer is yes.

We can help you get started. We talk about a homeless issue, an issue many cities are struggling with. Here’s an update. And Fontana mayor Warren recently cut the ribbon on a 78 unit apartment building that provides rental assistance for people transitioning out of homelessness. And by the way, she talks about her starring role on the TV show Undercover Boss.

Yeah, she went undercover and did a lot of city jobs. And you hear about that? Go to our website and check out the link and you can watch. Coming up, my conversation with Fontana, California mayor, Acquanetta Warren.

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Welcome to the Good Government Show. And I am right now talking with Mayor Acquanetta Warren of Fontana, California. Welcome to the Good Government Show.

Acquanetta Warren: Thank you for having me.

David Martin: Now we are here at the Conference of Mayors, and I just heard you speak a little bit about empowering women in business, which is good government. And you talked about your favorite things. I think they were salami.

Acquanetta Warren: Cheese.

David Martin: Pistachio cheese and salami.

Acquanetta Warren: Right. We have a, company that came in.

David Martin: Well, tell me a little bit about what it is you’re doing because it sounds like a government.

Acquanetta Warren: It is good government because we’re empowering women to take on these reins of being empowered. Yes. And making sure their businesses are successful. And a lot of them come in my office. They want to start a business, but they don’t have those essentials like insurance or that capital, or they’ve got a great idea and they’ve been told they can’t do it.

We don’t say that when they come. We say, we can help you and we have different resources.

David Martin: So tell me a little bit about that. When someone says, we can’t help you, what do you do? How can you help?

Acquanetta Warren: Well, we have a loan program. It’s called a Fontana Empowerment Success loan, where we have people apply. And as a result of that, we give them resources. We have a group we work with call and back business services. They will go in and look at their spreadsheet, help them with a little marketing, various essentials that they need to really make their business successful.

Most of these have been in their garages, or they’ve been in the kitchen or they’ve been in, brother in law’s back room. I mean, I’ve heard them all. Yeah. And we bring them out and we tell them you got a chance. Here, work with us and let’s see if we can get going for you.

David Martin: Did you work in business yourself? Do you? Is this a soft spot for you?

Acquanetta Warren: It is. I was in banking for 16 years. And cash management services. All I did was rescue businesses.

David Martin: So you are uniquely qualified as mayor now to help other people in their business?

Acquanetta Warren: Absolutely. I tell them, the first thing you got to do is see what you want to achieve and get there.

David Martin: What are you proud of? Stuff with some of these women. Now tell me about some of the businesses you’ve helped prosper.

Acquanetta Warren: Well, you know, I tell you, one of the biggest things that a mayor can do is first participate with the business. For instance, we have a company called Cookie Jar. I always tried it. Cookie jar. I always try to order a cookie. Something that sounds.

David Martin: Good.

Acquanetta Warren: Come to our program and they see your cookies. I remember when I first became mayor, she showed up at our church. They did a new season program with all the pastors in the community. Right. And she was our refreshments and the cookies. They had my picture on them. And I was like, where do these cookies come from? And I said that too.

And I looked around, so you.

David Martin: See where you are. Is that good enough to you?

Acquanetta Warren: Yeah, that’s what it’s all about. You are cooking chocolate chip with nuts. You’re my friend.

David Martin: Sure.

Acquanetta Warren: So I told everybody about it. So now.

David Martin: She’s not to this, all.

Acquanetta Warren: Right. She’s got to have not stop to.

David Martin: All right.

Acquanetta Warren: It’s the texture. Sure, but I got to tell you, when mayors start locally, hiring those businesses to do things for the city or for their events, people pay attention. So we begin to market people’s products for them.

David Martin: And are you. I think you are a part of a nationwide committee.

Acquanetta Warren: Yes. I’m the vice chair of the Women’s Mayors Network. What else should we be doing? We should be empowering women.

David Martin: This is what we should be doing. Yes. Tell me about some of the stuff that you’ve seen across the nation that really inspires you.

Acquanetta Warren: During Covid, I saw women stand up and take on the ran. You know, people took off work, they were doing homeschooling, they were cooking for elderly people that could not cook for themselves. They were assisting people that needed rides in our community alone. Every time I looked up, the volunteers were mostly women and they were not planned around.

What do you need, mayor? What can we do? And it was just wonderful passing out mass. The police department and I partnered and we had so many masks, I refuse to wear one now. It’s too many masks. They’re all over the place. But those.

David Martin: Masks. Well, they were.

Acquanetta Warren: Yeah, they were important. But giving them out to people that didn’t have the funding. Yeah, it made a big difference. It really did.

David Martin: So tell me about the town of Fontana, California. Your you’re, out east of Los Angeles, I think.

Acquanetta Warren: We’re 65 miles east of Los Angeles, but we’re are still was during the World War two. All right. The Japanese fighters couldn’t get there, so we had to steel market. We also are home to the largest Kaiser in the United States. They got their start in Fontana. Get it? Kaiser steel, Kaiser hospital.

David Martin: Okay.

Acquanetta Warren: We want to make sure that people had medical services. So they are our largest employer. We also have.

David Martin: 50. So everybody everybody in Fontana is healthy.

Acquanetta Warren: Well, let’s we’re working on that. We have some healthy Fontana and it’s going really well. We’re 6 million steps. We’re also participating the National Health Services. We also participate in all the healthy programs at the mayor’s conference. What’s on, and we play ball.

David Martin: What do you mean you play ball?

Acquanetta Warren: We have all our boys and girls clubs come together in Fontana and we play ball. We teach and expose our young people to baseball.

David Martin: Baseball.

Acquanetta Warren: The biggest sports in the United States. We’re bringing it back.

David Martin: Are you a baseball player yourself?

Acquanetta Warren: I think I.

David Martin: Am, yeah. Do you play.

Acquanetta Warren: Only at church picnics?

David Martin: That’s okay. Where do they wear? What position do you play?

Acquanetta Warren: Keep the ball from hitting me in the head because everybody.

David Martin: Wants me to throw the first pitch.

Acquanetta Warren: And these people are a superstar. I’m like, wait a minute. I are hitting the ball to my head.

David Martin: So do you really throw the first pitch out?

Acquanetta Warren: I throw the first pitch out.

David Martin: And how’s your. How’s your arm? How do you do?

Acquanetta Warren: I think it’s much better.

David Martin: Do you practice.

Acquanetta Warren: Of course not.

David Martin: Yet. Come on.

Acquanetta Warren: Yeah, well, you know, I went to, school in South Los Angeles, and that was our only, you know, recreation we get at the park, and we all play balls. I think I’m pretty good.

David Martin: All right, so you did. Okay. Tell me about Fontana. What’s happening there? What’s the.

Acquanetta Warren: Problem?

David Martin: It’s a big issue that you’re dealing.

Acquanetta Warren: The biggest issue is homelessness right now, which I have equated to public safety, I’m sure. And so we make public safety our number one priority. Our police department is second to none. Our fire department is second to none. And our public safety is the ones out there working with the homeless. And so now we have 15 officers on the I call on the land every day, 24 seven making sure that we’re addressing their needs.

And so we just open up a place we call the path is going to have 120 beds. We’ve got about 60 people there now, and we’ve already had people graduate into permanent housing.

David Martin: How does one graduate from permanent housing?

Acquanetta Warren: You show a plan, we give you a path. Yeah. We work with you to get a job. Why should we think you’re a little bit sus, you know, self-sufficient. And we put you in more programing and we’re putting all that together with our local county partners and we’re seeing results. Very good results.

David Martin: You’re seeing results.

Acquanetta Warren: Already, right? People fall down, but they come back okay. We don’t give up on anybody.

David Martin: No. I have a feeling you don’t give up. You’re sort of relentless. Just a guess.

Acquanetta Warren: I’m a pest. I’m an educated.

David Martin: Pest. Okay?

Acquanetta Warren: That’s what they.

David Martin: Say. Well, I heard you speak, and we’ve. We’ve talked for a few minutes now, but I have a feeling, you know, you don’t know what’s goodbye.

Acquanetta Warren: But, you know, we have to help these people. I tell our public, these are our family members. They’re our friends. They are our neighbors. Yeah. These people didn’t just show up for Mars. They belong to us. So once we find that you’re from Fontana, or you have a tie to Fontana, we’re all in. We’re going to help you.

But we have those that don’t want help. We haven’t given up on them. We just keep asking them. Our officers have told me it takes up to 60 contacts sometimes. But we have a coast team. They have a dog, and that dog brings more homeless people in than anybody else.

David Martin: Why is that?

Acquanetta Warren: Because people can relate to animals, okay? And we get them talking about when they were younger, they had a dog. And next thing you know, you’ve developed a relationship. And that’s where our officers tune in and say, look, don’t you want to come in? Don’t you want to change? Don’t you want shelter? We have another program called bridge of Hope.

We just took 42 people out of their vehicles that they were living in that were women and children particularly. And got them in these homes, and now they’re excelling.

David Martin: In your career. It sounds like you’ve almost gone from being, business finance, banking person to a social worker.

Acquanetta Warren: But, you know, I.

David Martin: Started that is that is.

Acquanetta Warren: That.

David Martin: Was not inaccurate.

Acquanetta Warren: That’s not inaccurate with my came from two great parents that just tried to help everyone. And we were looking for.

David Martin: Public.

Acquanetta Warren: Service. No, not at all. My dad was an aircraft and my mom would stay at home.

David Martin: Okay.

Acquanetta Warren: But when it came to people’s needs, they actively at each other. And so it was not unusual for us to be collecting clothing and things to help people that were coming because they came from the South.

David Martin: Okay.

Acquanetta Warren: And so they believed when you come from the South, you need to come back. Clarence Ruby in Harrison’s house for a meal and see how we can help.

David Martin: All right. So. So there was always a guest at the table.

Acquanetta Warren: He was always a guest at the table.

David Martin: Okay.

Acquanetta Warren: And they look and say, we don’t have enough food for these people. You know, they became Jesus with the fish. So it was enough.

David Martin: To have hold back. That’s right. Is is sometimes what you heard. Did it come natural to you to sort of make this? I mean, because when you’re a banker, you’re about money, you’re about, you know.

Acquanetta Warren: Well, I wasn’t going to be I went to school for urban planning, okay. And political science. So I worked for Tom Bradley and I was on as you, the advisory council. And on the weekends as we did, we helped with drug rehabilitation patients. We helped with teaching the gang members to stop killing each other. And let’s get along here.

David Martin: So you’ve been.

Acquanetta Warren: I’ve been active a long time. I always tell people I’m a war baby. I grew up in the Watts riot, stood on my porch and saw the businesses burnt down, and I swore, then I’m going to fix this. One day. My dad would not let us wine. He said, don’t cry about it. Don’t talk crap about it. Do something about it.

That was the motto in our house.

David Martin: That’s what, that’s what. That’s what your parents taught you.

Acquanetta Warren: That’s what they taught us. So I was always looking for projects that allow me to work with people. So I love people and whatever they need I’m going to do.

David Martin: How did you get from Los Angeles to Fontana?

Acquanetta Warren: Well, I lived in Compton when I got married, okay. And there was so much going on there. And the last riot with Rodney King, my ex-husband said, we got to get our kids out of here before one. They become gang members, and two, somebody killed you because you won’t get out of. And that didn’t last long. When I moved to Fontana, they were trying to raise money.

David Martin: That’s what he was saying? Yeah. Accurate.

Acquanetta Warren: Yeah. He said I got to get my wife out of Compton.

David Martin: It’s all right. Probably. Probably a good thing. Yeah. What’s fun? What’s Fontana like is this. Is this the desert?

Acquanetta Warren: Is this is this part right out of Palm Springs, too? But the difference in Fontana is we are a working community, okay? We have the largest footprint of manufacturing, warehouse, industrial. So everybody can work there. You can live there, you can work there, and you can play there. We’re trying to keep that model going. All right. And it’s family oriented.

So we do all of our programing around families. And it makes a difference because we don’t want our kids hanging out. So that’s why we wanted all these parks.

David Martin: Sure.

Acquanetta Warren: No excuse. Plenty of things to do.

David Martin: What’s your biggest challenge?

Acquanetta Warren: Biggest challenge. And making sure that people know about what we’re doing?

David Martin: Well, I’m here to help.

Acquanetta Warren: Okay.

David Martin: But the.

Acquanetta Warren: Other part is has everybody.

David Martin: Listen in town?

Acquanetta Warren: That’s right. Oh, yeah. They will.

David Martin: We’ll put it.

Acquanetta Warren: On our.

David Martin: Connected. Good good.

Acquanetta Warren: Good. The other big challenge is making sure we keep people safe. And so that’s why we invest in our police department to make sure they have all the tools. And we also invest in our community so they know to tell us what’s going on. So I have a great working relationship to the point I can’t hardly go to the market because everybody’s all over me when I’m walking around.

David Martin: I was going to say, so does it take you a while to go pick up milk and eggs?

Acquanetta Warren: Yes.

David Martin: Oh, yes. Yeah.

Acquanetta Warren: But we have a challenge going on because we’re always doing something people want to be a part of. So they’ll come to the office and ask, how can I help you later? So it’s really good.

David Martin: I look out, I was talking to a barista while a while back at his wife has forbid, have to go to the hardware store ever again. You know, you say, I’ll go to the hardware store. I’ll be right back.

Acquanetta Warren: Come back?

David Martin: Exactly. You’re back three hours later. So no, you can’t do that. But, you.

Acquanetta Warren: Know, I had the pleasure of being undercover boss, and it showed how great our city really was. Oh, and we dealt with, subjects that usually don’t have, like, before I came to this.

David Martin: You’re on. Wait a minute. You are an undercover boss? Yes. Wow.

Acquanetta Warren: I had a ball. I bet not during that time. It’s like 20 degrees outside Miami, working with fire and sewer and the parks and the, you know, police department. It was. It was an adventure. I found out things that I didn’t know about. And it was right after the pandemic, so gave me a good view of what we should spend our American rescue money for.

David Martin: We are talking in January of 2025. The fires in Los Angeles are raging. Your city jumped in to help out?

Acquanetta Warren: Absolutely. Yeah. We also have a lot of our, community minded people collecting to take things out there. When I was in college at Occidental College, I lived in Altadena. And the house I lived in, the, gentleman down the street sent me a copy of it burned down. That really.

David Martin: Hurt me. Oh, but but you’re far right.

Acquanetta Warren: We’re far removed in that we’re not there physically, but mentally and, supportive wise. Our city is with LA 100%. You hear me say LA strong. Altadena strong. Yeah. Those communities have to come back. And I will support LA County and the city of LA. Karen Bass, the mayor and any way we can to help them get back on their feet.

David Martin: All right. Well, in a minute we’re going to we’re going to hear your true philosophy of what government means to you. So take a breath, okay? We’re going to come back to that.

Acquanetta Warren: Okay.

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David Martin: We’re now going to find out what you truly think of government. Are you ready?

Acquanetta Warren: I’m ready.

David Martin: There’s no homework. Here is just you how you feel.

Acquanetta Warren: You be careful.

David Martin: All right. What is good government to you? Define it.

Acquanetta Warren: Good government is being transparent to the people you represent, whether it’s bad or good.

David Martin: That’s it.

Acquanetta Warren: Well, also, you need to get things done and not be Partizan. I don’t like Partizan politics.

David Martin: Well, the one thing I hear all the time is I don’t care if you’re a dear at R, I want the pothole fix.

Acquanetta Warren: That’s right. And the street sweeper doesn’t say I’m only doing it for the R’s. I’m doing it for these. I think that has crippled America, I really do. Yeah. And we as mayors are determined not to let this type more progress. So when the president just said that he sent the mighty directly to cities, we fought for that because we didn’t want our money massaged by the state.

David Martin: So we just heard from President Biden, who spoke, I think, one of his last probably public speeches, and he said he delivered to the to the city. Thank you for the thank the city for doing the work.

Acquanetta Warren: And the other part is he allow me to speak to represent all the mayors and all the governors at the bipartisan infrastructure signing. And I let the roof off the top, because I was so happy that it was bipartisan and that we were moving forward. The infrastructure United States is is past. There. See some I agree with me.

David Martin: There you go. So how do you judge your success not just getting elected or reelected, but how do you how do you how do you decide if you’re doing a good job week to week, month to month?

Acquanetta Warren: People will come up to me and thank me for things that I don’t. I had nothing to do, but I do.

David Martin: You say thank you, I sure do. Okay, there’s.

Acquanetta Warren: And I tell you, no, I didn’t do that directly. But we were an influence on that and I’m glad that you’re enjoying that.

David Martin: And if they don’t like what they’re getting, how do they hold you accountable?

Acquanetta Warren: They come right up in my face and tell me, trust me, our meetings are really a lot of fun.

David Martin: Sometimes. Yes, they come right up to you at the back, at the grocery store.

Acquanetta Warren: Or at church, or if I’m doing some of my grandkids, they’ll whisper it because they don’t want to scare them. But and then people email me, text me, direct message.

David Martin: Or at the baseball game.

Acquanetta Warren: At the baseball game, we had a power outage during all of this stuff going on in LA. Yeah, and I tried to call everyone back, tried to answer every email, every direct message to you. I do, I try my best. All right, I mentioned I get to them all.

David Martin: So if people don’t think you, you know, they’re getting good government, the government, they want the government they feel that they should have, what should they do?

Acquanetta Warren: They should show up and say that. But don’t just say it. Tell them what their thoughts are. And that’s what we try to do. We have a number of councils, like I have a homeless council with various community leaders around our city as well as providers, and they are telling and giving us information about our policy. The other thing is we have our Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council, the youth, they are the most outspoken part of our community.

They have no qualms about the way they handle things. They will tell you straight out, you’re lousy. You’re not doing what I need done. And I’m young and I need you. And we sit down and we talk and I make a friend.

David Martin: And you have to listen to them.

Acquanetta Warren: I have to listen to them. And then we also have my education.

David Martin: Programs that bring youth into government.

Acquanetta Warren: Oh, yes. Our youth advisory council, we have different boards that they can participate in. We work with the county making sure that the young people know what the county does, what the city does.

David Martin: Has any of that led to real, actual change?

Acquanetta Warren: Oh, yes. Like that for instance. They want the cigaret butts off the park. That was a big deal to these young people.

David Martin: Sure.

Acquanetta Warren: And we worked with them and got them off the park. We stop having people smoke in the park. Can’t smoke in the park now.

David Martin: And that’s cleaned it all up.

Acquanetta Warren: Yes, cleaned it all up. And the kids were.

David Martin: Happy, I bet. So you’ve said you’ve been mayor for or how long now?

Acquanetta Warren: 14. Let’s see. Going on 15 years term.

David Martin: Fourth term? Yes. Good to keep going.

Acquanetta Warren: I think so. I’m gonna run again.

David Martin: Okay.

Acquanetta Warren: I’m second I get five. All right. I think I’ll get it.

David Martin: All right, well, your staff is steady here to the right there. Now, you had a guy. Yep yep yep. So.

Acquanetta Warren: Well, I’m not finished. There’s so many more things I want to do. And I’m there because I want to get things done. And we are venturing in our downtown area and with our homeless programs and housing.

David Martin: How has the city changed since you took over?

Acquanetta Warren: People tell me it’s 100% better. Basically, I was on the council in 2002. I was first African-American appointed. Right. I’m the first African-American mayor. Female.

David Martin: Really.

Acquanetta Warren: So first female too. So I got, you know, they got a double whammy.

David Martin: So two for one with.

Acquanetta Warren: Two for one. Yeah, that’s a better way to say it.

David Martin: Okay.

Acquanetta Warren: But people when you look at the progress of more jobs coming to our town where you don’t have to drive to L.A. or Orange County to work, that’s major. When you look at.

David Martin: That’s a two hour drive.

Acquanetta Warren: Yes, it.

David Martin: Is. And even though it’s only like Miles.

Acquanetta Warren: And, you know, environmental size, something like that, you’re not doing this. You’re not doing that. As, can I get credit for taking people off the freeway at least? Come on. Yeah.

David Martin: And do you get credit for taking people because away. Wait a.

Acquanetta Warren: Little bit. I get credit for that.

David Martin: Is it is it those giant windmills? Is that in here?

Acquanetta Warren: You know.

David Martin: Okay, that’s.

Acquanetta Warren: The fate of those. By the way, their twilight zone. And at night I, my cousin lives out there. And I went to visit him one night. And I swear, the invention of the light. I can’t think about that woman going to come out of nowhere and grab my car up. I was terrified.

David Martin: You know that won’t happen, right?

Acquanetta Warren: I hope not.

David Martin: So, four terms as mayor, what would you like people to know about government that they don’t know from an insider’s perspective?

Acquanetta Warren: We do what you want us to do, and if you don’t say anything, that course goes in a whole different direction. They have to be involved. They can’t be on the couch. Look at it. They got to get off the couch and come on here.

David Martin: That’s hard, though it is.

Acquanetta Warren: But we’re supposed to make it a comfortable opportunity for them. When I first became mayor, the first thing I did was town hall meetings. They were, wow. Yeah. But a lot came out of that that gave those people power, and they still are using that power. Let me know exactly what they want.

David Martin: But you’ve got a family, you’ve got kids, you’ve got homework, you’ve got school, you’ve got grass to cut, you’ve got and cars face up.

Acquanetta Warren: We have Instagram, we have Twitter, we have a, low social cable.

David Martin: It’s a really a good feedback system.

Acquanetta Warren: I think it is because particularly when they direct message you and give you details, I always tell people, can you email me that and tell me the location? People are not as comfortable as coming out on social media. Most of them are not. But if they see where you answer their direct message, or if they send an email directly to email requesting assistance, it makes a big difference.

And I don’t just say from me, I haul our staff in on that email. I put our city manager first and then whatever department that they’re having a problem with, I make sure that I copy that. A director for that area.

David Martin: The flip side that I’ve heard from others in your position is it’s so easy to complain and spout off on social media. Oh yeah, it isn’t helpful.

Acquanetta Warren: Let me tell you.

David Martin: We so that’s where.

Acquanetta Warren: It gets bad. But sure, we can’t just give up. We have to take the bad with the good. It’s only when it becomes very dangerous threats and things of that, such that people really don’t like the social media part.

David Martin: So do you read about yourself in the papers?

Acquanetta Warren: Oh yeah, all the time.

David Martin: I had and.

Acquanetta Warren: I go, okay, let me, let me do better.

David Martin: Where do you where do you get your news from? What do you.

Acquanetta Warren: Most of.

David Martin: It?

Acquanetta Warren: What I find out is people don’t have a problem telling me directly I get a lot of letters.

David Martin: Okay.

Acquanetta Warren: And I.

David Martin: And where do you get your news from?

Acquanetta Warren: My news comes from our local newspaper.

David Martin: Okay, but.

Acquanetta Warren: People really aren’t in there as much. But the reporters do report on the progress of the city. And then my state of the city is the biggest event for me for the year.

David Martin: Okay.

Acquanetta Warren: And I try to invite every time more regular citizens, not just the business community. And we put that out on all of our networks and we get comments.

David Martin: And what you read about yourself and your state of the city. Would you read the paper, go with at the same conference I was there? Do you listen?

Acquanetta Warren: No, actually, I’ve been really lobbied. Don’t switch my luck, dude. I’m really lucky. But, you know, it’s always that comment.

David Martin: We we shell see. Okay.

Acquanetta Warren: I love when people say we shall see. And I get to go back to them. Say, I told you I was going to do this and look what happened.

David Martin: Who’s your political hero? Who inspires you?

Acquanetta Warren: Boy, I’ve got several.

David Martin: Go ahead. Well, yes. Ed Bradley, you could start with.

Acquanetta Warren: Tom.

David Martin: Bradley. Bradley. Sorry.

Acquanetta Warren: He’s my. He was my mentor.

David Martin: Yeah.

Acquanetta Warren: And a lady named Olivia Mitchell. I tell everybody she’s my godmother. Yes, she’s worked for the city of L.A. probably over 50 years.

David Martin: Okay.

Acquanetta Warren: If not 55. And she. When I was, teenager, she picked me for the district attorney’s youth advisory council.

David Martin: Okay.

Acquanetta Warren: And just seen a woman that looked like me to maneuver and allow us to go to all of these events to learn how to help people. It’s just been a mark on my life. It just made a big difference.

David Martin: All right.

Acquanetta Warren: And I’m a Ronald Reagan fan. My dad was a closet Republican. He worked in aircraft.

David Martin: And dad was a closet.

Acquanetta Warren: He was, in our family on Saturdays, my mom would make chili, and the whole family would come over. But then the women always got in the living room. Just the women? Yes. And talked about President Kennedy and Doctor King and all the things going on then, because, you know, I’m one of those old birds I call myself.

I’ll be 69 in July. So I remember those those times.

David Martin: Yes.

Acquanetta Warren: Am I, Debbie, sit on the edge of the bed with his am FM transit radio listening to the Dodgers?

David Martin: Okay, we’re all Dodger fans.

Acquanetta Warren: And I he would do.

David Martin: Like I should say, the, World Series. Is that great? So, you know, it’s not.

Acquanetta Warren: No, it’s. The Dodger Foundation gave us a dream. You know.

David Martin: I’m from New York, by the way.

Acquanetta Warren: Okay, that you know better.

David Martin: Yes. Goodness. Well, I did congratulate you. I was, you know, tried to back out of this. You didn’t have to turn it back.

Acquanetta Warren: Okay, great.

David Martin: Okay, so.

Acquanetta Warren: I know she’s.

David Martin: She’s your staff is here for the for the Dodgers too. Wonderful.

Acquanetta Warren: But the Dodgers.

David Martin: Are still upset about.

Acquanetta Warren: That. I got 12 shirts. Careful. So what happened? He waved to me to come in, and we sat on the edge of the bed and he just told me, said we got to diversify. And I said, what is that? He said, we have to be on both sides so that we can have work. And that stuck with me.

Okay, so I believe in talking and work with anybody.

David Martin: All right. So your dad inspired you in some way? Yeah.

Acquanetta Warren: He did.

David Martin: You have sort of outlined sort of a long history of service and giving back and looking out for other people. Did you always envision a career in politics?

Acquanetta Warren: Was it? Not at all. I ran from it.

David Martin: You ran from.

Acquanetta Warren: It? Yeah. Because as.

David Martin: I said, urban planning and government was.

Acquanetta Warren: Just I thought I could do studies and help, generate policy. Yeah. Not being in the front of it now. And now here I am. So I’m taking advantage of. All right in the front. Everybody that knows me through the years always laughs. But somebody that ran away from this. Look what happened to me.

David Martin: Look at you. Fontana, California. Southern California. I’ve never been to Fontana.

Acquanetta Warren: You got to.

David Martin: Come, I got it, okay. What do we have it? Where are we going? What’s for dinner?

Acquanetta Warren: Okay, I tell you, I just finished making gumbo. You know, I got some Cajun, so I like fried fish.

David Martin: You a gumbo? Okay. Gumbo.

Acquanetta Warren: Barbecue is going to be all on there. That’s how healthy Fontana got started. The mayor at that time was so obnoxious. And Kaiser came out to talk to me because I was a new council person. Everybody had a passion. Yeah. So I said, I’m Oprah Winfrey and I’m gonna put fat on a big old trailer and everybody lose weight with me.

And they came in and told me the statistics for women, for heart disease and the amount of children with diabetes. I went to tour the school and there was a long line at the nurse’s office. I said, what’s wrong? Why aren’t they doing recess? They said, they’re diabetic. They need their insulin. That touched my heart. So we did a healthy Fontana program, which ended up being one of the first visits.

David Martin: Michelle Obama brisket with nosotros and gravy.

Acquanetta Warren: Yeah, we’re gonna get it off, but we’re gonna eat, and then we’re gonna go for a walk, okay?

David Martin: All right.

Acquanetta Warren: And we’re going to be moderate on it.

David Martin: We’re going to be just a little taste. Take the wood.

Acquanetta Warren: Take the majority home. As long as I don’t see you eat it, I’m good.

But I love to cook. I love to entertain it. Yeah. My bad.

David Martin: What do you cook? What? Your. What do you. What?

Acquanetta Warren: You’re special. My specialty is my, gumbo. My chili. People fly in to get my gumbo.

David Martin: People fly in December. Yep.

Acquanetta Warren: They love my gumbo.

David Martin: I to get your home address before we’re. Does, It’s the good government show. We always bring it back to good government. Tell me about a project that you’ve created as mayor that you’re really excited about.

Acquanetta Warren: You know, we have a program called Fontana Walks, and that’s the 6 million steps.

David Martin: Okay, I.

Acquanetta Warren: Said everybody can walk, but we need to walk together. And there are a lot of great conversations they can bring you for babies. And we just have a great time walking. And I get a lot of feedback when those lots people will come to the walks just so they can talk to me and the other council members.

David Martin: Wow. The whole city council does it with you.

Acquanetta Warren: Yeah, well, what two of them want want, but they lease it up on the stage and wait.

David Martin: Check it. That motivated a little bit. Not even a little bit.

Acquanetta Warren: I have tried, trust me.

David Martin: All right, well, listen, it’s been a pleasure meeting you and talking with you, mayor at a Warren of Fontana, California. Keep up the good work. I have a feeling you will, really excited to hear, some of the stuff that you did with some of the women in business, which is what I try.

Acquanetta Warren: We’re not finished. This is just.

David Martin: To talk to you about that. So thanks for coming. Thanks. Good to meet you. Thanks for coming on the show.

Acquanetta Warren: All right. Thank you. It’s a.

David Martin: Pleasure. And good luck in Fontana. AD and keep the women in power.

Acquanetta Warren: All right.

David Martin: There you go.

After you get done with this episode, hear more good government stories with our friends at How to Really Run a City for Mayors Kassim Reid of Atlanta and Michael Nutter of Philadelphia, and their co-host, journalist and author Larry Platt talk with guests and other mayors about how to really get stuff done in cities around the nation. Check them out where you’re listening now or through their nonprofit news site, The Philadelphia Citizen.

Dot org slash podcasts.

The city is 100% better. That’s what Mayor Acquanetta Warren says people tell her about how she’s helped improve the city of Fontana, California, over her past four terms as mayor. As you heard, she’s running for mayor again. I liked her answer to what people should know about government. She said, we do what you tell us to.

That means the mayor says you have to get up and get involved. Good advice. So if you have a great idea and want to start a business, you just might want to give mayor Warren a call. That’s our show. Thanks for listening. Please like us and share this with your friends and our viewers right here where you’re listening, and check out our website.

Good government show.com for extras. Help us keep telling stories of good government and action everywhere. Join us again for another episode right here. I’m Dave Martin and this is the Good Government show.

The Good Government show is a Valley Park production. Jim Ludlow, Dave Martin, that’s me and David Snyder are the executive producers. Our show is edited and produced by Jason Stershic. Please subscribe then share and like us and reviews. That’s the best way to make sure we’re able to keep telling these stories of our government working for all of us.

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**This transcription was created using digital tools and has not been edited by a live person. We apologize for any discrepancies or errors.