Fontana mayoral race challenger Joz Sida said he would push to stop new warehouse construction, make Fontana a sanctuary city and lift the street vendor ban. He laid out those priorities as the race nears its end, giving voters a clearer view of what he would try to change if elected.
He also said residents should judge him by whether daily life improves. Sida said they would see “a shift in the culture and acceptance of people,” along with “a sense of belonging and respect,” and he tied that standard to access to city government, safety, a stronger small business economy and pride in Fontana.
Joz Sida and the warehouse moratorium
Sida said, “First, I will work with the city council to ensure we push for a moratorium on construction of warehouses when we have many that are empty.” That proposal would require council action, not a unilateral order from the mayor, because any pause would have to move through the city’s governing body.
He paired that position with a broader focus on transportation and air quality. Sida said, “I would expand our public transportation system because it is crucial for our communities to be able to not worry about getting to and from work, school or appointments.” He added, “That means I’ll make air quality a priority for public health.”
Warehouse development in Fontana has already raised concerns about air pollution, truck traffic and public health. Sida’s moratorium push puts that complaint at the center of his campaign, while also arguing that transit and air quality should be addressed together rather than as separate issues.
Sanctuary city status in Fontana
Sida said, “Ultimately, I intend to make Fontana a sanctuary city so that our entire city is safe from being harassed and or taken away by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).” He tied that pledge to public safety, saying, “I support public safety as an all inclusive policy.”
He also said, “I will protect our communities from gun violence by pushing for more training and more action in a buy back program.” The proposal adds another layer to his campaign platform by linking immigration policy, neighborhood safety and gun violence prevention under one set of priorities.
For residents, the practical issue is not only the label but the city actions that would follow. A sanctuary city promise would depend on how Fontana handles cooperation, access and communication in city government, and Sida made that part of his pitch by saying people should be able to use city services without fear.
Street vendors and city meetings
Sida said he would also change how city government operates day to day. “Second, I will move city council meetings to 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Tuesdays of every month,” he said, presenting access to government as one of his top three priorities.
His third priority was street vending. Sida said, “Lastly, I will lift the ordinance ban on street vendors and help them get the proper permits by ensuring we are meeting them where they are and communicating effectively and with humanity.” That would mean replacing a ban with a permit process, so vendors would need to comply with city rules rather than be excluded from operating altogether.
Inland Empire Community News asked both candidates the same questions during the current Fontana mayoral race. Mayor Acquanetta Warren had not responded by the time of publication, leaving Sida’s answers as the clearest public explanation of what the challenger says he would change if voters choose him.
Sida said residents would measure him by “the improved quality of life residents will experience, including having access to their city government, feeling safe in their own communities in their city, a thriving small business economy and a place they are proud to be from.”
