San Juan Bautista’s always been small, but now city leaders are
hoping to get people to get slow, too, by tossing around the idea
of having the Mission City officially classified as a
”
Slow City.
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San Juan Bautista – San Juan Bautista’s always been small, but now city leaders are hoping to get people to get slow, too, by tossing around the idea of having the Mission City officially classified as a “Slow City.”
As a way to increase tourist revenue and lure people away from the hustle and bustle of city life, San Juan officials have proposed attaching a theme to the city as a marketing tactic. City Manager Jennifer Coile stated via e-mail the idea of being a Slow City would suggest that San Juan is the perfect place to come and relax and generally take it slow.
“I think the Slow City designation would help increase visitors to San Juan Bautista and builds on the county’s natural assets for visitors of readily available organic foods and local wines,” Coile stated. “One of my top priorities is strengthen existing businesses by increasing the number of visitors who linger longer and spend more time and money, so this would fit in with that.”
Coile stated there are about 30 designated Slow Cities worldwide, including towns in Brazil, Japan, Italy and Great Britain, which are part of the cultural movement to embrace a slow-paced life much of America has lost. However, there are no official Slow Cities in the United States yet.
Part of being a Slow City would require San Juan abide by the guidelines outlined in the Slow Food movement, which promotes food and wine culture, along with food and agricultural biodiversity. The Slow Food philosophy involves elevating the quality of food and taking time to enjoy it as a simple way to infuse your life with joy, according to its mission statement.
Coile said the idea of joining the Slow City movement occurred to her because she went to a Slow Food festival in Italy and has been a member of the movement.
Although the idea of becoming a Slow City hasn’t made it to City Council members’ desks yet, Vice Mayor Chuck Geiger said he hopes to get the ball rolling by putting it on the council’s agenda as a discussion item next month.
“We talk about this, people say, ‘What a perfect thing,'” Geiger said. “When you drive into San Juan you think you’ve gone back 30 years in time. Life is so fast all the time, people want to slow down.”
For a city to be certified as a Slow City, along with accepting the guidelines of Slow Food, it must also commit to preserving the local environment and work to capitalize on the city’s local heritage and natural landscape. Introducing recycling projects, after-school programs and information for tourists that help them have a true “local’s” experience, are just a few ways a city can achieve this commitment, according to the Slow City Web site.
Coile said an ordinance would have to be adopted after speaking with and gaining support from different sectors of the community, including the Chamber of Commerce, local businesses and others.
Chamber Executive Director Halina Kleinsmith was unavailable for comment and chamber President John Hopper declined to comment on the idea without researching it further. But Susan Botelho, manager of the Mexican restaurant Jardines De San Juan, was amenable to the idea but thought the city’s historical aspect should also be focused on.
“I don’t know if I think of it as a slow city,” she said. “Historical city, yes, the old-fashioned, kick your heels up.”
Historical Society member Ted Thoeny said he would support the idea of bringing San Juan into the “slow” spotlight, simply because any positive publicity the city can stir up, the better.
“I think San Juan has a lot to offer,” he said. “Anything like that is good for the town.”
Geiger also stressed San Juan wouldn’t have to spend any money in becoming a Slow City – a check mark on the “pro” side for the cash-strapped city of 1,700.
“If you get identified as one of these really, incredibly slow cities, when people around the world surfing the Net run across these kinds of places, it could bring tourism to San Juan,” Geiger said. “That’s a great opportunity.”
For more information on Slow Cities, log onto www.cittaslow.net/world/servizi.asp?sez=5
Erin Musgrave covers public safety for the Free Lance. Reach her at 637-5566, ext. 336 or [email protected]
