NAMPA, Idaho — The former Hispanic Cultural Center has a new facilities director. Jose DeLeon was announced in this new position almost a week ago, and his first day was on Monday, Feb. 5. He said he’s already been brewing up some ideas.
"Oh, I'm excited,” DeLeon said.
This new announcement comes at a time when community members still feel divided after a court ordered the city to take over the facility back in July 2023. At the time, Nampa Mayor Debbie Kling said it was something that they didn't want to do but had to.
"The city has control of the building because we want to see it here for a long time,” Mayor Kling said.
On Tuesday, DeLeon told KTVB that he addressed the division within the community and said his new position will allow him to bridge the gap.
"What I'm going to do from this point forward is to make sure that any of those individuals that had those issues that we can talk to them, we can address whatever issues they had, and then allow them to know that, yes, we are going to be supportive,” DeLeon said.
DeLeon said he is the best fit for the position because he can relate to those who predominantly use the center.
"It’s the combination of the fact that I was born and raised in within the community, I came from an agricultural background,” DeLeon said.
He said he also comes with decades of leadership experience.
I've worked in the private sector, as well as in agriculture, and in building in the building industry,” DeLeon said. "Combined that with my public service work, working for the Department of Labor for 16 years, and then working for the Chamber of Commerce.”
Delon said another item on his agenda is working with the city to fix immediate building issues.
"What we're going to try and do is first and foremost, say, let's repair what needs to be repaired, let's get, let's get that up and going,” DeLeon said.
Kling said some of the building issues include fixing the roof, HVAC system, and the parking lot.
"From a budgetary standpoint, with any major repairs to the building, the city council is going to have to authorize those,” Kling said.
City of Nampa's Amy Bowman told KTVB that when the city took possession of the building, they needed to make emergency repairs to the building, and hopes full repairs come soon.
Since the city took over, some community members and businesses have reported the facility was always locked and not accessible to the public. Kling said with DeLeon’s new role, the facility should be open during business hours.
"With Jose here full time, my guess is the doors will be open, and it'll be accessible all the time,” Kling said.
Kling said DeLeon was one of 30 applicants for this position.
"We had a lot of applicants. There wasn't a candidate that had the qualifications that he had. So it was pretty easy to make the decision as you look at who he is in his resume, and the work that needs to be done here," Kling said.
It’s work DeLeon said he is ready to take on.
"I want to see a busy, I want to hear it busy. And then also bringing some of that culture and excitement,” DeLeon said.
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