Issues Facing District 1 Residents

By Sergio Sanchez

This are some of the areas of concern that I will strive to find solutions for:

Juvenile Crime continues to increase and precious young lives continue to be lost to gangs, drugs and violence. Creative and innovative ideas must be found, recreational programs and facilities must be created, and jobs for youth must be created and filled. Our youth should be a priority, because they are our future and we cannot continue to lose them to gangs, violence and drugs.

Improvement of the Infrastructure and Public Services in areas where there is deterioration and/or neglect. Sidewalks, gutters, streetlights and landscape must be repaired and maintained in areas identified as critical, unsafe or an eyesore, discarded appliances, garbage and non-operational vehicles must be remove thru City sponsored clean up's in coalition with the business community, community organizations and residents. Clean streets will give residents a sense of pride. City services must be more user friendly with the least bureaucracy as possible in order to provide better customer service. A proactive and efficient complaint process to address issues and problems with City contracted service providers (i.e. Water, sewer, electricity and garbage companies) must be established. Residents will be supportive of taxes and assessments if they believe they are getting quality services.

New sources of good paying Jobs must be pursued and created by actively seeking out employers to come to Salinas. The City must be a strong and active advocate for jobs that will promote prosperity for all.

Current sources of City Revenue must be preserved and new sources must also be found in order to maintain but also to improve and increase public services, programs and facilities. A coalition such as the one recently formed to preserve the Users Utility Tax made up of elected officials, business and agricultural community, community organizations, unions, residents and activists must be establish to lobbying jointly for new funding and fight off threats to take any away.

East Salinas Merchants are in desperate need of assistance. Streets, sidewalks, landscape and storefronts need critical attention. The plans to establish a credible special district and merchants association must continue. Again, a clean and maintained merchant area promotes pride, prosperity and most importantly participation.

These are just a few of the issues that encouraged me to run for this position. I am very aware that it takes money to take care of many of the issues listed above, I also do not claim to have all the answers to all of the issues facing our community but I do know that we cannot give up providing services to the community and we must continue to be creative and innovative to maintain and to improve services to residents of the City of Salinas.

Finally, I just want to add that since the first day I move to Salinas I have always tried to get involved and have been involved in trying to make this community a more tolerant, inclusive and a better place to live. I have proudly served and will continued to serve this community because I truly believe that everyone can make a difference if they actively participates in finding solutions to the issues facing our community. One can be part of the solution or part of the problem I choose the first.

Getting elected to the City Council will expand my commitment and ability to contribute and serve my community. I will be a strong representative regardless of where I live or where everyone lives.

I JUST WANT TO CONTINUE SERVING MY COMMUNITY.

Working For A Better Community,