Solutions

By Cristina Garcia

Improving Access to Government Access to Government is not a privilege, it is a right. You know better than I do the problems around your block + our community. In order for government to address your problems, we need to have communication between residents and elected officials. This dialogue allows the community to bring issues of concern to the attention of local government while allowing government to share data and information with the public, thus providing openness and transparency with its citizens. I want to find ways for people to interact with their local government. Some such ways are:

I will be available to speak with community members in the evening and weekends Make available public records/documents online and in the library Translate the City's official website to English and Spanish Include a section in the City's official newsletter that addresses the state of the City Reinstate the City's radio station to inform the public

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Ensure economic stability for our residents There are numerous empty store fronts that decrease the tax revenue within the City. Revenue is an important source for the funding of programs and services throughout the City. The promotion of small businesses would help address this problem, while also alleviating the high unemployment rate in Bell Gardens (over 1 in 10 adults are unemployed). I offer the following solutions:

Create workshops for small business development that address licenses and permits, business plan development, fairs, grants and micro loans. Identify institutions that can provide loans to small businesses. Partner with institutions that can help small businesses fill out forms. Review license and permits procedures.

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Youth volunteering Youth are underutilized and we are not doing everything we can to help them meet their potential. Youth who volunteer are less likely to be involved in risky behavior, are more likely to feel connected to their community, do better in school, and obtain skills that will be useful in the workforce. Volunteers are also an inexpensive way to tackle some of our community's toughest problems. By engaging the youth and helping them gain skills that will make them more marketable, we also help the community progress. I propose that we work with student groups at our schools to:

Re-vamp and maintain the City's official webiste Run the City's official radio station Inform public Clean up graffiti and City streets and parks

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Traffic Traffic congestion in our City continues to grow and we need to find better ways to alleviate it. I propose that ease synchronize lights and pay special attention to traffic hot spots like Florence and Eastern.

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Cleaner & Greener Bell Gardens I propose that we have quarterly community clean-up efforts that are lead by community residents and coordinated by the city. The city can provide garbage bags, brooms, can help with garbage pick up, and help distribute information.