Crushing Crime, Rebuilding Trust in City Hall

By Joe Gunter

Committed to making the streets safe

Having said that, the police cannot wipe out crime by themselves, the residents and business people have to work together with the police and city officials. To achieve this, trust has to be rebuilt in City Hall. That was evident in the defeat of Measure K. Part of rebuilding that trust is implementing the recommendations of the blue-ribbon committee to cut costs and consolidate administration of services. That may mean immediate negotiations with employee groups, but this has to be done to survive in this prolonged economic crisis.

In addition to cutting costs of city services, we have to work to improve revenues through actively recruiting business to Salinas. Part of doing that is streamlining the permitting process, offering incentives to new business and building partnerships with our existing businesses to market our area and reach out to their business customers and vendors to establish business here. We have an enterprise zone established that offers subsidies and tax incentives but we haven't effectively marketed that program. We should all be working toward bringing business here -- beyond one designated city staff member.

I am dedicated and committed to creating a safe and successful city. And with security, business will grow. And with that growth, jobs will grow. That benefits all of us.

I may not have all the answers, but I do have the time, the passion, the energy and the commitment to making a difference in Salinas. I want to hear from about what you need and want for your city.