Changing the Culture of City Services

By Joe Gunter

Making Salinas Safe and Prosperous

That's what I said in 2010 when I ran for City Council. I finished second in that race, and since then we've actually gone backwards in trying to make Salinas safer and prosperous. Another difference: All the candidates I ran against now endorse me _ Councilman Steve McShane, former Councilwoman Janet Barnes and community leader Joel Panzer. They recognize that I have a will and the energy to get things done.

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, and now we must support Measure E, continuing the half-cent sales tax of Measure V so the city can be stable in revenue to pay for badly needed services, including the libraries and public safety.

Cuts to the city's budget have been made, now 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.