Great cities have the ability to control their destinies. One of the reasons I like city government so much is that I believe a general consensus can be built around things on which most people agree.

The late great Heavyweight Champ of the world Joe Louis is reported to have said,”It’s not that I like money so much…it’s just that it calms my nerves”. I certainly can relate to that sentiment as I consider all of the challenges and opportunities Salinas has.

I write this article two days before Californians go to the polls to vote on the ballot measures concerning the state budget. Regardless of the outcome the State of California will continue to struggle with budget related issues for years to come. One of the potential short-term solutions that has been put forward is “borrowing” from local cities and counties to help balance the budget.

July 14th, 2009

Mr. Rick Newcombe
President Creators Syndicate
5777 West Century Blvd.
Suite 700
Los Angeles, CA 90045

Dear Mr. Newcombe,

Word about the gang issues in Salinas and the city’s efforts to confront organized crime has spread to Carson City, Nev., where I was invited to speak recently at a Gang Symposium.

This past week I had the opportunity to visit Carson City, Nevada. I was asked to speak at a Carson City Chamber of Commerce sponsored Gang Symposium. The Chamber Director had heard about Salinas, its issues with gangs but also some of the innovative solutions that we were exploring.

I am very excited to announce that the Violence Prevention, Intervention, Suppression and Reentry Framework has been approved by the Salinas City Council.
This Framework is the result of the request of Congressman Sam Farr to collaborate with the Monterey County in order to prepare an action plan to address the continuous rise in gang violence in the County, particularly in Salinas.