Soledad mayor outlines hires, housing, public safety and infrastructure gains in State of the City address

Mayor Ana Velasquez on Thursday delivered Soledad’s fifth annual State of the City address, highlighting workforce growth, infrastructure work, public-safety activity, housing initiatives and steps to address homelessness.

Velasquez opened by saying the city was “centered on building an inclusive city for all,” and asked residents to learn more about department services at a city resource fair following the address. “I will not be taking questions” during the speech, she told the audience, and directed attendees to staff tables for follow-up.

The mayor said the city hired 42 new employees in 2024 — 22 part-time and 20 full-time — bringing the payroll to roughly 85 full-time employees plus about 40 seasonal staff. She credited the finance department with generating about $2,000,000 in investment income last year and said those interest earnings helped offset utility and other costs for residents.

Velasquez recapped the city’s shift from at-large to district elections, noting Soledad held its first district races Nov. 5, 2024, for Districts 1 and 3 and will hold additional district…