Residents press council on immigration, housing, pesticides and public safety during public comment

Dozens of residents used the Jan. 14 Salinas City Council public comment period to press elected officials on immigration enforcement and the city’s sanctuary policy, housing and rent stabilization, pesticide exposure and air monitoring, homelessness and sanitation in Chinatown, and neighborhood public‑safety concerns including fireworks and traffic.

A public commenter, Bill Freeman, asked the council to demand the resignation of Riel Salazar Jr., alleging an assault at a campaign event and saying: “You need to resign your position today, tonight.” The council did not take action on that request during the meeting; it was raised as part of public comment and not an agenda item.

Multiple speakers urged the council to maintain or emphasize sanctuary‑city protections. Speakers from advocacy groups and community coalitions — including Building Healthy Communities and the Meatball Collective — asked the council to ensure immigrants working in Salinas can continue to access services and to press local agencies to avoid enforcement that would separate families. One resident referenced SB 54 in discussing legal protections for immigrants.

Housing and rent were also prominent. A landlord speaking during public comment said the local rent ordinance’s 1.57% increase cap was inadequate given steep rises in insurance and sewer costs, and said the limits risked forcing landlords to seek other income. Tenant‑advocacy organizers including members of CCA told the council they want to partner with officials on tenant protections and affordable housing solutions.

Public‑health concerns about pesticides and air monitoring were raised by Karen Cameron, who urged residents and the council to attend an upcoming Department of Pesticide Regulation (DPR) hearing at the Steinbeck Center and questioned the adequacy of local air monitoring and buffer distances from applications.

Chinatown stakeholders, represented by Larry Hirahara of the Salinas Chinatown group, asked for a sustained city plan to address a recent influx of unhoused people near the Union Pacific right‑of‑way, improved trash receptacles and regular servicing, and a police chief site visit and public hearing on conditions. Others in public comment praised city graffiti abatement and neighborhood beautification work and thanked city staff for quick responses.

Several speakers raised public‑safety and neighborhood quality‑of‑life issues: one resident described finding unexploded large fireworks in a backyard after New Year’s and called for stronger enforcement; others urged more traffic calming, sidewalk repairs and better scheduling and translation of council agendas for Spanish‑speaking residents.

California Water Service (Cal Water) also used the public comment period to announce that it had filed a 2024 infrastructure improvement plan with the California Public Utilities Commission that covers projects for 2025‑27 and that the PUC will hold virtual public hearings on Jan. 23. Cal Water encouraged customers to participate in the virtual hearings.

The council did not take formal action on any of these public‑comment items at the Jan. 14 meeting; they were offered for consideration and for possible follow‑up by staff and council members.