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Resident presses for proactive code enforcement; chiefs defend Measure G staffing and response
Summary
A Salinas resident urged Measure G–funded code enforcement teams be deployed proactively; the police chief said the measure funds 12 sworn and 17 non‑sworn positions and the Violence Suppression Task Force, and the fire chief described data‑driven response protocols.
An unidentified resident told the Measure G Oversight Committee the city should use Measure G funding to build proactive code‑enforcement teams and criticized leniency that she said is blighting neighborhoods.
"When I listened to Lorenzo last time at Kamen School, it seems you guys are interested in food trucks and water heaters. I want you to be interested in the quality of life in the neighborhoods, please," the resident said, urging the city to deploy Measure G–funded code enforcement into neighborhoods and to consider tools such as cameras mounted on city vehicles.
The police chief, not named in the transcript, responded that Measure G funds 12 sworn and 17 non‑sworn police positions, including two full‑time community engagement staff and collateral overtime support for enforcement. "This measure does contribute a lot to our enforcement efforts as well as our education efforts," the police chief said, adding that violent crime and shootings have dropped and that the Violence Suppression Task Force has made significant seizures and investigative arrests.
The fire chief explained how fire response levels are set by incident type and regulated safety standards, saying the department regularly adjusts deployment based on data. "The short answer to the question about do we measure our response and adjust our responses based on our need, the short answer is yes all the time," the fire chief said, noting OSHA minimum staffing and that structure fires often require multiple units.
Committee members asked for clearer information about how Measure G dollars are allocated so members and the public can see a direct line between the tax and services. The resident and several members pressed staff to prioritize visible neighborhood improvements and to ensure the allocation and messaging are clear for future outreach.
No formal action was taken; the committee lacked quorum and adjourned.
