Assembly member Caballero, supervisors meet over priorities
In her first visit to San Benito County since taking office as
the representative for the 28th Assembly District, Anna Caballero
started the morning with the San Benito County board of supervisors
for a roundtable discussion.
Assembly member Caballero, supervisors meet over priorities
In her first visit to San Benito County since taking office as the representative for the 28th Assembly District, Anna Caballero started the morning with the San Benito County board of supervisors for a roundtable discussion.
The goal of the morning meeting was to look at county priorities and the role Caballero might be able to play.
“San Benito doesn’t have a lobbyist in Sacramento,” said Robert Rivas, a legislative aide and former Hollister resident. Rivas guided Caballero around town as she met with county politicians, city officials and toured San Benito High School and Hazel Hawkins Hospital.
The roundtable with supervisors on March 9 started with Caballero citing her top priorities as a state assembly member – transportation, reducing E. Coli in agriculture, increasing affordable housing and lowering gang violence.
“The task today is to listen,” Caballero said. “I want to be able to make sure San Benito County is on the priority list.”
From the start, Caballero made it clear that there is no funding available for local programs during this budget cycle, but she expressed a desire to know what programs the county supervisors saw as most in need of funding.
Concerns about gang violence topped the list for the supervisors.
“Gang violence and gang activity is on everyone’s list,” said Don Marcus, the chairman of the board and District 1 representative.
Jaime De La Cruz said the county needs outside support.
“The city of Hollister Police Department is just so short handed,” De La Cruz said. “We need help from the state.”
Though Pat Loe, for District 3, and Jamie De La Cruz, for District 5 are the representatives for most of Hollister proper, other supervisors said gang activity is a concern even in rural regions.
“I represent the largest district in San Benito – a rural district,” said Reb Monaco, the District 4 representative. “We’ve had a rash of irrigation pipes stolen and drug trafficking. Keep in mind gang activity is going on throughout the county, not just in urban centers.”
Her focus is not just on crime, but also on prevention, Caballero said.
“We are not just looking at incarceration, but at training, education and literacy programs,” Caballero said.
She mentioned a grant for communities to offer recreation programs after school.
In terms of affordable housing, more than one board member expressed a concern over allowing local government to keep control of ordinances.
“I believe our planning department can best plan our community without too much state intervention,” said Anthony Botelho, District 2 representative. “I feel pretty strongly about that.”
Marcus agreed.
“California property is expensive. California dirt is expensive,” Marcus said. “Developers are not going to do it if they don’t make any money.”
Loe and De La Cruz expressed a concern over transitional and migrant worker housing needs.
“From a low-income family perspective, there is nothing out there,” De La Cruz said. “The local economy is weak. I hear from businesses that they are not making the profits they used to make.”
Caballero talked about how Salinas worked to come up with an affordable housing ordinance that requires 20-35 percent affordable housing per development based on criteria approved by developers, government agencies and other stakeholders.
“It’s really important to create density and walkable cities with retail below,” Caballero said.
As the conversation moved onto economic development several supervisors asked that Caballero keep in mind the needs of agricultural businesses as she votes on legislation. Botelho and Monaco both said state regulations are often a burden on local farmers.
“You get the feeling that legislators have never been in business for themselves or cut a check,” Botelho said. “Every law – everything that comes before your desk – I hope you put yourself in our shoes.”
The recent linking of E. coli-tainted spinach to San Benito County was one example Botelho mentioned where he said he didn’t think the legislature should be involved.
“[Changes] need to be industry driven,” Botelho said. “Don’t make decisions too quickly.”
Caballero has been a proponent of doing scientific research on the spread of E. coli before changes are required in how the industry conducts their business.
“Our agriculture interests are of national concern,” she said. “We need to make it a statewide issue.”
After the meeting with the supervisors concluded, Caballero headed to San Benito High School.
In between tours of San Benito High School and Hazel Hawkins Hospital, Caballero met with Sheriff Curtis Hill and Police Chief Jeff Miller for lunch at San Juan Oaks. After lunch, she met with the Hollister City Council. Caballero will be returning for a Saturday later this spring to meet with residents about their concerns, according to Rivas.
District residents who would like to share comments or questions with Caballero can call Caballero’s office in the district at 759-8676 or visit her Web site at http://democrats.assembly.ca.gov/members/a28.
Melissa Flores can be reached at mf*****@**********ws.com.
