Last week, I made the trek to the state capitol for
”
State Government Day.
”
While I was pretty groggy during the 6:30 a.m. bus trip, I was
looking forward to meeting with a few of our representatives and
experiencing the hustle and bustle of state level politics first
hand.
Last week, I made the trek to the state capitol for “State Government Day.” While I was pretty groggy during the 6:30 a.m. bus trip, I was looking forward to meeting with a few of our representatives and experiencing the hustle and bustle of state level politics first hand.
The trip was particularly timely, as I was scheduled to interview Simon Salinas on Tuesday the 15th for a new series CMAP is producing.
After an informative tour with our guide Bart, (or Johnny – I forget his name), we were escorted to a conference room in the capitol to meet with Assemblymember Salinas.
Fortunately he has a very well-spoken and informed staff that were able to fill in while he was rushed into a committee meeting room across the hallway. He was literally steps away from entering our conference room by a few other assemblymembers or staff people who turned him 180 degrees towards another set of doors.
When you need a quorum, you need a quorum. Duty called.
While we didn’t get face time per say, we did have the opportunity to see the assemblymember in action, and speak to his staff about his unbelievable schedule and list of duties. Speaking as a producer/host, I couldn’t have asked for better preparation for the television interview. His staff made it clear that while Salinas spends a significant amount of time in the state capitol, he makes outreach in his district a huge priority.
Enter the TV show. One of the most effective ways to keep your constituents informed is by using the popular media of television, and what better way than utilizing the government access channels in San Benito County and Gilroy.
Thanks to the resources of both Gavilan College and CMAP, the 30-minute series Updates from the Capitol will be a reality. Salinas wants to focus on hot topics such as the state budget, health care, affordable housing and education in future episodes of Updates from the Capitol. The goal is to keep people informed on a local level as to what’s happening in Sacramento that will directly affect them.
The first edition of Updates serves as an introduction to the Assemblymember’s community roots, educational background, and experiences as both a teacher and local politician. Salinas discusses how the experience of serving on the Salinas City Council and Monterey Board of Supervisors prepared him for the challenge of being an assemblymember. He also touches on some of the issues presently facing the legislature, including of course the current budget crisis being felt by local governments throughout the state.
To catch Updates from the Capitol, tune to Cityview 17 in Hollister and San Juan Bautista, 2 p.m. daily. Additional air times include 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, and Thursday, April 24 at 8:30 p.m.
