County focuses on storm recovery and other priorities
As the 2023 chair of the Monterey County Board of Supervisors, there are many priorities to focus on this year especially after the devastating winter storms that pummeled our county. With my colleagues, I plan to focus on these and other pressing issues.
Our county was hit hard by the storms. Homes were flooded, roads, bridges and culverts were damaged and thousands of acres of farmland face tens of millions in losses. Massive flooding was averted in the community of Pajaro due to the flood wall installed by our heroic county employees and contractors before the storms. Levee seepages and other compromised areas were also quickly caught and mitigated during the storms.
Our county quickly qualified for FEMA and state assistance with the advocacy of our state and federal legislators. We're now focused on ensuring our homeowners, workforce and businesses access the assistance they need to recover.
Housing
Building more housing is a top priority for California and our county. Gov. Gavin Newsom made it a state goal to build 2.5 million new housing units over the next eight years. The Regional Housing Needs Assessment numbers allocated to unincorporated Monterey County require us to build 3,326 new housing units between 2023 and 2031.
Our county has significant opportunities to meet its goals in places like Soledad, Gonzales, Salinas and East Garrison. Salinas Valley agricultural leaders have also built the model standard for farmworker housing with projects in Spreckels, Salinas and Greenfield for up to 3,200 workers.
Homelessness
Homelessness is one of the most pressing challenges of our time. But there is more collaboration and political will than ever by local leaders to take needed action. In partnership with local cities, our Continuum of Care and homeless service partners, Monterey County has built new shelters in Salinas (SHARE Center) and Seaside (Casa Noche Buena). Community Human Services has also recently broke ground on a new shelter in Monterey. These shelters are not the solution for homelessness, but serve as the safety-net that facilitates getting unhoused residents into permanent housing, employment and other services.
We collaborated with the city of Salinas to convert the Good Night Inn to create 100 units of permanent supportive housing. We are now supporting efforts to convert another two hotels in Salinas and another in partnership with King City. A separate project on county property on East Laurel Drive in Salinas will create up to another 180 units of housing.
Health care
Watsonville Community Hospital faced possible closure last year that would have adversely impacted health care access and emergency services for our North Monterey County residents. State legislation by Senator John Laird created a new hospital district and financial support provided by the State of California, Monterey County, Santa Cruz County and other partners raised the $60 million needed to purchase the hospital and return it to public ownership. The challenge now is to ensure its successful operation.
Broadband expansion
With the leadership of Supervisor Chris Lopez, Monterey County has joined in a partnership with the four South County cities to form a new Joint Powers Authority agency to address broadband infrastructure expansion where our county has the greatest need. The partnership already been granted $2.5 million to devise a plan for needed work.
I was also recently appointed as the first local government representative on the California Broadband Middle Mile Advisory Committee that will oversee the implementation of the state's $3.25 billion project to close the digital divide once and for all in California.
Investment in Salinas
Monterey County is constructing a $16 million Behavioral Health Clinic in East Salinas to primarily serve our families and children, our largest investment in the Alisal in recent memory. We're also expanding agreements to work with the City of Salinas on other investments in the Alisal and downtown Salinas.
This year, I also plan to open a new District 1 Supervisor Office in East Salinas, making it the first time there's been a supervisor office located there to provide services closer to where our residents live and where the need is greatest.
Collaboration and partnerships are essential to continue to get things done more effectively and expeditiously in local government. I hope to continue to do just that on these and other priorities throughout the year for the people of Monterey County.