During my campaign to be your Mayor, I asked Salinas to Imagine a Great City. My vision for a great City was based on three key elements: Peace, Prosperity and Image, none of which can be separated from the other.

When I ran for Mayor I asked Salinas to Imagine a City without gangs and I could see in the eyes of many of you what that really meant. A City where we could feel safe in our homes and where our children could play on our neighborhood streets. I also witnessed your careful thought as you wondered if Peace in our City is even a possibility. I stand here tonight and say that …it may be hard, it may take generations…. but it is the City we wish to live in…so let us try…in fact let’s go beyond the elimination of just youth violence and let’s seek to become a City at Peace.

John F. Kennedy said…”Peace is a daily, a weekly, a monthly process, gradually changing opinions, slowly eroding old barriers, quietly building new structures.” Tonight, in Salinas let’s begin anew the journey towards Peace in our community.

It is important to note that for decades political and community leaders have wrestled with this issue and have done good and important work. I want to acknowledge those efforts and that the plans that we have going forward build on those efforts.

Two weeks ago following the end of my first 100 days in office I laid out an Economic vision for Salinas. It was organized around pursuing prosperity globally, regionally, locally and specifically. The pursuit of peace is no different.

The heart of the new Salinas strategy is the City’s first ever Director of Community Safety, Police Commander Trevor Iida who was appointed by the City Council last Tuesday evening. His charge will be to look at every city department and see how it can immediately contribute to creating a safer community and incorporate preventative strategies into their daily operations.

Let me give you one example of how that might work. I personally believe one critical element of our new civic strategy is that we create an “absolute” firewall between 2^nd and 5^th graders for all students. During that period we will compete for the hearts and minds all young Salinas residents with books, soccer balls, baseball gloves, paintbrushes, guitars, dancing, science camps and safe after school activities. The goal will be to get all young Salinas students off to the right start and literally attempt to drown out the appeal of the bad with the good.

Towards that end I will be proposing that this City make a commitment to get a library card in the hand of every first grader by the end of 2008. So…. the library can be in the prevention business. Likewise, virtually community that is succeeding with strong prevention programming is effectively using their recreation departments as part of their strategy. The City of Salinas has already begun to work with local school districts on after school programming. Those efforts must continue and expand.

Commander Iida will coordinate those efforts and other important initiatives involving all city departments. Commander Iida will also be tasked with expanding the existing Community Safety Alliance group, which will be responsible for coordinating multi-agency efforts to address community safety. He will also be on a “fast track” to get working groups together and be in a position to make budget recommendations for the coming fiscal year.

The proposed Community Safety Alliance will consist of key community stakeholders...business, education leaders, key non-profits, the faith community, law enforcement and community members. A strong Salinas must be built on strong neighborhoods with community-based solutions for Peace.

Currently, there is a group of highly dedicated individuals serving on the National League of Cities Gang Collaborative Initiative. That group consists of Police Chief Dan Ortega, Brian Contreras, Summer Prather, Judge John Phillips, Pastor Frank Gomez and Commander Iida. You will hear from all of them shortly.

I have also asked Council member Steve Villeges to chair a Council subcommittee that will support this effort. Council members Sanchez and DeLaRosa will join him. I will also ask the Council effective the next budget year and during the life of Measure V to make an annual commitment of at least $1,000,000 for Prevention Programs that are priorities of the new Alliance.

I want to spend my final minutes talking about the pursuit of Peace globally, regionally, locally and specifically and its interdependence with Prosperity and the image of Salinas.

At the heart of imaging a great City is the economic revitalization of Salinas. Our ability to become a peaceful community is directly related to our local prosperity. Recently I called for Salinas to become a World Trade Center site and expand its current Sister City Portfolio from 3 to 10. Tonight I call for one of those Sister Cities to be a City that is known for peace. But beyond that it is important local education prepare students to compete in a global economy. Keeping young people busy preparing for successful careers is essential for their future financial well being, the future of Salinas and it helps us to become a City at peace.

Regionally and locally I want to make a direct appeal to all Monterey County residents who have the means and interest to consider helping Salinas with this problem. I do so not because if we don’t stop it here…. it will spread…. or out of a sense of noblesse oblige…that somehow those more fortunate somehow “owe us”. Rather I simply ask as a Mayor of a neighboring City with a problem…. would you consider helping with your time, talent or treasure. We have many non-profits that need Board help and expertise, young people who need mentors and yes we need money.

But in asking for help…. we will offer help. Salinas is a leader in suppression, enforcement, intervention and prevention programming. We have not been able to support our intervention and prevention programs and that is what we now hope to change…but there is tremendous expertise in this community and room tonight. I will be asking Judge Phillips to put together a mini-summit as quickly as we can with other cities from the National League of Cities program to share our experiences and insights with all Cities from the Tri-County area.

Specifically this is a young city. I am proposing the creation of a special Youth Enterprise Economic Zone that will bring business to Salinas that will take advantage of our demographics, meet the legitimate entertainment desires of our young people, employ young people and expand our tax base. It is essential we continue to promote positive alternatives every step of the way.

I can envision a Youth Mall that has a Malibu Grand Prix, a commercially viable Skateboard Park, a dance hall, a recording studio, and retail shops anchored by such tenants as NikeTown who understand Salinas has thousands of terrific, competitive and active young people.

In closing I want to be clear on two things. The first is that a strong law enforcement capability is also essential in this effort. This community will have to compete for police officers and it will be expensive but we will do it. This community needs to make sure law enforcement has the equipment they need to do their jobs and we will provide it. This community will need to build a new Police Station to be effective and competitive and we will do it. But this Police Chief will also tell you that Suppression and Enforcement alone cannot solve this issue.

The second point is that the pursuit of peace is as old as mankind but I believe in the end most of us are aspirational and want to contribute something much larger than ourselves. To help build a city at peace is noble work, a life’s work. As your Mayor I understand the heart and soul of this community. Our great strength is our people. I will match this community with any in the country with regard to community pride and concern.

Let us be hopeful as we listen to the speakers this evening and meet in small groups afterwards. In the words of Delores Huerta….”Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world.” Together…let us change Salinas and become a City at Peace!

Thank you