I’m coming off a huge community “high” right now! I just attended the Mayor’s State of the City Breakfast, in Martinez, and am so excited about all the recent developments and plans of great ones coming down the pipe. Having moved to Martinez just nine months ago, my husband and I feel so grateful to be a part of this amazing community and we’re both thrilled to be fully immersed in the community. There were very powerful speeches by; Mayor, Rob Schroder; City Manager, Eric Figueroa; and Chief of Police, Manjit Sappal.
– Below are some of the highlights from today’s Breakfast –
The Martinez baseball team will now be known as the Martinez Sturgeon. The sturgeon is near and dear to Martinez, as it has resided in the Carquinez Strait for centuries. The baseball diamonds are located right in the heart of downtown, making it convenient and will be a great boost to our local economy.
Eric Figueroa, City Manager, outlined some critical projects that the city will be focusing on. These projects include; the Waterfront & Marina Master Plan; Annexation Outreach; Alhambra Highlands; Parking Lot no. 4; and the Downtown Revitalization. Additionally, we heard that our budgetary reserves are very healthy. Typically our city likes to run at a 20-25% budget, but we’re currently at 30%. With this additionally 30%, the city plans to pay off some debts, and focus on those aforementioned projects.
Every Friday morning at the Waterfront Park the Contra Costa County Health officials, various city & county leaders, as well as faith-based groups and other volunteer organizations, host wellness stations for our homeless community. Services range from clothing exchanges, showers, charging stations and vaccinations. Our homeless population has drastically grown. One reason is that the minimum wage just isn’t enough to support oneself. In fact, a family has to earn four times the minimum wage in order to live in Martinez.
This morning’s State of the City Breakfast was hosted by the Martinez Chamber of Commerce. They’re always hosting these lovely events and I’m proud to be a part of their organization. To find out more about this and other community events, check out their website HERE.
It is such an incredible feeling to be a part of this COMMUNITY, and knowing that it is not only stable but that it is also thriving. Martinez is no longer the “hidden gem” of the East Bay. The downtown is ever-expanding, property prices are increasing to be equal that of neighboring cities, and folks are seeing this sleepy county-seat-town as it should be – A beautiful and prosperous city.
