Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
South County cities seek private donors for two community centers.

A community center can bring people of different ages together and give them a sense of belonging. It’s also a venue for people to learn new skills, gather and hold forums. They can turn into shelters during a disaster, a…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Soledad hires three new community and economic development staffers.

The City of Soledad has hired three employees for its Community and Economic Development Department, including Kao Nou Yang as the new community and economic development director, taking over for Bryan Swanson, who accepted a job in Saratoga.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Down to the wire, Soledad City Council votes to put referendum on district map on the March ballot.

After they were locked in a 2-2 split on Wednesday, Dec. 6, Soledad City Council reconvened at 3pm Friday, Dec. 8 to revisit the politically divisive question of how to draw a district map for the city. They voted 4-0…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Soledad voters will decide on the future of district elections, and elect a new council member.

Over recent months, Soledad residents have lost confidence in their City Council during the transition from at-large to district elections. On Oct. 4, council voted 3-2 to approve a five-district map and a rotating mayor, despite community outcry.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Soledad organizers gather signatures seeking to overturn district lines.

With big smiles and cheers, about 20 people showed up at Soledad City Hall on Monday, Oct. 30 to deliver a petition with 1,405 signatures.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Soledad residents have gathered 1,398 signatures to prompt a referendum—now they wait to see whether that is enough.

With big smiles, members of the Soledad Committee for Voting Rights walked into Soledad City Hall on Monday, Oct. 30 to deliver the 1,398 signatures—two signatures shy of their 1,400 goal—the group has collected seeking to prompt a referendum to…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Soledad power couple resigns from their public offices on City Council and Hartnell College board.

Alejandro Chavez, a member of Soledad City Council, and Erica Padilla-Chavez, Hartnell College’s trustee for Area 6, have each resigned from their elected positions to move out of the county. Padilla-Chavez shared a statement announcing their resignations on Oct. 18.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
High prices push South County cities to reject trash service proposals.

Earlier this month, the cities of Gonzales, Soledad, Greenfield and King City rejected three proposals they received for waste hauling services. The main factor was price.

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Salinas Valley cities urge more flexible ag mitigation terms to allow annexation, development.

As Salinas Valley cities like Soledad and Gonzales look to expand their footprints by annexing surrounding farmland and converting it into housing and other uses, there’s an ongoing debate over the rules requiring that cities and developers make up for…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
The lights are on at a park in Soledad, the latest development in a city committed to recreation and youth programs.

Celia Jiménez here, thinking about how much a simple facilities upgrade can mean. Specifically, in the case of Blas Santana Park in Soledad, new lights were on over the sports field for the first time last week.

Salinas Valley Tribune logo LOCAL NEWS
Sen. Caballero secures $1.4M in state funding for Greenfield, Soledad improvements

SALINAS VALLEY — Sen. Anna Caballero stopped by Greenfield and Soledad last Monday to present checks for $1 million and $400,000 in state funding, respectively, to the City of Greenfield for radio transmission and reception upgrades and to the Soledad-Mission …

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Soledad City Council moves forward with a five-district council map, prompting community outcry.

The people packed into the chambers of Soledad City Council on Wednesday, Sept. 6 expressed a swirl of emotions. About 70 members of the public attended in person, some standing outside due to capacity. More participated online.

Salinas Valley Tribune logo LOCAL NEWS
New Soledad park welcomes all to enjoy

SOLEDAD — A beautiful warm morning welcomed the South Monterey County community to the grand opening of Soledad’s Orchard Lane Park on Saturday. The 3.5-acre park was filled with excited children, happy parents and of course the Soledad City Council …

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Factions in Soledad City Council clash over district election maps.

Soledad is the latest local city joining other jurisdictions in a transition away from at-large elections to district-based elections. The concept is that underrepresented voters are more likely to successfully elect a candidate of their choosing when they vote in…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
Soledad is getting ready to open the first inclusive park in South County.

After a year of construction, a new park with a goal of serving children of all abilities is getting ready to open in Soledad. That year followed four years of members of the community actively participating in meetings, surveys and…

Monterey County Weekly logo LOCAL NEWS
It’s budget season, and the numbers in Monterey County’s 12 cities tell a story.

Sara Rubin here, thinking about the many city services I use every day, sometimes without thinking about them—storm drains and asphalt maintenance are not always so obvious to me. Then, of course, there are things that are more explicitly transactional—checking…

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