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Oscar Marquez

Stephen Williams

AP Language and Composition

18 November 2019

Salinas City Council Speech

Good Afternoon everyone, my name is Oscar Marquez and I strive towards directing the

Salinas community into an improved state of efficiency and productivity that will harbor

prosperity for all. In order to do that, I am hoping to get your support towards establishing a

position within the City Council. Before I commence my speech, I would like to provide an

insight on myself; I am the sixth child of two Mexican immigrants, who worked labor intensive

jobs in agriculture and were able to generate sufficient income to provide the basic necessities to

maintain a family and a household. Due to my upbringing within the Salinas Valley, I have

integrated an affection towards the immense diversities of cultures and the remarkably natural

scenery of crop fields in contrast to the mountain ranges. The sentiment I have developed

towards my community has motivated me to pursue positive changes that fulfill my vision of the

Salinas Valley as a safe and flourishing community. Throughout my candidacy as City Council, I

am committed to providing my peers in the Salinas community with resolutions to various

inconveniences, such as our deteriorating infrastructure.

For a prolonged amount of time, the infrastructure of Salinas has experienced intense

negligence, as the roads that interconnect the Salinas Valley have drastically deteriorated and are

inadequate to relieve the traffic congestion that plagues Salinas currently. As of May 2017, the
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Salinas City Council has introduced the ‘Boronda Road Congestion Relief Project’ in which the

roadway of East Boronda was designed to expand into a four-lane roadway, including the

construction of several roundabouts. This is a disappointment; the Salinas community has

continuously demanded the construction of new roads and road rehabilitation for several years,

but the city council was unable to deliver. Nearing three years, the Salinas City Council has not

initiated any progress on the Boronda Road Congestion Relief Project. In order to initiate

construction and repair of damaged roadways in Salinas, I am demanding various changes that

comprise of implementing a new tax on large agricultural corporations that operate in the Salinas

Valley, an organization towards research for improved technology on the structural strength of

roads, a revision of previous contracts with construction companies that dedicate towards

repairing Salinas’ infrastructure, and assuring that our taxes are being managed properly.

Throughout Salinas, we encounter degraded roads that are uneven and littered with potholes

which unfortunately affect us in a financial aspect. For a simplified explanation of the suspension

engineering in our vehicle, the suspension components are designed specifically to ensure good

ride quality and traction whenever bumps or potholes are present. As we continuously drive

through damaged roads, our suspension components will tend to wear out at a greater rate and

will gradually reduce in function. Despite the inflated costs for housing, increasing gas prices,

and the ridiculous tax rates in California, the repairs for our vehicle will come from our bank

account with the average price for a suspension repair costing approximately $1,000 or more,

depending on the damages. Due to the economy of the Salinas Valley being predominantly based

on agriculture, hence its recognition as the “Salad Bowl of the World”, the Salinas Valley is

harvested by large agricultural corporations that transport heavy machinery through our roads.
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The primary reason our roads are completely obliterated is a result of the fragile structural

integrity of our roads against transportation of heavy machinery. Subsequently, I will push

towards administering a tax on large agricultural companies that operate in Salinas and I will

direct the funds efficiently into projects to improve upon our infrastructure. Additionally, the

income generated from taxes on large corporations will fund a research program dedicated to

advancing the engineering structure of our roads to further its tolerance for cracking and

potholes.

I am devoted towards addressing numerous issues within the Salinas Valley and

implementing changes for the betterment of our community. The prosperity of our community

begins today. The prosperity of our community depends on your vote. I hope to attain your vote.

I appreciate everyone for contributing your time. Have a good day.