Salinas, the salad bowl of the world. A city surrounded by and in some parts, intertwined with agricultural fields that are part of an industry that employs a large segment of its population.
A city where the majority of residents are a minority, and have neighborhoods—Chinatown, the Alisal, Boronda—that retain vestiges of its past but are living proof of resilience and reimagining.
During the annual state of the city address on April 30, Mayor Dennis Donohue said that Salinas is more than a place on a map.
“It is a living story written by generations of hard-working families, dreamers and builders.” He went on to speak about the fields that “have fed the nation and fueled our economy.”
Donohue, who after his first stint as Salinas mayor ended in 2012 and before getting re-elected in 2024, returned to a career in agriculture, this time as a driver of agriculture technology initiatives in the region. He would officially retire as Director of the Western Growers Center for Innovation & Technology (WGCIT) earlier this year.
“Agriculture is not just our past, it is part of who we are,” Donohue said. “It has shaped our identity, our values, our work ethic.”
But, for this evening’s address, Donohue said he wanted “to talk about something bigger than our past—I want to talk about our future.”
The theme, he added, was “our pivot to the future.”
“A pivot is not the rejection of where we have been—it is a deliberate move to where we are going,” Donohue continued. “It is a moment when we choose direction with purpose, with unity and with courage. The future is coming, whether we are ready or not. The question is whether we will shape it or allow it to shape us.”
‘We need to build stability’
Salinas in many ways, is on the cusp of change, as are other parts of the Central Coast—just take a drive to downtown Santa Cruz. New neighborhoods are being built, public spaces are getting revamped or replaced entirely. The Monterey County Rail Extension project will eventually extend commuter rail service from Santa Clara County to Salinas.
Public-private partnerships, which Donohue and other city council members have cited as a way to give residents the amenities they want without straining the city budget, are celebrating milestones at Ensen Community Park and the Salinas Regional Soccer Complex.
A deputy director of economic development came on staff earlier this year to increase city revenues and attract good, high paying jobs. A massive Amazon facility in Salinas is expected to open at the end of the year.
“This is more than a company,” said Donohue of the Amazon facility the city estimates will generate $8 million in city revenue annually and 1,200 new jobs. “It is a signal that Salinas is on the map for major investment. It means jobs, economic activity and new possibilities for our residents.”
The city is also moving toward a two-year budget cycle and a five-year capital plan for major investments, Donohue said.
“We need to be done with short-term thinking,” Donohue said. “We need to move away from year-to-year debates that create uncertainty and slow progress. In their place we need to build stability. We need to create an environment where investment is welcome and innovation can grow.”
This article originally appeared on Salinas Californian: Salinas mayor says city is making a ‘pivot to the future’
Reporting by Roseann Cattani, Salinas Californian / Salinas Californian
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
