Editor, Ceres Courier,
Well, folks, elections have been certified and if you voted one way or another because you are unhappy with your current condition, then chances are your life is going to continue sucking out loud – lest you make profound positive changes or quiet down about national politics and join me in applying pressure to our city council for changes that will actually affect your life almost immediately.
Most moderates will tell you that it doesn’t matter who won the elections, they’re all cut from the same stone and liable to do equally heinous things. For example, Trump pardoned his daughter’s father-in-law Charles Kushner and with brazen nepotism recently nominated him ambassador to France while Biden just pardoned his formally crack-addicted son. National politicians will look out for themselves so it’s up to us to look after Ceres.
In my short time pressuring our city council, I’ve scored small victories for myself as well as other Ceres residents. To name a few:
• 2121 Venus Drive was condemned with a mountain of trash in the front yard and attracting individuals who’d roam around threatening to kill people out loud. After some pressure, the house was cleaned up by code enforcement, renovated and sold thereby bringing the city thousands of dollars in sales tax and will earn at least $10,000 a year in property tax for the life of the property.
• Persephone Park was a neglected mess that was dangerous for children and was slowly becoming a beacon for drug users. I asked my wife to send a complaint. She snapped a picture of the mission statement sign, as well as the actual conditions and sent those via the city app. Within days, the park was completely refurbished.
• The abandoned Walmart was a landmark for drug users. After some pressure, the city fenced the parking lot thereby significantly curtailing unlawful activity.
• When homeless people began starting fires and having sex in broad daylight within close proximity to my home and Cesar Chavez Middle School, I reached out to Mr. (Councilman Jim) Casey and he had the empty lot cleaned within days.
• Recently, I alerted the Finance Department to a glaringly atrocious data issue resulting in $400-plus erroneous water bill on my account. They’ve since corrected some charges but my neighbors spent Thanksgiving without water because they were unable to pay their water bill – possibly due to city error.
Don’t let Fox News or CNN tell you what’s wrong with your town! Go out, see, and advocate for yourself and Ceres. Double-check your bills, double-check your community, but most importantly double-check the work of those you willingly or unwillingly accepted into office. The council listens and is yearning for your input.
Alvaro Franco,
Ceres
LETTERS POLICY: Letters will be considered for publication but must be signed and include an address and phone number. Letters should be 250 words or less and be void of libel. Send to The Ceres Courier, 138 S. Center Street, Turlock CA 95380 or emailed to jeffb@cerescourier.com.
