Modesto is our chosen home. Here’s how all voters can help make it better

Modesto is the place many of us have chosen to be our home. There are many places people can live, here in California or elsewhere, but here we are.

The one thing most of us who live here know is it is up to each of us to try to make our Modesto community experience better. Modesto, like other cities, is in a financial crisis. It is how we handle it that makes us different.

There are two ways out of a budget crisis. One is to cut your way to solvency. The other is to grow income to exceed costs. There is a limit to how much you can cut and keep a business or a city alive. That leaves the obvious: We need to bring more much-needed revenue to Modesto.

This is a three-prong approach.

First, we need more business investment and new companies opening in Modesto, companies that have strong management and leadership, and research and development, with ownership that keeps these hard-earned dollars in Modesto. This in turn hires more people, supporting families and our community.

We all know that locally owned businesses support our local economy, our soccer teams, our fundraisers and more. How many local events are supported by Amazon, Google Shop or Instacart? Locally owned business attraction and retention is mission critical. Recently, some of our large, locally owned companies have sold to national companies, thus removing leadership from our area. We need to reverse this tide and replace these holes.

Second, we need to be a place where companies want to start up or relocate. Site selectors and CEOs are looking for places that match their lifestyles or have a good pool of people from which they can hire. This means we need a city with positive culture, arts, music, entertainment, good schools, safe parks and youth-friendly opportunities.

This is important to understand, as these are the kind of things that people or local governments can view as nonessential. In fact, these are essential for a positive, safe and vibrant city. This will bring the businesses that generate the revenue to keep a city safe, address homelessness and operate well, and is vital to retain our current businesses. This will bring the businesses that generate the revenue to keep a city safe, build systems that will address homelessness, and operate well. Positive lifestyle and civic pride are vital to retain our current businesses and attract new ones.

Let’s invest in Modesto

Third, you can cut only so much. Modesto runs on jet fumes. Our population needs a certain level of public safety and we are very low on safety per person. Our people need to feel safe going to work, parks, downtown and other public spaces. Modesto has been a good steward while operating with limited funds. These recent COVID-19 funds helped, but those are one-time funds.

Measure L has been successful in attracting local road funds and much has been upgraded. School bonds have been well-managed by the school districts. Library taxes have helped keep a vital local resource alive. We have successfully done this.

Now, we need to approve Measure H. Modesto has cut to the bone but we have to move forward. We must invest in our city to keep it alive and to flourish. We have a strong economic and cultural base. We need more good jobs and we have good people who will help make it happen.

Vote yes on Measure H for 1% additional sales tax revenue that we can invest directly in our Modesto.