Manmeet Grewal: Together, let’s get Modesto off of those lists

Modesto has an image problem. It often pops up on various “worst” lists – typically, assorted economic-, education- or crime-related statistics cobbled together by people who have never set foot here.

But Modesto has a reality problem, too. While those who put us on these “worst” lists probably have never been here, it is unlikely that they have any special animus toward us, either. While they downplay our attributes, they usually are analyzing public sources of data that should inform us of what we need to do better.

As someone born in Modesto who has lived here my entire life, it’s frustrating to see my hometown browbeaten on a national scale.

Equally frustrating is to see that we make so little progress on easily improvable indicators that could nudge us to a better position on some of those lists.

Modesto has many advantages – and many challenges. Every city does. But it’s how we collectively respond to those complex issues that separates good cities from great ones. And that’s where we can improve.

So what’s holding us back? We might start by acknowledging that not everyone always will agree with every idea or solution. That’s OK. We can’t let perfection be the enemy of progress and improvement.

We can address multiple issues simultaneously if we approach them strategically, collaboratively and with the greater good as a common goal. What might that look like?

Ag is our heritage, but also a key part of our future. First, let’s recognize that agribusiness is the region’s economic engine, even if most of us don’t live on a farm or ranch. Most of us benefit from the ag-related income generated across Stanislaus County. We should play to that strength. This means a city government sensitive to the needs of our agri-industry and the irreplaceable nature of some key resources.

Jobs, jobs, jobs. Communities whose economies are based on natural resource use – whether it is ag, like us, or forestry, mining, oil or coal – often have high rates of unemployment and low rates of prosperity. Our mission is to show the world that we can keep a productive agri-industry sector while combating high unemployment and stagnant prosperity. A modest first step: Focus attention on the thousands of small businesses who already have chosen to be here by offering the right mix of lower fees and tax rates, reduced regulation and sensible incentives.

If all our existing companies added even a few workers in the next year, the unemployment rate would go way down. The Stanislaus Alliance, Modesto Chamber of Commerce and the city itself are focusing on this; we need to make the focus laserlike.

Education is a first step. Just as the best employees are drawn to quality companies, a well-educated workforce attracts employers. We need both. Stanislaus County’s high school graduation rate stands at about 70 percent. That’s not good enough. We need to convince more teens that a high school diploma is the first step to lifelong learning. But that’s just a start. A key is to more quickly get people through our higher education institutions and then trained to fill 21st-century roles.

Better collaboration is a must. Last spring, the Stanislaus Community Foundation hosted a half-day seminar on collaboration. A key takeaway was that all the nonprofits, families, individuals and agencies making positive differences here could do better if we all worked better together. That requires trust, communication and building alliances with people who share a common goal and cause. It means sharing resources, giving up some control and not competing for the same dollars.

We all want to be proud of our home, a place we can live safely among our family and friends. We want an affordable area with a good mix of jobs, an expanding commercial base, excellent schools, a strong faith community and pride in our agricultural heritage.

The next time we make a national list, let it be for some of that.

This story was originally published January 30, 2015 at 4:01 PM with the headline "Manmeet Grewal: Together, let’s get Modesto off of those lists."