Assemblymember Rivas to meet with South Monterey County mayors over Greenfield courthouse
Assemblymember Robert Rivas met with county leaders Friday to discuss ensuring state support to Greenfield is maintained.
South Monterey County mayors have joined forces, demanding that a courthouse promised to them almost a decade ago is built in Greenfield.
Assembymember Rivas has already pledged his support of bringing a courthouse to South Monterey County with a letter to the Monterey County superior courts.
“We have to keep people closer to local services, and South County has always been an extraordinary resource not only for this region, but the state of California,” state assemblymember Robert Rivas said.
Rivas feels he can add transparency to how the courthouse decision will be made. A judicial committee has mentioned Seaside as a possible courthouse location, but Rivas says since South County is an area that is resource poor and they deserve the same resources that other parts of the county have.
“I’m ready to work with my colleagues, especially our local delegation here, to make sure we express those needs in Sacramento,” Rivas said. “If we can have a new courthouse in South County, and we can replace this courthouse in Monterey, that’s the goal.”
Earlier this week two county supervisors briefly met with Governor Gavin Newsom in Sacramento to express their concern. Supervisor Chris Lopez says Newsom was open to hearing their thoughts.
“He heard us and listened. He said ‘look I want to hear more about this’, so we’re going to be reaching out here in the next few weeks with additional information,” Lopez said. “We’re excited to have our assemblymember Robert Rivas carrying some of that information back to his office so he understands this is a regional need for all of South Monterey County.”
Rivas says the decision for where the courthouse will be built is ultimately up to the judicial council. According to Rivas though, the judicial council’s decision is largely based on the recommendation of the local judges.
