Newsom rallies Democrats and local candidates in Salinas

With less than two months to election day, Gavin Newsom rallied supporters in Salinas.

Friday’s event was at assembly candidate Robert Rivas’ Salinas office. Rivas is running in Assembly District 30. The seat was formally held by Anna Caballero. She’s now seeking State Senate District 12, and was also speaking, Friday.

“Anna and Robert get it. They’re going to get it done. We’re going to focus on affordability, [the] housing crisis, [and] focus on healthcare. Focus on the issue of immigration reform, and subsequently, the issue of homelessness,” Newsom told reporters.

Just before Newsom’s big blue bus pulled into the rally, he got an eyeful of the homeless problem when he entered the city.

“Right on to market street. And the first thing I saw, folks panhandling. Turn the corner, see all those tents,” Newsom said to the crowd.

He says it is a problem he sees in every California city. Newsom blames the State. “I say this respectfully on the issue of homeless, in particular. Meaning, there are no statewide goals, objectives, timelines, to help support communities like this.”

California was just ranked as having the nation’s highest poverty rate. Rivas says the state is ignoring this region.

“Problems we have here, whether it’s housing crisis, homelessness, transportation and congestion issues, schools that need improvements. These are issues that are crucial for this region and they need to be addressed,” Rivas said.

Caballero, a former Mayor of Salinas, said a solution lies with modernizing our agriculture industry.

“The kinds of jobs that are going to be available in agriculture, as we move forward into mechanization, we don’t have the training for that. We don’t have the workforce ready,” Caballero said.

All three gave their speeches in front of a packed crowd of cheering supporters.

“You should vote for this guy because I can’t do it, but your vote counts,” said Sitlaali Castellanos, a local student, and volunteer for the Robert Rivas campaign.

Alfred Diaz-Infante says he supports the candidates that spoke, Friday, because they are “supporters of affordable housing, supporters of healthcare, [and] for working families for our community.”

Outside there was a small group of protesters, saying they’re against what Newsom stands for.

“Healthcare for all is going to make Californians broke,” said Chelsea (no last name given). Joe Vierra tells KION “we’re being over-regulated and over-taxed. And we can’t do that.”

Newsom is running against Republican John Cox. A poll released September 6th by Probolsky Research had Newsom with a five-point advantage (44%-39%).

Caballero is running against Republican Rob Poythress, a Madera County Supervisor.

Rivas is running against Republican Neil Kitchens, a businessman and rancher