City of Salinas to vote on condemning and denouncing Governor DeSantis’ visit
SALINAS, Calif. (KION-TV)- UPDATE ON September 23, 2023, AT 4:26 PM: Two Salinas councilmembers have joined Monterey County Supervisor Wendy Root Askew in publicly speaking out against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis' visit to Salinas.
On the City Council Agenda for Tuesday, there is a resolution to approve the denouncing and condemning of his visit to Salinas. The resolution was requested by Council members Anthony Rocha and Andrew Sandoval.
They stated that this resolution is consistent with the City Council's goal of an effective and culturally responsive government. They feel Governor DeSantis' campaign for the Presidency and his position of power have been used to "target marginalized communities and forcefully impose his personal ideology
on to Florida’s citizens."
The resolution asks to condemn and denounce the following actions of Rob DeSantis:
- His treatment of undocumented immigrants criminalizes their existence and use of state resources to remove them from places throughout the country.
- His targeting of the LGBTQIA+ community by imposing bans on their expression, erasing their existence from public school education, and making it nearly impossible for transgender people to exist
- He used his power and influence as Governor of Florida to dehumanize racial minority groups through the use of hateful rhetoric and policies that target specific racial groups, and revisionist history in schools that ignore the legacy of racial oppression;
KION reached out to the Monterey County Republican Party for comment and they said they are very happy to have Governor DeSantis visit Monterey County.
"It is very clear that while Salinas aims to be a welcoming city, some of its city leaders aren't so tolerant as they purport to be," said Jeff Gorman, Chairman of the Monterey County Republican Party. "They seem to be attacking freedom of speech and they are attacking community leaders. Business leaders that have brought huge amounts of tax revenue to the Monterey County area. As well as development capital to revitalize Salinas."
Gorman that he doesn't know a Republican against immigration. What they are demanding is the rule of law and that the administration follow the law in regard to immigration. Also, there was an effort to protect children eight and under from any discussion on sex.
Governor DeSantis is scheduled to be in Salinas for a "Roundtable Brunch" fundraiser event on Sept. 28.
Monterey County supervisor speaks out against Governor DeSantis' Salinas visit
Florida Governor and presidential candidate Ron DeSantis is seemingly holding a campaign fundraiser in Salinas at the end of September.
DeSantis' office told KION that the the fundraiser will be held on September 28, but the location has not been disclosed.
Monterey County Supervisor Wendy Root Askew took to social media to voice her displeasure with the news. She says Governor DeSantis' values and actions threaten the "health and safety of our fellow residents."
Statement from Supervisor Wendy Root Askew concerning Governor DeSantis’ upcoming visit to Salinas pic.twitter.com/PA66fgiYVH
— Supervisor Wendy Root Askew (@supervisoraskew) September 8, 2023
