1. The regularly scheduled Delano City Council meeting scheduled for Monday, February 1, 2021, has been canceled due to a “lack of items” on the agenda. Several things should come to mind: 1. Do the City Council members realize their constituents of Delano may have things on their mind they would like to voice regardless of their “lack of items” on the agenda?
2. A special meeting was called for January 7, 2021, to push one of the items, namely, “approval of allocation of funds for the Delano COVID-19 Task Force (Mayor Bryan Osorio & Mayor Pro-Tem Veronica Vasquez). What we came to understand they want to hire Adelante Strategies for $47,000 to get a message out to the people of Delano for six weeks concerning what we’ve already come to know, i.e., social distancing, wearing masks, information of a vaccine and so forth. (Several citizens of Delano stepped forward and made a PSA video themselves in 3 languages, reminding us all of taking the safety precautions against COVID) Citizens of Delano care about its fellow residents and will continue in their grassroots efforts (and no cost to the city).
3. At January 19, 2021, City Council meeting, a resident asked Mayor Osorio about the meeting both he and Sal Solorio-Ruiz said they were going to have with school officials of the Delano Elementary School concerning SRO’s (School Resource Officers). The agreement would not be approved (which has been ongoing for several years) until Osorio and Solorio-Ruiz spoke with school officials. The question was not answered by Osorio or Solorio-Ruiz about SRO’s or if a meeting occurred between them and school officials. They indicated at a previous meeting the item would be brought back for discussion at the January city council meeting. It didn’t happen nor an explanation provided.
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4. Can Mayor Osorio issue a public statement concerning the Governor’s statement about lifting the “stay at home” order and how it nullified the “temporary urgency ordinance” where the City Council voted to move forward with fines for those violating the order? (The January 19 City Council meeting lasted close to 3 hours with local residents asking councilmembers not to move forward with fines)
Regarding SRO’s, the question should be “Why would Osorio and Solorio-Ruiz want to meet with school officials when there have been no issues with SRO’s at our local schools?” SRO’s are a valuable asset at our school sites for safety reasons. What parent doesn’t want their child safe on school grounds? The Delano Elementary School District is willing to pay the city of Delano for SRO’s. If this ongoing agreement is terminated, the school district will look elsewhere for SRO’s since the safety of children on school grounds is their priority.
Perhaps the named members on the Council in this article can make a statement to address these points to be published. We hear much about transparency from them. Here’s a great opportunity to be transparent on these topics. To Osorio and Solorio-Ruiz, what questions did you both have in mind to ask school officials concerning SRO’s? You both represent the people of Delano (who have children at schools). Parents have a right to know what their concerns are (if there are any legitimate concerns or problems with local SRO’s). Forward this article to these City Council members.
