Soledad mayor lays out 10 strategic goals, highlights housing, safety and infrastructure

Mayor Anna Velasquez opened Soledad’s sixth annual State of the City on Saturday, saying the council adopted 10 strategic goals spanning economy, housing, equity, community places, mobility, safety, youth, health, education and operations for 2025–2030.

Velasquez said the plan uses urgency tiers so some goals move within one to two years while others take longer. "It takes all of us working together to be able to move the city forward," she said, thanking residents, staff and regional partners for their role in shaping priorities.

The mayor emphasized the city’s intent to pursue partnerships and external funding to meet goals. She named economy and housing as top pillars, and said the council will continue outreach with partners including Baja CDC, the Monterey County Business Council and the Soledad Chamber of Commerce to attract businesses and support microentrepreneurs.

Velasquez framed public-safety work as a priority within the strategic plan, emphasizing community policing and outreach to mixed-status families. "We do not coordinate with immigration enforcement," she said, adding that public safety initiatives will focus on transparency and cultural understanding so residents "feel safe and are comfortable interacting with our police department."

The mayor also highlighted infrastructure projects visible around the city and invited residents to download the strategic plan for details and timelines. She closed by thanking departments, volunteers and community groups and inviting attendees to visit departmental tables to learn more about specific programs.

The city said it will update the strategic-plan webpage as projects proceed and encouraged residents to hold elected officials accountable to the published timelines.