"As your councilwoman, I pledge to always listen to those that give voice to the concerns of our community. I am commited to full transparency, and plan to host regular town hall meetings where all constituents of the Northern district can come together, engage in open dialogue and address the issues that matter most to you! Community input is essential to our decision-making process, and as such, I vow to be accessible and responsive. Together, we'll work towards ensuring a brighter future for our beloved district." - Josély Martínez
LIST OF ISSUES
GREATER MUNICIPAL INDEPENDENCE
Josie Martínez firmly believes that City Government should enjoy greater independence from State Government. With the long-awaited return of our City Council, it is time to properly empower it as a governing body. Local autonomy is essential for creating the right environment that allows us restore a healthy balance of power and give our city the independence it needs to prosper and thrive.
When decisions are made at the local level, it makes it so that policies that are put in place are more tailored to our city's needs and circumstances. Martínez is of the opinion that we, the residents of Los Santos have a better understanding of our local issues than the bureaucrats in state government and should be able make decisions that directly impact our beloved city.
A specific example would be budgetary decisions regarding city agencies, i.e. police and emergency services. The Los Santos Police Department and other municipal agencies should be accountable to - and funded by the City Council rather than the State Senate. It's time to bring back the City Police Commission and restore the balance of power and give our city the independence it needs to prosper and thrive.
"Local control will lead to increased efficiency and all-round better services. It will allow us to better uphold the principles of limited government and individual liberty that make up the core of the Republican way of thinking."
- J. Martínez.
ACCOUNTABILITY AND TRANSPARENCY
As a potential future councilwoman, Josély is of the opinion that City Government is required to be just as transparent as other government bodies and agencies. As such, she advocates for increased accountability, specifically when it comes to the publication of a detailed budget, just as other agencies are required to do.
"I believe the City should make it a habit to publish a comprehensive quarterly budget. By clearly outlining the way our tax dollars are allocated, we give our citizens insight into where their money is going." - J. Martínez.
When we give the people clarity and transparency, it allows them to make better informed judgements about fisical priorities the city sets for itself. It also forces our local government to ensure that public funds are handled and managed responsibly and with more efficiency. With accountability comes the means to set clear goals, check expenditures and as such, make the best decisions possible that will benefit our city's residents in the long run. It also allows the government to win back the trust of the people and provide a level of openness that will strengten this essential bond.
Through means of advocating for a more transparent local government, Martínez believes we will better honor and uphold the ideals upon which our nation was founded and incentivize citizens to actively partake and engage in the shaping of our city's future.
ECONOMY, PRIVATIZATION AND GOVERNMENT CONRACTS
In the spirit of the Republican tradition of individual enterprise, cutting unnecessary spending and having a more limited government, City Council hopeful Josie Martínez believes we should explore the privatization of certain government services, especially when it can be done at lower costs and without the sacrifice of quality.
"By issuing contracts to, for example, construction and landscaping companies we will create healthy competition, which in turn will result in a reduced burden on the taxpayer, while at the same time ensuring the quality of services does not waver." - J. Martínez.
Our Public Works department does great work, and should definitely continue to do the job it is doing. However, it would serve our city well to consider seeking private-sector alternatives that encourage competition and creates job opportunities for local businesses. Through promoting government contracts for upstanding business owners, our economy will be bolstered and it's foundation strengthened. It is important however, that government contracts are not abused by criminals and those that seek to leech off the life's blood of the city's residents. Businesses that receive a city contract should, therefor, be subject to limited yet consistent government oversight and be expected to be transparent about their bookkeeping when audited.
Furthermore, Martinez has a concrete plan for bolstering the overall economy of the district. Small businesses make up the core of our local economy, and as such she intends to introduce the following things:
— A mentorship initiative where experienced business professionals of different sectors come together to lend advice and guide upstart entrepreneurs and graduating ULSA students with big dreams and plans. Successful business owners have a lot of knowledge and wisdom to impart and our community stands to benefit greatly from their experience.
— A microgrant fund aimed to give hopeful entrepreneurs a kickstart in their careers, specifically tailored to the needs of the Northern District. Overcoming the initial financial hurdles of starting a business is essential for fostering economic growth. Small businesses with less than 500 employees make up an estimated 43% of our country's GDP, and Martinez wishes to see that number translate to our local community as well.
— Finally, she plans to work in tandem with the Department of Cultural Affairs and local charities to organize regular networking events, workshops and business fairs that will bring our local business community together and connect them with customers, local suppliers and the unemployed. Having the community come together to exchange ideas and collectively support the local business scene will create a cycle of growth that will benefit everybody.
GRANTS FOR UPSTART PRIVATE HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS
Josie Martínez believes medical professionals looking to start a private practice should be able to run a profitable business. Our healers of tomorrow spend around or over ten years of their life studying to become doctors. Four years for their bachelor's, four more for their MD followed by residency and fellowship positions. It's a common misconception that becoming a doctor means you're automatically going to get rich, especially when you account for the costs of such an intense and lengthy education.
"Doctors should be able to apply for a grant that will help them alleviate the financial burdens and challenges that come with starting a private practice." - J. Martínez
Currently, a young doctor has no incentive to start their own clinic. The costs of aquiring a building and filling it with expensive equipment on top of having to pay staff is just too big a hurdle. A job at a well funded public hospital that comes with a decent salary is a much more attractive option. The lack of competition among healthcare providers in our city is not working in it's residents' favor. By giving start-up medical practices much needed financial assistance in the early stages, we promote healthcare access and patient choice in the long run. This will have an empowering effect on our city's medical community, allowing them to focus on delivering quality care.
Supporting young doctors in their pursuit of starting practices of their own is firmly aligned with the values of individual entrepreneurship, patient-centered care and economic freedom that the Republican party believes is the core of a healthy and prosperous community.
LAW, ORDER & PUBLIC SAFETY
As a Councilwoman for the city of Los Santos, Josély Martínez pledges to put a large emphasis on public safety, both in the afluent Northern district she aims to represent and city-wide. She recognizes that the safety of our residents is of the utmost importance, in particular because our proud district is home to the University of Los Santos (ULSA), the very institution shaping the young minds of our future leaders, entrepreneurs and medical professionals.
"School zones are the beating heart of our communities. They should be safe havens for our students to learn and grow without having to worry about their safety. It is our responsibility to work together to ensure this is the case."
- J. Martínez
The university is a unique place that deserves dedicated law enforcement services specifically tailored to it's needs. Therefore, Josély is of the opinion that it's worth looking into the possibility of establishing a lasting training program; working together with the LSPD to properly train and prepare the university's current security apparatus to attain limited peace officer status. Having a better prepared security force, in combination with more patrols around the university by the LSPD proper will not only deter potential threats but allow for a more immediate and coordinated response in case of emergencies. Martínez thinks the presence of trained, community-focused officers around campus will build trust between the district's residents and law enforcement, while at the same time fostering a much needed sense of security among parents and students.
Martínez also stands for an increased police presence in the Northern district as a whole. Burglaries in Rockford and Vinewood Hills are much too frequent, while the nearest police precinct is the Police Administrative Building (PAB), all the way over in Hawick. The Northern district may have less of a crime rate than other parts of Los Santos, but it deserves the same level of security and protection to uphold it's prosperity. Feeling safe is essential to the peace of mind and quality of life of our residents, which we hope to achieve through upholding the values of law and order.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Josély Martínez strongly believes that government is nothing without the active engagement and participation of the community it represents, and, that it's power and legitimacy depend upon the involvement and consent of those it serves. To highlight this fundamental pillar of governance, she intends to make the constituents of the Northern district part of the decision-making process in order to ensure the city genuinely caters to the wants and needs of well-informed residents.
"As your councilwoman, I pledge to always listen to those that give voice to the concerns of our community. I am commited to full transparency, and plan to host regular town hall meetings where all constituents of the Northern district can come together, engage in open dialogue and address the issues that matter most to you! Community input is essential to our decision-making process, and as such, I vow to be accessible and responsive. Together, we will work towards ensuring a brighter future for our beloved district." - J. Martínez