The City of Salinas: Background
Salinas is often described as an urban village. It has the friendly feel of a small town and enjoys a unique racial and cultural diversity. The racial/ethnic make-up of Salinas is 51% Hispanic, 39% White (non-Hispanic), 7% Asian, 2% Black, and 1% Native American.1 At the same time, with a population of just over 130,000, Salinas is the largest city in Monterey County, and faces many of the same challenges that larger urban cities face, such as population growth, unemployment, poverty and crime. The City has a large youth population. According to the State Finance Department, 28% of the total Salinas population is 18 and under, and 45% is 24 and under.

The City’s economy is based on agriculture. The 200,000 acres of the Salinas Valley produce a fresh vegetable harvest worth $2 billion annually.2 Salinas residents comprise 60% of the labor force needed to sustain this level of production. The City attracts a large migrant worker population due to seasonally available jobs in agriculture. However, agricultural economies are vulnerable to changes in markets and unfavorable weather. So despite the agricultural base for the economy, some Salinas neighborhoods have a per capita income as low as $5,519, far below the poverty line and comparatively lower than the per capita income of Monterey County which is $14,758.3 The City of Salinas had a structural unemployment rate of 7.2% in June 1997. Seasonally, unemployment peaked to 18.7% in January 1998.4

The increase in the City’s population is fueled by the intensification of agriculture and the economic boom of the Silicon Valley 60 miles north. The people moving from Silicon Valley have an income base far exceeding that of many of Salinas’ current residents. The movement has driven housing costs up. Insufficient affordable housing combined with high unemployment and low-paying jobs has led to high population density in some areas of Salinas, forcing families to share inadequately small homes or apartments.

Undoubtedly, the youth of Salinas are affected by these conditions which have resulted in overcrowded schools, lack of jobs for youth, and high levels of youth violence. Violence is a primary concern for many Salinas residents, who are committed to reducing its effect on their community. There are many youth services and community groups which, along with strong parent involvement, respond to this issue. They have made significant strides in making Salinas a place where youth and families can feel safe. By identifying youth as the highest priority, the current City Council in Salinas is committed to enhancing these services and establishing Salinas as a community that values its children and youth and recognizes them as invaluable resources for the future of Salinas.
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