Tulare City Council Member Sigala will be asking his council colleagues at the July 15th council meeting to consider agendizing a number of items he is bringing forward. The Tulare City Council has a process outlined in its procedures to allow for Council Members to bring forward items to be agendized for future meetings, if the request is approved by a majority of the council.
“I appreciate that we have a process in place allowing any of us to be able to bring items forward that are important to our constituents and community. My goal is to have a respectful and robust discussion on their merits and importance and see what we could do on the items”, stated Sigala.
The items the Council will be asked to consider agendizing for a future meeting are:
- Drafting and developing a policy that would instruct Tulare Police Officers to require unmasked federal agents conducting immigration enforcement activities within the City to identify themselves when requested by officers, request to speak with a supervisor on site, and to record the conversation on body camera.
“I am asking that we look out for the safety of the community with this request. Recent immigration activities throughout the country by masked and unidentifiable individuals have created a lot of fear and concern. Unfortunately, there have been several documented “fake” immigration agents who have threatened the safety of the community. This proposed policy will allow for more transparency and accountability when enforcement activities are conducted in our city and allow our local police to continue to protect our community from unlawful activities”, continued Sigala.
- Inviting healthcare providers in the city to provide the council and the community with a presentation on the possible impacts of the recent federal budget signed into law on healthcare access for residents of Tulare and for the operations of healthcare providers.
“I am requesting that we reach out to local healthcare providers to share with us the potential impacts the recently signed federal budget will have on our community. More than half of Tulare residents are on some sort of Medi-Cal program, so the impact is real. It is important to know if any of our providers will have to close their doors or cut back on their services”, continued Sigala.
- Direct staff to begin the process of researching and planning for the cost, logistics, and next steps to be taken in building a new multi-diamond softball complex on the westside and studying the economic impact the project could have on the west side.
“I am requesting that we begin to explore items identified in the city’s recent Parks Master Plan, which we invested money and time to complete. There has been discussion on the development of a regional sports park that meets the recreational needs of our growing city. I believe it is very important we start the process of looking into what can be built and where. The west side of the city would be a great place for a new multi-diamond softball complex that can provide recreational opportunities to that part of town, as well as bring economic development. Now is the time to start the planning process that will take many years to get through”, continued Sigala.
Members of the public are invited to come speak during the public comment period of the meeting to share their thoughts on the agenda items requested. The meeting agenda can be found here: https://www.tulare.ca.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/23417
If you cannot attend the meeting, you can view the meeting on the city’s Youtube channel by following this link: https://www.youtube.com/@cityoftulare3805
“I invite members of the public to weigh in on these requests or any other business before the city council. I believe my requests are reasonable items and hope my council colleagues can agree to agendize them for a future meeting”, concluded Sigala.
Mr. Sigala. Please fight for businesses to come to the Westside..I love Valley drive in and El Padrinos and El Charro restaurant. But if you would tell these companies like Dutch Bros there is not a coffee place on the Westside so you will be very busy . And the same for other places taco bell.. McDonald’s..Canes..and a good priced Grocery store. I can’t even buy ice cream at foods co because by the time I get to my house in the Westside it’s melted.. houses are still being built and sold for $350,000-$500,000 and if residents can afford that they can afford to support these businesses.. but for some reason they council doesn’t think we can and always pushes the Eastside…the Westside residents work and pay taxes,shop and eat just like the Eastside ..why can’t we get some of the same benefits
I agree 100 percent. We purchased a house on the west side after living on the east side for many years. The change in daily life is jarring! The distance we have to travel for any conveniency is unacceptable.
We love our home but just traveling to the east side of town for everything feels extremely inconvenient and takes time out of your day. And still, new housing projects are being announced to be built here in the west side. Who is doing the planning?
Unfortunately, a city or state cannot get the Federal Government to change policies. To unmask Federal Agents is a Federal requirement. Anything passed by anyone else is not going to work. Federal Law supersedes lower laws. That is why fighting the Feds on Federal issues will not work how people are thinking it might (ie State immigration laws are superseded by Federal laws.)
I guess it is like seatbelt laws. When a few states implemented the laws, there was no federal law on seat belt requirements. After laws were passed by several states, the Federal Government implemented a national seat belt law. Now states cannot say the person does not have to wear seat belts. Als, consider helmet laws. Some states have them and some states don’t. There is no Federal law on it so it is not enforced.
Meaning, if the Feds have a law stating it can be done, then nothing a state can do about Federal Agents wearing face coverings. But, if there is no law, then it seems individual states have a say. Question is what is on the Federal books.
Regardless of where one stands on party affiliation, the United States citizen should be pissed at the failures of the government in protecting our borders, and more importantly, the demise of our immigration program and system. Past administrations have placated this topic in the name of votes. We currently have known terrorists, murderers, felons, all who are living within our borders, but Sigalia wants to focus his attention on a mask issue rather than demanding to know who is actually here and possibly living in District 1 of Tulare. Never-mind our borders are a thorough way for drugs, sex trafficking, and a socioeconomic demise but Sigalia ignores all those facts. Instead of placing his energy and focus on these pressing matters, he wants to direct TPD to be an enforcer over federal agents to ensure they don’t wear damn mask in the name of ‘safety.’ What about those of us who immigrated here legally, own a business, pay taxes, have our business broken into, have been subjected to the criminal element of Tulare – Jose, do we not matter, are you not worried about those citizens safety? If you have posers with mask pretending to be ICE, then go arrest them! There are laws against posing as a law officer. Not to be outdone by the ignorance of your self reported topic #1, you want to build another empty softball complex funded by tax payers! Sigalia, you are the epitome of what is wrong with the government and you need to be voted out. Actually Jose, you should just step down you are embarrassing Tulare.
You made some pretty good points here Frank that most regardless of their politics would be hard put to dispute. It okay to disagree with Mr. Sigalia, especially with you make some very good salient points, but why you felt the need to go foul and hateful is beyond me. You are obviously intelligent enough to know how to disagree in a respectful tone and manner.
Okay…is there a point or motivation to your comment other than an attempt to imake it way more than what it is? Injecting “hate” where hate doesnt exist, is a stretching it. If you want to debate Sigalia’s accountability, or accountability to his D1 constituents, then we can have that discussion.
This is laughable that an elected official, empowered with proposing and voting on local legislation, doesn’t understand the basic hierarchy between local, state, and federal government law. Totally unqualified to be on the Council. He needs to go back to his high school civics teacher and get some guidance.