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President Trump's enforcement of outdated immigration regulations continues to set off fear and anxiety in Salinas. The issue remains at the forefront of discussion and debate in town.

On Thursday night around 600 people packed the gymnasium at Jesse G. Sanchez School for an immigration forum. It was organized by Salinas City Councilmembers Scott Davis, Gloria De La Rosa and Tony Barrera to let residents voice concerns about their own situations and ask questions of a panel of key community officials.

Immigration was also part of the discussion at Thursday’s symposium, particularly in the aftermath of President Trump’s three executive bans on immigration.Panetta said immigrants are a critical part of the workforce and Trump’s executive orders on immigration would be a hit on the hospitality industry, too.
“It definitely won’t be as big as an impact as agriculture, but it will be devastating for all of our economy here,” Panetta said.

“I was honored and humbled to visit with the students personally and hear and see these young kids who are anywhere from 19 to their early 20s – how much they appreciated being able to learn the language and have the teachers and the facilities to do so,” said Panetta, visibly impressed by his classroom experience.

APTOS -- The bout of storms that battered Santa Cruz County and much of Northern California has taken a toll, eroding away roads that have stood for decades and toppling trees.

Damage in Santa Cruz County is estimated to be at least $30 million and the cost most certainly increase as crews continue to survey the damage. Officials are looking to state and federal agencies for monetary help with the repairs. On Saturday, Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel, toured parts of Aptos with county officials to get a first-hand view of the storm damage.

Congressmen Jimmy Panetta toured parts of Aptos hit hard by recent storms Saturday.

"Being in Washington is fine but this is what the job is about," said Panetta. "Having boots on the ground so that you can make sure that you help the community here that you represent."

The congressman looked at slip outs on Valencia Road which forced closure of the road and elementary school. Another slip out on Soquel Drive caused the road to drop more than eight feet.

U.S. Rep. Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, is a co-sponsor of the Military Infrastructure Consolidation and Efficiency Act of 2017 with Rep. Adam Smith, D-Washington. The bill would require a round of BRAC, but Panetta says the bill includes language emphasizing that the military would have to prioritize professional military education “as an important part of military readiness and training,” in determining which facilities to cut.

When the office of newly-elected Congressman Jimmy Panetta, D-Carmel Valley, planned a Feb. 12 town hall meeting in Salinas about immigration, it was before news reports of raids and mass arrests of undocumented immigrants over the weekend.

When the town hall meeting came on Sunday, an estimated 500 members of the public crowded into the Hartnell College student center, seeking answers.

Panetta didn't have a lot of answers, but he reassured the standing-room-only crowd.