After serving two-terms on the National City City Council Mona Rios said there is still plenty of work that needs to get done.
Rios is seeking her third-term on the National City Council. She is running against five other candidates for two seats on the city council.
She said she’s ready to get to work again and take National City to newer heights.
“I feel like this third-term I can just hit the ground running,” she said. “I know what this job consists of.”
Rios said as a councilwoman she is proud to have gone to Sacramento on two occasions to speak in favor of Assembly Bills 805 and 405, both having an effect on National City.
Assembly Bill 805 authored by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, changed the structure of San Diego Association of Governments board after a scandal that involved the miscalculation of the TransNet tax.
Rios said she’s also supported Assembly Bill 485, a ban on puppy mills. The Assembly Bill states that in 2019, pet stores will not be able to sell puppies in their stores unless they are rescue dogs and not from puppy mills. Rios said the city council voted for their own resolution which failed in a 3-2 vote. National City currently has two puppy stores in the city.
“It wasn’t saying we aren’t supporting our puppy stores. But not to base it on $3,000 dogs that are being shipped from back east somewhere in inhumane ways,” Rios said.
Rios also was an advocate of Senate Bill 54, the California Values Act, that protects the rights of immigrants and prevents local police from aiding ICE agents in immigration raids. She said this bill re-focused National City police officers into doing their job locally and not that of federal agents. Rios said this bill also lead to the passing of a Compassionate City Resolution for National City.
If re-elected Rios said she has a list of items that she wants to accomplish. At the top of her list is the care for National City’s senior population. She said she wants to better the quality of life for seniors by providing better access to the city’s resources and amenities, create more opportunities for social interactions amongst seniors and improve transportation methods for seniors.
Rios said she also wants to address the city’s homeless issue.
Although the city has brought on board the Alpha Project to help with their homeless population, Rios said she would propose the city invest in a real comprehensive homeless solution .
“We want to see people get off the streets and be in a better situation,” she said.
Rios, who is vice-chair on the Metropolitan Transit System board, said she wants to increase access for public transportation for National City residents.
“National City really is dependent on public transportation,” she said. “We don’t have folks that all own cars, so it’s important for us to make it reliable and affordable.
Rios is in favor of Measure W, a measure for rent control in National City that’s on the November ballot. She said there are about 70 percent renters in National City and while on the campaign trail she has constantly heard stories from renters talking about their rent increases over the years.
