Meet Gino Garcia
GINO GARCIA
I am a first-generation Guatemalan American, born and raised in the heart of the inner city of South Central Los Angeles. I always carry with me the spirit of working hard and perseverance, a spirit inspired by my parents’ hard work and determination to provide a better life for their children. The continued moral support from my family encouraged me in my youth to graduate from high school and look at what was beyond my neighborhood. It was on a college-bound trip with my high school senior class that I visited Monterey for the first time, not imagining that one day I would be calling Monterey “home”.
As a planner with a local nonprofit, I work on the implementation of transportation plans throughout Monterey and Santa Cruz Counties. This work has provided me with the platform to advocate more widely for infrastructure with the goal of increasing safety in our neighborhoods not only for students but families and the community in general. This work has also provided the platform for me to work directly with community, moving forward efforts that bring to the forefront issues revolving around inclusion, tolerance, equity, and socio-economics. For this work, I was recognized in Monterey County in 2021 with a TAMC Transportation Excellence Award. I was also appointed the same year as the representative for the City of Monterey at the TAMC Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee.
I believe that addressing local issues such as aging infrastructure, housing, homelessness, water scarcity, etc., must be done in ways that are unique to Monterey. Monterey has a population that is diverse in many ways, and my goal is to develop strategies and create the spaces in which we can have constructive conversations, even with polarized views, so that we can move away from tension and closer to a solution. I aim to foster safe spaces that will promote working together and enhance our collaborations with partners and stakeholders. It is my hope that my presence in the City Council will inspire Monterey’s Spanish-speaking community to have that confidence to speak up about their concerns and be included in important discussions about our quality of life. Espero conocerlos y que juntos colaboremos para un mejor mañana para todos.