The Valley Chronicle - SJ Mayor Crystal Ruiz invited to meet with Pres

[caption id="attachment_11053" align="alignright" width="239"] Photo courtesy of Crystal Ruiz
San Jacinto Mayor Crystal Ruiz will head to Washington, D.C. to meet with President Donald Trump.[/caption] ■ Chronicle News Staff San Jacinto Mayor Crystal Ruiz is on her way to the White House to meet with President Donald Trump after receiving an invitation late last week. Ruiz received a phone call and email from White House staff inviting her to an intimate roundtable in Washington, D.C. with President Trump and Attorney General Jeff Sessions regarding SB54 set for Wednesday, May 16. The invitation from President Trump was only extended to 15 to 20 Southern California dignitaries from a variety of cities and counties that have been early adopters in taking a position opposing SB54. Representatives will have an opportunity to share a few words about what each community has done and why. It will be followed by a roundtable discussion regarding next steps. Ruiz is excited to share information about the city of San Jacinto with President Trump and hopes to find support for significant infrastructure needs in the community. “This is a tremendous honor for our city to have this opportunity. I am excited to represent the city of San Jacinto and to meet President Trump. We have significant community needs that I hope I will be able to share with him during our brief time together,” stated Ruiz. The San Jacinto City Council voted 3-1 to oppose SB54 and join the Amicus Brief in support of the Department of Justice of the United States. Ruiz, Mayor Pro Tem Russ Utz, and Councilman Andrew Kotyuk voted in favor. Councilman Alonso Ledezma was the lone vote against the motion. Councilman Scott Miller was absent for the meeting. The majority of the council viewed SB54 as restricting the city’s right to implement local law enforcement policies and taking away local control. Ruiz will report back to the city council regarding this meeting at the June 5 San Jacinto City Council meeting at 6:30 p.m. at the San Jacinto Senior Community Center, 625 S. Pico, San Jacinto.