Seth Hewett

“Most people don’t distrust government because they hate it. They distrust what they can’t understand.”

Most city budgets are technically public: buried in PDFs, spreadsheets, and dense documents that require a finance background to interpret. That’s not transparency. That’s paperwork with a window.

An AI-powered budget portal would let any resident ask plain-language questions (where does my money go, what does the city spend on roads in Ward 3, how much of Measure N goes to police versus other services) and get real answers, linked to real data.

Cities like Fort Lauderdale, Rancho Palos Verdes, and San Bernardino already use interactive budget tools. Bakersfield can build on that. And go further.

City Hall should be understandable. Full stop.

“Working inside Bakersfield Fire, I’ve seen how fast incidents scale. And how much faster neighbors can respond than any unit on the road.”

Bakersfield used to train residents to assist during emergencies. That program faded. It shouldn’t have.

A modern Citizen Emergency Preparedness Program would cover CPR, basic first aid, disaster evacuation routes, communication with 911 under pressure, how to respond to downed power lines, and how to help neighbors before first responders arrive.

Our region is vulnerable to earthquakes, extreme heat events, flooding, and wildfires. A trained community is a more resilient one.

The City of Los Angeles, Tulsa, and San Jose all run active community emergency response programs. Bakersfield had one. We can restart it better.

Don’t wait for a disaster to wish we had prepared.

“Your voice shouldn’t require taking time off work.”

City Council meetings start at 5:30 PM. That’s not accessible for most working parents, shift workers, elderly residents, or anyone without transportation to City Hall.

A vetted video comment system would allow residents to submit recorded public comments before meetings. Each comment is reviewed for eligibility, then played during the public comment period. The voice of Ward 3 shouldn’t belong only to people who can make it downtown on a Tuesday evening.

Vetting protects the process. Access expands participation.

If we want more people engaged, we have to meet them where they are.

Every permit applicant deserves clear expectations instead of endless waiting.

Within 24 Hours: Your application is received, reviewed for completeness, and assigned to the appropriate department. If anything is missing, you’ll know exactly what needs to be fixed.

Within 48 Hours: The City provides an initial review, identifies any major issues, and gives you a clear roadmap of the remaining approval process instead of leaving you guessing.

Within 60 Days: Final approval, denial, or a written explanation for why additional time is legally required. No permit should disappear into a bureaucratic black hole.

Every applicant should be able to track their permit’s status online, know which department currently has it, and receive automatic updates as it moves through the process.

Clear timelines. Transparent progress. Accountable government.

Bakersfield should become one of the easiest cities in California to build, rebuild, and invest in.

“Some parts of Bakersfield feel designed to bake people alive.”

Northeast Bakersfield has some of the lowest tree canopy coverage in the city. That means hotter sidewalks, hotter bus stops, hotter walks home from school. Kids, elderly residents, and working families feel that directly.

Strategic tree planting along corridors and near bus stops is not landscaping. It is public health infrastructure. Urban tree canopy can reduce local surface temperatures by 5 to 10 degrees Fahrenheit. Cottonwood trees, native to the Kern Valley, grow fast and are well-suited to our climate.

This work can be funded primarily through state and federal infrastructure and environmental grants. Not new local taxes.

Shade is not a luxury. In Bakersfield summers, it is a safety issue.

“Not everyone experiencing homelessness needs the same solution. Our response shouldn’t treat them as if they do.”

People experiencing homelessness often have very different circumstances, yet they’re frequently placed into the same system. A veteran between jobs, a young adult aging out of foster care, a parent with children, someone recovering from addiction, and someone living with severe mental illness all require different paths forward.

Those with the greatest likelihood of returning to independent living should receive priority access to our best existing housing resources, employment assistance, and transition programs. By investing where stability is most achievable, we can help more people successfully rebuild their lives.

For individuals facing severe mental illness, substance dependency, or other conditions that require intensive daily support, Bakersfield should pursue secure service campuses designed specifically for recovery and stabilization. These campuses would provide comprehensive care in an environment built for treatment, safety, and long-term success. As residents recover and become ready for greater independence, they can transition into existing housing programs within the community.

These campuses are not intended to resemble institutions or correctional facilities. They are designed to restore dignity while providing the structure and services many people need to move forward.

A Better Model of Care

Instead of spending hundreds of thousands of dollars on a single “affordable housing” unit, organizations such as the Everdawn Foundation have demonstrated that high-quality transitional units can be built for a fraction of the cost.

Each resident should have access to the fundamentals of stability:

• A private, lockable living unit
• A personal mailbox for identification and government correspondence
• A bed, toilet, and secure storage for personal belongings
• Daily meals and shower facilities
• Private meeting space for social workers, counselors, and healthcare providers
• The ability to keep companion animals when appropriate
• Small personal gardens that encourage routine, ownership, and responsibility
• Gated campuses that provide a safe environment for residents, staff, and visitors

These are places for recovery and rebuilding. Not jail cells. Not sidewalks. Not million-dollar housing units.

We can provide compassionate care, improve public safety, and help more people successfully return to independent living by matching resources to the needs of the individual instead of relying on a one-size-fits-all approach.

“Companies looking to expand inland want to know the lights will stay on. Right now, that answer is complicated.”

As Bakersfield grows, attracting distribution centers, data warehouses, and agricultural technology companies, grid reliability becomes an economic development issue, not just an infrastructure one.

At the city level, I want to start the conversation about energy resilience: supporting state and federal investments in advanced energy infrastructure, advocating for Bakersfield’s inclusion in emerging energy pilot programs, and ensuring that our growth trajectory isn’t limited by an aging grid.

Small Modular Reactors are part of a serious national conversation about energy independence. Bakersfield’s energy expertise and industrial infrastructure make this region a logical partner.

This is a long game. The right time to start it is now.