Merced town halls reveal what’s on residents’ minds early in 2026
Three town hall meetings in Merced over the past few weeks gave residents a chance to talk to city leaders. Housing and safety were a common theme at all three.
Residents shared their observations, concerns, and questions with Merced City Council members, who, given the casual nature of the events, were able to respond to many questions immediately. In addition, a large portion of the city staff was present to answer questions pertaining to their departments.
At each of the three town hall meetings, residents raised concerns specific to their neighborhoods.
The first meeting took place in South Merced at Stephen Leonard Community Center, the second at Luther Burbank Elementary School in Central Merced, and the third El Capitan High School in North Merced.
Affordable housing, tenant protections in South Merced
In South Merced, affordable housing, tenant protections and the need for infrastructure repair took center stage. Tenants and advocates reported issues with negligent landlords, including pests, mold and other safety hazards.
Members of the Leadership Counsel for Justice & Accountability suggested ways the City Council could protect tenants, even with a limited budget in the next fiscal year.
Ashley Marie Suarez, a policy advocate with the Leadership Counsel, urged the council to set aside funding for a housing equity database, create a fee structure to incentivize landlords to correct violations and establish an eviction protection program for residents.
“I am pleased to announce that we do have a framework to bring more laws regarding landlords,” responded City Attorney Craig Cornwell, “and I am encouraged that the framework has addressed all the comments that came up this evening.”
Councilmember Shane Smith also spoke about the ordinance drafted by Cornwell, emphasizing that what is being termed the “anti-slumlord” ordinance is a priority for the city.
Blighted properties, code enforcement in Central Merced
At the city’s town hall meeting in Central Merced, the issue of blighted properties and code enforcement was front and center.
More than a dozen members of the “Beautify the Block” coalition spoke about a series of blighted properties adjacent to John Muir Elementary School. One of the properties, a resident said, has caught fire four times in “a little over a year.”
The City Council and Police Chief Steven Stanfield responded to the concern, committing to looking into the properties and resolving the issue as soon as possible.
Cyclist and pedestrian safety, graffiti in North Merced
The third and final town hall meeting took place in North Merced. Residents informed the City Council of Bellevue Road’s dangers for cyclists and pedestrians and requested updates on the city’s efforts toward graffiti abatement.
At the town hall meetings in both Central and North Merced, residents also shared their thoughts on the High Speed Rail Authority’s recent proposal to build a station in Southeast Merced rather than the original site downtown.
At all three town hall meetings, Councilmember Mike Harris emphasized “This isn’t your only opportunity. We’re always open to listening to what you have to say.”
This story was originally published January 16, 2026 at 2:34 PM.
