The holiday spirit is on full display in downtown Martinez, but it’s not just Santa who’s come to town. A new armed security guard is out, patrolling the streets.

“We want to encourage folks who are patronizing our businesses and we want them to have the best experience downtown,” said Brianne Zorn, Martinez mayor.

Zorn says there’ve been concerns surrounding the unhoused and people not respecting business owners’ property. She says the city used to have a strategic enforcement team of two police officers who would patrol on foot, but the police department has so many vacancies that team had to be shifted back to other duties.

“I think the city of Martinez is a welcoming place to be, and if there are people that make folks uncomfortable then the presence of a Security Guard to observe t

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