The days when a Manteca resident could run into the mayor in a grocery store or at a community event to bend the mayor’s ear are long gone.

It’s not that Mayor Gary Singh doesn’t engage with those he comes across that he was elected to represent and serve when it comes to overseeing the city, the form of government most intertwined with people’s lives from police and fire protection to making sure water flows from taps.

Singh does, as do the other four council members.

But the sheer number of people living in Manteca — 95,000 on the verge of surpassing 100,000 by 2028 — makes crossing paths with elected city officials less likely.

It also does not help that the vast majority of Manteca working adults are commuters with the bulk heading west over the Altamont Pass up to five days a week.

And, as Singh has discovered, social media has its limitations in effectively engaging people whether it is to help them to understand why the city does certain things or elected leaders getting a more robust and productive feedback from the people they represent.

It is why, since Singh became mayor nearly three years ago, he has actively sought out opportunities to engage with people at neighborhood gatherings.

The latest was Wednesday at The Collective community on Louise Avenue near Cottage Avenue.

Upcoming gatherings are at the Arbor Bend neighborhood in southwest Manteca, El Rancho Mobile Home Park, and Del Webb.

“Neighborhoods are the heart of the community,” Singh said.

The Collective gathering that drew nearly 100 to the community clubhouse was a typical outreach.

Singh, who was accompanied by District 4 Councilman Mike Morowit who represents The Collective

ran the gauntlet from how the Measure Q sales tax is being implemented to street work and police staffing.

The overview was sprinkled liberally with questions; many wanting to know why the city was doing certain things and why they were not doing other things.

As such, it gives Singh the opportunity:

*to share laws California cities must comply with.

*funding issues including competing interests and the fact a lot of funding  that is collected has been restricted over the years for specific purposes by state law or statewide ballot initiatives to protect the interests of taxpayers.

*Manteca specific concerns taken into account and weighed.

Such is the case with the center median and pedestrian fencing that are the highest profile components of a $3 million endeavor to enhance safety and traffic flow on North Main Street from Alameda Street to Northgate Drive.

The left turn restrictions, as an example, that prevent motorists from “quickly” accessing concerns such as Dribbles Car Wash by requiring a U-turn from those traveling in the opposite side of the street, is a hot topic.

Singh uses the opportunity to explain how it is the most prolific street of pavement in Manteca for traffic accidents including fatalities, serious injuries, and more expensive collision losses.

The improvements are designed to address the two biggest contributing factors to the accidents — long stretches of unrestricted left turns and speeding.

City staff, besides identifying a problem and devising a solution, went a step further. They scoured potential grant opportunities for safety projects and devised a proposal that secured state money to pay for the work.

The bottom line is the city is improving safety without it coming from local taxes residents pay for everything from fixing roads to funding police and fire services.

The gatherings are far from being a one way street.

Singh and council members may get a chance to educate residents during the interaction.

But the mayor and other elected leaders are also educated by residents in terms of neighborhood and community concerns.

And it is far more effective than most social media exchanges as it is an actual dialogue.

Singh, after getting elected mayor in 2022, understood that going forward, the mayor is the only remaining citywide elected official.

It was the mayor’s effort during the Measure Q campaign where he participated in other 100 such gatherings accompanied at times by city staff, that is credited with securing passage of the 20-year, three-quarter cent sales tax measure.

Those wanting to organize a neighborhood gathering with the mayor, can email his City of Manteca account accessed by the city website or contact the city clerk’s office.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com