“It’s a good day in the neighborhood.”
The neighborhood in question is Fifth Street and Castillo Avenue in the heart of downtown Belen, and that is how Rhona Baca Espinoza, executive director of the Greater Belen Chamber of Commerce and president of Belen MainStreet Partnership, began the dedication ceremony for the city’s new, state-of-the-art fire station.
“This is a huge shot in the arm for downtown and the city as a whole,” Espinoza said.
For decades, the city had hopes and plans to build a much-needed new fire station, but finding funding for the project was always the final hitch. In March 2016, the mayor and councilors, as well as Fire Chief Manny Garcia, made a plea to the public and asked city residents to approve a $4 million general obligation bond to build a new fire station, which they did, 397 to 155 votes. “We are so thankful for the bond support,” Espinoza said, a sentiment that was echoed by several speakers during the grand opening ceremony last Wednesday.