BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Taking a stand for public safety, the mothers of the Bakersfield 3, spoke before the board of supervisors saying they want to help with the county's financial issues at Tuesday's meeting.

They are parents of James Kulstad, Micah Holsonabke and Baylee Despot, three young people either missing or killed.

The grieving mothers have realized there are connections in the cases and have banded together to fight for answers saying they want to help county law enforcement. They've asked the board to push forward and put a one-cent sales tax increase initiative for the county on the ballot for March of 2020.

The mother of Kulstad said things have changed and that after hearing more about the county's public safety crisis during the previous meeting they want to help and do their part.

The three mothers also said they want to meet with the Bakersfield City Council especially after the measure N sales tax seems to be doing better than expected. They want to start collecting signatures and want the county's tax initiative to go only toward law enforcement and the coroner's office.