Horacio Ortiz shares vision for south Downey

My vision for Downey is to really live up to our motto which declares a “Future Unlimited.” I want to be a part of the new change coming to our great city. It is my mission to bring our communities to their best potential. As your next Councilmember, my priorities will be to increase public safety and stricter code enforcement, reduce homelessness, improve the quality of life for all Downey residents, and support small businesses.

Public Safety and Code Enforcement

What makes a thriving community is its commitment to public safety and code enforcement. I will make it a priority to hire a Police Chief and Police Officers who have a solid understanding of the needs of our community. By doing so, we will support the effectiveness of law enforcement, promote community engagement, and establish a swift response time to emergencies and crime. As a result, we will strengthen our police force and increase public safety throughout all of Downey.

We need a Downey Police Department sub-station in South Downey. Just like we have four Fire stations throughout the city, we should do the same with our Downey Police Department. It will help prevent more crimes heavily affecting our communities like smash and grabs, home invasions, property theft, and vandalism. By placing sub-stations throughout the city, officers will have a faster response time and increased visibility in the area.

As a Neighborhood Watch Captain and Member of Gangs Out of Downey (GOOD), I understand the importance of getting residents involved in these types of programs. It fosters a sense of pride and security in their neighborhoods. I will promote and facilitate the creation of more Neighborhood Watch groups in South Downey. One of the main topics of discussion that should be addressed in these gatherings of the community is the dangers of Fentanyl. Parents need to be educated on what they should do in an emergency while waiting for first responders. Narcan nasal sprays should be available in every home. A quick nasal spray could save the lives of a loved one who is going through an Opioid/Fentanyl overdosed.

Maintaining a proactive code enforcement division in our city will enhance our neighborhoods by beautifying areas that have been neglected for years. It is important that all residents play an active role in reporting incidents of code violations, allowing code enforcement to promptly address the issue and prevent fines.

Reduce Homelessness

We first need to understand the homeless population as two groups: the uninformed and the misinformed. The uninformed individuals are simply not aware of the vast network of available resources. They might not know how or where to apply for assistance, temporary housing, and mental health evaluations including drug rehab centers. The second group is the misinformed homeless population who do not want to seek help. They prefer to live in the streets and occupy sidewalks, parks, and empty private lots. At a minimum, this group of misinformed homeless make our community less safe and less enjoyable for all families. To manage this crisis, a Homeless Coordinator needs to be hired at City Hall and will be responsible for addressing all homeless in Downey. We are a compassionate community with numerous connections to agencies that could genuinely help them. The Whole Child, TLC Family Resource Center, and Rancho Los Amigos Hospital are some of the agencies dedicated to supporting those in need. Beyond our city borders, there are also ample resources at both the county and state levels.

As your Councilmember, it will be my mission to ensure that saying “Yes” to seeking help is the only option available to either group of the homeless population.

Furthermore, there has been a rise in RV parking on the streets of Downey, and often they are seen as interconnected challenges within the homeless crisis. I will implement a strict curfew for parking RVs on the street. By limiting the permanent occupation of RVs throughout the city, which often disrupts the flow of traffic, collects debris, and impacts the aesthetics of our neighborhoods, we will send a clear message to the region that Downey will not be the next dumping ground of homeless and RVs. Another factor affecting the aesthetics of our neighborhoods is the homeless population that live under the freeway. As your next Concilmember, I will work with CalTrans to fortify all entry points to freeways and make it near impossible for anyone to break through.

I want to make it clear that I aim to strongly enforce all anti-camping laws in Downey. The safety and quality of life of Downey residents come first.

Improve Quality of Life

On my first day in office, I will direct staff to do a comprehensive study on traffic in District 1 (South of Firestone Blvd). I want to identify the areas with the most accidents, speeding, and parking density. By implementing new traffic control measures, we will enhance the safety of our roads and improve the overall quality of life for Downey residents. It is crucial that we maintain easy traffic flow while also ensuring the safety of pedestrians and drivers.

Last year the city approved a $30 million dollar street/road improvement initiative. Unfortunately, a majority of those funds were allocated to other areas of Downey that did not need much repair, and the parts of South Downey that did need attention were left untouched. I will be the voice that brings in more resources to areas that desperately need attention—areas like Imperial Highway, alleys, parks, and residential streets in South Downey.

More and brighter lighting in residential streets and parks is necessary. Some areas are too dark for anyone to feel safe. Unnecessary darkness attracts crime and causes accidents. I will work towards finding solutions to ensure that well-lit neighborhoods become a reality without additional costs to residents.

Supporting Small Businesses

Promoting our community values should be the first checkbox requirement for any business coming to our city. Downey is a gem in the region where many businesses have thrived. We have not built on this reputation for the past several years. It’s unfortunate that anchor businesses like Sprouts have chosen to open up in neighboring cities like Norwalk instead of Downey. As a Small Business Owner, I know how valuable it is when the city is seen as a partner rather than an obstacle limiting business growth.

As Chair of the Planning Commission, I have experience collaborating with property owners when searching for new businesses to attract. This kind of proactive partnership is key to preventing the wrong type of business from infiltrating our community. When the controversial cantina Ojos Locos came to the Planning Commission, I was the only one that voted against it. It doesn’t seem right to me that an adult facility was allowed to open across the street from Downey High School. Although I am a small business advocate, I will always put family values first.

Attracting good-paying jobs and family-friendly businesses is possible. Most recently, I met a developer in Washington DC who told me “Never again will I do business in Downey”. After we spoke, I wanted to find out what was stalling his project for years at City Hall. I asked questions and helped them navigate through the antiquated system currently in place. A couple of months later, we were able to approve his tenant, Shake Shack Burgers, to open in Downtown Downey. We can attract many other family-friendly businesses to our city by simply asking questions and finding a reasonable understanding of what each party wants.

At the same time, I will open up channels of communication with existing business in Downey and their representatives like the Planning Commissioners and the Mayor and Councilmembers. Doing business in Downey should be easy, fast, and affordable for businesses of all sizes.

Business owners and residents in Downey should be able to go online and easily schedule an appointment with the city. Right now there is nothing digital in place to facilitate this procedure. In fact, there are many delays with construction and operations because owners have to contact City Hall to schedule an appointment for someone to come and inspect the business site. This is inefficient, and it is costing businesses and residents who want to make improvements on their homes, a lot of time and money. I want to improve the process by introducing state-of-the-art technology that will streamline the process for every department at City Hall.

In facilitating the revitalization of underutilized areas, we can create unique and inviting spaces that cater to the nostalgia of our community, offering a variety of shopping options that reconnect to our family values. Together with small businesses in Downey, we can make all of our spaces a thriving hub that meets the diverse needs and desires of all residents.

To learn more about me and my campaign for Downey City Council, please visit www.HoracioOrtizforDowney.com or call me on my cell phone (562) 445-7572.