Ashton emphasizes Measure S spending in State of the City address
Mayor Sean Ashton delivers Downey's State of the City address on Monday. Photo by Claudia Gomez
DOWNEY -- The Downey Chamber of Commerce held the 2018 State of the City at the Rio Hondo Event Center on Monday, bringing Mayor Sean Ashton into the spotlight.
The afternoon was opened by Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, who acknowledged Downey’s recent Most Business-Friendly City award and described Downey as “an incredible partner to the county who is looking to do right by its citizens.”
“Downey is more than business friendly,” said Hahn. “This city is invested in its residents and solving problems.”
In attendance were Downey council members and staff, along with officials from the Downey Unified School District and Board of Education. Several representatives of elected officials from throughout the region, as well as Downey residents, also filled the room.
Speakers included an invocation by former mayor Mario Guerra, as well as Chamber President Joanna Peterson, President-Elect John Casillas, and Executive Director Michael Calvert.
The main event, however, came in the form of Ashton’s State of the City address.
Hundreds attended Monday's State of the City address at the Rio Hondo Event Center. From left: Hector Sosa, Sally Hazzard, Maria Lilley, Jason Cierpiszewski, Joanna Peterson, John Casillas, Blanca Rochin, Cindy Grafton and Laurie Tyler. Photo by Claudia Gomez
This year marks the first time that Ashton has served as mayor for the city of Downey, thus Monday’s presentation was his first opportunity to deliver the annual presentation. Mayors typically use the time to address recent accomplishments and lay out strategies and goals for the remainder of the year.
Ashton was introduced by Peterson and walked up to the podium to the intro of Metallica’s "Enter the Sandman," provided by the Warren High School Jazz Band.
Much of Ashton’s initial comments surrounded the utilization of Measure S funds, the half-cent sales tax increase approved by Downey voters in 2016.
“We want to make sure that with this Measure S money it only goes to parks, roads, police, and fire,” said Ashton. “Those are the big four, and we want to make sure that that money gets spent in the right way.”
The sales tax increase has allowed both the Police and Fire Departments to upgrade equipment and facilities, as well as increase the number of personnel.
Downey Chamber of Commerce President Joanna Peterson and President-Elect John Casillas. Photo by Claudia Gomez
“We’ve actually started our paramedic engine program which allows us to have more paramedics on the streets at a given time. It’s actually increased response times for our residents to, I believe, under five minutes for most of our city,” said Ashton.
This also includes the hiring of 14 new firefighters, a new emergency manager, a new ambulance coordinator and six new ambulance operators. Downey Police has hired or is in the process of hiring 13 new officers, four park rangers, four dispatchers, and three aides.
Ashton also highlighted a three-year plan to upgrade all of Downey’s parks.
“Some parks are going to get worked on this upcoming year,” said Ashton. “On top of that we’re going to be working on upgrading all community buildings, playground resurfacing, picnic structures, irrigation and turf replacements, as well as lighting for certain parks as well.”
Downey has been able to increase the number of miles of road to be worked on gradually throughout the last few years through Measure M funds, SB1 Funds, and Capital Improvement funding, with Ashton projecting even more increases to come.
“For the past four years, we’ve been making a bigger effort in getting our roads fixed,” said Ashton. “Back in 2016, we were improving about five miles of residential road. Last year, we improved that to nine miles. This upcoming fiscal year, we’re going to be doing 12 miles of residential roads. Next fiscal year, we estimated 13 miles.”
Ashton also brought up the 2020 census in an attempt to garner support and better turn out. Downey has 80 census districts.
“About 36 percent of our census districts are either considered low-responding or very low-responding,” said Ashton. “One of the ways we get federal funding from the state fund is through the census. If we have lower population turnouts, then they’re going to give us less money. We want to make sure that we’re working with the County [and] with the City of LA to prepare for the census that is coming up.”
From left: Cindy Kovach, Downey Chamber of Commerce director; Joanna Peterson, Downey Chamber president; Ivan Sulic, field deputy for Supervisor Hahn; Martha Sodetani, Downey school board member; Blanca Pacheco, Downey city councilmember; Janice Hahn, county supervisor; Sean Ashton, mayor of Downey; Tammy Ashton. Photo by Claudia Gomez
Ashton’s comments concluded with the announcement of several recently opened or soon to be opened businesses, office spaces, and housing developments, including Burlington at the Promenade shopping center, Giant RV at Florence Avenue and Studebaker Road, and the Downey Oasis.
The Downey Oasis will be at-cost housing located off Firestone Boulevard near the Norwalk border. It set to open within the next few months, according to Ashton.
“These are just a few of the exciting things that will be coming up over the next upcoming year,” said Ashton.