Blanca Pacheco takes oath for second term as mayor

Supervisor Janice Hahn administers the oath of office to Blanca Pacheco, flanked by her parents. (Photo by Alex Dominguez)

DOWNEY – Blanca Pacheco will get her second chance as the head of city after being officially sworn in as mayor on Tuesday.

Pacheco reenters the seat just two years after her first stint as mayor, which was plagued by a then just emerging Covid-19 pandemic and widespread shutdowns.

“Tonight is special,” said Pacheco as she opened her first address as mayor of 2022. “Tonight is special because I get another opportunity to be mayor again. It is special because we get to gather again.

“What happened in 2020 is the whole world shut down, and we were not able to gather. Because of this, this evening is extra special to me.”

Pacheco stated that she would focus on legacy goals, public safety, economic development, and quality of life.

Looking to honor the city’s history in aerospace, Pacheco highlighted the expansion of the Columbia Memorial Space Center (which is already in the planning stages) and the rehabilitation and eventual display of the Inspiration mock up shuttle.

“The Space Shuttle named Inspiration is the first shuttle ever built, and it was built here in our city of Downey,” said Pacheco. “It was used to guide the engineers in developing and building the flight-worthy shuttles, and interesting enough we still have it here in our city.

“With the help of our senator Bob Archuleta and Assemblymember Cristina Garcia, and funding from the state, we will be starting a complete renovation of the shuttle so that the public can enjoy it and walk inside of it.”

The shuttle is planned to be installed in the new CMSC annex, which will be constructed over the next several years.

Also, the Downey Police Department will host its first youth academy during Pacheco’s term.

“Many of you have heard of the citizen’s academy, but this academy will be geared towards our youth,” said Pacheco. “Now applicants between the ages of 14 to 17 years old will be able to observe what our officers do on a daily basis. If they’re interested and motivated, they can ask officers on how they can become an officer.”

Downey Police will also implement a facility dog program.

“A facility dog is usually a golden retriever, a labrador, or a combination of both,” said Pacheco. “They can help with the investigation of crimes, provide comfort to victims and witnesses both during the investigation process, but also in the courtroom. They can help lower tension and stress, conduct senior visits and welfare checks, and engage with residents at our community events.”

Facility dogs will not be trained in other K9 related duties such as apprehension, detection, etc., are not emotional, therapy, or support dogs, and are not pets.

There are also several projects scheduled to start and/or complete this year.

Notably, Honda will be expanding across the street and take over the former Cadillac property at Studebaker Road and Florence Avenue.

The new building will house a dealership and service center, with a Honda Motorcycle lot taking over the car dealership’s former spot.

Marriott Springhill Suites will also soon be opening on Firestone Boulevard, across from the Stonewood Mall. The four-story, 140-room hotel will include a fitness gym, outdoor bar, and 300 square foot conference room.

Construction of the controversial veteran’s transitional housing project located at the former American Legion site is also scheduled to begin this upcoming year.

“The conceptual plan calls for a 100-unit veterans transitional housing development with wrap-around services, such as job placement, mental health, physical therapy, family counseling, and substance abuse counseling,” said Pacheco. “The groundbreaking should occur in 2022.”

Residents should also anticipate seeing more housing projects in the near future.

“The state has mandated that we create more housing,” said Pacheco. “We are going to be building more housing in our city to comply with the State California Law.

Pacheco also made note of the Rancho Los Amigos Sports Complex, anticipated to be completed in April next year.

As she closed, Pacheco said that she wanted to lead with “compassion, humility, and honor.”

“I want to be here so that you can reach out to me, so that you can voice your concerns, and so that we can lead the city together,” said Pacheco. “There is no ‘me’ or ‘I,’ it’s an ‘us.’”

“We all need to work together. 2020 was a difficult year; 2021 was still difficult. Now we need to enter 2022 with a little more compassion, a little bit more willingness to talk, but not just talk, also a willingness to listen and make sure that the other person is heard.”

She added that she was “committed” to Downey residents.

“I am committed to leading our city forward in 2022,” said Pacheco.

Of course, Tuesday night was also a chance to reflect on the mayorship of Claudia M. Frometa, who spoke and was honored before officially passing the reigns to her successor.

Downey Chamber of Commerce executive director Michael Calvert and councilwoman Claudia Frometa. (Photo by Alex Dominguez)

Frometa described her time as mayor as “the most challenging year of my career, of my life.”

“I have to tell you that serving as the mayor, the 47th mayor of the city of Downey is one of the greatest highlights of my life,” said Frometa. “Thank you for allowing me to serve you. We have faced the most challenging, the most unprecedented time in history, in recent history, over the last two years.”

Under Frometa’s year at the helm, Downey would see its seventh consecutive balanced budget, including an estimated gross savings of $65 million and increased pension funding from 67% to 85% after the refinancing of it’s CalPERS Pension Obligation Bonds.

Under Mayor Frometa, the city would also unveil the final two upgraded fire stations (funded by Measure S), secure $401,000 from the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and create an affordable housing subcommittee, rehabilitate and repave 14 miles of street (including 76 streets), allocate $30 million for street rehabilitation over the next three years, collected 1,008 tons of illegally dumped items, broke ground on solar panels for all government buildings, and has seen nearly 83% of its residents vaccinated with at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine, including over 97% of its senior population.

Despite the accomplishments from the past year, Frometa would allude that there were still many challenges facing the city throughout her final address, while also emphasizing the need for solidarity amongst its leadership and citizens.

“Regardless of political affiliation, we are facing the most divisive and the most polarizing time in American history politics,” said Frometa. “As a nation, as a state, as a county, and as a city, we must move forward in unity.”

“I want to appeal to all, especially in local governments… your electeds are tired, just as your healthcare workers are,” she would later say. “Your electeds more than ever need your support. Local municipalities need to come together in unity and stop bipartisan politics.”

“Our streets, our lights, and our sewers are not partisan, and we shouldn’t either.”