In 2022, prioritize progress over perfection

City of Downey photo

DOWNEY – One of my favorite questions to ask longtime Downey residents – those who have lived here since at least the 90s and have accumulated sizable equity in their homes – is what keeps them here.

After all these years, why Downey and not, say, Fullerton, Pasadena, or any of the other tree-lined bedroom communities with similarly safe neighborhoods?

The answer is usually “the people.”

In Southeast L.A. County, Downey remains the most desirable city in which to raise a family and set down roots. We are the “Mexican Beverly Hills” after all, a step-up community where families from surrounding cities drive slowly in envy of our stately homes.

That was my family in the early ‘90s. Every December, my brothers and I packed into my mom’s Hyundai Excel, headed down Rosemead Boulevard and turned left on Gallatin, taking in the dazzling lights and gorgeous homes that seemed to have been handpicked out of a Hallmark Christmas movie. “One day son, we will live here,” my mom would say. Forget Beverly Hills, for many lower-income families, buying a house in Downey meant you had finally “made it.”

Raising a family in Downey often came with the added responsibility of becoming involved in the community. That meant coaching at Northwest Downey Little League or Downey Ponytail, swim lessons at the YMCA, PTA pancake breakfasts, late night practices with the Downey Razorbacks, gluing flowers with the Downey Rose Float, and countless other projects that makes Downey the charitable community it is.

You made friends along the way – deep, lasting friendships impossible to replicate in other cities.

This is a long-winded way to say that as much as Downey is changing, it remains a safe, charming and desirable place to live. (It’s good to be reminded of that sometimes.) But there remains room for improvement and it’s our responsibility as residents to push for growth and evolution.

The bar is low for 2022 – if we can get through the upcoming year with our health and sanity intact, that would be a win. But in the spirit of ambitiousness, here is my wishlist for 2022. Make sure to read my colleague Alex Dominguez’s column for his perspective.

Transparency. “Transparency” is a popular buzzword with politicians but it usually rings hollow when it matters most. Two weeks before Christmas, the City Council made a sneaky attempt to oust the city manager, who by most accounts has done a remarkable job as the top executive at city hall. Over the past 12 months he has played the role of adult in a room filled with bickering children.

To be clear, the city council has every right to fire a city manager, but the public has an equal right to hear the reasons behind their rationale. Democracy dies in darkness.

Shopping Experiences. Have you ever been to Town Square Las Vegas? Located about two miles south of the Strip, it’s an open-air shopping, dining and entertainment complex set on 93 acres.

Unlike the Downey Promenade, Town Square Las Vegas is truly walkable, with paths that lead you to shops and restaurants. There is even a grassy park in the center of the complex for mini concerts, exhibits or just to stretch your legs. It’s a pleasant shopping experience, mostly devoid of loud cars and exhaust fumes.

It’s too late to fix the Downey Promenade, but hopefully future large developments (Stonewood perhaps?) will incorporate more imagination into their designs.

Priority for Non-Profits at the Rio Hondo Event Center. The recently remodeled Rio Hondo Event Center is swanky and a gem in our community. Unfortunately, under its new management, it has become too expensive for many Downey organizations.

The Downey Chamber of Commerce relocated many of its fundraising luncheons to the Embassy Suites. Downey Kiwanis relocated its weekly meetings to Frantone’s. Downey Los Amigos Kiwanis held its installation ceremony at the Azar banquet facility in Santa Fe Springs. Soroptimist International of Downey hosted its annual gala at Geezer’s.

The Rio Hondo Event Center – previously the Rio Hondo Country Club – was built with taxpayer dollars as a venue to host Downey’s non-profit organizations. It’s a shame that the original vision was dismissed in the name of profit.

Fix Florence Avenue. The section of roadway between Downey and Brookshire avenues has deteriorated to a state of disrepair. This is not new information. Will it ever be fixed?

Investment in Stay Gallery. Stay Gallery is entering its 10th year in Downey, serving as the anchor of this city’s arts community. And while the pandemic has been tough for most of us, it was especially harsh on Stay Gallery, forcing the non-profit to close its doors for 16 months.

It seems like every couple of years Stay Gallery finds itself in front of the City Council, pleading for financial support so the gallery can continue operations. Instead, I’d like to see the City Council and Downey Board of Education make a joint, long-term commitment to Stay Gallery in the name of arts, culture and education. With financial security, Stay Gallery can focus its efforts where it belongs: programming and public art that will enhance the Downey community.