Happy New Years Downey!

I hope you enjoyed the holiday season and are ready for an exciting and productive 2016. Thank you to the Downey Patriot for publishing the Mayor’s Corner in an effort to keep everyone up to date of the many things happening in our great City. I look forward to using this column to discuss the many things taking place in Downey throughout the year.
I am honored to be the Mayor of Downey and am humbled at the opportunity to serve the community where I have lived my entire life and where, together with my wife Giggy, are raising our 3 children.

My vision for 2016 will be centered around the goals and priorities we have set as your City Council and as Mayor. Our No. 1 priority is, and will always be, to improve public safety and prevent crime. We have an outstanding Downey police department and are grateful for their service. Almost 70% of our $162 million dollar budget is dedicated to police and fire services and it is worth every dollar.

We will continue to advocate for more accessible and transparent local government to better serve you and to ensure that all city funds and finances are managed in a fiscally conservative and responsible manner.

I look forward to continuing the positive business and economic growth trend in Downey. Aside from the businesses opening at the Promenade next few months, we will also focus on expanding and attracting medical related jobs by introducing a medical overlay zone later this year. This will enable us to attract skilled medical jobs, including research and university related jobs.

We will also focus on creating a plan to develop and attract businesses to the south side of town, such as along Imperial Highway. With the Promenade, the $400 million upgrade at Rancho Los Amigos hospital and other new businesses opening soon, we look forward to positive growth in that area and we want to be prepared and plan accordingly.

This year is particularly special as we celebrate the 60th anniversary of the incorporation of the City of Downey. We will be honoring Downey’s history throughout the year with various events, large and small. Stay tuned to Celebrate Downey in 2016!!

One of my goals this year is to expand and embrace the arts and culture movement in our City through various programs, including a Downtown Art Walk. This year, I invite you to get involved, volunteer and become engaged to make a difference in our community. Join a service club, volunteer with our seniors, join our new Downey Special Olympic basketball team or participate in our monthly trash clean-up events. The more you get involved, the stronger the fabric of our community becomes and the greater the impact we make on Downey and the lives of others. Helen Keller once said, “Alone we can do so little, together we can do so much.”

Stay tuned for frequent updates on projects that are underway and upcoming events. If you haven’t already, sign up for the Downey Alerts on our City website at downeyca.org to receive important updates. Also download our City of Downey App to your phone to report graffiti, potholes, broken street lights, and more. It’s easy and important we do our part.
As always, I invite you to contact me if you have questions, ideas, or comments about our City at (562) 904-7274, or by emailing me at asaab@downeyca.org.

We have a great year ahead of us and I’m eager to work together with you to accomplish our goals. Let’s continue to work together to keep Downey moving forward. Here’s to a great 2016! #DowneyFirst #DowneyStrong

Mayor's Corner: No. 1 priority is keeping Downey community safe