Thank you, Downey, for allowing me to serve you as Mayor this year as we continue to face trying times and navigate through challenges. As my Mayorship sadly comes to an end next month, I will be providing you a final overview of the 2021 accomplishments in two parts, this month’s column and the final will be in December. Many of the accomplishments mirror my Mayoral goals shared with all of you last year. It is a privilege and an honor to serve you Downey, especially in this capacity as the position of Mayor is not always guaranteed. 

As we continued to navigate unprecedented challenges and changing guidance earlier this year, we remained focused on prioritizing and balancing the needs of our residents and our business community while also remaining vigilant and responsive to public safety, economic growth, and fiscal responsibility. After various forms of lockdowns and limitations, it wasn’t until the middle of June our state and L.A. County gave the green light to reopen fully.

On Vaccination Efforts

I continued to support mobile vaccination clinics at various city events and work with our local medical centers, Kaiser Permanente, and PIH Downey for education and information segments to our community. The latest figures released by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (from 11/04) indicate the vaccination rate for Downey residents 12 years of age and older is now 80.3%. For adults 65 years of age and older, it is now 94.9%. If you remember, our goal in Downey was to surpass 75% by the beginning of fall and before the start of flu season. Thank you for taking care of yourselves and your families and protecting our community. Please call the L.A. County Department of Public Health Vaccine Center at 833-540-0473. The call center is open daily from 8:30 am to 8:30 pm. For more information, please visit VaccinateLACounty.com. Also, the city will continue to coordinate with Public Health to have mobile vaccination units at upcoming events. 

Fiscal Responsibility + Balanced Budget = City Stability

To manage its pension costs, the City of Downey took proactive measures to reduce the city’s overall pension burden over the next 20-30 years by issuing pension obligation bonds to refinance a portion of CalPERS. This refinance became effective in February, and the estimated gross savings will be $65 million. This measure increased our pension funding from 67% to 85%. Under extremely difficult times given the pandemic, while cities around us cut services, closed their doors to the public, cut jobs to survive, our city managed to remain open, stay solvent, approve a balanced budget for the seventh year in a row, keep jobs and continue providing all the services Downey residents have come to expect.

On Economic Vibrancy:

Through this pandemic and the recovery efforts, a total of 356 new businesses opened in Downey this year, including the new and expanded Foot Locker Community store along Firestone Blvd., next to Dunkin Donuts. The Marriott Hotel, also on Firestone Blvd., is slated to open the first quarter of 2022. Due to pandemic delays, the hotel’s opening was delayed. An over 81,000 sq. ft. Honda dealer two-story showroom will open in the northeast part of our city where the former Cadillac dealership used to be (Florence and Studebaker). This great Honda project is scheduled for completing Spring of 2022.

Our local businesses were helped throughout the pandemic as the city set aside a budget of $750,000 for small business grants; close to $250,000 were distributed to small businesses in need. Funding is still available to qualifying small businesses.

On Efficiency: New Automated Permit Tracking System

To allow greater efficiency between our city departments and the public including our business community, a new automated permit tracking system has been in the works and is scheduled for completion before the end of this year. This system will facilitate receiving building plans/checks electronically by the following departments: Building, Planning, Public Works, and Fire Department.

Environmentally Conscious: Reducing Our Carbon Footprint:

Staff has worked on this project for over a year, and it was one of my goals to meet in 2021. The city will be installing solar panels in all our city buildings for a savings of $10 million over the next 25 years, saving us $150,000 the first year alone in energy costs. This project will provide 1.61 megawatts of clean, renewable energy. The reduction in greenhouse gases is equivalent to five million vehicles traveled annually, and the reduction of carbon emissions is equivalent to the carbon sequestered by 2,246 acres of trees in one year alone.

Legacy Projects, Redevelopment of Downey Promenade Former NASA Vultee Building:

Potential plans are to restore the building to retain its historical character, create a community conference center/uses within the historic building. And building upon the city’s legacy of engineering and technology, Downey will pursue establishing an innovation incubator to leverage Downey’s leadership in STEM education and our medical overlay. Within that space, it is also my goal to provide space to house the Downey Conservancy and the Downey Museum of Art. Downey has an excellent aerospace history, and its rebirth as a medical hub must be preserved and showcased.

Public Safety and Speed Enforcement:

Public safety has been and will continue to be one of my main priorities. I have asked our DPD to increase speed enforcement and focus on street racing activities, including those doing donuts on various parking lots around our city. 

If there is street racing in your neighborhood, please report it to Downey PD. If you must report a non-emergency issue, please contact the Downey Police Dispatch at 562-861-0770.

ON-GOING

Downey’s anti-litter campaign #BINIT

Let’s continue to do our part by putting all trash in its place. I have asked our Code Enforcement to contact businesses to ensure parking lots and areas outside the business are maintained, however, we all must do our part. To report illegally dumped items to the City of Downey, please call 562-904-1161. If you would like bulky items removed, please call CalMet at 562-259-1239 (option 3) and save these numbers on your phone. Please download the Downey App on your mobile device. Through this App, you will be able to immediately report illegally dumped items, street repairs, trash, graffiti removal, neighborhood light repairs, etc. 

COVID-19 Rental Assistance Funding

There is still CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funding available. Rental Assistance funding in the amount of $950,000 was allocated for Downey renters since last year. So far, $608,971 has been awarded to families in need. 

City of Downey Celebrates 65th Anniversary Celebration 

I invite you to join me on Wednesday, November 17th from 10:00-11:00 am outside our civic center as we celebrate 65 years since Downey became an incorporated city.

Tree of Kindness & Hope for our Youth

Join me on Saturday, Nov. 20th at 10:45 am (after the Keep Downey Beautiful clean up) as we plant this special tree outside our civic center in partnership with students & staff from Doty Middle School. 

We honor our Veterans and their families

As we pause and take a moment to honor our Veterans this week, I want to acknowledge the 2,488+ Downey Veterans and their families for their service and sacrifices. Thank you! We honor and appreciate you. 

Downey United Lodge #220 150th Anniversary Celebration

Congratulations to our community residents, freemasons as they recently celebrated their 150th Anniversary. Thank you to Grand Standard Bearer David Olmedo for the invitation. 

Last but certainly not least, a sincere thank you to my council colleagues for their hard work and support of our agreed overarching goals and priorities for 2021. Thank you for supporting many of my goals this year. I appreciate your collaboration as we all seek to do what is best for all of Downey. 

For my final column in December, I will provide you with an update on the following accomplishments/projects:

• Street Improvement/Rehabilitation Projects

• Homeless Outreach & Public Safety

• Inclusionary Housing Ordinance and Ongoing Housing Resource Fairs

• Historic Preservation Ordinance

• Final overview on Covid-19 response

To my residents, please do not hesitate to contact my office with any questions or concerns at 562-904-7274 or email me at CFrometa@Downeyca.org I welcome appointments for in-person visits. You can also follow my Facebook page for regular updates at Claudia M. Frometa Mayor, City of Downey, along with our City’s Facebook page, City of Downey Government Agency, for regular updates.

#DowneyStrong, #EngagedCommunitiesAreStrongCommunities, #ThisIsDowney, #UnitingForce, #MayorFrometa