MAYOR'S CORNER: Public safety remains the top priority
Hello Downey, as you may have heard last Friday, our city joined eleven other cities in a lawsuit against LA County’s new zero-bail schedule that went into effect October 1. I was interviewed and appeared in several news media outlets and radio regarding this concerning new law.
Downey is urging the courts to reexamine its zero-bail schedule and develop protocols that consider the safety of our communities. In fact, in the 48hrs since the law took effect, Downey PD made two felony arrests: one for vandalism and the other for bringing narcotics into a jail facility. Both suspects were released on a citation on accordance with the new bail policy.
Downey, like many other cities across LA County, has seen an increase in lower-level crime including assault, organized retail theft and other property related crimes such as auto thefts. Under this new law, individuals arrested for a variety of misdemeanor and non-violent felonies including car thefts, car burglaries, thefts of property of any value, retail and commercial theft and burglaries, possession of stolen property, forgery and drug sales may now be cited in the filed and released with a notice to appear in court with zero individual assessment of the risk to public safety. The appearance in court could take weeks or months.
Offenses considered “greater risk to the public” but still listed as non-serious /non-violent crimes include offenses involving guns, sexual battery, crimes against children, contact with minors with intent to commit a sexual offense, taking a firearm from a peace officer, assault of a peace officer and conspiracy to commit murder fall under what are termed as MR crimes meaning they go out for “Magistrate Review”. I find this law alarming and troubling.
Downey, I want you to know public safety is my top priority. I will continue to be an outspoken and fierce advocate on behalf of our 114,000 residents, and a firm supporter of our Downey Police Department. Policies like this zero-bail, demoralize our law enforcement agencies, embolden criminals as there are no consequences for their brazen crimes sending a message of impunity, and further erode the public’s trust in those voted to represent their best interests. Stay tuned on new developments regarding this lawsuit.
Community Engagement in October:
As I always say, #engagedcommunitiesarestrongcommunities There are many activities this month for our community residents and their families to enjoy.
First, we are commemorating Downey’s 150th Birthday! We have week-long activities planned starting this Sunday, October 8th, culminating with a community-wide celebration on Saturday, October 14th at our civic center from 5pm-8pm, join us for music, food trucks, children’s activities and more. Do not miss this once-in-a-lifetime event as we celebrate our Downey! For more information and detail of activities, please visit www.downeyca.org/d150
Small Business Assistance Workshops continue: Visit the Downey Library on Wednesday, Oct. 18th from 6pm-8pm and learn how to look for capital and tax incentives, develop, start, market, and write a business plan. For more information, contact Jessica Flores at jflores@downeyca.org or Benigno Sandoval with SELACO at benigno.sandoval@selaco.com
Thanks to our Downey Chamber of Commerce, I will be providing the annual State of The City report on Thursday, October 19 starting at 11am with a luncheon program following at 12noon at the Rio Hondo Event Center. Do not miss it! Tickets are $60 and this event sells out. Please contact the chamber to reserve your spot at 562-923-2191 or email Sarah@downeychamber.com
Regional Job Fair in Downey: The SELACO (Southeast LA County) Workforce Development Board (WDB) will be hosting a regional job fair in Downey on Friday, October 20th from 10am-2pm at Apollo Park. Bring your resumes and dress for onsite interviews. For more information and/or to pre-register call (562) 273-9919 ext. 1402
We are also looking forward to celebrating the 10th Annual Día De Los Muertos festival scheduled for Sunday October 29th outside our Civic Center, our library and theatre. This is the largest festival in Southeast LA County. If you would like to participate in the Community Altar, please visit www.ddlm.downeytheatre.org or call 562-861-8211.
Transient Activity, Public Safety & Quality of Life:
Clean ups will continue in coordination with LA County Dept., of Mental Health, LA Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA), PATH and Downey PD. Downey continues to be proactive and aggressive in its efforts to curtail homelessness activity and its impacts on the quality of life for our residents and impacts to our businesses. To assist us, please visit www.la-hop.org to dispatch a homeless services outreach team to your area and, if you know of someone that needs shelter, visit www.lahsa.org/get-help
As I mentioned in my previous column, I am continuing to discuss efforts to open a Homeless Navigation Center with Services in Downey. We can no longer stay idle and hope the ‘clean’ up efforts work. As we look at alternatives and common-sense approaches to address this growing concern, my goal is to protect the quality of life for our residents and tackle the safety concerns.
On Speed Enforcement:
Downey PD continues with speed enforcement activities throughout our city including illegal street racing, along with individuals utilizing empty parking lots/areas to do donuts. There have been two vehicle impounds between July-September.
Community/Economic Development and Citations for RVs
A special thank you to our Public Works for their continued work throughout our city. Year-to-date, approximately 14 miles of streets have been paved.
Public Works staff picked up approximately 200 tons of illegally dumped items from July – September. Let us continue doing our part to keep our city clean.
Our city IS an aspirational city where residents take pride in their homes, home values and neighborhoods. Code enforcement will continue respond and monitor vacant and unkept properties, issue citations for unkept yards/lawns, cars on lawns, tents or structures erected on front lawns (this is against city code).
There are bi-weekly clean-ups of the San Gabriel River and Rio Hondo bike paths.
I have received emails and calls regarding illegally parked RVs in neighborhoods and other areas in our city. Code enforcement and PD are aware, will continue to monitor and enforce our city ordinance. Please be patient as there is an enforcement process with citations.
On Business Development:
The Honda World expansion on Studebaker and Florence continues, some of the permits are ready to be issued.
A new location for Raising Canes at 9000 Telegraph was submitted for review.
Shake Shack on 8300 Firestone Blvd., the demolition permits are ready to be issued to get the site ready for construction.
In-N-Out, new location at 9454 Imperial, concept plans were submitted for review.
A new Coffee Bean at Kaiser Hospital at 9333 Imperial is coming. Permits have been issued for the site work.
Still working on other exciting new business developments in our city and hope to unveil these very soon.
Downey’s anti-litter campaign #BINIT, Residents may call CalMet/Athens services at 562.259.1239 to arrange a bulky item pick up. Additional important numbers to save on your phones:
• Graffiti Hotline: (562) 923-4484
• Abandoned Shopping Carts: (800) 252-4613
• Illegal Dumping: (562) 904-1161
Keep Downey Beautiful Monthly Cleanups
Neighborhood Watch group in your neighborhood. This is a wonderful way to connect with neighbors and watch for suspicious activities. If you see something, please, say something. Currently, we have over 230+ groups throughout our city. To find out more information or to apply, please contact Neighborhood Watch Coordinator Stephanie Arroyo at (562) 904-2374 or sarroyo@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. Please also download the Downey App on your mobile device. Through this App, you can immediately report illegally dumped items, street repairs, trash, graffiti removal, neighborhood light repairs, etc.
#DowneyStrong, #EngagedCommunitiesAreStrongCommunities, #ThisIsDowney, #CityofDowney, #OperationRestoreOrder #MayorFrometa
Claudia M. Frometa
Mayor