Mayor's Corner: Gearing Up for 2022
City of Downey photo
Happy New Year Downey! We are well into the beginning of the new year, and I hope everyone is doing well. As we enter the second year of the pandemic, we have learned to pivot and adapt in ways we never thought possible. During my second term as Mayor, I hope to accomplish many of the events that had to be postponed due to the virus. During my tenure, I set tangible goals that will continue to lead our great city forward and give residents the quality of life we expect and deserve.
Our city has a rich aerospace history, from aircraft aviation to the Apollo Space Program. The space shuttle Inspiration is the first shuttle mock-up built and was constructed proudly here in Downey. It was used to guide engineers in developing and making flight-worthy shuttles. Interestingly enough, it has never left our city.
With help securing funding from the State, Senator Bob Archuleta, and Assembly Member Cristina Garcia, we will be starting a complete renovation of the shuttle that the public can enjoy and walk inside of it. The rehabbed shuttle will be installed in the new Space Center annex to be constructed over several years.
City staff has been working with the County of Los Angeles on the design and layout of the multi-use fields at the five acres of land located at the South Campus of Rancho Los Amigos. The development includes three synthetic turf and grass soccer fields of various sizes. These fields will support youth play through high school level competition, with the most significant area being able to host football and lacrosse play. There will also be a large parking lot, a 3,000 square-foot building with restrooms, concessions, administrative offices, storage, and meeting space. The property also includes the land hosting two existing buildings that the Downey Rose Float Association currently occupies.
In Downey, Public Safety is paramount. Our Police Department is constantly looking into ways to keep our city safe and provide more programs to become better community partners. Because of this, I always say we have a great police department.
This year, our Police Department will host its first “Youth Academy.” This program will mirror the Department’s successful Citizen’s Academy but will be geared toward engaging our youth. Applicants will range in ages from 14 to 17 years old and will be able to observe and experience the Police Department from an inside perspective. This is an opportunity to engage with the youth and an opportunity for participants who may be interested in law enforcement to gain firsthand experience.
Downey Police will also be implementing a Facility Dog Program. A facility dog is usually a Golden Retriever, a Labrador, or both. They can help investigate crimes provide comfort to victims and witnesses during the investigation. They help lower tension and stress in the courtroom, conduct senior visits and welfare checks, and engage with residents at community events.
Businesses continue to seek and set roots in Downey as it is the place to be. There will be two new restaurants coming to the southeast corner of Firestone Blvd and Downey Ave, which will have a drive-through. Construction of this site should commence in the summer.
A few doors down at the former Hometown Buffet site, a new restaurant will take its place called the Margarita Factory. The new restaurant will spruce up the existing center and bring additional dining choices within our downtown area. The new restaurant should be opened just in time for the summer.
The Honda Dealership located at Florence Blvd. and Studebaker Rd. will be constructing a new dealership on the seven and a half acre site across the street from their current location. The new dealership is anticipated to open at the end of 2022. The existing Honda World dealership will remain and be repurposed for Honda motorcycles and desert vehicles.
The current Starbucks on Firestone Blvd. at the Farmers and Merchants Bank building will be moving across the street. It will offer a drive-thru and expanded outdoor and indoor seating. The new Starbucks will open in the spring.
The construction of the new Marriott Springhill Suites continues and is also anticipated to open this spring. The four-story building will offer 140 rooms, a fitness gym, an outdoor bar, and a 3,000 square foot conference room. The hotel is located between the new Footlocker and Dunkin Donuts.
The City of Downey and the Los Angeles County have been working on redeveloping the former American Legion site at the corner of Garfield Ave. and Gardendale St. The conceptual plans call 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. Former Mayor Rick Rodriguez was instrumental in getting this project moving, and I am happy to announce that the groundbreaking is tentatively scheduled for the fall of this year.
A 29-acre industrial park within Stewart & Gray Rd, Hall Rd. and Woodruff Ave. will be completely redeveloped. It will host a variety of modern industrial businesses that will provide new jobs for our city.
To comply with the new State of California housing requirements, we will also see new housing pop up in our community. The site off Downey Ave, just south of Florence Ave, will host 14 new housing units.
Quality of life is essential to our residents. My goal is also to continue to bring events and activities that will improve the quality of life of our Downey residents. This year we are bringing back the Downey One Day of Service. Our city is a community committed to service. In Downey, we are home to many service clubs. We have two Kiwanis Clubs, a Rotary Club, the Assistance League, the Soroptimist International of Downey, the Optimist Club, Elks Lodge, and many other service and church-based groups. We are indeed a community that cares, and this is genuinely exemplified on this one day of giving back to the community.
Touch-A-Truck is an event that will be held this May at Independence Park and City Maintenance Yard. This is an event that joins Public Safety Week and Public Works Week. Fire engines, ladder trucks, and ambulance vehicles will be displayed for children to jump on, ride on, try on helmets and honk horns. Our Fire Department personnel will perform a demonstration extinguishing a vehicle on fire, extricating an injured passenger using the “Jaws of Life,” and a demonstration at the Fire Training Tower. The Police Department will display patrol vehicles, motorcycles, bomb diffusion robots, K-9 demonstrations, and the new BearCat swat vehicle. The Public Works Department will have their Vactor truck, graffiti abatement truck, backhoe, and other equipment on display. Sewer maintenance staff will demonstrate inspecting a sewer pipe using a CCTV camera. There will also be tours of the Maintenance Yard.
Maintaining our streets is always critical. Our residents have complained about potholes and poor-quality streets, and we have heard you all loud and clear. So, I am happy to announce that to expedite further street improvements and significantly improve our streets, the city raised $30 million in bond proceeds. With these proceeds, we plan to repair 264,000 linear feet of city streets, which equates to 30 miles, within the next three years.
These are just a few of my goals for the year. There will be further goals mentioned throughout the year and further updates that I will be providing either through my Mayor’s Corner or my Mayor’s Videos.
I want to thank all those at City Hall who work tirelessly and make our job on the city council appear effortless. I especially would like to thank our irreplaceable City Manager, Gilbert Livas. During my time on the city council, I have observed the professional and strong leader that he is. Under his leadership, the city has continued to grow and be the beacon of the gateway cities. I am looking forward to continuing to work with Mr. Livas, city staff, and my council colleagues.
Lastly, I want to thank you, our residents. Thank you for allowing me this opportunity to serve you. I look forward to being engaged and serving as your Mayor for this year, 2022. Let’s make it a great one!
Blanca Pacheco
Mayor