DOWNEY — After operating nearly the entire year with just four members, the city council finds itself – once again – whole.

Councilmembers Horacio Ortiz (District 1) and Dorothy Pemberton (District 3) were sworn in on Tuesday.

In his first remarks as a councilman, said that he wanted to be “a bridge to help move this council forward.”

“My heart goes out to those who opened their doors for me and my team. I got to meet so many faces of Downey,” I heard your unique stories of love, hardships, and concerns,” said Ortiz. “Know that you have been heard, and I am determined to move Downey forward to a better place for everyone to enjoy.”

Pemberton said that “Downey has seen many changes over my lifetime and yours.”

“The residents have told me that the two top concerns that they have in the city are safety and homelessness,” said Pemberton. “For community safety, I will focus on hiring more officers. We need to continue to offer more incentive programs, and to collaborate with the police chief on ways to deter crime..”

She continued:

“With homelessness, I will collaborate with both the city and the county to provide outreach, resources, and programs for the homeless, who may also be mentally ill or have substance abuse problems. Keeping our neighborhoods safe is and must be a priority.”

She also called for a return to “proactive code enforcement,” as well as the development for a dog park and community garden in her district.