Hello Downey,

It was a historic week for our nation as we witnessed the peaceful transition of power in our nation’s Capitol. This week’s events demonstrated to all of us that despite our political differences and the turmoil experienced earlier this month, we are and will continue to be one nation under God and indivisible. We continue to be a beacon to the world, one of freedom, liberty, and justice for all.

Our local municipalities must continue moving forward focused on working collaboratively in a non-partisan way, with a shared vision of hope and meeting our residents’ needs.

As I mentioned in last month’s column, 2021 will continue to bring challenges for us, and we will remain ready, pivoting where needed and adjusting our priorities to meet your needs. This month also marked historic numbers with the ongoing pandemic.

Earlier this week, our country reached a grim milestone with 400,000 lives lost to Covid-19. According to John Hopkins University, the running total of lives lost is nearly equal to the number of American lives lost in World War II; it is also about the population of Tampa, Florida or New Orleans.

Deaths continue at an alarming pace. More than 6,700 people have died in the last two weeks. In our city, we continue to see climbing numbers with 14,919 positive cases and 161 deaths. I want to touch on a few items in this month’s column.

On Covid-19 Vaccines

We are hopeful that more people will be inoculated against the virus given the five new mass vaccination sites that opened in L.A. County over the last several days. One of them opened in our city earlier this week, at the L.A. County Office of Education (LACOE) on Imperial Hwy and Bellflower Blvd.

We are grateful to the efforts of L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn and Chairwoman Hilda Solis for signing an executive order this week directing county health officials to make Covid-19 vaccination appointments available to residents 65 years and older beginning Thursday, January 21.

This age group, 65 and over, accounts for 80% of the virus’s deaths. We heard from many residents that the website VaccinateLACounty.Com had crashed several times as appointments were released on Tuesday. County officials were working on getting the technical issues fixed. A clarification to our residents, while we are grateful to have/offer a mass vaccination site in Downey, this site is run by L.A. County and not our city.

If you or your loved ones do not have internet access and need assistance making an appointment, please call 833-540-0473 between 8:00 am and 8:30 pm.

Impacted by Covid-19? The city has a Rental Assistance Program

If your household has been financially impacted by the pandemic, emergency rental assistance grants are available on a first come, first-served basis. To qualify, households must have been adversely impacted by Covid-19 through job loss, furlough, reduction in hours or pay, and the household income must meet eligibility. You must reside in the City of Downey to qualify. For more information, please visit downeyca.org/rentalassistance or call 562-299-6706.

Food Distribution in Downey scheduled for Friday, January 22nd

We know many families are facing food insecurities these days, and to assist, it is my goal to offer a food distribution event on a quarterly basis this year. This quarter we are partnering with L.A. County Supervisor Janice Hahn, the L.A. County Library, and L.A. Food Bank to offer a free food drive-thru giveaway this Friday, January 22nd, from 9 am-12 pm at the L.A. County Library headquarters. The line will begin at 8:30 am; facial coverings are a must. Food distribution is on a first come first-served basis.

Leaders in the Fight against Human Trafficking

January is Human Trafficking Awareness month. This epidemic is today’s modern-day slavery, it is crucial municipalities, law enforcement agencies, houses of worship, non-profits, and school districts work together in the battle against it.

I want to invite our residents to join us at a free online event on Saturday, January 30th, from 12 pm-1:30 pm to learn more about Human Trafficking and how it affects our communities.

For more information, please register at htleadersreg.eventbrite.com

I would like to touch on a few items that have been brought to my attention over the last several weeks by many residents.

Vehicles parked on lawns or other non-permitted areas

It appears cars are being parked on lawns throughout our neighborhoods. I want to remind our residents of our Downey Municipal Code Section 9728 that states that parking is prohibited/not permitted in any landscaped area. Citations will be given if vehicles do not adhere to our municipal code.

A reminder about Holiday/Season Decor, Downey Municipal Code 9612

Seasonal decor may be displayed no sooner than forty-five (45) days before a national or religious holiday and must be removed within fourteen (14) days after the holiday.

Lastly, I’d like to provide you with a quick update on the items I touched last month:

Trash/Litter throughout our City

The city launched the “BIN IT” campaign to address litter in our community. We also combined it with our existing Downey “Good Neighbor” campaign, to leverage the message of a cleaner and more neighborly Downey.

We are continuing to work proactively with our businesses, the Downey Chamber of Commerce, property owners, and residents to address individual properties and continue to drive and monitor our commercial corridors, apartment complexes, and other areas of concern. We have seen less trash and calls with complaints have decreased.

Our malls, shopping centers, and businesses have stepped up and are working with us through these trying times of the pandemic. Their business models changed dramatically. Increased traffic at drive-thrus, curbside pickups, patrons eating in their cars, and parking lot dining is the new paradigm.

Stonewood Center, The Landing, The Promenade, Chick-fil-A, The Habit, Pollo Loco, and Boston Market all discourage litter, monitor their parking lots daily, have altered their site maintenance and security presence, and are supportive of the “BIN IT” campaign.

A total of 23 social media posts across all platforms have occurred since the program’s inception last month. Facebook has reached 13,847 people, Twitter has reached 4,808 people, and Instagram has received 1,180 Likes.

Illegal dumping of bulky items and CalMet update

Since November 2020, the city has contracted with CalMet Services, Inc. to provide enhanced bulky item pick up service where a vehicle drives around “hot spot” areas and apartment complexes to pick up illegally dumped items. CalMet provides this service three days a week and four hours per day. This service is in addition to picking up bulky items from single-family residences for free as part of their contract.

Over the last two and a half months, CalMet has picked up a total of 27 tons of illegally dumped items. Public Works has assigned two full-time maintenance staff to pick up illegally dumped items Mondays through Saturdays throughout the city and has picked up almost an additional 72 tons of illegally dumped items throughout the City.

Both CalMet and Public Works staff have noticed a decrease in the number of calls, service requests, and complaints related to illegally dumped items in the city.

Also, our Code Enforcement Division patrols our community daily, with an eye out for illegal dumping of bulky items. They have distributed hundreds of door hangers to apartment units within 30 different apartment complexes, where the highest frequency of dumped items has occurred. Staff has also been in constant communication with the apartment property owners and managers, seeking partnerships to address the issue proactively.

Speed Enforcement

A reminder to all residents that our Downey Police Department will continue conducting Speed Enforcement throughout our city, please be mindful of speed limits.

Thank you Downey for allowing me to serve you. I am humbled, grateful, and here to help our community stay strong, united, and moving forward. Stay healthy, stay safe and be well.

#DowneyStrong #UnitingForce #EngagedCommunitiesAreStrongCommunities

Claudia M. Frometa
Mayor