Hello Downey, it is hard to believe we are at the end of the first quarter.

I am greatly encouraged by the downward trend in Covid-19 positivity rates and the increase in vaccinations. According to the most current numbers provided by L.A. County Public Health as of March 12th (this data is updated every two weeks and will be updated once this column is published), 22.13% of our Downey population has been vaccinated. Downey’s current year-to-date Covid-19 as of March 23rd is 17,190 cases.

L.A. County Public Health has reported nearly 3,235,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been administered to people across Los Angeles County. Of those vaccinated, 1,057,794 people received second doses.

Unfortunately, vaccination efforts are being slowed by the lack of vaccine supply. This week, the L.A. County Dept. of Public Health reported there are over 633,000 appointment slots available, with enough doses for about 280,000 appointments. We are hopeful there will be an increase in the supply to allow for more vaccinations.

For information, or to make an appointment if it’s your turn, what verifications you will need to show at your vaccination appointment, and much more, visit www.VaccinateLACounty.com (English) and www.VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish).

Vaccinations are always free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.

We are cautiously optimistic and will be waiting to see where the Covid-19 numbers are after Spring break, along with additional guidance from L.A. County. Our tentative plan is to reopen our Council Chambers to the public sometime in April. Stay tuned.

Earlier this week, I joined SoCalGas Co., CEO Scott Drury, and Senator Bob Archuleta to make a historic announcement about a first in the nation in our very own City of Downey, home of the Apollo.

The first H2 Hydrogen Home demonstration home in the nation will be built here in Downey. Our city’s motto is Future Unlimited. The city’s rich aviation and space exploration history transformed Downey into the Biomed hub it is today, with three major hospitals, and it will now be the first city in the country to further the development of green hydrogen.

I have been a strong supporter of enhancing environmental sustainability using solar panels and other technologies. This is an exciting time for Downey, and I was proud to represent our city in the historic announcement.

About our Downey Water:

There have been alarming allegations by individuals who do not live in this city, claiming Downey is not transparent with its residents regarding our water condition. These sweeping and alarming statements are without evidence and standards to support their claims.

Currently, there are no federal or state standards regulating (PFAS) polyfluoroalkyl substances including Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS). Recently, the State Water Resources Control Board Division of Drinking Water issued a general monitoring order requiring agencies to sample their drinking water.

The purpose of this order is to collect data that will eventually be used to establish Public Health Goals and Maximum Contaminant Levels for these substances. These will be developed over the next few years.

Last month our Council was briefed on the response levels and, if these are exceeded, to do the following:

■ Shut down the source of the water well
■ Treat or blend the drinking water
■ Buy imported water
■ Notify all customers

Currently, none of the city’s wells have exceeded the response levels. These are being monitored and tested on a quarterly basis. Our water supply is NOT currently compromised.

City of STEM Annual Festival goes Virtual:

On another note, we will be celebrating the City of STEM with a virtual all-day event this Saturday, March 27, from 10 am to 5 pm, featuring Bill Nye the Science Guy and Kareem Abdul Jabbar, who was recently named California’s STEM Ambassador. If interested, please visit the Columbia Space Memorial Center website. The link will go LIVE Saturday morning.

Downey City Library Update:

Our City Library will begin curbside lending on Thursday, April 1. Starting April 1st, the public will have the ability to reserve materials either through the website, phone, or email.

And beginning on Monday, April 5, the public will be able to pick up materials in designated parking spots in front of the library from 10 am to 6 pm Monday through Friday and 10 am to 5 pm on Saturdays. All returned items will be quarantined for seven days per the recommendations of the American Library Association.

In May, we plan to begin welcoming members of the public with limited capacity into our new Library following health and safety checks. Throughout the summer, the capacity will increase following county guidelines and as services and recommendations change. Thank you for your continued patience!

About the Restorative Care Village at Rancho Los Amigos:

Many of you have contacted my office about the Restorative Care Village construction at Rancho Los Amigos Rehabilitation Center. You have expressed your disapproval and concerns regarding public safety issues regarding this project.

I want to share with you Supervisor Janice Hahn’s office will be hosting a virtual community meeting on Wednesday, March 31, at 7 pm to address your concerns. As your Mayor, I plan to join Supervisor Hahn at the virtual meeting.

More information will be forthcoming in the next couple of days and shared through the city’s website and the various social media platforms.

Catalytic Converter Etching Event:

Downey, we heard you. Due to the increase in thefts, our Downey Police Department, in partnership with Titan Tow, will be holding a catalytic converter etching event free to Downey residents.

The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 10, from 8 am to 12 pm at 11911 Woodruff Ave. This event will be limited to 100 Downey residents, with 25 vehicles serviced per hour.

Advance registration will be required. Please contact Downey PD to register.

Mayor’s Virtual Townhall, Downey @Work4U and Q&A:

Please mark your calendars, there is a Mayor’s Virtual Townhall currently in the works, and it has been scheduled for Thursday, April 22, from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm. More information and details will be forthcoming in the coming weeks.

Food Distribution for 2nd Quarter in Partnership with Assemblywoman Garcia:

As promised, the second food distribution for our community members impacted by Covid-19 and suffering from food insecurities has been scheduled.

Please mark your calendars. This event will be held Friday, April 16, at the L.A. County Library grounds on Imperial Highway. More information will be provided on the city’s website and the social media platforms.

Regarding the LGBTQ Picnic Discussed at our Council Meeting:

Downey, just as our Declaration of Independence reads, I also believe all men are created equal, we are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness!

I want to make it clear to anyone that would suggest or want to pin our city and/or council against each other by claiming this is a right vs. left issue; it isn’t! This is about spending our residents’ tax dollars on an event for a specific group.

Many would point out to our Día De Los Muertos celebration or even the Havana Rooftop event as Downey highlighting a ‘specific’ group, and I would argue that these events have been city-wide events that have promoted the arts, music, and culture of a country/region, not a specific group. These events have promoted and highlighted the richness of culture, arts and music and have unified our community, not brought division.

Over the last couple of decades the City of Downey has supported various causes/events: the Relay for Life for Cancer awareness and survivors, TLC’s 5K Walk, the Arc Walk, Gangs Out of Downey Backpack giveaway, Downey’s Street Faire, Downey’s Christmas Parade, however, all of these events have NOT been paid for by the City of Downey. These events have been paid for and fundraised by non-profit organizations.

As your Mayor, I will always support events that bring our community together in unity. From a healthcare and emergency management and response perspective, I believe every life matters. In a disaster, we rush to save our neighbor regardless of ethnicity, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation. It is our humanity that should bring us together, and that is worth celebrating.

There are many ways to celebrate our diversity, but expecting local government to foot the bill, particularly during this pandemic and post-pandemic financially strained times, is not something I will support, not now, not later.

As I shared with you in February’s column, there are many ongoing initiatives currently at work at City Hall.

Here are some new updates on programs I mentioned last month:

Covid-19 Emergency Rental Assistance to cover up to 3 months:

Over the last year, through the federal CARES Act, our city has made great efforts to offer and provide for our most vulnerable families and those residents greatly impacted financially due to loss of employment, reduction in work hours or those that have been furloughed.

This month, I have great news. Previously, through the Emergency Rental Assistance Program, the city had been able to cover one month’s rent. I’m happy to inform you that increase in funding has made it possible for our city to extend the emergency rental assistance program from one month up to three months.

Now, there are pre-requisites to qualify for this financial aid and the federal government establishes these. First, applicants must live in the City of Downey; and applicants must have suffered hardship due to Covid-19, such as the loss of a job, a reduction of hours in pay or furloughed due to Covid-19.

New applicants that qualify and go through the process will automatically receive three month’s rental assistance. Those that received one-month assistance previously, please contact our Community Development office at (562) 299-6706 or visit our website at www.downeyca.org/rentalassistance

Rehabilitation of City & Neighborhood Streets:

Repaving and resurfacing various segments and neighborhoods in our city will continue this year, following the city’s street management plan and the current budget allocations.

As I have shared in previous videos, our $5.3 million allocations for street rehabilitation only allows us to prioritize certain areas based on our city’s Street Management Plan. Please be patient. If your street or neighborhood is not due for repaving or resurfacing just yet, it means it will be included in the next budgetary cycle.

Speed Enforcement Continues:

Since the last report and my last video shared on March 3, our Downey Police Department Street Racing detail has issued 213 traffic citations for various violations, made three (3) arrests, and impounded seven (7) vehicles.

Thank you for allowing me to serve you. Please stay safe, healthy, and be well. Do not hesitate to contact my office with any questions at (562) 904.7274 or email me at CFrometa@Downeyca.org

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.

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