Pacheco highlights accomplishments in State of the City address

Downey Mayor Blanca Pacheco speaks at the Downey Chamber of Commerce’s State of the City luncheon last week. (Photo by Alex Dominguez)

DOWNEY — Mayor Blanca Pacheco addressed community leaders, business owners, and constituents on Thursday during the annual State of the City event held by the Chamber of Commerce.

Though in her second term as mayor, the event – held at the Rio Hondo Event Center – represented Pacheco’s first opportunity to give the State of the City presentation. During her first mayoral stint, the event was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Pacheco used the opportunity to highlight several of the accomplishments achieved throughout the city and its departments, including its 10th consecutive balanced budget.

“Our city continues to maintain a financially stable government,” said Pacheco. “We have maintained the city’s AA Bond rating, which represents the city’s credit worthiness. Our city has again maintained a structurally balanced budget. This is not only a great feat in itself, but the fact that we have been able to do so for 10 years in a row is extraordinary.”

She added that the city has also invested $30 million in bonds to accelerate street improvements.

Notably, Downey also hired 42 full-time and 114 part-time employees over the last year, including eight new police officers and five firefighter paramedics. The Downey Police Department also successfully kicked off its inaugural youth academy, a program similar to the long-established citizen’s academy for younger residents.

This was also the year that Downey cut the ribbon on its Solar Energy Improvement Project.

“We have always been on the forefront of environmental stewardship, sustainability and energy conservation,” said Pacheco. “This project enforces that commitment. Six city facilities received solar panels and energy storage systems. By going green, we will not only reduce our carbon footprint, we will save $10 million dollars in energy costs over the next 25 years.”

In total, the city completed 23 projects at a cost of $37 million this year, including several street and sidewalk repairs and a total of 26 miles of residential street pavement. Residents should expect even more projects in the near future, as Pacheco announced that the city is aiming to complete 16 more projects, budgeted at $36 million. 

This includes the complete design of the Columbia Memorial Space Center space shuttle specific building. Groundbreaking for the the Columbia Memorial Space Center Inspiration is scheduled for 2023.