State of the City with Mayor Alex Saab
by Lorine Parks
For the second straight Tuesday, our regular meeting was pre-empted by larger matters. Today Alex Saab, the Mayor of Downey, gave the State of the City address. Hosted by the Downey Chamber of Commerce, the event filled the Bob Winningham Banquet Room to capacity.
The good news is that the city is in good financial shape, thanks to prudent and conservative management. Improvements to public safety include two new fire engines, paid for out of funds accumulated for that purpose. Infrastructure additions means widening the intersection at Paramount and Firestone, and replacing street signs with new colors and a font meant to brand the City’s identity. And among new business we can count the newly opened Promenade, where Rockwell was, and a Fiat and Alfa Romeo dealership on Firestone Boulevard.
Much of the mayor's presentation centered on maintaining a high quality of life for residents. Saab said Downey was on pace to open its 200th neighborhood watch group this year.
An all-year celebration is underway for the 60th anniversary of the incorporation of the City as Downey, not Gallatin, as some has expected. Culminating in October the festivities will include a performance by the Downey Symphony of Gustav Holst’s The Planets, in honor of Downey’s aerospace history, and a Symphony-sponsored contest at Poetry Matters.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Carnival of Champions was one of the many Rotary events that happened this weekend. Below are Rotarians Dr. John Garcia, Anne Ullstrom and Roger Brossmer.
