Politicians and babies

What is it with politicians and babies! Usually, it just means a photo op during election year.

But in this case, it means City Council Member (and past mayor) Mario Guerra and his new baby grandson, Bennett Mario. Also joining them for lunch at Joseph's Bar and Grill were more of the Guerra family, along with Mayor Fernando Vasquez and Council Member Alex Saab.

This is the kind of photo op I can appreciate!

A meeting of the minds

Tonight was the City of Downey Council Meeting. It was Mayor Fernando Vasquez's first meeting as mayor and it was standing room only. Awards were handed out. Some of the honorees:  the Downey Rose Float Association, local school kids who had won an art contest (the pictures will be featured in the Patriot), the previous board members from Downey Community Hospital.

Then came the agenda items. We were attending the meeting to support the DMOA (Downey Museum of Art). The council was scheduled to decide between the DMOA and a proposal from the YMCA for use of a building located in Furman Park.

The council decided to pursue the option using the YMCA's proposal for the Furman Park location and to work toward getting the DMOA a site closer to Downtown Downey.
The decision was made around 11:30pm... and the meeting went on until after midnight. A long day for the City Council.

"The care of human life and happiness, and not their destruction, is the first and only object of good government."
~ Thomas Jefferson

A Downey welcome

Tonight, Downey was host to the Independent Cities Association (ICA) annual installation meeting at the Columbia Memorial Space Center. Our own Mayor Guerra will be President of the association this next year. You can see why Downey belongs to ICA by visiting their website here.

Trish Pietrzak, of Platinum PR, the organizer of the event, used local talent to enhance the gala affair. First, PCA management greeted you at the curb to provide valet service.

Next, the Downey High School Jazz Combo provided entertainment for the guests. Appetizers were hosted by Porto's Bakery and Cafe while dinner was prepared by Rio Hondo Event Center.

And Mayor Guerra made everyone feel welcome.

80s music

Last week I featured the first of eight summer concerts in the park here in Downey. Tonight I continue this series. The beginning of every concert begins with everyone reciting the flag salute. Can you still say the whole thing? "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America..."

We are always greeted by the mayor.

And then the concerts begins. Tonight's concert featured "The Neon Nation," an 80s band. I'm sorry but I stopped listening to popular music after the 70s so I didn't know any of their songs and I am not qualified to give a review of their talent. I thought their outfits were great though. You can check out their website here.

Fore!

At yesterday's Rio Hondo Golf Course open house, the putting green was turned into a miniature golf course.

Mayor Guerra and a friend enjoyed a few holes of miniature golf, complete with hazards such as sand and water traps, trees, boulders, logs, miniature golf carts, and the occasional oversized pair of feet.

Cutting the ribbon

After seven years of planning, organizing, persistence, and patience, Treasure Island Park reopened today. The whole neighborhood and the entire Downey city council turned out for the re-opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Council member Roger Brossmer joked that the project "has moved at the speed of...government." Assembly member Cristina Garcia, newly elected just six months ago and on hand to present a certificate of recognition to the city, said that she couldn't take any credit for getting this project done—or for the amount of time that it took!

The newly equipped park had many contributors, including the LA Conservation Corps, First 5 LA, and Amigos de los Rios. Mayor Mario Guerra thanked neighborhood resident Luann Parker (left) for her leadership.

There's much more, too much to show you in a single post. And not just for the park—this is a busy weekend for Downey events, which you'll hear more about later this week.

Healthy Downey, Walking Wednesdays

Last week was the "Walk with the Mayor" at Downey High.

Some friends and I have been doing this for a while and have really enjoyed the times. It's a great opportunity to get outside and get some exercise while chatting with locals from all around Downey.

Meet the group tomorrow night for fun and some good, clean exercise. Meet at the Downey High track at 6. Hope to see you there!

Walking with the mayor

I needed a picture idea for tonight for our blog and couldn't think of anything. So I put out a message on one of the Downey pages of Facebook and immediately got responses from events all over Downey! The first one was "walking with the mayor," a new program Mayor Guerra is promoting for "Healthy Downey." Pam and I met the group at the Downey High football field/track and set off on our laps.

It was a lot of fun getting out with part of the community that I don't see very often for something we could all use a little more of. This is me (far right, front group) chatting with the mayor about school safety. It was great having this kind of low key event to just talk to people and find out what's going on with our city. Come out and join us next week!

Cartozian, the man

If ever you needed to know someone in this town, it would be Mr. Kirk Cartozian. Not only does he know just about everything there is to know about Downey, he can also name the houses we have been dying to check out all around Downey. Downey has kept some of the turn of the century houses pretty much as they were and Mr. Cartozian has made it his business to get to know these families. He's invested a lot of time into it and has a lot to show for it. He loves Downey and it shows. It felt like we were his paparazzi.