Gordo to Deliver State of The City Speech on Feb. 23

Pasadena Mayor Victor Gordo shown delivering the 2021 State of the City address virtually, from his home because of pandemic meeting restrictions. This year’s version will be in person with an audience, on Feb. 23 at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine in Pasadena. [Screenshot via Pasadena Media]

Mayor Victor Gordo will deliver his third annual State of the City Speech on Feb. 23 at the Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine in Pasadena.

This year’s theme is “Together We Thrive Pasadena.”

The speech kicks off the run up to the submission of the City’s budget in May.

“On February 23, I will fulfill the duty mandated by the City Charter and deliver the State of the City Address at the new Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine, where the future of Pasadena in 2023 and beyond will be discussed,” Gordo said in an op/ed published in Pasadena Now. “More details to follow on this event, and I hope to see you there.”

According to the charter, “No later than February of each year, the Mayor shall present a thematic budget message for the upcoming fiscal year to the City Council.”

The purpose of the speech is to encourage public suggestions and comments on the City budget prior to its preparation and ultimate approval by the City Council.

This is Gordo’s third State of the City speech and the second one held in front of a live audience. The 2021 speech was held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Good governance is not done through once-a-year speeches or by parachuting op-eds in the local paper, though,” Gordo said.

“Rather, it is done through tireless day-in and day-out work by every one of us. My first two years as your Mayor—and what a two years it has been—have made it clear that there is work still to be done, but more importantly, these last two years have made it even more clear that the work to be done will only be accomplished by all of us working together. And, together, we will thrive.”