State of the City Speech to Cover Multiple Topics

Mayor Victor Gordo’s State of the City Speech will include remarks on several topics including the Rose Bowl, the search for a new city manager, affordable housing, early childhood development, the central library, the fire and police departments, vocational training for local youth, relinquishment of the 710 corridor, revamping the city’s budget process and the COVID-19 pandemic.

In the speech, titled “We’re Stronger Together” Gordo will emphasize that the city remains strong despite current challenges and will discuss the way forward.

“While we have much to improve and much work to do, today Pasadena is Stronger Together because we have worked and grown together during the most difficult of times. Be assured that your City Council is committed to continuing to build our community, and hopefully next year’s theme will be recovery and moving forward from the pandemic, together.”

This is Gordo’s second State of the City speech. Last year’s speech was broadcast citywide due to COVID-19 pandemic. However this year, the speech will be held live at Pasadena City College’s Westerbeck Recital Hall. Attendance will be limited due to the pandemic protocols.

A livestream of the speech will be broadcast by Pasadena Media.

“In 2021, our theme for the State of the City was A Time Like No Other! Along with the rest of the world, we were struggling in every aspect of our lives: personal, professional, financial, health, and family—with little end in sight,” Gordo said in his newsletter last week.

“At that time, vaccines were just being rolled out, we communicated primarily via Zoom, and we watched as many of our neighbors struggled and mourned for loved ones. I said then I believed that by working together, we would come out stronger than when we entered the pandemic. And, one year later, we have proven just that. Pasadena is resilient and We Are Stronger Together!”

The annual speech is required by the city charter, which mandates that “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.

In Thursday’s speech, Gordo will address the challenges to the city’s finances caused by COVID-19, but also highlight positive trends.

Although the council has played a big part in the city’s financial recovery, the City Manager is responsible for the day-to-day managing of the city.

Currently Interim City Manager Cynthia Kurtz is leading the city. However, the city has hired a search firm to locate potential candidates.

In January, as part of the consent calendar, the City Council approved a $32,000 contract with W. Brown Creative Partners (WBCP) to conduct the recruitment process for the next city manager.

City Manager Steve Mermell left the city after 33 years in December.

“I am not suggesting that the unprecedented challenges of the pandemic are completely behind us, as there will always be more trials,” Gordo said in his newsletter. “What I do believe is that we can—and we will—overcome future hardships, be it violence on our streets, financial constraints or a global pandemic, not by pulling apart, but by coming together as a community.”