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Artesia Chamber Hosts State of City Luncheon


 

Receiving a Certificate of Appreciation from the Artesia Chamber of Commerce is Mayor Victor Manalo with Chamber member Bipin Morari, City Manager Bill Rawlings, past President Parimal Shah, Member Shaila Patankar, Councilmembers Tony Lima and Sally Flowers, State Senator Tony Mendoza, Mayor Pro-Tem Ali Taj and Chamber President Dr. PaoLing Guo.

Receiving a Certificate of Appreciation from the Artesia Chamber of Commerce is Mayor Victor Manalo with Chamber member Bipin Morari, City Manager Bill Rawlings, past President Parimal Shah, Member Shaila Patankar, Councilmembers Tony Lima and Sally Flowers, State Senator Tony Mendoza, Mayor Pro-Tem Ali Taj and Chamber President Dr. PaoLing Guo.

 

By Larry Caballero

Artesia Mayor Victor Manalo welcomed almost 100 guests at the Artesia Chamber of Commerce State of the City Luncheon held at Wok N Tandoor Restaurant Mar. 22.

“Our Artesia community should take great pride in its recent accomplishments,” said Manalo. “Our completed projects, forged partnerships, and numerous successful activities prove we are a city that has been thinking smarter, acting more productively, and successfully securing its place in the region.”

Manalo reported the City has increased its reserves from $0 to $4.7 million in just a few short years. It recently was awarded a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Finance Reporting by the GFOA. Additional funds have been dedicated to law enforcement, and attendance has grown from 25,000 in 2014 to 40,000 in 2015 at the International Street Fair & Diversity Festival.

Manalo is especially proud that 56 new streetlights and 14 stop signs have been installed, and numerous streetlights have been replaced with energy efficient lamps.

More than 73 sidewalk repairs throughout the City have been completed, and more investment is being attracted from outside Artesia, “solidifying our reputation as one of California’s most business friendly places to invest,” said Manalo.

He said the entire City is extremely pleased that County Supervisor Don Knabe approved investing $12.2 million in a new library that will be more than twice as big as the existing space.

“On the horizon are new trails coming to the MTA Railroad Corridor, Norwalk Boulevard improvements, a downtown parking structure and the Artesia Station Transportation Project,” Manalo said.

He concluded, “One of our major goals will continue to be creating strong neighborhoods and a sense of community.”

Manalo has served twice as Mayor and is the Regional Council Representative on the Southern California Association of Governments, the immediate Past President of the California Contract Cities Association and Board member to the Southeast Los Angeles County Workforce Development Board.

Currently, Manalo is Program Director at Claremont Lincoln University, a graduate online university that works with professionals who want to engage for positive social change.