On April 12, 2022, the Chamber hosted Alhambra Mayor Jeffrey Maloney to deliver the 2022 State of the City address. A crowd of nearly 100 leaders from the region gathered in the historic Granada on 1st Street to hear the update of what the city has done in the past year and where its headed. The event welcomed dignitaries like members of the City Council and senior city staff, as well as state leaders like Senator Susan Rubio and newly elected Assemblyman Mike Fong.
For his address, the Mayor presented the accomplishments of the City, asserting that the state of Alhambra is strong, and growing stronger. According to Mayor Maloney, Alhambra has maintained relatively the same population level since the 1960s, seeing a moderate growth of 28,000 new residents. 52% of its population are of Asian descent and 35% are Latino. 60% of residents are renters, and the median home value is slightly higher than the County's average at $630,200. Alhambra's median age is also higher than both the County and State average, at 41.4 compared to 36.7. These demographics help inform the work of the city as it plans for what’s next.
In terms of finances, the City's budget is almost balanced. For 2021-2022 it has collected a little over $138 million dollars and plans on spending closer to $146 million. Most of the city's revenues come from sales taxes, derived from private businesses activity, while the majority of its expenditures is dedicated to public safety. The police department receives the majority of these dollars, followed by the fire department.
The Mayor also highlighted some of the City's strategic priorities, such as creating affordable housing, historic preservation, and addressing the homelessness issue. Mayor Maloney highlighted the work of the city to address sustainability, with recent funding being secured by Congresswoman Judy Chu for a comprehensive sustainability plan and efforts being made to create an active transportation plan. This work, along with efforts to address the 710 “stub” north of the 10 that dumps cut-through cars into the city, is being undertaken by city staff and the council to improve the quality of life and economic opportunities.
Mayor Maloney also touted the city’s work to support commercial corridors through economic and design studies, its efforts to help fill vacant storefronts in partnership with the Chamber, and its general support for businesses. While the mayor and council are supportive, we must work together to streamline city processes so businesses that are ready to open can do so faster, ensuring vacancies are filled and tax revenue can be collected to support city priorities.
The Alhambra Chamber hosts the annual State of the City to offer an opportunity for businesses and civic leaders to connect with the city, learn how the city is supporting business, and find ways to work together to address key priorities for all residents, businesses, employees, and visitors alike.
