By Hector Gonzalez
Special to The Lookout

January 29, 2016 -- In his first State of the City address, Santa Monica Mayor Tony Vazquez said Thursday the City made big strides forward over the past year, including enhancing mobility on multiple fronts, steering the Colorado Esplanade and California Incline construction projects to completion, and making the City the second in the region to adopt a $15 an hour minimum wage.

Speaking at a Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce event, “State of the City – Innovate & Create,” at the Soka Gakkai International Auditorium, Vazquez said challenges remain, not the least of which is keeping housing affordable. But he added he is proud of what the City Council was able to achieve.

After acknowleging his colleagues, including former Mayor Kevin McKeown, for their work, Vazquez, the first Latino to serve as mayor since Santa Monica's founding 141 years ago, said it is residents and businesses working together that make the City “one of the most innovative cities in the world and a leader in the nation's creative economy.”

“You know, Santa Monica has been my home for more than 30 years. This is where my wife, Maria, and I raised our children. I’ve spent most of my adult life in this community,” said Vazquez. “That's why it's my distinct honor to be your first Latino mayor and to be speaking to you tonight at the State of the City. And let me tell you, the state of the City is strong.”

A major focus of the Council's efforts this past year, the mayor said, was exploring every option to ensure people can get around Santa Monica on foot, on bikes and in vehicles without getting stuck in traffic. Officials worked hard at linking Santa Monica's Big Blue Bus service to Metro's Expo Light Rail stations, which will be up and operating in May, said Vazquez.

“Last year, we welcomed 7.9 million visitors. With the extension of Expo Light Rail Into Santa Monica, and with integrated service by the Big Blue Bus, those visitors as well as commuters and residents will have viable public transit options that will significantly change the way we move in and out of our City,” he said.

Two major projects, the Colorado Esplanade pedestrian walkway at the Expo Colorado Station and the rebuilding of the historic California Incline, wrap up this year, Vazquez said. The Esplanade project “will transform our downtown and create a gateway to our beloved and famous pier.”

Work on the Incline includes seismic restrofitting, new wider sidewalks, a new pedestrian bridge and lanes designated for bike use, he said.

But rising real estate prices and economic pressures continue to threaten Santa Monica's ability to offer people affordable places to live, said Vazquez.

“Someting must be done,” he said. “This year, we will look for a viable, sustainable funding source to support our efforts to generate more affordable housing options, making it possible for people of all income levels to live in Santa Monica.”

Council members this year also will continue to fight for local control of Santa Monica Airport, said the mayor.

“In 2016, look for your City leaders to push hard with federal elected officials and the FAA to resolve long-standing airport issues that have a negative impact on our community and our neighbors.”

New City Manager Rick Cole, appointed in May, also spoke at Thursday's event, highlighting Santa Monica's role as a leader in technology and innovation. Among the achievements, the City generates 30 million “impressions” on social media worldwide on any given day “generated by 203,000 tweets, 9,800 mentions in blogs, 6,700 posts on Facebook and 2,900 references by premium news outlets,” Cole said.

“The Santa Monica Pier has been one of the most Instagrammed places in the workd every year since 2012,” said Cole. “Last year, Santa Monica Pier was No. 8 on the planet. Our competition? Disneyland, the Eiffle Tower, Times Square in New York and Red Square in Moscow.”