State of the City Address – 2025Mayor Tony Wu – City of West CovinaTheme: A City United: Laying the Foundation for GreatnessOpeningDo you love West Covina? Do you love West Covina? West Covina loves you! That is why we are here. Thank you for being here tonight. It is my honor and privilege to address you as your Mayor and to present the 2025 State of the City.This year, we gather under the theme: “A City United: Laying the Foundation for Greatness.”These are not just words. They are a commitment to a vision of where we are going, how we will get there, and most importantly, how we will get there together.Greatness does not come overnight. It is built with a vision, think big. With planning, execution. With purpose, passion. And with people, together and united.This past year, we began laying the groundwork for a stronger, safer, vibrant West Covina, and that foundation is built on five key pillars:1. Community Centered City West Covina is a mosaic of cultures, voices, and stories pieced together to create a beautiful painting, and that diversity is our strength. We’ve launched new community events, created more inclusive outreach, and strengthened ties with churches, schools, and nonprofits. From our Memorial Day ceremony, Let It Snow event, to cultural festivals, we are celebrating what brings us together, united in brotherhood and sisterhood under the umbrella of one family.Because when we listen to each other and come together, we build more than bridges. We bring that trust to each other and to help each other.2. Smart City Built for Better Service and a Brighter Future. This fall, the City of West Covina will launch a brand-new website designed to provide residents with 24/7 virtual access to city services. From GIS maps and permitting processes to applications and real-time dashboards, this digital platform will place the power of City Hall right at your fingertips—literally. Whether you're on your phone or computer, you'll have quick, convenient access to the information and services you need, anytime, anywhere.As part of our commitment to innovation and education, West Covina is proudly partnering with local college and university, such as Cal Poly Pomona and UEI College, to offer internships and research opportunities that prepare students for the future—while contributing directly to the advancement of our city. Additionally, we're proud to announce our MOU with Cal Poly Pomona to establish a research and innovation center right here in West Covina. As pioneers in Smart City development, we are leveraging educational partnerships to drive progress and create sustainable solutions for tomorrow. We are also collaborating with West Covina Unified, Covina-Valley Unified, and Rowland Unified School Districts to expand after-school programs and career pathways for our youth.Through these partnerships, we are building a strong foundation for the next generation of leaders and creating a city where opportunity is accessible to all.3. Safe and Healthy City Our commitment to public safety and public health remains strong. such as West Covina Fire Dept has recently equipped 5 brand new paramedic ambulances, 2 new fire engines, and 1 new quint. With all these new enforcement, West Covina can battle any fire issues, whether small house fire or major wildfire, we are ready to put them out. We are also planning of building our ambulance fleet with 8 units. This fleet will not only better serve West Covina but also position us to support the broad region in emergencies to save lives.In 2023, West Covina was proudly recognized by Forbes magazine as the #3 safest city in the United States among cities with populations over 100,000. But we're not stopping there.The Police Department has continued to make major strides in public safety. We are enhancing our use of Flock safety cameras, body cameras for officers, and strengthening our ability to build strong cases in court. Most significantly, as part of the 2025-2026 budget, we have approved 10 additional police officer positions to meet our growing needs to continue to improve our public safety.But none of these matters without a foundation of personal and community health. In the 2020 pandemic, we learned the lesson. We saw so many sufferings and deaths, we saw our schools, businesses, and communities shut down, therefore we need a responsible resource for our community. After four years of hard work and determination, West Covina finally have a chance to set up its own health dept. We are waiting for the state's CDPH (California Dept of Public Health) to grant us the final approval so we can receive the resources from federal and state directly into our community, to provide services and to save lives. Whenever we are facing another virus or disease attack in our community, we are ready!4. Modernizing City Our city's facilities such as police and fire stations have served us well for decades, but the reality is, they are aging and outdated. As our city continues to grow, our infrastructure must evolve to meet the needs of the future.That is why we have developed a clear vision and a responsible plan to modernize these essential facilities.We are beginning with the planning of brand-new Fire Stations, a modern, state-of-the-art facility built to meet the demands of a growing population and an evolving emergency response system. The stations will feature updated technology, improved safety systems, and enhanced capacity to support quicker, more efficient service to our residents. We will utilize all available resources throughout the different phases of construction to ensure proper budgeting and successful completion of the project.We are also planning a state-of-the-art training facility for police and fire, including a burnt building for realistic fire suppression training, tactical village for emergency response scenarios, and specialized ranges for firearms and driving proficiency. We want to ensure our first responders remain well-prepared, well-trained, and mission-ready always, not only to protect the community, but also to protect themselves. Synchronization traffic signal and ADA improvement of Azusa Ave. is underway. We have received 7 million in federal grant from our Congresswoman Grace Napolitano. With that, we can make sure that Azusa Ave. not only is safe for pedestrians but also without traffic jam, an easy commute from 210 to the 60. Our mission is simple: to better serve our residents, not just today, but for generations to come. We are actively exploring funding sources to bring these projects to life, and we are committed to doing it in a fiscally responsible and transparent way. Because we are not just repairing what’s broken, we are building for the future.5. Business-Friendly CityWhen other cities stop you with the red tape, West Covina rolls out the red carpet for you. We welcome and appreciate all businesses. No matter how big or small, we recognize the value you bring to our city. You create jobs, help employ our residents, you provide services, and generate sales tax dollars to improve our city's services.Our city is committed to creating a business-friendly environment where entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes can thrive. City staff provide exceptional customer service, streamline the application process, and guide businesses every step of the way. We are proud to be known as a safe, healthy, vibrant and happy city, a place where opportunity meets community. Our strong consumer base and loyal shop-local mindset give West Covina businesses a competitive edge.Today, West Covina continues to be a prime destination for business growth. Some of the exciting developments underway include:• Queen of the Valley Hospital’s trauma center and emergency room expansion will be completed next spring. • West Covina Unified School District, West Covina Performing Arts Center will be completed this year. • Envision Motors, with major expansion of their Toyota Dealership, and coming soon, the Mercedes Benz new building. • Meritage Homes, planning a 12-acre residential project.• Greenlaw Partners, developing a 22-acre mixed-use site.• Urban Cafe and California Fish Grill opened at Plaza West Covina this year.• Haven City Market, with 36 eateries , now a thriving destination for food and drinks, culture, and community gatherings for Southern California.• Norms Restaurant and 85°C Bakery Café, both reopened with updated remodeling and fresh new concepts.• Porto's Bakery Café, preparing for a major expansion and introducing Mariscos Choix Restaurant and Porto's Express for Uber Eat, across the street.• Texas Roadhouse, to be located near the I-10 freeway will open late 2026.• Fogo de Chão, will occupy the former TGI Fridays location, and will open spring 2026. • New seafood buffet restaurant coming to The Lakes at the former Macaroni Grill will revitalize that area. • Wallace Chicken, world famous chicken sandwich chain restaurant will establish their flagship store at Glendora Ave. • Mr. Menudo, a very tasty and authentic Mexican food restaurant will be coming in October this year on Azusa Ave., to satisfy all the hungry mouths. These are just a few on the list, with more coming to our city. All these projects represent more than construction, they reflect the spirit of innovation, revitalization, and investment that define West Covina’s future. Thank you businesses, thank you for your trust in our city. In closing,As we look ahead, let us remember that greatness is not just a destination, it is a journey we take together. Tonight, we’ve reflected on the foundation we are building: a community united in purpose, progress, and pride.From smarter services to safer streets, from prestigious schools to thriving small businesses, from modern facilities to meaningful partnerships, we are laying down the bricks of something bigger than ourselves. We are building a city where families flourish, where opportunity is real, and where every voice matters.And we do it as one city. One team. One family. A City United laying the foundation for greatness. This is our moment, West Covina. The future isn’t waiting. Let us move forward together with confidence, commitment, and community at our core. Now I have a question for you… Do you love West Covina? Do you love West Covina? West Covina loves you!Thank you and may God bless you, and may God bless the great City of West Covina!