Mayor’s State of City Address Shifts Focus of City Revitalization Efforts

In his State of the City address Thursday, Mayor Tom Daly stressed the economic promise expected from the Anaheim Resort Area’s completion within the next year, but also suggested that the city should have the same focus and energy for revitalizing other neighborhoods.

“We’ve made great strides, but we have to do better,” Daly told an audience of about 300 at a luncheon sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce and the city at the Anaheim Convention Center. “We need to set a higher standard and decide what it is that we want to do,” he said.

Like chamber Chairman Jerry O’Connell, who spoke before him at the luncheon, Daly celebrated the public display of the convention center renovation, still in progress, and the expected completion of other projects in or around the resort area, including the Santa Ana Freeway expansion, Disney’s California Adventure and city beautification within the next year.

But he suggested that areas such as West Anaheim and downtown need a timely revitalization effort. He emphasized that Anaheim has many older shopping areas and the city’s park system needs attention, and he proposed that the city expand La Palma Park.

Daly also urged Anaheim residents to support the proposal for an El Toro airport and vote against Measure F, which would require two-thirds approval by voters to build or expand certain jails, hazardous-waste landfills and airports.

“There is no project more important than the El Toro airport,” Daly said. Once construction projects in the resort area have been completed, Anaheim expects an expanded tourism industry. Daly said El Toro is critical to facilitating that expansion and crucial for supporting Orange County’s expected growth.

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Judy Silber can be reached at (714) 966-5988.