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Hector Sosa Newsletter — July 26, 2026
📬 Councilmember Hector Sosa | District 2, Downey | July 27, 2026
Dear neighbors,
Some weeks the biggest news in a city is not a ribbon cutting or a budget line. It is three new officers raising their right hands, one of them wearing a last name that Downey Police veterans know well. Add in a Council meeting tomorrow night, a movie under the stars at a Downey landmark this Friday, and two Downey High seniors earning the school's top athletic honor, and you have a week that says a lot about who we are. Here is where things stand.
🚨 Public Safety
🔹 Welcome to Downey, Officers Foster, Pope, and Torres: This past week, the Downey Police Department swore in three new officers, and I could not be prouder to welcome them to our city. There was an extra layer of meaning in one of those oaths: Officer Justin Pope now carries his family's badge tradition forward, following his father, retired DPD Corporal Mike Pope. Congratulations to the entire Pope family on a legacy that keeps serving Downey.
→ ⚡ Why this matters: Addressing crime by working hand in hand with the Downey Police Department is one of the initiatives I ran on, and it starts with something simple: recruiting good people and keeping them here. Budgets buy patrol cars and radios, but it is officers who build trust one shift at a time. Three new sets of boots on the ground is real progress, and I am grateful to everyone at DPD who invests in bringing quality officers to our city.
👉 See my congratulations to our new officers (Instagram)
🔹 A Consumer Alert Worth Two Minutes of Your Time: The State Bar of California announced this week that it seized an unlicensed legal operation run by an Artesia man who allegedly spent years presenting himself as an immigration attorney without ever holding a California law license. Investigators say some clients were recruited through the church where he served as pastor, and the seizure recovered boxes of client files, including at least one client's passport.
→ 💡 What this means for you: Cases like this hit close to home in a community like ours. I am the son of immigrant parents from Mexico and Peru, and I know how much trust families place in the person handling their paperwork, their savings, and their future. Before hiring any attorney, verify their license through the State Bar of California's website, and be cautious of anyone who cannot show one. If a loved one needs immigration help, a few minutes of checking can protect years of hard work.
💰 Budget & Finance
🔹 The Council Meets Tomorrow Night as the New Budget's First Month Wraps Up: We convene tomorrow, Tuesday, July 28, at 6:30 PM in the Council Chambers at Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue. July marks the first full month under the Fiscal Year 2026-27 budget, and these regular sessions are where oversight happens in practice: reviewing spending, asking questions early, and making sure every dollar performs the way we promised you it would.
→ 🎯 My ask of you: The agenda is posted on the city website. Take ten minutes to scan it, and if something touches your street, your business, or your family, weigh in. Public comment in person, a written submission, or simply watching the livestream all keep this Council accountable, and I mean that sincerely. Your voice is part of the process, not an interruption to it.
👉 View agendas and city documents
💼 Economic Development & Local Business
🔹 Movie Night at a Downey Landmark This Friday: Bob's Big Boy on Firestone Boulevard is hosting a screening of "Back to the Future" this Friday, July 31, from 8:00 to 10:00 PM. Admission is $5, guests should bring their own chairs, and 50s or 80s attire is encouraged. A classic film at one of Downey's most recognizable spots sounds like a pretty great way to close out July.
→ ⚡ Why this matters: Supporting small business is one of my core initiatives, and this is a perfect example of why. When a local landmark turns a Friday night into a community event, it draws neighbors out, fills nearby registers, and reminds us that our commercial corridors are gathering places, not just addresses. Show up for the businesses that show up for Downey.
🏟️ Youth & Community
🔹 Two Vikings Earn Downey High's Top Athletic Honor: Congratulations to Jayden Plata and Delilah Navarro, named Downey High School's 2026 Athletes of the Year. Plata, a three-year varsity wrestler, capped his career with a CIF individual championship and heads to Grand View University in Iowa this fall. Navarro started four years on varsity softball, helped launch the school's first flag football program, and will continue her softball career at the University of Toledo.
→ 🎯 Why I am cheering: Building strong partnerships with Downey Unified so our kids get every possible opportunity is a priority I bring to every Council conversation, and results like these show what that investment produces. Two student-athletes, years of discipline, and two college opportunities earned the hard way. Downey is proud of you both.
📅 Coming Up
🔹 🏛️ City Council Meeting: Tomorrow, Tuesday, July 28, 6:30 PM, Council Chambers, Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Avenue. Details above in the Budget & Finance section.
🔹 🎶 Concerts in the Park: Wednesday, July 29, 7:00 PM at Furman Park, 10419 Rives Avenue. The summer series keeps rolling, and there are only a few Wednesdays left, so grab a lawn chair while you can.
👉 View Parks and Recreation special events
🔹 🎬 'Back to the Future' Screening: Friday, July 31, 8:00 to 10:00 PM at Bob's Big Boy, 7447 Firestone Boulevard. Details above in the Economic Development section.
🔹 👮 13th Annual National Night Out: Tuesday, August 4, 5:30 to 8:30 PM at the Downey Civic Center, 11111 Brookshire Avenue. One week from tomorrow. Bring the family and meet the officers who serve your neighborhood, including our three newest.
🔹 🎒 Gangs Out of Downey Backpack Giveaway: Saturday, August 8, noon to 2:00 PM at Golden Park, 8840 Golden Avenue. Free backpacks and school supplies for Downey students heading into the new school year.
📱 Stay Connected
Got a pothole to report, graffiti to flag, or a service request to submit? The Downey Connect App is the fastest, most direct path to getting things done. Available for both Apple and Android.
👉 Download the Downey Connect App
Follow me on Instagram and Facebook for more real-time updates, event highlights, and a look at what I am working on between newsletters.
The best hour of my week did not happen anywhere near City Hall. It was dinner with my son on a warm 78 degree Downey evening, the kind of ordinary night that reminds me exactly why this work matters. New officers take an oath, students earn their honors, and a Council prepares for tomorrow's business, all so that families across this city can enjoy simple, safe evenings together. That is the standard, and it is worth every meeting. See you in the Chambers tomorrow night.
