📬 Councilmember Hector Sosa — District 2, Downey — March 30, 2026

Dear Downey friends, family, and neighbors,

A fourth grader at Price Elementary asked me on Friday if I could dunk. I told him I could not, but that I once met someone who could. That led to an entire classroom doing the Kobe, and honestly, that moment captured everything I love about this work. The best weeks in Downey are the ones where I get to sit with kids, stand with veterans, and vote on policy in the same seven-day stretch. This was one of those weeks. Let me walk you through it.

🏛️ Council Recap: March 24

🔹 Compensation Ballot Measure Advances (4-1 Vote): Last Tuesday, the City Council voted 4-1 to place a charter amendment on the November 3 ballot that would allow council members to receive $1,000 per month in direct compensation, on top of the existing reimbursement structure. I cast the only vote against it. Let me explain why.

→ 🎯 Where I stand: I believe council members deserve to be compensated fairly for the time and energy this role demands. That is not the question. The question is whether the structure we are proposing is the right one. Right now, Downey council members already receive a monthly reimbursement of roughly $1,078 (around $1,270 for the mayor), adjusted each year for inflation. Adding a separate $1,000 monthly payment on top of that raises an important distinction: is this a reimbursement for out-of-pocket costs, or is it a salary? I think residents deserve clarity on that difference before we go to the ballot. As a financial services professional, I look at these things through a numbers lens, and the numbers need to be transparent. This will ultimately be the voters' decision in November, and I want you to have the full picture as that conversation unfolds.

→ 💡 For context: A staff report showed that most neighboring cities do provide direct compensation to their council members, with the regional average around $1,365 per month. Downey and Whittier are among the few cities in the area that rely solely on reimbursements.

👉 Read the full Downey Patriot coverage

👉 View agendas and city documents

📚 Schools & Youth

🔹 Day of the Reader at Price Elementary: Friday morning, I visited Price Elementary for Day of the Reader and spent time with a class of 4th graders. These kids were engaged, funny, and full of questions. The energy in that room is exactly why I keep showing up in Downey classrooms whenever I get the chance. Thank you to Vice Principal Weggie for the invite. Between this visit and last week's Read Across America morning at Alameda Elementary, I have been in DUSD classrooms twice in the past two weeks, and I can tell you firsthand: our students are sharp, our educators are dedicated, and our school district continues to be one of the best things about this city.

→ 🎯 Why this matters: Strengthening the partnership between the City and Downey Unified remains a top priority for me. Showing up in classrooms is not just a nice thing to do. It is a reminder that what happens in our schools shapes the future of this entire community.

🇺🇸 Veterans

🔹 Veterans Subcommittee Meeting Recap: On Tuesday morning, I participated in the Veterans Subcommittee meeting at Downey City Hall alongside my colleague, Councilwoman Dorothy Pemberton. This week's guest speaker was Jerrie Johnson, a community health worker from the LA County Department of Mental Health, who walked us through the behavioral health resources available to veterans in our area. The Downey Veterans Subcommittee serves as a bridge between local veteran peer organizations and the resources that can make a real difference in people's lives.

→ 💡 If you are a veteran or know one: Mental health support should never be hard to find. The Subcommittee exists to connect our veteran community with programs, services, and organizations that are here to help. I am proud to serve on this committee, and I encourage veterans and their families to stay plugged in.

⚽ Economic Development & Community

🔹 FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour Comes to Downey: On Thursday, the City of Downey was invited to attend the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour by Coca-Cola, hosted at Reyes Coca-Cola right here in our community. It was a preview of the kind of global attention Downey is about to receive. With our city designated as an official LA World Cup 26 Fan Zone, the excitement is building. The live match viewing event is set for Saturday, June 20, and programming details are still being finalized. This is an opportunity for our restaurants, shops, and local businesses to be front and center during one of the most watched sporting events on the planet.

👉 World Cup Fan Zone at City of Downey

🔹 Kaiser Permanente Opens Bridge Clinic in Downey: Kaiser Permanente Downey Medical Center recently opened its new Bridge Clinic at the Orchard Medical Offices, with the first patient seen on March 16. The clinic is designed to provide short-term, transitional care for patients with complex conditions who have just been discharged from the hospital. The goal is to reduce preventable readmissions by filling the gap between discharge and a return to primary care. The clinic can serve up to 560 patients per month.

→ ⚡ Why this matters for Downey: Hospital readmissions are hard on patients and hard on families. A clinic built specifically to support people during their most vulnerable recovery window is the kind of healthcare investment that strengthens a community. Downey continues to grow as a regional medical hub, and this is another example of why.

👉 Read about the Bridge Clinic in the Downey Patriot

📅 Coming Up

🔹 🎬 Friday Night Flick: Friday, April 3, 7:00 to 9:00 PM at Golden Park. Bring the family for a free outdoor screening of "Incredibles 2."

🔹 🐣 Bunny Patch: Saturday, April 4, 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM at Golden Park. Carnival games, photo booth, prize walk, and more. A family favorite, and a great way to kick off the spring season.

🔹 🏘️ Annual Block Captain Meeting: Tuesday, April 7, 6:00 to 7:30 PM at the Downey City Library, 11121 Brookshire Ave. The Downey Police Department's Neighborhood Watch Program will host its 11th annual meeting. Officers will share updates on neighborhood safety, strategies for preventing vehicle burglaries and other common crimes, and take your questions directly. If you are a block captain or interested in becoming one, this is your meeting.

👉 Read more about the Block Captain Meeting

🔹 ♻️ Compost & Shredding Event: Saturday, April 11, 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM at Independence Park. Bring up to 30 gallons of compost and 3 banker boxes of documents for shredding. ID required.

🔹 🏛️ Next City Council Meeting: Tuesday, April 14, 6:30 PM. Council Chambers, Downey City Hall, 11111 Brookshire Ave. Agendas are posted in advance, and I always encourage you to review them before the meeting. Show up, submit written comment, or watch the livestream. Your voice matters.

👉 View agendas and city documents

📱 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

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This week reminded me that public service works best when it starts small: a book in a classroom, a conversation with a veteran, a vote you can explain and stand behind. April has a packed calendar, from movie nights to community cleanups to the next Council session. I will keep you updated on every step.

As always, questions, concerns, or ideas? Hit reply. I read every message.

Together, we're building a community that works for everyone. Thank you for staying connected!

Hector Sosa
Councilmember, City of Downey
hecsosa@gmail.com