Dear Moreno Valley Residents,
Growing up in Moreno Valley, I always felt that it was my calling to serve my community and help it thrive. As far back as I can remember, I wanted to do right by my family, friends, and neighbors who worked hard each day to provide for their loved ones.
When I first entered the City Council Chamber in 2013, I aspired to make the City a better place for our residents. As I leave office as your first directly elected Mayor, I believe we have accomplished that goal together.
My time as your first directly elected Mayor has been a mission centered on “we,” not “me.”
We’ve created over 29,000 new jobs in the past ten years, far outpacing Riverside County. With these astonishing job numbers, more Moreno Valley professionals are working closer to home. And through programs like Hire MoVal and the Community Workforce Agreement, we have put Moreno Valley workers and Moreno Valley businesses first.
Proudly we have served our homeless population through our Homeless to Work program, which has helped people get back on their feet through part-time employment. Through this program and with help from our partners and the community, we have decreased our homeless population by over 50 percent. The work we have started has only just begun, and the City Council will continue to thoughtfully address homelessness in our community.
We brought world-class entertainment to Moreno Valley with our Civic Center Amphitheater. Since opening last year, our Amphitheater has played host to many exciting events that bring our community together.
We have invested heavily in our infrastructure. Our ongoing $50 million Pavement Rehabilitation Program is currently underway, with crews working hard to refurbish nearly 190 miles of roads across Moreno Valley. And our Parks Rehabilitation & Refurbishment Program will give our parks $6 million for upgrades and maintenance, ensuring they remain beautiful for decades to come.
We have fostered community pride through our Beautify MoVal Community Days of Service, which gives residents of all ages a chance to maintain the beauty of our City parks. Since this program began, thousands of residents have rolled up their sleeves and worked hard to ensure our 33 parks remain beautiful.
We have made monumental investments in public safety, allocating $5.5 million toward adding more Moreno Valley deputies, a Fire Medic Squad, additional Community Enhancement Officers, and more. We also added to our Community Behavioral Assessment Team (CBAT), which assists residents and our homeless neighbors who may be experiencing a mental health crisis. And our SAFER program distributes free smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to households in need.
Together, we are making Moreno Valley safer for everyone.
As our population boomed, we built countless new homes, giving everyone in Moreno Valley access to first-class housing. We welcomed many new Fortune 500 and international companies and restaurants, making Moreno Valley a destination for shopping and dining.
Together we have worked to create a brighter future for young people in Moreno Valley through the MoVaLEARNS Mayor’s Challenge, the Emerging Leaders Council, and the Mayor’s Apprenticeship Program Promoting Employment Development (MAPPED) program.
And when the COVID-19 pandemic forced our country to a standstill, we kept our small businesses open, our seniors are taken care of, and our renters in their homes through the Forward MoVal, Senior Eats, and the MoVal Rental Rescue programs.
Together, we have done many great things to put Moreno Valley on the map!
You will still see me around in my new role at the Riverside County Board of Supervisors. District Five covers Moreno Valley, so you can be sure I will continue my dedication to the City I love at the county level.
It has truly been the honor of my life to represent you as your Mayor. Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to serve the City I call home.