Torrance, Calif., September 15, 2023 – Mayor George K. Chen presented his 2nd State of the City Address this afternoon at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Torrance. Mayor Chen shared highlights of the past year, including City-wide accomplishments and goals for the future.

Mayor Chen referred to Torrance as the “Heart of the South Bay,” listing a number of attributes making the City one of the most desirable places to do business and call home. He touted the City’s financial stability and balanced budget for the 2023–2024 fiscal year, along with additional revenue anticipated due to Measure SST, the half-cent sales tax which is expected to exceed the estimated annual 0amount from $18M to $23M.

Mayor Chen gave updates on exciting new developments happening at various commercial and industrial spaces throughout the City as Torrance continues to attract businesses in the field of technology, manufacturing, aerospace, defense, and bioscience becoming the tech-hub of the South Bay. He applauded the City’s Homeless Outreach Team for the 44% decline in unsheltered street homelessness over the past year. He announced plans to energize business relationships both locally and internationally with the hopes of growing opportunities and sowing seeds for future success. He applauded City employees for continuing to provide countless services to the Torrance community, whether its everyday resources or during unexpected emergencies. The Mayor encouraged attendees to stay connected and engaged and “See What Torrance is Doing” by utilizing the City’s mobile app myTorranceCA and subscribing to the City’s emergency notification system TorranceAlerts.

Mayor Chen’s speech was proceeded by a 5 minute video highlighting the many reasons Torrance is the Heart of the South Bay. The full transcript of the speech, video, and the recording of the 2023 Mayor’s State of the City Address, along with the visual presentation that accompanied the speech can be found at www.TorranceCA.Gov/CityCouncil.