Yesterday, the Big City Mayors coalition, representing 13 of California’s largest cities and 11 million residents, met virtually with U.S. Senator-Designate Alex Padilla, to discuss issues such as pandemic response, housing and homelessness, economic recovery, and receiving vital federal assistance for local governments. They offered their heartfelt congratulations to Senator-Designate Padilla for his historic appointment as the first Latino senator in California history. With his decades of experience and extraordinary service to Californians, Senator-Designate Padilla will be an appreciated partner in advocating for solutions to the most pressing issues in California cities.
“I look forward to Alex Padilla’s leadership on behalf of millions of Californians who need a strong advocate in Congress to achieve greater federal engagement in supporting each of our cities tackle our multiple crises relating to the pandemic, joblessness, homelessness, affordable housing shortage, and climate change,” said San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo, who chairs the Big City Mayors coalition. “We congratulate Senator-Designate Padilla, and we thank him for reaching out to California’s Big City Mayors in a spirit of partnership.”
The Big City Mayors is a coalition of Mayors across California’s 13 largest cities. Members include Mayors from Los Angeles, San Diego, San José, San Francisco, Fresno, Sacramento, Long Beach, Oakland, Bakersfield, Anaheim, Riverside, Santa Ana, and Stockton.
Mayor Eric Garcetti, Los Angeles
“California will be well represented in the United States Senate by Alex Padilla, an Angeleno, a son of the San Fernando Valley, and an extraordinary public servant. He got his start on our City Council and he understands the immense challenges facing local governments — and we look forward to having such a strong partner representing us in Washington D.C. and working with us to strengthen our COVID-19 response, deliver economic relief to our families, confront our housing and homelessness crisis, and build a state and country defined by justice and equity for all.”
Mayor Todd Gloria, San Diego
“Senator Designate Padilla has long been a strong champion for California and I am looking forward to his partnership with California’s big cities to ensure we can take action on pressing issues like pandemic response and recovery, housing and homelessness, and investing in sustainable infrastructure. The Big City Mayors look forward to supporting the work of California’s newest Senator as we work together to bring much-needed relief and services to the families, small businesses, and communities we were elected to represent.”
Mayor London Breed, San Francisco
“Congratulations to Senator-Designate Alex Padilla on his appointment to the United States Senate. We have a lot of work to do to provide financial relief to local governments, help our economies recover, build more affordable housing, offer services to support our unsheltered populations, and ensure that we advance the rights of immigrants and people of color in this country that were significantly hurt over the last four years under the outgoing administration.”
Mayor Jerry Dyer, Fresno
“I want to congratulate Senator-designate Alex Padilla on his appointment to the U.S. Senate and I look forward to working with him in the coming months and years. His appointment to the Senate comes at a time when cities like Fresno are looking to the federal government for help in securing badly needed resources to help us recover from the Covid pandemic.”
Mayor Darrell Steinberg, Sacramento
“Senator Padilla and I served 8 years together in the State Senate and in fact were seatmates. Alex was one of the most effective and able members I ever worked with. On behalf of the City of Sacramento, I extend my heartfelt congratulations and look forward to continuing our work together.”
Mayor Robert Garcia, Long Beach
“We could not be more excited to have Senator Padilla represent us in Washington DC. He understands the COVID crisis and will ensure that our most vulnerable communities have access to housing, health care, and basic needs.”
Mayor Libby Schaaf, Oakland
“Alex’s story is the story of California. I’m proud to see the son of Mexican immigrants, and such a devoted public servant, represent all of us in the U.S. Senate. I loved working with U.S. Senator Designate Padilla to increase voter access this year, I value our friendship, and I look forward to working with him to improve the lives of all residents, in all cities across California.”
Mayor Karen Goh, Bakersfield
“Along with our coalition of bipartisan mayors, I welcome the opportunity to work with Senator-Designate Padilla as he represents Californians. I appreciate his partnership to help guide our cities through the challenges of the pandemic. Together we look forward to collaborating to bring sustainable solutions to the crisis of homelessness, housing, and the needs of local businesses and families throughout our State.”
Mayor Harry Sidhu, Anaheim
“As a former city council member, we welcome Senator-Designate Padilla and the perspective he will bring representing California at the federal level. Cities are where Californians interact with government on a daily basis, and that relationship has never been as important as it is during the pandemic. Working with our federal partners, Anaheim has deployed relief assistance to keep people in their homes, feed families, and keep small businesses alive. We look to future federal help to keep serving the basic needs of residents and to vaccinate all who call Anaheim home. We thank Senator-Designate Padilla in advance for his advocacy on behalf of California’s cities.”
Mayor Lock Dawson, Riverside
“I congratulate Senator Designate Alex Padilla on his historic appointment to represent our state of California. I look forward to working with Senator Padilla as part of the Big City Mayors Group to bring critical federal funding and resources to our cities as we work towards recovering from this pandemic.”
Mayor Vicente Sarmiento, Santa Ana
“I look forward to working with Senator-designate Alex Padilla, who as the first Latino U.S. Senator from California will be an important voice for the people of Santa Ana in Washington, D.C. Together with the Big City Mayors, I will continue to advocate for issues important to our community, from housing and homelessness to improving transportation infrastructure and digital access as well as making the COVID-19 vaccine available for all of our residents as quickly as possible.”
Mayor Kevin J. Lincoln, Stockton
“It is with great honor and excitement that I welcome Senator Alex Padilla into office. I am encouraged by his work as Secretary of State, and his service in the California State Senate. With decades of experience, Senator Padilla has consistently and fervently fought for working-class families, Latino and minority communities, and has been an advocate for the strengthening and reform of California public schools and universities. I am looking forward to working with Senator Padilla for the betterment of Stockton.”