Since Kirk Cartozian stepped down from the City Council nearly one year ago due to term limits, he had not stepped foot inside council chambers.

That changed Tuesday, when the former mayor took to the podium during public comments and complimented city leadership for what he termed, “An unprecedented time for the City of Downey.”

“I’ve never seen so much going on in the city,” Cartozian said.

It wasn’t lip service; Cartozian was speaking honestly. On Monday, as dignitaries gathered for photos and speeches at a groundbreaking ceremony for Porto’s Bakery, the rumble of heavy machinery could be heard from the nearby Fresh & Easy, which appears to be putting the finishing touches on its latest market.

Just a mile west, the new Bob’s Big Boy, a Googie architecture wonder, was humming with morning diners.

At Stonewood Center, Kohl’s department store and BJ’s restaurant have opened, and early numbers show they are a success.

And we can’t forget Tesla Motors. Downey swooped in after Long Beach bungled the deal and it now looks like the former NASA facility will once again be home to the production of cutting-edge technology. (I also want to thank the mayor for calling The Patriot on Monday and granting his hometown paper the first interview.)

I still haven’t mentioned the beautiful new CitiBank at Lakewood and Firestone; the Walgreen’s across the street; the surgery center at Firestone and La Reina; and the grand opening of Discovery Sports Complex and the Columbia Memorial Space Center.

As Economic Development Director Gilbert Livas told me at the Porto’s groundbreaking, “Not bad for the middle of a recession.”

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Published: November 27, 2009 - Volume 8 - Issue 32