Rodriguez "on path to recovery" as State of City postponed for health reasons

Photo by Alex Dominguez

DOWNEY - Mayor Rick Rodriguez’s State of the City address has been postponed to early next year due to personal health concerns.

News of the event’s delay comes after the mayor had been excused for two consecutive council meetings in recent weeks.

While Rodriguez did not wish to disclose the nature of the situation, he did confirm that his health was at the core of his recent absence. However, he did say that he is on the path to recovery and is hoping to “rock and roll by the end of the month.”

“I’m on my way back,” said Rodriguez. “I’m in victory lane. I’ve had some health issues, but I’m working my way back to being healthy...”

Rodriguez’s State of the City address was originally scheduled for Oct. 9, however will now likely take place in January. Although his first run as mayor will come to a close in December, it is still anticipated that Rodriguez will take center stage.

“I volunteered to let Alex [Saab] or Blanca [Pacheco] do it…it’s really the state of the city, it’s not about me,” said Rodriguez. “They said ‘No, we want you. You’re the one who did this work, and we’ll wait for you.’”

“That was very nice of my colleagues; you don’t see that in a lot of cities.”