Message from the President

As President of the Board of Directors of the Gateway Cities Council of Governments, it is my pleasure to welcome you to our website. The Gateway Cities COG represents twenty-seven cities of southeast Los Angeles County, as well as the County of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach. This unique organization is committed to improving the lives of the over two million residents in our region of Los Angeles County in four major areas: transportation, air quality/climate, housing/homelessness, and economic development.

As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of Gateway Cities Council of Governments, we are excited to be a part of the golden age of the COG where advocacy, innovation, and unification are at the core of who we are. As we navigate the tenants of responsible governance and policy formulation, we hope that you find the website to be a guide to having a greater understanding of our mission.

The Transportation Committee remains strong with our attention focusing in on the development of the I-710 and 605/91/405 Corridor projects. Coordination between the Technical Advisory Committees and COG Engineers keep these projects at a high priority and elevates the gateway cities representation with funding from Metro and Metro Board Member, Councilman Fernando Dutra of Whittier. The COG staff has continued to work with the West Santa Ana Branch City Manager Technical Advisory Committee, the Eco-Rapid JPA, and Metro to plan for the development of this high-priority rail line. The COG is committed to promoting our transportation goals to connect the gateway cities to other economic and social hubs across LA County.

Thanks to funding from our County Board of Supervisors, the Gateway Cities Homeless Action Plan initiative, which has the goal of finding permanent housing for the homeless in our region of the county, is now in its nineth year of operation. In its first five years, this very successful program has permanently housed over 2100 previously homeless individuals. Our partnerships with organizations such as People Assisting the Homeless (PATH) and the Local Coordinating Alliances (LCAs) have served thousands more homeless persons, linking them to medical services, emergency shelters, financial assistance, and veterans’ programs.

Air quality and climate policy affects our residents in their everyday lives as many of our resident live near the Port of Los Angeles and other industrial microcosms. Our projects and initiatives serve to combat climate change and ensure that residents have clean air to breathe. This year, the COG will continue our partnership with Southern California

Regional Energy Network (SoCalREN) to encourage money-saving energy efficient programs. The COG will conclude our partnership with Loyola Marymount University and TreePeople that has resulted in the successful implementation of urban canopies in our member cities. Member cities use of urban canopies have successfully worked to reduce climate change and enhance social, economic, and public health. Our partnerships and progress in said programming build on the COG’s Climate Readiness Plan and Climate Action Plan (CAP) Framework.

Economic Development includes coordination with community colleges, chambers of commerce, and workforce boards. The Economic Working Group has sought to develop a broadband implementation plan for member cities to close the digital divide across the SELAC region and highlight an even greater conversation about addressing inequity in access to broadband services. The Economic Development Working Group has also taken key interest in developing innovative concepts around residential property development with property tax revenue. The COG is also focused on job creation, broadband equity, and reimagining residential development for a SELAC region that supports its residents and is inviting for those who may be interested in moving to the area. I invite you to explore our website’s “Site Prospector” program by clicking on the “Site Selections Tools” tab on our home page to access a “one stop” database of available buildings and properties throughout the Gateway Cities area where potential employers can locate.

Since 1996, the Gateway Cities Council of Governments has been committed to fortifying the SELAC region, and most importantly, the people who call this area home. Our mission is fueled by the elevated level of coordination and passion from all our member agencies and cities. It is my privilege to serve as President of this energetic organization.