KARLA SHIRVANIAN | staff writer

Building the City of Your Dreams was the theme of this year’s Azusa City Address. The breakfast held at the National Guard Armory was an update on where the city of Azusa is and what has happened during the last year.

There were many members of the community in attendance for the city address. Those in attendance included city officials, sponsors, business owners and APU students. Also in attendance was Mr. and Mrs. Harris who recently lost their son in Iraq and were applauded for their sacrifice.

The breakfast began with the presentation of colors, the recitation of the pledge, and a prayer to bless Azusa.

“Today we are at a turning point—a decisive point in Azusa’s journey. The decisions made in the past year will shape Azusa’s future for decades to come,” Mayor of Azusa Joseph Rocha said in his address.

Many changes will take place in Azusa development and expansion projects. The mayor discussed the new retail stores coming to Azusa including a Target store that will produce 350 new jobs and provide revenues to help pay city funded occupations and projects.

There have also been many changes to the city already in existence including the repaving of 16 miles of city streets. Rocha praised the city for being able to lower the crime rate by 11 percent, lower traffic collisions by 14 percent and raise traffic citations by 23 percent.

Rocha also presented a new spending budget with a reserve of $14.4 million. The reserve grew by $2.6 million allowing for previously reduced services to be brought back in full use.

In his speech, Rocha also encouraged people to get involved in the community.

“It is a future of limitless promises,” Rocha said.

After a standing ovation for Mayor Rocha, APU President Jon Wallace informed the community members where Azusa Pacific University is headed and what has occurred on campus in the past year.

In holding to the theme of “building the city of your dreams” Wallace spoke of the changes going on at Azusa Pacific University. Wallace spoke on the new 7,000 sq. ft. science building that is to be completed in 2009.

He also discussed the purchase of the Crestview apartments that will be occupied entirely with students by September 2008. Wallace also talked about the commitment made in buying the Crestview complex.

“We will continue to provide low/moderate housing in other housing that the former owners [of Crestview] had and we will continue to pay taxes for the city not to lose any money,” Wallace said.

Wallace also spoke of the awards APU has received including being named one of 52 schools that have the best first-year experience by U.S. News and World Report. U.S. News and World Report also named APU in the top 100 in ten different categories among schools.

The superintendent of the Azusa Unified School District Cynthia Cervantes-McGuire spoke on the progress of the Azusa schools. She was proud to announce that the Azusa district is not a “program improvement school” which means that the district met all of its requirements for the “No Child Left Behind” program.

In order to exemplify what is good in Azusa, Cervantes-McGuire had three Azusa high school students speak on their experience. The stories varied and some were emotional, but they all praised the teachers and their experience at Azusa schools.

The final speaker was Chamber of Commerce President Mercedes Castro who focused on the positive things the commerce has done throughout the city. The commerce has developed partnerships with many organizations in the city including the National Guard which was named the first honorary chamber member. The chamber also collected toys and money at Christmas for less fortunate families.

Castro also spoke about ways to promote the future success of students. The chamber held a job-shadowing day in which 138 students and 18 businesses participated in 2007. The 2008 job shadowing is scheduled for March 1 and there are already 150 students and 22 businesses participating.

Castro focused on “Think Azusa,” and discussed Azusa’s daily needs that could be met by Azusa services. Castro stressed the need for the Azusa residents to remember that in order to continue expansion of Azusa, the existing businesses need disposable income. Therefore residents should remember: If there is a dry cleaning need, think Azusa, if there is a catering need, think Azusa, Castro emphasized.

The City Address was not only important for understanding of ongoing processes in the city, but it also was significant in the fact that APU President Wallace was asked to speak.

“APU is a vital partner in the Azusa community, we are in the schools and in the churches. This solidifies our relationship,” Director of Community Relations Ginny Dadaian said.

The City Address brought together some of the most vital members of the Azusa community in one room. The address was one that concentrated on issues, brought updates, and began to pave the way for the future of the city of Azusa.