A LOOK BACK AT 2018 IN PARAMOUNT
PUBLIC SAFETY EFFORTS CONTINUE TO PAY DIVIDENDS
Paramount’s number-one priority is protecting the community. The partnership with the Sheriff’s Department produced another substantial decline in Part 1 crimes last year.
• 2017 to 2018, 9% reduction, including a 50% drop in homicides and a 22% decrease in auto theft.
• 2009 to 2018, 14% decline.
Fighting gangs through GRIP in schools and with specialized programs with the Sheriff’s Department has been a focus in Paramount for many years, and has made a difference.
• In 2009 there were 145 gang-related crimes.
• In 2018 there were eight, a remarkable decrease of 94%.
Overall, crime is at unprecedented low levels.
• 1970: population 35,000; 1,579 crimes.
• 2018: population 55,000; 1,761 crimes.
• Nearly 50 years ago, there were 45 crimes committed for every thousand people in Paramount.
• Today, there are 32 for every thousand people.
ENGAGING THE COMMUNITY
There was extensive outreach, engagement, and connectivity between the City and the community in 2018.
• City Council meetings began live-streaming on YouTube and Spectrum cable, then archived on YouTube.
(Council meetings, first Tuesday of the month, 6:00 p.m.; third Tuesday of the month, 5:00 p.m. Youtube.com/cityofparamount, Spectrum Channel 36.)
• Clutter Free, Paramount was a one-stop-shop for residents to drop off unwanted bulky items, e-waste, green waste, and documents for shredding.
• Eco-Friendly Fair coincided with Earth Day.
• Arbor Day Tree Planting saw teams of volunteers adding 180 trees to the City’s urban forest.
• Annual Heritage Festival celebrated our history and diverse cultures.
• Annual summer concert series was held in Progress Park.
• Veterans Day Breakfast and Fair took place in Paramount Park.
• Holiday events featured the 50th Anniversary of the beloved Santa Train.
• Public forums gained input from residents on programs affecting Paramount including …
- The City’s new Paramount in Motion transit offerings.
- Metro’s light-rail line coming through town.
- A plan to assist the homeless
QUALITY OF LIFE
In 2018, there were a variety of additions and enhancements produced for the residents of Paramount.
• Newest restaurants opened: The Pizza Press and the Stinkin Crawfish at Clearwater Crossing and IHOP at Town Center East.
• Building & Safety staff issued 1,279 construction permits and conducted 13,769 inspections.
• Median home value in town increased by 4.1% to $419,000.
• In only six years, the median value has skyrocketed by 92.7% from $218,000.
• Unemployment declined to 4.7%, compared to 4.9% in 2017, and compared to 18% in 2008.
• Partnered with the YMCA to run family programs like sports and before- and after-school care.
• Partnered with the City of South Gate on improvements at a dog park in Hollydale Park and open to all Paramount people and pooches.
• Renovated The Pond, which will be celebrating its 20th birthday this year, using money from the Public Art Fund.
• Repaved portions of heavily traveled Alondra and Paramount boulevards, as well as several neighborhood streets.
• Replaced grass with drought-tolerant landscaping on sections of traffic medians on Alondra and Paramount.
• Started Home Security Rebate Pilot Program, giving residents up to $200 toward purchase of a security product or service, and the Air Purifier Rebate Program to subsidized the purchase of air purifiers and HVAC filters for residents.
THE ENVIRONMENT
• Joined the Clean Power Alliance so electricity customers in Paramount will get their power from cleaner generating sources like wind and solar.
• Brought GRID Alternatives to town, which provides free solar installations for Paramount homeowners who qualify income-wise.
• Received a grant to install electric-vehicle charging stations that will be available soon for residents with electric vehicles to charge up for free.
• Won the Beacon Award from the Institute for Local Government for environmental sustainability efforts.
• Given the Model Community Award by the AQMD for outstanding clean air contributions to the health of the community with work over the last two years related to air quality.
