2023 Bakersfield State of the City
The Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce hosted the State of the City in Downtown Bakersfield on Wednesday to celebrate the progress they say the city has made over the past year. Local business and civic leaders gathered to highlight completed projects and other efforts the city is making to tackle key issues such as homelessness and overall quality of life in Bakersfield. 23ABC's Breanna Polk attended the event to find out more.
Transcript
00:00 We begin with the Greater Bakersfield Chamber hosting the State of the City in downtown
00:04 Bakersfield today.
00:05 The get-together, a chance for the city's movers and shakers to mark the progress the
00:10 city has made over the past year.
00:12 Here's 23 ABC's Brianna Polk.
00:15 Local businesses and civic leaders gathered here in downtown Bakersfield for an event
00:20 highlighting completed projects and also discussed the city's efforts to combat issues such as
00:25 homelessness and enhancing the quality of life in the city of Bakersfield.
00:29 We have seen an increase in the amount of calls that we've been able to answer on a
00:34 timely basis in this last year which makes us feel good.
00:37 But we still have some work to do.
00:39 We want to increase the speed in which we're able to answer all of our 911 calls so folks
00:43 aren't left waiting and waiting.
00:45 Bakersfield City Manager Christian Clegg says the city understands the frustration that
00:49 comes with not getting a timely response to a 911 call.
00:53 And that is why they are working to implement other ways non-emergency issues can be addressed
00:59 in a timely manner.
01:00 We're looking to actually take some of those calls that can be answered by other folks
01:04 other than police such as our mental health service providers and also we have a homelessness
01:10 team that's going out and addressing homeless encampments.
01:12 We're trying to get those calls out to the right folks so that those real 911 issues
01:16 can get answered really quickly.
01:17 Bakersfield Mayor Karen Go says the city also understands concerns wired around homelessness
01:23 and security.
01:24 And that is why the city has been working to get additional beds implemented into local
01:28 shelters such as the Brundage Lane Navigation Center.
01:32 Mayor Go says while the city has made progress, officials realize that mental health and substance
01:37 use present significant challenges.
01:39 We have some city funding now that's going to focus on security.
01:45 But let's take the steps and keep working forward to make sure that Sacramento implements
01:51 the reform for mental illness for substance use treatment.
01:55 That's going to make a big difference.
01:58 Another topic highlighted during the State of the City was infrastructure.
02:01 Clegg says the city has $45 million set for next year to enhance the quality of the city's
02:06 streets for both bicyclists and motorists.
02:10 Street repaving, street reconstruction with the wet winter.
02:13 We know there's a lot of roads that need a lot of repair and a lot of potholes.
02:16 So we're making this historic investment to really get our roads into good shape.
02:20 In downtown Bakersfield, I'm Brianna Polk, 23 ABC News, connecting you.