Paramount leaders outline housing, public-safety and plaza projects in State of the City update
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Summary
Mayor Peggy Lemons and City Manager John Moreno told a business luncheon that Paramount will pursue housing growth while protecting local planning, invest in a Hay Tree Public Market and Civic Center upgrades, and cite crime and street-racing reductions tied to targeted enforcement and new technology tools.
Paramount Mayor Peggy Lemons and City Manager John Moreno used the Paramount Chamber luncheon to lay out the city's top priorities for the coming year, emphasizing new public spaces, housing projects guided by local planning, and investments in public safety and civic technology.
"Paramount will meet state requirements, but we will do it responsibly," Mayor Lemons told the audience, stressing the need to balance new housing density mandates with local infrastructure, school impacts and neighborhood character. She identified five priorities that shaped 2025 and will guide work in 2026: community lighting and downtown activation; support for residents affected by recent federal immigration enforcement actions; investment in community spaces including a Civic Center fountain redesign and the planned Hay Tree Public Market; new retail and restaurant openings at the Sprout Center; and a measured approach to housing growth.
City Manager John Moreno highlighted public-safety gains and technology that officials say are bringing faster services to residents. Moreno said the city recorded a 10% decrease in crime in 2025, credited to enhanced patrol strategies and partnership with the LA County Sheriff's Department, and described an almost 80% reduction in reported street-racing calls (from an average of 43 monthly in 2022 to about 9 in 2025). He added that, in 2025, city efforts led to 20 vehicles impounded, 72 citations to spectators and $147,000 in fines and release fees used to support police response.
Moreno also pointed to technology projects intended to improve transparency and service delivery: the Aqua Hawk water meters, which provide real-time household water usage data, and the Paramount Now app, which the city reported resolved 4,520 service requests in 2025. He described modernized online building-permit processing and other digital tools the city has launched to reduce delays for businesses and residents.
On housing and development, Lemons and Moreno described multiple locally driven projects: a 17-home infill site along Paramount Boulevard that the city said includes three long-term affordable units supported by a $2,000,000 city investment; a Habitat for Humanity duplex project; and a homebuyer opportunity program that reported two new homeowners and a 0% interest down-payment assistance structure for qualifying buyers. The administration said the city permitted 41 new homes and reported a 33% reduction in homelessness, noting 88 unhoused residents engaged, 67 provided shelter services and rental assistance for 15 families.
Officials signaled the Hay Tree Public Market as a cornerstone project for downtown activation. Lemons described the market as a mixed public space with restaurants, a historical museum and indoor/outdoor meeting areas; Moreno framed it as part of a broader Civic Center transformation that will add shade structures, seating, landscaping and cooling mist for summer months.
The city said it will press state lawmakers for flexibility where statewide rules may not reflect local conditions. Lemons referenced California Senate Bill 79 when warning that new density requirements near future light-rail stations "do not always account for local conditions." The mayor said Paramount will continue advocacy with regional and state partners while implementing state requirements.
The administration's presentation closed with invitations to residents and businesses to use new online services and to participate in neighborhood watch programs. The city asked residents to view project designs and sign up for emergency alerts as part of a broader push to increase civic engagement and resilience.
What happens next: city staff will continue design work on Civic Center and Hay Tree Public Market elements, advance the identified housing projects and continue partnerships with the sheriff's department on targeted enforcement. The city noted timelines and budgets will be available as projects move from concept to implementation.
