Mayor Maria Teresa Santillan
For over ten years the City of Lynwood City Council did not include women members, which changed when Maria Teresa Santillan was elected in 2003. Maria also made history as the first Latina to be elected to the Lynwood City Council. She was appointed by her colleagues in 2005 to serve as Mayor Pro Tem. In fall 2007, she was appointed to serve as Mayor of the City of Lynwood. Her dedicated service as Mayor continued in December 2008-2010.
As a Lynwood City Council Member, Mayor Santillan’s focus and commitment is to provide resident services. Her main initiative has been to provide affordable housing opportunities for low-income families and senior citizens. This has been accomplished in part by forming partnerships with non-profit developers such as Habitat for Humanity which builds affordable homes for first time home buyers. In addition to the development of new homes, the Mayor’s leadership is a major component in the development of new programs to improve the City’s current housing stock. These programs include the Brush With Kindness and White Picket Fence Programs. Both programs offer grants to Lynwood residents to improve the exterior of their home and are geared toward beautifying our City. Mayor Santillan has also supported new commercial development to increase the City's tax base. The Lynwood Redevelopment Agency has completed three major commercial projects: Plaza México, Atlantic Crossings and the Long Beach- Pluma Shopping Center. Under development is the Lynwood Gateway Center. Oakwood Plaza is under construction and Superior Warehouse is set to expand, adding more opportunities for retail development. The Agency is also pursuing commercial and residential projects along Long Beach Boulevard to encourage development that will connect with and be served by the freeway and the Green Line Metro Rail Station.
Mayor Santillan has focused on programs for youth, senior citizens and promotions for a safer community. Regarding making Lynwood a safer community, Mayor Santillan notes that the City’s successful partnership with the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department has resulted in crime statistics that document a dramatic reduction in crimes during the last decade. In 2000, homicides were at 12. In 2009, that number is two, the lowest number in current recorded history according to Department of Justice statistics dating back to 1985. In 2000, assaults with a firearm numbered 212. In 2009, that number was 139. Ten years ago rapes were at 28; 2009 ended with 11, another lowest number in current recorded history according to the statistics. Burglaries at the end of 2009 were at 298, but it’s still a low number compared to 2000’s 479. Thanks to the Mayor and Council’s leadership and commitment to strengthen public safety in Lynwood, the installation of surveillance cameras and changes to the municipal codes has introduced fines for taggers, and assisted in the fight to eliminate prostitution, gang activity and graffiti in the city. The surveillance cameras will also be instrumental in the continued safety of residents at Ham Park. The Mayor’s top priority for 2010 is to uphold success, and target other issues for improvement.
Mayor Santillan has taken the lead within the City to ensure that the City’s budget is balanced each year. Previously, the City’s reserves were used to cover annual budget shortfalls. For the last two budget years, in order to adopt a balanced budget, the City reduced its expenditures by over $6.5 million. Given the economic challenges of the time, the Mayor continues to press for efficiencies in the provision of the City’s services to its residents and businesses and at the same time aggressively seek additional development that will increase property and sales tax revenues to the City.
Mayor Santillan is an active participant in community and service organizations. Prior to becoming a City Council Member, Mayor Santillan served as a Commissioner for Lynwood’s Neighborhood Services Commission, Public Safety Commission, and the Personnel Board. She also served as the Vice-President of Lynwood Block Watch Captains, the St. Emydius School Parent Teacher Organization, Lynwood Youth Baseball League and as a hospital volunteer. Through numerous committees and organizations her voice can represent the people, but it is her service on the City Council that enables her to be one on one with the residents of Lynwood.
The Mayor expresses gratitude to her esteemed colleagues for their support for her as Mayor, and she looks forward to the continued collaborative effort to inspire positive change in the City.
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