Last month, I was in Anaheim for the Cal Cities Annual Conference and Expo. The last time Cal Cities held its annual conference in Anaheim was 26 years ago.

A lot has changed since the year 2000. Y2K arrived without widespread catastrophe. The dot-com bubble burst. We no longer print out MapQuest directions or get our Netflix movies in red envelopes. The average price of gasoline went from $1.50 to over $6.

But what hasn’t changed is Cal Cities’ mission or the important role of local governments in the grand experiment we call democracy. It is cities that turn the country’s highest ideals into the lived experience of our residents. The promise of America may be written in our nation’s founding documents, but it is delivered in our cities.

At a time when national politics often measures success by winning an argument, cities are measured by whether they solve problems.

Potholes must get filled. Planning for housing must be approved. Water has to flow. Trash has to be picked up. Police and fire departments have to respond. Businesses need places to operate. Budgets have to balance.

And while the state and federal governments are not always the partners we hoped for, city leaders have excelled at the assignment.  

This year was a year where affordability eclipsed homelessness and housing as the top concern of California voters, with about half naming the cost of living and inflation as the most important issues facing California today. But it was also a year when we saw a decline in unsheltered homelessness.  

The year also brought about the growth and expansion of new technologies powered by data centers that are dividing and uniting residents over concerns about water and energy use.

In 2026, we also recorded improvements in public safety in our communities with the lowest property crime rate in 40 years, a violent crime rate that’s been decreasing since 2023, and a homicide rate that has declined sharply since 2021.

You faced all these issues, and more, with resiliency and courage.

All of this is why local governments continue to be the most trusted level of government. Your residents trust you because you answer the calls, you show up, and you listen. Your residents trust you because they feel seen by you, and they know where you are.   

As you navigated challenges and opportunities this year, Cal Cities was there to support you with strong advocacy and educational opportunities. You have my word that this organization will continue to evolve to meet the moment, supporting you as you lead your communities with courage and resilience. 

Next year, California’s cities will face new and different challenges that will shape the future. And, once again, coordination and a united voice across all 483 cities will matter. 

I am confident that, together, we can transform those challenges into lasting opportunities that will strengthen the resiliency and vibrancy of our communities for the future.