By Cameron Smyth
Santa Clarita Mayor
It has been a great honor and pleasure to serve as the Mayor of Santa Clarita in 2020. As you know, I grew up in this community and there is nothing more important to me than working hard to ensure the City of Santa Clarita continues to be a place known for its high quality of life, low crime rate and unparalleled amenities that are the reason so many choose to plant their roots here.
This past year has brought with it challenges that few — if any — of us have seen in our lifetime. However, as each new obstacle was laid in our path, we continued to come together as a united community to care for our neighbors.
From donating personal protective equipment to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital to supporting our local restaurants and businesses when they’ve been able to be open, you’ve shown the strong bond that exists between all residents in Santa Clarita.
In 2020, much progress has been made in areas that not only provide new opportunities for our residents but also directly improve the quality of life in our City.
Early in the pandemic, the Newhall Community Center was converted to allow Bridge to Home to provide shelter services to clients with all proper COVID-19-related safety measures in place.
Recently, the City Council voted to approve the donation of land in Newhall to Family Promise to build affordable housing units and office space that will help families experiencing homelessness get the high-quality assistance they deserve. I am proud of the work done by the Community Task Force on Homelessness to strategize and take real action on this important issue.
The City and the William S. Hart Union High School District revived the Human Relations Roundtable to bring together all voices in Santa Clarita with the mission to encourage, assist and empower our community to eliminate all forms of racism and discrimination. We look forward to updates provided by this group as it meets in the coming months.
This year also saw projects come to fruition that benefit the mental and physical health of Santa Clarita residents.
Plum Canyon Park near the Skyline Ranch development became the City’s 35th park and first with a dedicated baseball field, while the Trek Bike Park of Santa Clarita gives BMX riders and mountain bikers a dedicated space to conquer jumps, trails and more at the George A. Caravalho Santa Clarita Sports Complex.
There is also much to look forward to as we prepare for the year ahead of us. Please be on the lookout for updates regarding the future Canyon Country Community Center, Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, Vista Canyon development and more in the weeks and months ahead. For more information on these and other projects, please visit the City of Santa Clarita’s Facebook page.
I look forward to our continued partnership with residents, businesses, non-profits and other organizations in the new year.
Mayor Cameron Smyth is a member of the Santa Clarita City Council and can be reached at csmyth@santa-
clarita.com. The views expressed in his column are those of the City and do not necessarily reflect those of The Signal. 
