"The state of El Segundo is incredible": Highlights from the 2025 El Segundo State of the City Address
El Segundo Mayor Chris Pimentel presents to more than 430 attendees at El Segundo's State of the City presented by the El Segundo Chamber of Commerce.
EL SEGUNDO, CALIF. – Nov. 17, 2025 – Leaders from Fortune 500 companies, government, local businesses, and the El Segundo community gathered Thursday for El Segundo's annual State of the City address. El Segundo Mayor Chris Pimentel and City Council highlighted the City's accomplishments across the financial, entrepreneurial, cultural, and civic sectors.
Mayor Pimentel told the 430 attendees, "You're in one of the four most important defense economies in the world. Ten most important biotech economies. [We have] four sports teams. We have 17,000 people in town. That's the biggest our population has been since 1971. It is an incredible time to be in El Segundo."
Mayor Pimentel went on to note the City's strong fiscal health as reflected by its recent AAA credit rating and 25% reserve and he explained that the money is being put to work in 48 capital improvement projects throughout the City, including the remodel of Recreation Park and the renovation of the Plunge.
 Mayor Pro Tem Ryan Baldino
Watch the entire State of the City address
Mayor Pro Tem Ryan Baldino shared, "El Segundo continues to evolve with projects that strengthen our community, drive innovation, and support smart, sustainable growth. Across our city, we're seeing exciting momentum, from new, ground-up developments in Smoky Hollow to major renovations that are breathing new life into longtime corporate headquarters. Investment and confidence in El Segundo has never been stronger."
The Mayor Pro Tem noted investments in the city, including Mattel's $18 million renovation of its headquarters, the Los Angeles Times Gallery and Archive that will host the LA 2026 Global Esports Games, and the Los Angeles Sparks state-of-the-art training and practice facility scheduled to open in 2027.
Councilmember Drew Boyles highlighted El Segundo's powerful innovation economy, with the highest average salary across all of LA County's 88 cities; more PhDs, ventured-back companies, and corporate headquarters per square mile than anywhere else in the region; and 111 local companies raising $6.8 billion in venture capital since 2023.
"Our two-square-mile Innovation Zone... is now the densest hard-tech cluster in Southern California," said Councilmember Boyles. "The momentum is truly undeniable — innovation, investment, and community all accelerating together."
El Segundo is implementing its Capital Improvement Program, addressing critical needs across facilities, parks, transportation corridors, and essential utilities, Councilmember Lance Giroux noted.
And Councilmember Michelle Keldorf provided updates on enhanced public safety efforts, sharing that ESPD has decreased both property-related crimes and crimes against persons. She shared the success of the PATCHES program, the Proactive Approach to Combating Homelessness in El Segundo, and noted that the Fire Department is well on its way to being a fully paramedic-staffed fire department.
Presented by the El Segundo Chamber of Commerce, the event was attended by 430 guests on Thursday, Nov. 13, at California SMASH in El Segundo and was catered by Sausal El Segundo.
Sponsors of this year’s event included: Chevron, the City of El Segundo, Mattel, Los Angeles World Airports, the El Segundo Chamber, the Los Angeles Lakers, Bill Ruane Estate Properties, the Los Angeles Sparks, Continental Development Corporation, El Camino College, Hackman Capital Partners, Fisher Real Estate, Lockheed Martin, Hensley Law Group, Patriot, Mar Ventures, Artisan Ventures, and Zuru. A full list of sponsors can be found on the Chamber's website.
For additional event photos and questions please contact Communications Manager Becky Robinson at brobinson@elsegundo.org or 310-524-2727.
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