Politics & Government

Santa Monica's State of the City to Spotlight Public Transit

The heads of Expo and Metro will deliver the morning event's keynote speeches.

Themed "Santa Monica on the Move," the 2013 State of the City is set for Jan. 24 and will feature the heads of the Expo and Metro as keynote speakers.

Tracks are being laid for the Expo light rail line through Santa Monica from the city's eastern border west to downtown at Fourth Street and Colorado Avenue.

Chamber of Commerce officials, who are organizing the event, said Richard Thorpe, CEO of Exposition and Construction Authority and Martha Welbourne, executive director of planning for Metropolitan Transportation Authority, "will give us a look into how the new light rail will change the makeup of the city, and change your business."

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Newly elected Mayor Pam O’Connor and City Manager Rod Gould will deliver the state of the city address, "providing insights on the local impact of the current global and state economy in Santa Monica."

This year's event "will not only focus on the issues of mobility and finding new solutions such as the Expo to mitigate congestion and traffic, but we'll also hear from business leaders discussing how they must keep moving forward—to remain agile and fluid to compete in this very fast-paced business world,"  Chamber CEO Laurel Rosen said in a statement.

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The event is billed as an opportunity to network and promote local businesses.

The Jan. 24th event is 7 to 9:30 am at SGI-USA World Culture Center, 525 Wilshire Blvd. Tickets are $50 for non-chamber members and may be purchased online.

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