Mayor Sharon Kalani Delivers Inaugural State of the City Address
Published on September 25, 2026
Torrance, Calif., September 25, 2026 – Mayor Sharon Kalani delivered her inaugural State of the City Address today, highlighting Torrance’s strong economic foundation, continued investment in public safety and infrastructure, growing business and new and emerging industries, and opportunities ahead under the theme “One Torrance, One Community.”
Hosted by the Torrance Area Chamber of Commerce at the DoubleTree by Hilton Torrance South Bay, the event brought together more than 300 attendees, including Congresswoman Maxine Waters, Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi, and Los Angeles County Supervisor Janice Hahn, along with business, education and community leaders. Mayor Kalani brought a new interactive approach to the annual address, engaging the audience through live polls and show-of-hands questions throughout the speech, and gathering real-time perspectives on City priorities, services, economic opportunity and what makes Torrance special.
“Torrance has been my home for more than four decades, and it is an incredible honor to now serve this community as Mayor,” said Mayor Sharon Kalani. “What makes Torrance special has always been its people. As we begin this next chapter together, my commitment is to listen, bring people together and build on the strong foundation that generations before us have created.”
Mayor Kalani highlighted Torrance’s strong financial and economic foundation, including the City’s approved $583.4 million Fiscal Year 2026-27 citywide operating budget, which continues to prioritize public safety, infrastructure and essential City services. Torrance also reached a record $44.4 billion in assessed property value, an increase of $2.3 billion, or 5.5 percent, over the prior year, and continues to generate the third-highest sales tax revenue among Los Angeles County’s 88 cities.
Economic development was a major focus of the address with the Mayor highlighting Torrance’s growing aerospace and advanced manufacturing sector, where established companies and emerging innovators continue to invest and expand. Northwood Space, Hadrian, Antares, Robinson Helicopter, AnySignal, and FlightWave Aerospace are among the companies helping shape Torrance’s evolving business landscape.
Mayor Kalani also called on the business and broader community to invest in what will become a lasting legacy for Torrance: the World War II Japanese American Incarceration Monument at Columbia Park. With $5 million in State funding already secured, the City is working to raise an additional $15 million to complete the project and create a permanent place of remembrance, education and reflection for generations to come.
The address concluded with Mayor Kalani reinforcing the important message of shared responsibility and partnership, calling on residents, businesses and community leaders to remain engaged and work together in shaping Torrance’s future. Kalani said in closing, “ This next chapter of Torrance will not be written by one person, one department, one business, or one district. It will be written by all of us.”
The full transcript, power point presentation, and videos from the 2026 State of the City Address are available now at www.TorranceCA.Gov/StateOfTheCity with the full recording of the speech available beginning September 28, 2026.