By Justin HAGER

More than a year after the COVID-19 pandemic began, local governments, small businesses, community organizations, and individuals alike continue to struggle to adjust to the new normal of virtual meetings and online socializing. Nowhere was the struggle to adjust more evident than the Glendale State of the City address hosted on Wednesday, March 31 by the Glendale Chamber of Commerce.

The introduction by Chamber of Commerce Chairman Alex Bruno, combined with the theme of the event, “Moving Forward: State of the City 2021,” provided an optimistic sense that perhaps it would be the beginning of something new, exciting and different after a tumultuous year dominated by civil and political unrest and a worldwide pandemic.

Rather than deliver a live state of the city address in which Mayor Agajanian celebrated the accomplishments of 2020 and his vision for the future of 2021, he instead pre-recorded a few words of gratitude for his fellow elected officials and the small-business community hosting the event. His presentation then focused on transitions and stock images attempting to sell the virtues and accomplishments of Glendale and the city government in 2020 but lacked mention of the struggles or concerns of its citizens, small-businesses, civic organizations, and residents.

Many of the accomplishments of the city during the past year are worth celebrating: adapting to a rapidly evolving global pandemic while still finding ways to improve streets and parks, provide at-home recreational programming, create new safer-streets corridors, deliver food to those in need, and implement a ground-breaking inclusion, diversity, equity and anti-racism curriculum. However, the address failed to discuss any of the potential challenges the city currently faces, or provide any vision for the future or on how to overcome those challenges.

Actor, businessman and Glendale resident Mario Lopez also delivered a pre-recorded message that praised local businesses and criticized federal, state and even local officials for sending inconsistent, ever-changing and confusing messaging and regulations. He called on government to assist small businesses in every way possible, including loosening restrictions that make it difficult for businesses to stay open during these difficult times. He also called on the public to do its part by shopping locally, ordering take-out and tipping appropriately. He also announced a new promotional campaign, made in partnership with the Greater Downtown Glendale Association, inviting people to record themselves as they reimagine the lyrics to popular songs in a way that welcomes people back to Glendale and invites them to shop locally. Participants will have the opportunity to win up to $2,000 in downtown shopping bucks.