ACCOMPLISHMENTS

ECONOMIC STABILITY:

Mr. Taj has been able to make a direct impact within the City by helping achieve a balanced budget and a financial reserve of 120% over the period of the last five years.
He has led the way in the City receiving a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting from the Government Finance Officers Association in the past two years.
Since elected to the City Council Artesia is now being recognized as one of the most business-friendly cities in Los Angeles County in addition to being highlighted as finalists for an EDDY Award three years in a row.

Mr. Taj sits on the internal Public Safety Committee for the City of Artesia making public safety a top priority. It is of high importance to Mr. Taj to have a safe and thriving community.
He remains focused on helping direct General Fund Revenues to increase public safety bringing Artesia residents a 100% increase in Sheriff Deputies/Special Assignment Officers (SAO).
As a public safety advocate and expert in finance, he supports a healthy General Fund enabling Artesia to provide additional law enforcement services that has reduced crime by 27%.

Mr. Taj leads in advocating to garner additional grant money resulting in new streets, landscaped medians, bike lanes, and a trail system.
He has played a lead role in improving 87% of Artesia’s main streets since 2013.
His direct approach to increasing the City’s reserves allow the incoming 2018-19 fiscal year to project a continuation of services that include: sidewalk development, tree-trimming, and improvement programs on an annual basis.

Ali Taj has been an advocate in creating safe spaces where community members come together to celebrate diversity bringing forth approximately 58 community park events per year.
He has helped Artesia garner an additional 2 million in grants and funds to improve parks and facilities.
Under his leadership he has been able to support the replacement of two playgrounds, change regular lights to LED lights in all field/court areas and re-fence/resurface field, tennis, and soccer rinks.
Currently, Ali is working to bring an additional new park to the City of Artesia.

Mr. Taj has helped increase the opportunity for residents to make home improvements through the Home Improvement Loan Program that provides City funded finance for repair costs and property improvements to residential properties.
His direction in leadership allocated a Block Grant from State Community Development to secure a grant/loan Home Rehab program for qualified residents resulting in no-cost assistance for home consolidation and home energy efficiency upgrades.
Ali has aided small businesses in the City by supporting programs like the Restaurant Incentive Program, Business Incentive Program, Façade Improvement Program, and the Business Recognition Program.

Mr. Taj remains avid in making visual improvements across Artesia to boost tourism and local business revenues.
His efforts to beautify parks and alleys has led to a coordination of four volunteer days with 100+ community members, mobilizing to clean up parks, alleys, plant trees, landscape, paint park facilities, and provide arbor care for trees.
He has helped direct 2,000 hours of community service hours for the beautification efforts to resident properties like the Center-Stone Home Development, Artesia Christian Home Memory Care Center, and Luxe Mason Jewelry.

Mr. Taj’s goal to reduce Artesia’s carbon footprint has been successful by supporting the conversion of lights in City facilities to energy efficient LED bulbs and replacing 30-year old vehicles in the Maintenance Department fleet with 125% increase energy saving trucks.
He has helped the City of Artesia receive a 100% renewable energy grant to install the necessary infrastructure towards having an all-electric public fleet charging station partnering with the Green Energy Program and Southern California Edison.
As a California League of the Cities Board Member, Ali has overseen the City of Artesia receive an award from the Beacon Program for its reduced electrical consumption ensuring the continuation of programs that reduce future greenhouse gas emissions, save energy, while instilling policies that promote sustainability.

Ali Taj is trailblazing in his role working with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) and Eco Rapid Transit to bring us a 20-mile Orange line linking Los Angeles Union Station to Pioneer Blvd.
His vision has helped develop a direct pipeline to and from Los Angeles county that will continue to benefit the City’s Downtown Business Corridor, Historical District, and Artesia parks.
He supports the creation of equal opportunity access for all Angelenos to visit Artesia providing all metro riders with access to pedestrian and bike trails throughout the region by promoting the development of the Historical District Recreational Trails.

As a councilmember, Ali Taj is an avid believer in maintaining open lines of communication with the residents and the community providing a contact outlet using social media, his website, and the Artesia City website.