2020 Rancho Cordova State of the City Address Goes Virtual

RANCHO CORDOVA, CA (MPG) - Rancho Cordova Mayor David Sander shines a spotlight on the city in a virtual 2020 “State of the City Address” streamed at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5. The public is invited to register to view free virtual event through the city’s web site.

To participate, register on the Events page of the Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce at ranchocordova.org.  A Zoom link will be provided upon registration. On Thursday, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m., the day of the State of the City address, just join the Zoom call.

The Mayor’s “State of the City” address will also be live streamed on Facebook beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 5.  To access the live cast, visit the City of Rancho Cordova’s Facebook page.

If you miss it, the 2020 State of the City address, don’t worry. The city of Rancho Cordova will publish the video on the city’s YouTube channel on Friday, Nov. 6.

The 2020 State of the City film was produced in partnership with the California Capital Film Office in Rancho Cordova, Cordova Community Council, Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce and Rancho Cordova Travel and Tourism. 

Shelly Blanchard, executive Director of the Cordova Community Council, which normally hosts the physical event in partnership with Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce said this year’s virtual address will be “memorable, and a bit fun,” as cameras follow Mayor Sander throughout the city talking to local business owners and residents.

“We’re expecting that since most residents will be able to watch the 2020 State of the City address from the safety and comfort of their home, more will watch and participate,” Blanchard said.

The popular mayor has served terms in 2007, 2012, and 2016 and as vice mayor in 2006, 2011 and 2019. Professionally, the mayor is also a virologist, and the principal and founder of Sander and Associates, a scientific consulting/development firm that specializes in medical and scientific projects.

Sander received a Ph.D. in Molecular and Cellular Biology from Tulane University and did undergraduate work in physics, math, biology and chemistry at Saint Louis University in St. Louis, MO. After his doctoral work and before moving to Rancho Cordova, he was appointed and served two years as a Congressional Science Fellow, working for a senior member of the House of Representatives in Washington D.C. on matters involving health and science policy.

“The State of the City film follows the mayor as he visits local businesses, public works projects, community settings to demonstrate that while 2020 was impacted by the corona virus pandemic, work still occurred, citizens adapted, business struggled and endured, and residents found silver linings when forced to take a pause and hunker down,” she said.

“The 2020 State of the City address is unlike any that have come before it,” Sanders said.

“I enjoyed participating in the filming as I visited businesses and talked to our residents,” he said. “I spent a considerable amount of time listening to their concerns, to see how they are coping during the crisis and determining how the city of Rancho Cordova can best respond to their needs.”

The video presentation captures high points and light moments while acknowledging difficult challenges faced across the city during a year which was dominated by COVID concerns.

Mayor Sander said he was especially pleased with what city staff has done on behalf of its citizens to improve its communication tools and reach out in new ways through its web site during the COVID outbreak.

A special section on the city’s website at https://www.cityofranchocordova.org/what-s-new/covid-19-coronavirus-information provides comprehensive resources for residents, businesses, he said.

A separate tab for state and federal resources at https://www.cityofranchocordova.org/what-s-new/covid-19-coronavirus-information/federal-state-and-county-information provides a go-to guide concerning current alerts and re-opening guidelines.

The mayor also wanted to recognize the many residents, businesses, schools and community organizations who have stepped up to help during the crisis, he said. The city encourages the public to share your personal stories on social media using the hashtag #RanchoCordovaInspires.

“We wanted to make sure to provide most accurate and up to date resources and information concerning the virus to our citizens,” he said. “We’re adjusting to the new normal, and we’re hopeful to see a vaccine in 2021,” he said.