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Anaheim mayor looks forward, but not without first revisiting the past

April 30, 2026

Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken delivered her State of the City address on Wednesday, April 29, and it’s: “Stronger and better than ever.”

“From 2023, my first State of the City, to how we have grown and evolved as a city today,” Aitken told to a crowd at the Grove of Anaheim. “I absolutely love talking about how great Anaheim is today.”

The annual address — the fourth delivered by Aitken — is a moment for the mayor to share reflections on the city’s accomplishments and goals moving forward. But it is also a fundraiser for the nonprofit Anaheim Community Foundation, and was expected to bring in about $50,000 this year, emcee Ally Kay of the Anaheim Ducks said.

In a step forward for the city, there’s the $4 billion OCVibe entertainment and housing development around the Honda Center that “feels like it’s risen right overnight,” Aitken said. “Every time I drive down Katella, there’s a new parking structure or a new building up.”

As part of that development led by the Samueli family, owners of the Anaheim Ducks, the city-owned Honda Center is getting a $1 billion makeover, anticipated for a 2027 completion, in time to host volleyball for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. It includes a new entrance and interior refresh including redesigned food and beverage stations and seating, with new amenities.

Disneyland Resort President Jill Estorino talks with Anaheim Mayor Ashleigh Aitken (not pictured) during the State of the City event in Anaheim on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. (Photo by Paul Bersebach, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Also among the accomplishments mentioned by Aitken: The DisneylandForward expansion at the theme parks resort, investments flowing into Beach Boulevard and Anaheim Hills, and the Ducks recently making their first postseason appearance in eight years.

Accomplishments aside, Anaheim’s mayor was also feeling “nostalgic.”

“This year marks our 250th anniversary of America so I wanted to try to make a little bit of a connection,” Aitken said. “So Anaheim is only just shy of 170 years old. And our nation’s history is very intertwined with our city’s own.”

She rattled off a laundry list of popular companies and people who got their start in Anaheim, including Vans, Carl’s Jr., Austin Butler, Taylor Dunn electric vehicles and Doritos.

She also noted the Beach Boys’ famous 1976 Anaheim concert featured a full band reunion, with Brian Wilson returning to the stage for the first time in 12 years.

Humorist and historian Charles Phoenix later joined in, sharing his memories of Angel Stadium and Disneyland, and later, Disneyland Resort President Jill Estorino chimed in with an announcement.

“Walt (Disney) famously said, ‘Disneyland is your land.’ And if there’s ever a community where that’s true, it’s this one right here,” Estorino said. “So that’s why in honor of our 71st anniversary, we’re bringing back our Anaheim resident ticket offer later this summer with tickets starting at $71.”

“Anaheim’s incredible past is a prologue for our amazing future,” Aitken said, closing out her address.

“We have always been a city that dreams big, but, of course, anyone can dream. Anaheim is a city that makes dreams happen, that makes dreams come true,” she said. “So together, we are writing the next chapter for Anaheim.”

Anaheim mayor looks forward, but not without first revisiting the past Orange County Register

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Anaheim mayor looks forward, but not without first revisiting the past

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