2026 - Irvine Community News and Views

Mayor Agran Joins National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation

In the lead-up to Earth Day, Mayor Larry Agran has joined mayors across America in challenging residents to make a long-term commitment to conserve water, reduce pollution, and use natural resources more efficiently.

The National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation takes place during the month of April, inviting residents to support the City’s sustainability goals by making a series of simple, impactful online pledges.

“In a City known for thoughtful planning and responsible water use, Irvine can lead by example and show how small, everyday actions add up to real conservation,” said Mayor Agran.

Mayor Agran Spotlights Irvine’s Kindness

Since taking office, Mayor Agran has made it a point to publicly thank and spotlight Irvine-based non-profits, community programs, and the City’s churches, synagogues, and mosques for the work they do to promote kindness in our community.

He has also thanked the Irvine business community for encouraging employees to volunteer for local community service projects.

The Mayor recently connected volunteerism to kindness: “One of the things I value most about Irvine is our shared commitment to helping our neighbors and our community through volunteerism — whether it’s making deliveries for the Meals on Wheels program, leading hikes in the Irvine Open Space Preserve, caring for pets at the Irvine Animal Care Center, or joining the City’s Community Emergency Response Team.”

Irvine is Among the Top 10 Healthiest & Happiest Cities in America

The data analysis company Niche compared 203 of the most populated U.S. communities across key indicators of good health to determine which cities prioritize residents’ well-being. Irvine earned the No. 5 spot in the study, indicating that our City’s residents are among the healthiest in America.

Irvine is also ranked among the happiest cities in the entire nation. An impressive 88% of Irvine adults report good health, and nearly 84% stay active with regular physical activities. Irvine has the seventh-highest life expectancy in America, the second-lowest divorce rate, the third-lowest rate of poor mental health days, and the eighth-lowest depression rate in the entire nation.

OCPA Charges Higher Monthly Electricity Rates for Dirtier Energy

In 2022, Irvine’s electricity customers were automatically enrolled in the Orange County Power Authority (OCPA).

Since that time, Irvine City Councilmember Kathleen Treseder, who is Irvine’s representative on the OCPA board, has continued to mislead the City’s electricity customers by falsely claiming that OCPA charges lower monthly rates and provides more renewable energy than Southern California Edison (SCE).

According to OCPA’s own website, Irvine electricity customers enrolled in OCPA are being charged about $20/month more than SCE charges it customers. And OCPA’s state-mandated reports show that 75% of OCPA’s Basic Choice tier — the energy tier Irvine customers are enrolled in — is nearly twice as dirty as SCE’s default tier.

Irvine Cares Family Housing Assistance Program Honored by the OC Business Council

Less than a year after launching the Irvine Cares Family Housing Assistance Program, the Orange County Business Council has recognized the City of Irvine and its partners — the Irvine Unified School District, the Irvine Company, and Jamboree Housing Corporation — for providing safe and stable housing for Irvine families experiencing housing instability.

The program was recently honored with the Business Council’s annual Public–Private Partnership Award.

The Irvine Cares Family Housing Assistance Program has already placed 71 Irvine residents, including 43 children, into stable housing.

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Year: 2026

Mayor Agran Joins National Mayor’s Challenge for Water Conservation

Mayor Agran Spotlights Irvine’s Kindness

Irvine Cares Family Housing Assistance Program Honored by the OC Business Council

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