For most of us, the beginning of the year brings a renewed sense of hope and optimism. As I reflect on all that was accomplished in 2025, I am hopeful that the new year will bring even more good things to our Irvine community.
During his State of the City address early last year, Mayor Larry Agran proposed ambitious plans to make Irvine the Safest, Smartest, Greenest, Healthiest, and Kindest city in America. While lofty goals are often expressed by elected leaders, the City was able to establish a number of new and expanded programs last year to implement the Mayor’s stated agenda.
SAFEST CITY
In 2025, Irvine retained its long-standing title as America’s Safest Big City based on FBI crime statistics and the economic costs associated with crime. I found it even more impressive that Irvine was named the third-safest community (small or big) in the nation. It is worth noting that Irvine was the only big city included in the Top 10 list — moving up three spots from the previous year due to a drop in violent crime, aggravated assault, burglary, and motor vehicle theft.
Last June, the Council approved the Mayor’s 2025-2027 City Budget, which allocates increased funding for police and public safety programs. The Council also voted to implement stricter e-bike regulations; prohibit unauthorized camping in town; and launch a new program that is successfully addressing homelessness in Irvine.
SMARTEST CITY
Irvine has a long history of producing the brightest students, the best workforce, and the most innovative businesses. While other Orange County cities faced financial troubles in 2025, the City of Irvine reported a balanced budget with no new taxes, and no cuts to programs or staff. In fact, the City Council approved the hiring of five new full-time public safety officers, and more than $10 million to support Irvine’s K-12 public schools. At the Mayor’s urging, the Council also approved an expanded scholarship program for Irvine Valley College students.
To support our local workforce, the Council approved Mayor Agran’s “Living Wage” ordinance — an investment in the City’s human capital — which sets a minimum wage for the City’s part-time and seasonal workers at $20 per hour. (That’s nearly $4 higher than the State’s minimum wage.) The City’s lowest paid full-time employees will be paid a minimum hourly wage of $25. These Living Wages also apply to employees of City contractors doing more than $200,000 of business annually in Irvine. It’s no wonder that the City of Irvine was the only municipal government included in the 2025 list of best workplaces in Orange County.
GREENEST CITY
In 2025, Irvine was ranked the fourth greenest city in America, with the second-best city park system in the entire nation. To make the City even “greener,” Irvine is implementing the Mayor’s Urban Forestation Master Plan — planting thousands of trees throughout Irvine to clean the air, cool our City, and make our neighborhoods even more beautiful. Last year, the Council approved ambitious plans to begin expanding the City’s free shuttle bus service throughout Irvine, improving mobility while reducing traffic and pollution.
HEALTHIEST CITY
In 2025, Irvine was named the third happiest city in America, and the fourth least stressed city in the nation — based on residents’ remarkably positive mental state, good physical health, low divorce rate, community involvement, high job satisfaction, strong social connections, and financial well-being. The City also has the seventh-highest life expectancy rate in America. Last year, two new state-of-the-art hospitals opened in Irvine; construction of the City’s first municipal gym got underway; a new “floaties exchange” program was launched to help prevent child drownings; and the City is establishing a new 700-acre wilderness preserve in North Irvine after shutting down Irvine’s largest industrial polluter.
KINDEST CITY
In my opinion, Irvine is already the kindest city in America. In 2025, residents of all ages volunteered at local food banks, senior services programs, animal care facilities, tree-planting events, and the City’s monthly grocery food box program. In addition, the Mayor’s office hosted a number of volunteer events in support of our local farms and food banks that attracted hundreds of helpers. And when CalFresh/SNAP benefits were disrupted late last year, thousands of community members came together in support of a one-day event that resulted in more than 3,300 pounds of food being collected and distributed to the City’s five food pantries to help struggling Irvine households. Now in its fifth year, the community-based nonprofit Love Irvine reported its biggest Citywide Serve Day event in 2025 with more than 750 volunteers.
WHAT’S NEXT?
With an election year upon us, we’ll have to keep an eye on the Council meetings over the next several months to see if the remarkable progress we saw in 2025 continues. Here’s hoping that the Council is committed to working together to deliver on the Mayor’s goal of making Irvine the Safest, Smartest, Greenest, Healthiest, and Kindest city in America. Stay tuned!
- Looking Back on 2025, Looking Ahead to 2026 - January 3, 2026
- Publisher’s Perspective: Four Irvine Councilmembers Betray Veterans … Again! - December 31, 2025
- Happy New Year to Our Readers - December 27, 2025
