LYNWOOD — In case municipalities in county Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas’ Second District didn’t know, he’s expecting a “three-peat” next year.

Lynwood is the second city in Ridley-Thomas’ Second District to win an All-America City designation since his election to the post. The city of Inglewood won the designation last year.

“That’s two years in a row in the Second District, that’s the first time,” he said. “We’re proud of them. How about a three-peat if we can do it. This is wonderful. Lynwood has Habitat for Humanity building new houses, the Lynwood Sports Association focusing on youth, and the public safety aspect. Lynwood is doing wonderful things for its citizenry and I’m very proud of that fact.”

Ridley-Thomas was among several elected officials who joined city of Lynwood officials and staff late last week for an All-America City celebration in front of City Hall.

Assemblyman Hector De La Torre, D-South Gate, said he couldn’t be more proud of the city of Lynwood, its elected officials and residents.

“Winning an award in itself isn’t that important,” De La Torre said. “What’s important is what led to winning the award, which are the innovative programs that the city has undertaken over the last couple of years.”

Progress takes a while, the assemblyman said, but it can happen and in Lynwood, the difference has been in the stability its current leaders have created.

“A few years ago, there was a lot of political fighting … which seems to have died down significantly, so when you have stability, then you are able to do innovation and create a more positive environment for the community to improve and I think that’s what’s happened in Lynwood,” he said. “I’m proud of this award because it recognizes that progress, with or without the award, I am very proud of what this city has been able to accomplish over the last couple of years.”

Being recognized by the National Civic League as one of 10 All-America cities across the country, is a great accomplishment, he said.

From the Lynwood Sports Association, to its partnership with Habitat for Humanity for its Brush With Kindness Program to being a pioneer of the Advanced Surveillance Camera Program, “Lynwood should be proud of itself,” De La Torre said.

“Obviously, the competition was very competitive with what’s going on around the country,” he said. “I’m very proud that these initiatives are happening [here] because that’s what’s important, is that the people in the community are getting a tangible benefit in multiple areas that led to the award.”

De La Torre, whose term ends this year, said he has learned a lot about the communities he has represented over the years, especially from his hometown South Gate and from its neighboring Lynwood. The lessons he learned from both cities are similar, he said.

“It’s where there is political infighting and shenanigans, where you can’t get anything done,” he said. “Today, in our communities, whether it is in South Gate or here in Lynwood, when there is stability and when there is cooperation, you can get so much more done, and the people in the community can benefit from all of that positive activity, and so that’s the lesson that I see in Lynwood, and I very much hope it continues.”

In putting public safety first, De La Torre said referring to the surveillance camera program in Lynwood, leaders here “are taking care of a very fundamental need of a community,” he said. “I know that public safety is very important to the people of Lynwood. The first town hall that I had in Lynwood when I got elected six years ago, was on public safety. So I realize that in the community it is very important to have a safe environment … you need to feel safe. … Everything we do starts with public safety.”

Mayor Maria Santillan told the crowd that she was proud of every resident in the city, and every city employee, business leader, sheriff’s deputy, block watch captain and commissioner.

“This award is truly about partnership,” she said. This award recognizes “a community that can work together.” Still, from here on out, she added, “the expectations are going to get higher.”

July 1 will now be known as the city of Lynwood’s All-America City Day.

“A few years ago an accomplishment like this would not have been possible,” De La Torre said. “But because of the stability and the cooperation of the five council members today, and the city manager, Roger Haley, the sheriff’s cooperation, we have the stability that allows great things to happen. Congratulations, Lynwood.”

Jaime Zamora from Rep. Linda Sanchez’s office also attended the event and presented the city with a congressional proclamation.

Ricardo Lara, the current communications director for Assemblyman Kevin De Leon’s office — and Democratic nominee for the 50th Assembly District — also stopped by to congratulate the city.

City Manager Roger Haley told the crowd that he was proud of the accomplishment.

Wearing a Lynwood belt buckle and a cowboy hat, Haley said, “It’s a great honor. People here have talked about this [award] before, and if you think about it, only 10 cities across the nation, across the entire United States of America, are All-America cities, and we are one of those cities. That is a huge accomplishment.”

Ridley-Thomas said he was happy to be present because he loves to be “associated with winners.”

“And Lynwood is a winner. Lynwood stepped up and took what it deserves, and the whole nation is proud of you now,” he said. “You’ve distinguished yourselves from the county’s 11 million people … and with 2.3 million [people] in the Second District, I couldn’t be more proud. I told [Lynwood] to bring home the bacon, and they did. … I’m honored to say to all of you, this is what community building is about … without any reservations, I applaud you on behalf of the county Board of Supervisors.”

Rita Brown, a resident since 1972, said she remembers the days when one would feel safe walking down the street after sundown.

“You couldn’t do that three to four years ago,” she said. “You were able to do that back in the ’80s when the city had its own police department, but it was out of the question in the ’90s. Now is different. It’s not as safe as it was back in the ’70s, but we’re getting there and it makes me happy to know that we’re getting back to being a safe city.”