Initiatives
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Vice Mayor James Mai approaches every priority with a people over politics mindset, focusing on practical solutions that strengthen Irvine’s neighborhoods and enhance quality of life for residents. His initiatives are centered on public safety, responsible growth, community engagement, and long-term planning that keeps the needs of Irvine families at the forefront of every decision.
2025 Independence Day Celebration at Great Park
A highly successful event, with nearly 50,000 attendees – more than twice the expected amount.
Anti-Bullying Initiative
At the July 8, 2025 City Council meeting, the City Council directed staff to coordinate an anti-bullying effort and work with the Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) and Tustin Unified School District (TUSD) to consider developing a coordinated anti-bullying initiative.
As a result of the Council action, the topic of anti-bullying was placed on the agenda for the IUSD and TUSD liaison meetings. Councilmember Liu, Councilmember Martinez Franco, and City Manager Sean Crumby participated in the September 24, 2025 City/District Liaison Meeting. Tools from the Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions & Supports (PBIS) were discussed, along with IUSD’s Behavioral Supports & Anti-Bullying plan, which encompasses the following:
- Annual Survey Data
- Healthy Kids Survey
- Secondary School Actions
- Elementary School Actions
- District Actions
Additionally, the Irvine Police Department created a comprehensive bullying prevention webpage on their new website with a variety of resources and information for students, parents and educators. Irvine community members who wish to contact staff with any questions or in need of assistance may contact the City’s I-CARE team directly.
Additional resources are provided below:
Staff will continue to monitor opportunities for coordination and share updates with the City Council as appropriate.
Cityside Fiber
Through the Vice Mayor’s successful agenda item, the city was able to accelerate their cooperation with Cityside Fiber to expand throughout Irvine, providing high speed internet choice for residents.
100 Flags Initiative
In celebration of the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, Vice Mayor Mai’s 100 Flags initiative was passed by the city council. US flags will be placed on light posts in main areas of the city to bring visibility to the city’s celebration of our country’s anniversary.
Inaugural Irvine Non-Profit Week
Through the Vice Mayor’s successful agenda item, the city put on its first Non-Profit week. The events were well attended by local non-profits, both large and small, and highly praised.
Youth Leadership Conference
On Saturday, January 24th, 2026, our Youth Leadership Conference was a tremendous success, bringing together more than 140 high school students at Irvine City Hall for a full day of civic learning and collaboration.
After being welcomed by Vice Mayor James Mai in the Council Chamber, students heard directly from Mayor Larry Agran, State Senator and former Mayor Steven Choi, City Manager Sean Crumby, and former Mayors and Councilmembers Sukhee Kang and Christina Shea, who shared firsthand insights on public service and effective policymaking.
Participants then broke into teams to develop policy proposals, working through real-world issues before presenting thoughtful, four-minute pitches on topics including ICE’s role in Irvine, e-bike regulation, and affordable housing.
The conference concluded with a judging panel led by Vice Mayor Mai, Chief of Staff Steven Alves, and Commissioner and business owner Ron Scolesdang, who selected standout proposals in each category. The energy, preparation, and depth of ideas showcased throughout the day underscored the strong future of civic leadership here in Irvine!
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