Mayor Goh and City Manager Clegg outline progress, priorities & community impact
Bakersfield, Calif. (July 17, 2025) — On Wednesday, July 16, the Greater Bakersfield Chamber hosted the 2025 State of the City luncheon, presented by Adventist Health, at the Bakersfield Marriott Downtown. Hundreds of local businesses, civic and community leaders gathered to hear City Manager Christian Clegg and Mayor Karen Goh speak on citywide achievements, priorities and future goals under the theme “Growing Stronger Together.”
This annual event, recognized as one of the Chamber’s premier business forums, provided an opportunity for city leadership to share updates on projects affecting public safety, housing, homelessness, economic development, infrastructure and community engagement.
Clegg opened the program by addressing Bakersfield’s rapid growth and the City’s continued commitment to strategic investment and service improvements.
“Together, because we can’t do it alone, and so much is possible by working together,” said Clegg. “Stronger, because we get better and stronger every year. By the numbers and by tangible improvements, we are stronger.”
Clegg reported that Bakersfield gained more than 8,000 new residents in the past year alone, highlighting the city’s appeal due to its affordability, opportunity and quality of life. While growth brings challenges in housing, safety and infrastructure, he emphasized the City’s proactive approach.
“Growth is an opportunity; it is also a challenge,” he said. “A city needs to guide, shape, encourage and plan for growth. We’ve made generational investments to ensure our city is safe, vibrant and positioned for the future.”
Goh closed the program by celebrating community collaboration and shared vision.
“It’s in our shared vision, our unity, our working collaboratively, that our city indeed is growing stronger together,” said Goh. “The sound of Bakersfield is a growing harmony of voices joined in the work of community building.”
She highlighted the City’s continued leadership in housing growth among California’s ten largest cities but also acknowledged the ongoing challenges of homelessness.
“Homelessness continues to be one of California’s paramount issues,” she said. “Our state has 12% of the nation’s total population but nearly 50% of the nation’s unsheltered homeless.”
Goh emphasized Bakersfield’s data-driven outreach approach and praised key partnerships with organizations such as CityServe, Flood Ministries, CAPK and the Mission at Kern County for helping expand emergency shelter and housing options.
Both leaders encouraged continued public engagement and cross-sector collaboration.
“As we grow stronger together, we must continue to listen, learn and lead,” said Goh. “Let us keep advancing, side by side, lifting up every corner of our community.”
The Chamber applauded the City for its transparency and leadership.
“This event is a reminder of the power of public-private partnerships,” said President & CEO of the Greater Bakersfield Chamber Janelle Capra. “We’re grateful to Mayor Goh, City Manager Clegg and our City Councilmembers for their leadership, and to our members for their continued investment in a more vibrant Bakersfield.”
