Tanaka Aims to Take Organization’s Work in Environment, Transportation, Homelessness and Digital Equity to Greater Heights
TORRANCE, CALIF., August 28, 2024 – The South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG), a government agency dedicated to improving the quality of life and productivity in the South Bay subregion of Los Angeles County, has elected city of Gardena Mayor Pro Tem Rodney Tanaka to lead its board as 2024/25 chair. The board, comprised of members of city councils from 15 South Bay cities, the Harbor City/San Pedro/Wilmington communities of the city of Los Angeles and District 2 and 4 of Los Angeles County, collaborates on issues of mutual interest such as improving transportation, solving homelessness, increasing broadband access in underserved communities, and saving energy and water. [Watch a video featuring Tanaka discussing goals for the coming year.] 
Tanaka is the first Asian American to serve as the board’s chair.
“I hope that my leadership, forward thinking and willingness to listen will be a positive addition to the SBCCOG,” Tanaka said. “I want the SBCCOG to be a leader among COGs and the best leadership organization in the South Bay.”
Tanaka, who served as the SBCCOG’s 1st vice chair in 2023/2034 plans to continue to help guide the organization toward advancing subregional innovations in transportation. This includes expansion of the SBCCOG’s South Bay Local Travel Network (LTN), which launched in El Segundo in late 2023. The LTN, which features the recently trademarked rolling turtle logo, supports the safe use of “micromobility” on existing slow-speed streets. Micromobility is a mode of travel defined by zero-emission, slow-speed vehicles that include neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs), e-bikes, pedal bikes and e-scooters. The LTN will launch next in Lomita and Carson. When fully developed, a 243-mile route will eventually connect the entire South Bay.
Tanaka also plans to help lead the subregion closer to net zero emissions. The SBCCOG’s recently completed subregional inventory of greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) revealed a 40.7% reduction in emissions compared to 2005. Over the past three years SBCCOG staff have collected and cataloged figures using the ClearPath tool (icleiusa.org/clearpath) from ICLEI – Local Government for Sustainability, which converts statistics into emissions data. The information is used to determine if the subregion is meeting targets established in the South Bay Climate Action Plan (CAP), developed and approved by the SBCCOG in 2018. Through its collaborative work with water and power utility partners to promote conservation strategies, the SBCCOG has helped member cities to meet the outlined goal of reducing emissions by 15% below 2005 levels.
The SBCCOG also continues to work to expand broadband access to historically underserved South Bay communities through its Digital Equity Project. The initiative will produce a “shovel-ready” plan for expanding parts of the SBCCOG’s South Bay Fiber Network, which currently connects all South Bay city halls and other agencies, to provide high-speed, low-cost broadband connectivity to small businesses in those communities.
Through private and public funding, the SBCCOG continues to help the homeless community find permanent housing solutions. Since 2022, the SBCCOG has helped facilitate more than 150 housing placements through its Client Aid program.
Tanaka joined the SBCCOG board as a member in 2020 and became 2nd vice chair in 2022/2023. He was appointed to the Gardena City Council in March 2017 and re-elected in 2022 for a second term. He served as mayor pro tem for Gardena from April 2018 to April 2019 and from March 2021 to July 2022. He was just appointed to serve as mayor pro tem again for 2024/25.
His family moved to Gardena from Colorado when he was 6 months old. He graduated from Gardena High School as a “true blue Mohican” in 1971. “I consider Gardena as my hometown for 70 years,” he said gesturing with his signature in-hand cigar.
Before turning 21, Tanaka joined the Gardena Police Department Reserve Corps and served for one year. He applied for permanent status and was hired as an officer in 1974 following his 21st birthday. He retired as a lieutenant after 31 years of service.
Tanaka earned a bachelor of degree in criminal justice from California State University Long Beach in 1977. He attained a master’s degree in theology from Biola University Talbot School of Theology in 2007. He has one daughter who resides with her husband and his two granddaughters in Colorado.
Tanaka is looking forward to continuing the SBCCOG’s progressive approach toward reaching the subregion’s goals. “I’m always up to a challenge and am excited to see what we can accomplish as a team in the next year,” he said.
ABOUT SOUTH BAY CITIES COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS:
The South Bay Cities Council of Governments (SBCCOG) is a joint powers government agency of 16 cities and the County of Los Angeles which share the goal of maximizing the quality of life and productivity of the subregion. Within this structure, cities and Los Angeles County maintain the qualities and characteristics that make them unique and independent, while also coming together collectively to address issues of common interest for a greater good of the communities through fostering cooperation, collaboration and innovation. For more information about the SBCCOG visit http://southbaycities.org