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Vice Mayor James Mai

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Office of Mayor Pro Tem/Vice Mayor James Mai
Follow for Irvine events, official news, & updates 📣
Personal page at @jamesmai 🇺🇸

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A new In-N-Out in Irvine is always a BIG deal! 🍔🎉 Still family-owned and currently headquartered right here in our city, the company has deep roots in our community.

Yesterday, I had the opportunity to be among the first to see the new location during the pre-opening celebration for Store Number 443 at The Canopy in the Great Park, including a behind-the-scenes tour of its operations.

The best part was meeting the people behind the opening. The new team members were excited, energized, and ready to welcome the community!

As a business owner, I have always been interested in workforce culture and operational excellence. Having studied In-N-Out’s operating model and drawn inspiration from some of its practices, I continue to be impressed by the company’s efficiency, consistency, and commitment to its people.

I also learned about In-N-Out’s “All-Stars” store-launch program, where they fly in experienced top associates from other locations for several weeks to train and support the new crew. It is a thoughtful investment in people that helps each restaurant open with strong standards and a unified team.

What made the experience especially memorable was hearing from the visiting crew members about where they started and how long they have been with In-N-Out. Some traveled from Los Angeles and others from Northern California, and for several, this was their first visit to Irvine. Thank you for sharing your experiences with me. Welcome to our city, we are glad to have you here!

A special shout-out to Store Manager Jonah, a local and Crean Lutheran alumnus, for spending time with me and showing me around. Best of luck to Jonah, the shift managers, crew members, and visiting All-Stars as they officially open their doors!

Welcome home, Store 443! Irvine is ready for you! ❤️🍟

#Irvine #GreatPark #InNOut #TheCanopy #ocfoodies @innout @canopygreatpark @cityofirvine @yourgreatpark by @vicemayormai

I had an incredible time walking in my first parade this weekend—the Tet Parade in Westminster (Little Saigon). The City of Irvine is home to over 160,000 Asian-Americans, of which over 12,000 are Vietnamese, and it was an honor to represent our city in style with a Lamborghini and McLaren alongside members of local non-profits and our amazing sponsors and partners. I was also joined by my city staff, Irvine Commissioner Ron Scolesdang, and my two boys who had a blast! 💯

A huge thank you to First Class Exotics, Sunset Drip Coffee, Bristol & Bates, AAPI United, Operation Be Kind and Hidden Hills Club Clothing for your support in making this such a memorable experience.

Grateful to the City of Westminster and Tammy Huynh/Vanessa Johnson for the invitation to be part of this incredible annual tradition, which draws over 15,000 attendees and reaches hundreds of thousands of viewers worldwide.

Wishing everyone a Happy Lunar New Year! 🎉🐉

#TetParade #LittleSaigon #WestminsterCA #Irvine #CityOfIrvine #IrvinePride #TetFestival #LunarNewYear #HappyLunarNewYear #VietnameseNewYear #Tet2025 #ChúcMừngNămMới #CommunityFirst #GivingBack #littlesaigon #FirstClassExotics #vietnamese #viet #cargram #mclaren #CulturalCelebration #supercars #suprercar #lamborghini #OrangeCounty #weareirvine #irvineunited #irvinestrong #irvineproud 🤙🏼 @cityofirvine @aapiofficial @operationbekind @bristolbates @1stclassexotics @cityofirvine by @vicemayormai

Yesterday, we celebrated more than a building—we celebrated a turning point for Orange County, and a promise to our community.

At the “This is Hope” key ceremony for City of Hope’s new cancer specialty hospital right here in Irvine, I had the honor of joining survivors, care teams, families, and community leaders to mark a moment that was both historic and deeply emotional—the official key ceremony for Orange County’s first-ever specialty cancer hospital.

I was humbled to deliver remarks to more than 600 registered guests—each one representing a story, a connection, and a powerful reminder of why this mission matters.

This hospital is more than brick and mortar—it’s a promise of healing, innovation, and hope for every family in our region.

A few years ago, I lost my best friend of 35 years to Glioblastoma brain cancer. He was just 40. That loss has stayed with me, and it’s what makes this moment so personal. Because behind every ribbon-cutting, every investment, every innovation—are real people, real lives, and real heartbreak.

We also had the incredible honor of ringing the bell—a tradition that marks a patient completing treatment and becoming cancer-free. That sound—loud, joyful, and full of purpose—was a reminder of what this hospital truly represents: hope realized.

From the beginning, the City of Irvine and City of Hope have worked together—not just to open a hospital, but to build a future grounded in compassion, advanced care, and unwavering support for our community.

Irvine is quickly becoming a hub for medical innovation, with over $4 billion invested in health and life sciences. But this isn’t just about economic growth—it’s about access, impact, and saving lives.

As Vice Mayor—and as someone who has personally felt the pain of losing a loved one to cancer—I reaffirmed my deep, ongoing commitment to this mission.

Hope lives here. And I will always stand with you 💙 🔔 💯

#weareirvine #cityofhope #irvineproud #irvinestrong #irvineunited #peopleoverpolitics #communityfirst #csncersicks #cancersurvivor #cancer #cancerawareness #bebold #hopestartswithus #fightcancer #cancerfree #curecancer @cityofirvine @cityofhopeoc @cityofhope by @vicemayormai

An old school Irvine Halloween in Greentree with friends, family, neighbors, and our community 🎃👻💯

#greentree #oldschool #irvine #cowboy #halloween by @vicemayormai

One of my favorite moments this week wasn’t during a meeting or behind the dais. It was a simple interaction with a couple I had met while knocking on doors during my campaign.

After welcoming a new private school to Irvine @fusionacademyirvine 💜 I was on my way out and stopped by a booth to pick up some goodies and cookies for the kiddos. I noticed a couple who looked familiar, so I said hello and welcomed them to the event.

The husband smiled and said he knew who I was. We had met in front of his home while I was walking the neighborhood, knocking on doors and introducing myself during my campaign in 2024.

He reminded me that I had stopped to thank him for displaying the American flag outside his home, even though it wasn’t the Fourth of July. I told him then how much I appreciated seeing our flag flying and thanked him for his patriotism 💯

I also had the pleasure of meeting his wife that day, a Navy veteran who, as it turns out, is also an educator, and why they were at the event.

What made this reunion especially meaningful was the opportunity to reconnect with residents I had met before I was elected, and now, while serving in office, talk about the very things we discussed on their doorstep, including commitments that have since been delivered.

These moments are humbling and special to me.

When you’re campaigning, you knock on hundreds, sometimes thousands, of doors. You meet people, listen to their concerns, share your vision, and hope they’ll place their trust in you. The relationships shouldn’t end when the election is over. In many ways, that’s when the real work begins.

To have someone remember a brief conversation from nearly two years ago, and to reconnect not just as a candidate and voter, but as neighbors and members of the same community, is something I truly appreciate.

Public service isn’t just about the votes we cast or the policies we pass. It’s about the people we meet, the relationships we build, and the promises we keep.

It’s moments like these that remind me why I chose to serve.

Thank you for the opportunity to continue serving our wonderful Irvine community. 🇺🇸

#irvine #vote #peopleoverpolitics #orangecounty #america by @vicemayormai

I was honored to attend Latino Health Access’s 33rd Anniversary Gala, “The Stories That Unite Us”, representing the City of Irvine and Orange County Power at the event.

Although Latino Health Access is based in Santa Ana, its partnerships, reach, and services have positively impacted the region, including many Irvine residents and organizations. For more than three decades, LHA has supported historically underserved families through culturally and linguistically appropriate health education, mental health support, youth leadership, advocacy, asthma remediation, housing navigation, and its community food bank.

It was especially meaningful to connect with Dr. America Bracho, the organization’s founder, and hear about how far Latino Health Access has grown since she established it in 1993. I also enjoyed connecting with Consul Maxaira Baltazar of the Consulate of Mexico in Santa Ana, a proud Irvine resident.

Thank you to Dr. Bracho, the Latino Health Access team, and all the event sponsors and community partners for helping make the evening special and supporting this important work.

Visit them here for more info www.latinohealthaccess.org and here on @latinohealthaccess

#santaana #irvine #latino #mexican #healthcare by @vicemayormai

It was my pleasure to recognize Voices of a Heart and its founder, Mari Dagher, and award them a grant through my office.

Voices of a Heart supports people leaving abusive relationships as they navigate divorce and other difficult life transitions. Through advocacy, mentorship, emotional support, guidance, and connections to resources, the organization helps people feel less alone as they work toward safety and stability.

A grant recipient from my office is an organization we have identified as a valuable resource to our community. Voices of a Heart has also completed the City’s vetting and verification process and is now a verified City grantee 💯

Thank you, Mari, for turning compassion into meaningful support for people facing abuse and domestic violence. Learn more about their work at voicesofaheart.org ❤️

#domesticviolence #support #nonprofit #grant #irvine by @vicemayormai

What an amazing celebration! 50 years of Concordia University Irvine! 🎉

It was an honor to represent the city at the ribbon-cutting for Concordia’s new concert venue and hall, and to share remarks at the opening of the university’s new athletic center. This exciting new facility will serve not only Concordia’s athletes, but students throughout the university community 🦅

These special occasions were part of a memorable weekend celebrating Concordia Irvine’s 50th anniversary! For five decades, Concordia has been one of Irvine’s original universities and a premier institution of higher learning. This milestone belongs to the generations of students, alumni, faculty, staff, donors, friends, and community members who have helped build its remarkable legacy.

I was also honored to meet Concordia system leaders who traveled here for this special celebration, along with so many of the individuals who worked behind the scenes to make it all possible. It is always a pleasure spending time with President Michael Thomas and Tim Jaeger, Vice President of University Advancement, who are always such gracious hosts.

Congratulations to Concordia University Irvine on 50 years of educating and serving our community. Here’s to the next chapter! ✝

#concordia #irvine #celebration #university #education by @vicemayormai

This week, history reached new heights at the Great Park in Irvine.

At the former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro, we placed the final and highest beam atop the new Flying Leatherneck Aviation Museum, marking a major milestone in bringing this extraordinary museum to life.

It was an honor to sign the beam and represent Irvine’s city leadership alongside my friend, USMC Brigadier General Michael Aguilar, museum board members, donors, and dedicated Marines who served at this base.

The structure is rising, and we’re one step closer to opening the doors. We can’t wait to welcome our community and visitors to a museum that will honor Marine aviation and the men and women who served right here in our city.

A proud day for Irvine. A lasting tribute to the Marines.

Semper Fidelis. 🇺🇸

#usmc #marines #irvine #military #history @flyingleathernecks by @vicemayormai

🇺🇸 WELCOME TO IRVINE! Celebrating Taiwan and International Friendship! 🌏✈️

It was my pleasure to welcome a delegation from Taiwan to Irvine for the official launch of Taiwan Tourism’s #100WaysToWonder campaign at the Irvine Spectrum Center.

More than 1,000 attendees joined us for a day filled with Taiwanese culture, entertainment, and activities, showcasing the many wonderful experiences Taiwan has to offer.

I was honored to join Vivian Lin, Director of the Taiwan Tourism Administration’s Los Angeles Office, along with distinguished guests and international business leaders for this special occasion.

✈️ It was also a pleasure to meet executives and representatives from China Airlines, EVA Air, and STARLUX Airlines, who help connect Taiwan with the United States and destinations around the world.

🎭 From traditional Taiwanese puppetry and cultural performances to interactive games, family activities, and refreshments, there was something for everyone to enjoy. I even had a chance to join in on the fun myself.

🇹🇼 Our connection with Taiwan is especially meaningful, as Taoyuan, Taiwan, is an official Sister City of Irvine. Through this partnership, we continue to foster cultural exchange, strengthen relationships, and create opportunities for our communities to connect.

As one of America’s most diverse cities, Irvine is proud to host events that celebrate the many cultures and traditions that make our community so special.

A big thank you to the Taiwan Tourism Administration, Director Vivian Lin, the visiting delegation, participating airlines, sponsors, performers, and organizers for bringing this wonderful event to our city.

Here’s to continued friendship between Irvine and Taiwan and many more opportunities to celebrate together! 🇹🇼🇺🇸

#taiwanese #tourism #Irvine #Taiwan by @vicemayormai

📢 Looking for your next career opportunity?

We are hosting a job fair at City Hall! Whether you’re looking for a new job, exploring a career change, or taking the next step in your professional journey, this is a great opportunity to connect directly with local employers and discover new possibilities!

📅 Friday, November 13, 2026
⏰ 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
📍 Irvine City Hall
1 Civic Center Plaza, Irvine, CA 92606

🤝 Meet employers, explore employment opportunities, and make valuable professional connections.

✅ RSVP: https://tr.ee/ijob

Walk-ins are also welcome, so bring your resume and come ready to make connections!

Building a stronger community starts with creating opportunities for everyone. Hope to see you there! 💯

#Irvine #JobFair #career #community #jobs by @vicemayormai

We’re back in Irvine with Branch Manager Yaned and Irvine Vice Mayor @jamesmai answering some rapid-fire questions!

What was your first job? 💼

Insured by NCUA by @vicemayormai