State of the City Address

May 7th, 2008

Mobile Mayor Sam Jones presented the following speech on Wednesday, May 7 for the State of the City:

THESE GREAT MINDS, FILLED WITH THE VITALITY OF TOMORROW, ARE THE REASONS WE STAND SO BOLDLY AND WORK SO HARD TO MAKE SURE THAT MOBILE’S FUTURE IS BRIGHT AND FILLED WITH OPPORTUNITIES. PLEASE JOIN ME AS I SALUTE AND APPLAUD THE CREATIVITY AND THE COMMITMENT OF THESE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO LOVE MOBILE ENOUGH THAT THEY DEVELOPED THEIR ORLANDO, FLORIDA PRESENTATION AT DISNEY AROUND OUR CITY’S GREATNESS.

TO THE MEMBERS OF THE MOBILE CITY COUNCIL, THE MOBILE COUNTY COMMISSION, THE CHAIRMAN AND THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS FOR THE MOBILE AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE, LADIES AND GENTLEMAN – GOOD AFTERNOON.

THOUGH IT IS ME YOU SEE AT THE PODIUM, PLEASE KNOW THAT CITY GOVERNMENT IS MADE UP OF A DEDICATED GROUP OF LEADERS – THE CITY COUNCIL. WILL THE COUNCIL PLEASE STAND!

I AM BOTH PRIVILEGED AND HONORED TO STAND BEFORE YOU AS MAYOR OF ONE OF THE NATION’S FASTEST GROWING CITIES – A TITLE WE GRACIOUSLY EARNED LAST YEAR FROM FORBES MAGAZINE.

THE MOMENT I LEARNED THIS NOTEWORTHY HONOR HAD BEEN BESTOWED UPON MOBILE, I WAS REMINDED OF THE TEAM WHO HAVE FOUGHT PASSIONATELY TO LET THE REST OF THE WORLD KNOW – YES, MOBILE IS GREAT -- AND YES – WE ARE GLOBAL – AND, YES, WE ARE A PART OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!

THE TEAM’S MOST STAUNCH ADVOCATES ARE THE CITIZENS, WHOSE DIVERSITY IS WOVEN TOGETHER AND SERVES AS THE FOUNDATION BY WHICH OUR CITY IS BUILT. IT IS THEIR STRENGTH AND ABILITY TO COLLECTIVELY UNITE THAT ENABLES US TO OVERCOME ANY OBSTACLE THIS CITY MAY FACE.

FOR A LOOK AT THE CITY’S ACCOMPLISHMENTS OVER THE PAST YEAR, PLEASE REFER TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PUBLICATION AT YOUR TABLE. I THINK YOU WILL FIND IT FULL OF VITAL INFORMATION AND MOST IMPRESSIVE.

2007 ALSO YIELDED A TEAM OF LEADERS, WHO DESPITE POLITICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL DIFFERENCES, RALLIED TOGETHER TO BRING POSITIVE CHANGE TO OUR CITY, COUNTY AND REGION.

AS NOTED SO ELOQUENTLY ON MANY OCCASIONS BY THE PRESIDENT OF OUR CITY COUNCIL, REGGIE COPELAND - THE QUARTERBACK OF OUR TEAM IS GOV. BOB RILEY – A MAN WHOSE LEADERSHIP HAS TRANSFORMED THE CHARACTER OF THIS STATE, COUNTY AND CITY. ON BEHALF OF THE CITIZENS OF MOBILE – PARTICULARLY THE CHILDREN – I EXTEND MY THANKS TO GOV. RILEY FOR HIS LEADERSHIP, FRIENDSHIP AND CONFIDENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

OUR TEAM IS ALSO STRENGTHENED BY THE COMMITMENT OF SENATORS JEFF SESSIONS, RICHARD SHELBY AND CONGRESSMAN JO BONNER. EACH ARE CHANGE AGENTS WHO ARE NOBLE LEADERS FIGHTING TO SAFEGUARD THE WELFARE OF OUR COMMUNITY. DELIVERING GOOD GOVERNMENT TO OUR CITIZENS COMES THROUGH MANY VENUES, AND IT IS WITH DEEP APPRECIATION THAT WE EMBRACE OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH BOTH PUBLIC AND PRIVATE LEADERS.

2007 WAS ALSO THE YEAR WHEN WE SAW LOCAL LEADERS’ HARD WORK LAND SOME OF THE LARGEST ECONOMIC VENTURES IN THE HISTORY OF THIS REGION – THYSSENKRUPP, NORTHROP GRUMMAN/EADS, AS WELL AS PLANNED EXPANSION AT AUSTAL AND MOBILE AEROSPACE. I HAVE TRAVELED THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY AND ABROAD; AND PEOPLE ARE MARVELLING AT THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT SUCCESS MOBILE NOW ENJOYS. DOWNTOWN REDEVELOPMENT AND SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT CONTINUE TO TRANSFORM OUR CITY AND PROVIDE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES.

I ASK YOU TO JOIN ME IN APPLAUDING AND SALUTING CITY LEADERS; COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, THE STATE OF ALABAMA AND MOST NOTEABLY – OUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND ITS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF BILL SISSON.

IT WAS THROUGH THESE LEADERS’ VIGILIANCE, DEVOTION AND SERVICE TO YOU THAT OUR CHILDREN’S FUTURES ARE A BIT BRIGHTER BECAUSE THESE INDUSTRIES WILL BRING IN MORE THAN $20 MILLION ANNUALLY INTO THE COFFERS OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, NOTHING IS MORE GRATIFYING THAN KNOWING THAT THESE CHILDREN WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR HIGH PAYING JOBS; AND AS A RESULT THEY WILL HAVE ACCESS TO A BETTER QUALITY OF LIFE TOMORROW. THAT IS WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT!

OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS THE THREAD THAT WILL SUSTAIN OUR CURRENT AND FUTURE WORKFORCE INITIATIVES. THE FUTURE OF THIS COMMUNITY IS ENTRENCHED IN OUR ABILITY TO RETAIN AND ATTRACT THE SKILLED AND EDUCATED WORKFORCE NECESSARY IN THE LONG TERM FOR MOBILE BUSINESS AND INDUSTRIES. We cannot be competitive in economic development if we do not have effective schools.

I AM CONFIDENT WE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE A SUCCESSFUL EDUCATION SYSTEM.

THOUGH WE DON’T KNOW THE OUTCOME OF BOEING’S PROTEST – WHAT WE DO KNOW IS MOBILE’S AMENITIES ARE GREAT AND CAN STAND UP AGAINST ANY MAJOR CITY IN THIS NATION. WE WON A FAIR AND OPEN COMPETITION AND WE EXPECT A FAIR AND OPEN CONTRACT AWARD.

THIS AFTERNOON, WE CELEBRATE OUR CITY…OUR CITIZENS…OUR PROGRESS.

YES, MOBILE HAS BEEN EXTREMELY FORTUNATE IN MANY AREAS. BUT, AS WE CELEBRATE OUR SUCCESSES, WE MUST BE MINDFUL OF OUR CHALLENGES.

CHALLENGES ARE GIFTS THAT FORCE US TO SEARCH FOR A NEW CENTER OF GRAVITY – A DIFFERENT APPROACH TO OVERCOMING OUR OBSTACLES. I’VE LEARNED OVER THE YEARS THAT IF WE DON’T HAVE OBSTACLES WITHIN OUR PATH – IT PROBABLY MEANS WE ARE NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS A TOP PRIORITY IN OUR CITY AND IN OUR REGION. ON MAY 15TH WE WILL HOST A REGIONAL WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT SUMMIT TO BRING TOGETHER THE COMMUNITY, EDUCATION, BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY TO COMPLIMENT THE DEVELOPMENT OF OUR REGIONAL WORKFORCE PLAN. I AM CONFIDENT THAT OUR PARTNERSHIP APPROACH WILL LEAD TO AN EFFECTIVE AND RESPONSIVE WORKFORCE SYSTEM FOR OUR REGION.

Our priority is work force. And the Foundation of workforce is a strong K – 12 system. We are all aware of that. There is no dissention among this community about where we are headed in terms of education.

THE NEED TO IMPROVE OUR TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE IS ALSO VITALLY IMPORTANT TO OUR PROGRESS. MOBILE IS GROWING, USHERING THE FUTURE INTO OUR MIDST. WITH OUR PROGRESS COMES THE NEED TO ADDRESS OUR AGING INFRASTRUCTURE – AN OBSTACLE I AM CERTAIN WE CAN OVERCOME.

OUR MARITIME INDUSTRY, LOCAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT, AND OUR CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ARE MEETING AND DISCUSSING OPTIONS TO MOVE TRAFFIC ON I-10. THIS IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO OUR CITY’S FUTURE. TRANSPORTATION PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTATION IS ALSO A REGIONAL PRIORITY.

THE SLOW DOWN OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMY WILL HAVE A SHORT-TERM IMPACT ON OUR AREA. THE NEXT 18 TO 24 MONTHS WILL BE CRITICAL PERIODS IN WHICH WE MUST EFFECTIVELY PLAN AND FORECAST OUR REVENUE AND EXPENDITURES. THE OVERALL ECONOMY IN OUR AREA WILL BOUNCE BACK AND PROVE TO BE STRONG COMPARED TO OTHER CITIES OUR SIZE.

OUR ECONOMIC EXPANSION COUPLED WITH SUSTAINED GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT IS THE KEY TO OUR FUTURE SUCCESS. WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE THE MOST WELL-PLANNED, SUCCESSFUL CITY OUR SIZE IN THE NATION. MOBILE WILL BE THE CHANGE AGENT THAT WILL DEFINE THE CHARACTER AND DIRECTION OF THE REGION.

IT IS OUR PROFOUND BELIEF THAT MOBILE’S FUTURE DEVELOPMENT AND SUCCESS IS ONLY AS GREAT AS ITS ABILITY TO GROW AND OFFER QUALITY SERVICES TO THE CITIIZENS IT SERVES. WE WERE FORTUNATE THIS PAST YEAR TO BRING ABOARD A GROUP OF CITIZENS FROM THE WESTERN SECTION OF MOBILE, AN AREA THAT HOLDS TERRIFIC OPPORTUNITIES FOR TOMORROW. OUR QUEST IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY RESIDENT WHO DESIRES TO BECOME A PART OF ONE OF ALABAMA’S GREATEST CITIES IS AFFORDED THAT OPPORTUNITY. I, LIKE MANY OF YOU, AM PASSIONATE ABOUT THE CITY WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY IN. I AM NOT SHY IN MY DESCRIPTION OF THIS GREAT MECCA, WHICH HOLDS LIMITLESS POTENTIALS.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A LONG WHILE, THE WORD OPPORTUNITY WILL BECOME A TERM that is SYNONYMOUS with MOBILE, A PLACE WE CAN ALL PROUDLY CALL HOME.

I SEE MOBILE’S TOMORROW AS A PLACE OF OPPORTUNITIES.

THE NATIVE MOBILIANS WHO MOVED AWAY IN SEARCH OF OPPORTNITIES – WILL COME BACK HOME AND HAIL THE OPPORTUNITIES OF THE PORT CITY. REGIONAL AND GLOBAL INDUSTRIES THAT DID NOT HAVE MOBILE ON THEIR PROSPECTIVE RADAR WILL SEE THE GREAT BUSINESS AMENITIES, AND SEEK TO MOVE INTO OUR MIDST.

OUR CHILDREN’S FUTURE WILL BE PAVED WITH STELLAR OPPORTUNITIES IN EDUCATION, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, CULTURAL ENRICHMENT AND AN OUTSTANDING QUALITY OF LIFE.

I HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAD ONE OF THE GREAT CITIES OF OUR NATION AND CITIZENS WHO HAVE ENCOURAGED AND SUPPORTED MY EFFORTS. I THANK GOD FOR THAT OPPORTUNITY AND EACH OF YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND PRAYERS.

THERE IS A STORY TOLD ABOUT A PILOT WHO MADE AN ANNOUNCEMENT TO HIS PASSENGERS ABOUT 30 MINUTES INTO A FLIGHT. HE SAID “I HAVE SOME GOOD NEWS. WE HAVE A VERY STRONG TAIL WIND AND WE ARE TRAVELING MUCH FASTER THAN WE HAD PLANNED. THE BAD NEWS IS OUR NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS BROKEN AND WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE WE ARE GOING.”

WELL, LET ME ANNOUNCE TO YOU TODAY THAT HERE IN MOBILE WE HAVE A STRONG TAIL WIND AND OUR NAVIGATION SYSTEM IS WORKING WELL. IN FACT, OUR DESTINATION IS IN SIGHT. WE ARE NOW BOARDING ALL ROWS AND ALL PASSENGERS. BUCKLE YOUR SEAT BELTS. GET READY FOR A GREAT FLIGHT.