2003 State of the City Address

November 6, 2003
West Mesa High School

GOOD EVENING TO ALL OF YOU, AND WELCOME TO MUSTANG COUNTRY HERE AT WEST MESA HIGH SCHOOL.

I WANT TO BEGIN TONIGHT BY FIRST THANKING OUR HOSTS, THE STUDENTS, STAFF AND COMMUNITY OF WEST MESA HIGH SCHOOL AS WELL AS STUDENT BODY VICE PRESIDENT AMBER MORRELL. BRUCE KING ONCE SAID THAT IF GOOD PEOPLE DON'T RUN FOR OFFICE, OTHERS WILL. I HAVE MADE IT A PRACTICE TO VISIT A SCHOOL EVERY WEEK OR HAVE A CLASS IN THE OFFICE EVERY WEEK BECAUSE I WANT TO HELP FOSTER TOMORROW'S LEADERSHIP. SO AMBER, THANK YOU AGAIN FOR BEING HERE AND PLEASE STAY INVOLVED IN THE ELECTORAL PROCESS. ALBUQUERQUE NEEDS YOU.

I WANT TO FOR A MOMENT AS WELL REMEMBER THAT AS WE GATHER HERE TONIGHT, FELLOW AMERICANS ARE LOSING THEIR LIVES IN DEFENSE OF OUR NATION. I CAME OF AGE DURING THE VIETNAM WAR AND SAW SOLDIERS VILLIFIED BY SOME BECAUSE THEY RESPONDED TO THE CALL OF DUTY IN AN UNPOPULAR WAR. THE CURRENT EFFORT HAS ALSO DIVIDED AMERICA. BUT I HOPE TONIGHT THAT AS AMERICANS FIRST, AND WHETHER WE ARE FOR OR OPPOSED TO THE WAR, THAT WE ALWAYS AGREE THAT OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN UNIFORM IN IRAQ AND AROUND THE GLOBE ARE TRUE HEROES. WE PRAY FOR THEM AND WE WILL HONOR THEM ALL OF THE DAYS OF THEIR LIVES.

TWO YEARS AGO, THE VOTERS OF ALBUQUERQUE ENTRUSTED ME WITH A SECOND TERM AS THEIR MAYOR. THAT NIGHT, I SAID, THE “BEST” WAS “YET TO COME.” AND IN THAT SPIRIT, I WANT TO OUTLINE BOTH WHAT WE'VE ACCOMPLISHED TOGETHER SO FAR IN THIS TERM, AND WHAT IS IN STORE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS FOR OUR FAIR CITY.

AS YOU KNOW, I BELIEVE THAT PUBLIC SAFETY MUST ALWAYS BE THE NUMBER ONE PRIORITY FOR MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT. NO MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY ONE MAKES OR HOW EXPENSIVE THE HOME, THERE IS NO QUALITY OF LIFE IF YOU ARE GETTING MUGGED ON THE WAY TO THE STORE. TONIGHT I AM GLAD TO REPORT THAT CRIME IS DOWN MORE THAN 17% DURING MY FIRST TWO YEARS IN OFFICE. 10 % THE FIRST YEAR AND 7% THIS YEAR ALONE. THIS HOLDS TRUE ACROSS ALL TYPES OF CRIME AND IN NEARLY ALL OUR NEIGHBORHOODS.
BRINGING BACK COMMUNITY BASED POLICING, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF POLICE ON THE BEAT, AND GIVING THEM THE SUPPORT THEY NEEDED FROM THE TOP ECHELONS OF GOVERNMENT TO DO THEIR JOBS MORE EFFECTIVELY HAS BEGUN TO PAY OFF. TODAY, WE HAVE RECOVERED FROM THE SHRINKING OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DURING THE 4 YEARS I WAS ABSENT AND NOW HAVE MORE POLICE OFFICERS THAN AT ANY TIME IN OUR HISTORY. THAT NUMBER WILL CLIMB TO 955 IN JUST THREE MONTHS AND 1,000 BY FEBRUARY 1 OF 2005. WITH PASSAGE OF THE NEW PUBLIC SAFETY TAX, I HOPE TO EXPAND YOUR POLICE DEPARTMENT TO 1,100. BUT OF COURSE IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT MORE POLICE BUT HOW OUR POLICE ARE ACTUALLY DEPLOYED IN THE COMMUNITY. FOR EXAMPLE, THE SAFE STREETS STRIKE FORCE WHICH INCORPORATES POLICE, FIRE, PLANNING, PUBLIC WORKS AND CITY LEGAL HAS NOW CONDEMNED OR DEMOLISHED MORE SUBSTANDARD AND NUISANCE PROPERTIES IN THE PAST 8 MONTHS THAN IN THE PAST 8 YEARS. THIS PROGRAM THAT LIBERATES NEIGHBORHOODS FROM THE CRACK DEALERS AND THE METH LABS THAT HAVE BLIGHTED THEM LIKE A CANCER HAS RECEIVED NATIONAL RECOGNITION. WE HAVE UPPED THE ANTE ON VANDALISM, EXCESSIVE NOISE, JUVENILE PARTIES AND EVEN ON SECOND HAND SMOKE WITHIN PUBLIC PLACES.

FURTHER, WE FOUGHT HARD TOGETHER TO ESTABLISH ALBUQUERQUE AND THE STATE AS A WHOLE AS A PLACE THAT WOULD NO LONGER BE A MAGNET FOR THOSE WHO PREY ON OUR CHILDREN. WE HAVE ON OUR BOOKS TODAY ORDINANCES REQUIRING AGGRESSIVE REGISTRATION OF SEXUAL PREDATORS BACK TO 1970, NOT 1995 AS WAS THE CASE UNDER THE OLD LAW. STARTING LAST WEEK, SEX OFFENDERS WERE REQUIRED TO REGISTER AND THEY ARE BEGINNING TO DO SO. KNOWLEDGE IS POWER AND THE KNOWLEDGE OF WHO THEY ARE AND WHERE THEY RESIDE GIVES ALL OF US THE POWER TO BETTER PROTECT OUR CHILDREN. AND WE NOW HAVE MARISSA'S SUNSHINE LAW WHICH REQUIRES OFFENDERS ON PROBATION TO DISCLOSE THE CONDITIONS OF THEIR PROBATION TO EMPLOYERS SO THAT EMPLOYERS CAN MAKE WISE DECISIONS ABOUT WHERE NOT TO PUT THEM. AS WELL, THE RECENT ACTIONS OF THE GOVERNOR AND STATE LEGISLATURE ON THIS TOPIC ARE IN DIRECT RESPONSE TO THE PLEAS OF ALBUQUERQUE FOR PROTECTION AND THEY ARE TO BE COMMENDED. IT IS SIGNIFICANT LEGISLATION THAT AGAIN, PROTECTS OUR CHILDREN.

I WANT TO TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO RECOGNIZE ERICA ZVAIFLER AND TONY MATHEY, PARENTS OF MARISSA ZVAIFLER-MATHEY, THE 16 YEAR OLD WHO TRAGICALLY LOST HER LIFE AT THE SUNSHINE THEATER THIS YEAR. AS PARENTS, MARGARET AND I KNOW THAT THE PAIN OF HER LOSS WILL NEVER GO AWAY – BUT TAKE COMFORT THAT YOU ARE REMEMBERED IN THE PRAYERS OF ALL OF ALBUQUERQUE AND THAT BECAUSE OF YOUR EFFORTS, NOT ONLY WILL MARISSA NEVER BE FORGOTTEN, BUT THE LAWS ENACTED AS A RESULT OF THIS TRAGEDY WILL SAVE THE LIVES OF COUNTLESS CHILDREN IN THE FUTURE.

I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THIS EVENING THAT INCIDENTS OF GRAFFITI ARE DOWN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MORE THAN A YEAR. RECALL IF YOU WILL THE FIGHT AGAINST GRAFFITI WE BEGAN TOGETHER DURING MY FIRST TERM. WE NEARLY WON AND WHILE OUT OF OFFICE WE WATCHED TOGETHER AS THE TAGGERS SLOWLY WORKED THEIR WAY BACK INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOODS. TODAY, BECAUSE OF RENEWED EMPHASIS ON LAW SUITS AGAINST OFFENDERS AND THEIR PARENTS, INCREASED ARRESTS AND 24 HOUR TURNAROUND ON REPORTED GRAFFITI, INCIDENTS OF GRAFFITI HAVE BEGUN TO DECLINE. THE FILM CLIP THAT YOU SAW THIS EVENING FEATURED A PICTURE OF A YOUNG MAN HANDING ME THE KEYS TO HIS CAR AS PART OF HIS SENTENCE FOR DEFACING OUR COMMUNITY. ONE OF THE PEOPLE PRESENT AT THE CONFERENCE ASKED IF THAT WASN'T TOO HARSH A PENALTY FOR A YOUNGSTER. THAT YOUNGSTER IS 24 YEARS OLD. MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT – GRAFFITI IS NOT ART, IT IS NOT EXPRESSION – IT IS SIMPLY DESTRUCTION AND A POLICY OF ZERO TOLERANCE SUITS IT WELL.

ACTIVE ENFORCEMENT OF NOISE ORDINANCES, CRACKING DOWN ON THE BOOM BOXES AND MEASURES LIKE THE MONTGOMERY TACTICAL PLAN, AND THE PARTY PATROL HAVE MADE OUR CITY A SAFER PLACE TO LIVE. AND I AM REALLY PLEASED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVED OF MY PROPOSAL TO CONFISCATE CARS ON THE SECOND DWI, AN IMPROVEMENT OVER OUR 3 STRIKES AND YOU'RE OUT DURING MY FIRST TERM. I BELIEVE IT IS AN IMPORTANT REASON WHY, WHJILE THE REST OF THE STATE STRUGGLES, DWI RELATED FATALITIES ARE DOWN IN ALBUQUERQUE. NADINE MILFORD IS WITH US TODAY. WE HAVE STRUGGLED FOR A DECADE NADINE FOR TOUGHER, MORE EFFECTIVE LAWS REGARDING DWI. ON BEHALF OF ALL THE PEOPLE SAVED AND IN MEMORY OF ALL OF THE LIVES LOST, THANK YOU FOR LEADING THE GOOD FIGHT.

LAST YEAR, AT THE BEHEST OF FIRE CHIEF ROBERT ORTEGA, THIS ADMINISTRATION WORKED WITH WHAT TURNED OUT TO BE GREAT FORESIGHT IN ‘CROSS-TRAINING' ALMOST AN ENTIRE BIG CITY FIRE DEPARTMENT IN THE TECHNIQUES AND TACTICS OF WILDLAND FIRE MANAGEMENT. AS SUMMER PROGRESSED, IT BECAME EVIDENT THAT THIS FORESIGHT MADE A CRITICAL DIFFERENCE IN OUR ABILITY TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY. I WISH THAT EVERY ALBUQUERQUE RESIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PRESENT IN THE COMMAND CENTER TO OBSERVE THE MIRACLES PERFORMED BY THE ALBUQUERQUE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND THE OPEN SPACE DIVISION THIS LAST SUMMER AS FIRE SWEPT THROUGH OUR MOST PECIOUS BOSQUE. I WAS HUMBLED AND HONORED TO BE THE LEADER OF A CITY WHERE THE RESPONSE FROM THE COMMUNITY WAS SO OVERWHELMING. PEOPLE PITCHED IN FOR THOSE WHO HAD TO EVACUATE. THEY BROUGHT FOOD AND WATER TO THOSE WHO WERE DEPLOYED ON THE FRONT LINES, AND THEY SHOWED THEIR SUPPORT IN A THOUSAND OTHER WAYS, BIG AND SMALL. EVEN DISPLACED PETS AND LIVESTOCK WERE NOT FORGOTTEN IN THE MIDST OF THE CRISIS. THIS SUMMER WE MADE SOME HISTORY. IT WAS A GLIMPSE OF WHAT WE'RE REALLY ALL MADE OF, AND IT MADE ME EVER SO PROUD TO BE YOUR MAYOR. PLEASE JOIN ME IN THANKING THE MEN AND WOMEN OF OUR ALBUQUERQUE FIRE DEPARTMENT, THE OPEN SPACE DIVISION, AND THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR A JOB EXTRAORDINARILY WELL DONE. AND ALLOW ME A POINT OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE IF YOU WILL WHILE I THANK YOUR FIRST LADY AND MY WIFE MARGARET ARAGON DE CHAVEZ AND OUR CHILDREN MARTINIQUE AND ZEKE. WHEN THE FIRE STRUCK, MARGARET AND THE KIDS WERE ON THE FRONT LINE WITH THE HOSES ON. THEY SAVED NOT ONLY OUR OWN HOME BUT SEVERAL IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD. I HAVE NO EXPECTATION THAT FOLKS WILL EVERY FULLY APPRECIATE THE SACRIFICE MADE BY THE FAMILIES OF FULL TIME ELECTED OFFICIALS. I DO THOUGH, AND MARGARET, MARTINIQUE AND ZEKE, I LOVE YOU MORE THAN LIFE ITSELF.

MY CONGRATULATIONS GO TO THE MARVELOUS INTERDEPARTMENTAL AND INTERGOVERNMENTAL TEAM LED BY JAY HART OF OPEN SPACE, WHICH IS MOVING WITH INCREDIBLE SPEED TO RESTORE OUR DEVASTATED BOSQUE. I REPORTED THIS WEEK THAT WE HAVE ALREADY CLEARED FULLY ONE FOURTH OF OUR BOSQUE SO THAT BY THE END OF THE WINTER, THE ENTIRE BOSEQUE WILL BE READY FOR REPLANTING, NOT AS IT WAS LAST YEAR BUT AS IT WAS CENTURIES AGO. IT IS A GREAT AND WONDERFUL HERITAGE TO LEAVE FOR ALL GENERATIONS.

IN ADDITION TO INVASIVE SPECIES OF HIGHLY INFLAMMABLE PLANTS, WHAT MADE THIS SUMMER'S FIRES DIFFERENT AND EXPONENTIALLY MORE DANGEROUS WAS THE FACT THAT WE EXPEREINCED THE DRIEST SUMMER IN KNOWN HISTORY. WHICH BRINGS ME TO PERHAPS THE MOST IMPORTANT LONG TERM ACCOMPLISHMENT WE HAVE REALIZED TOGETHER DURING MY ENTIRE TENURE IN PUBLIC OFFICE. AS A COMMUNITY, WE HAVE BENEFITTED FROM THE FORESIGHT OF PREVIOUS CITY LEADERS WHEN THEY SECURED SURFACE WATERS FOR WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE SAN JUAN CHAMA DIVERSION. THIS WATER, PAID FOR BY ALL OF US, AND WHICH WILL CONSTITUTE FULLY 70 PERCENT OF OUR ENTIRE FUTURE WATER SUPPLY, HAS BEEN UNDER ATTACK FROM FRINGE ELEMENTS THAT SEEM TO VALUE MINNOWS OVER OUR CHILDREN. WE HAVE FOUGHT A FIGHT FOR ALL FUTURE GENERATIONS AND I WAS THRILLED THIS MORNING TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE OF THE WATER AND ENERGY COMMITTEE HAS PASSED THE LANGUAGE WHICH PERMANENTLY SECURES OUR SAN JUAN CHAMA WATER. THE LONG SHADOW THAT WAS CAST OVER OUR CITY EARLIER THIS YEAR BY THE 10TH CIRCUIT COURT OF APPEALS HAS BEEN LIFTED. LET ME REITERATE, FULLY 70% OF OUR FUTURE WATER SUPPLY THAT HAD BEEN PLACED IN GREAT JEOPARDY, IS NOW SECURE. ALL NEW MEXICANS OWE A DEBT OF GRATITUDE TO SENATORS PETE DOMENICI AND JEFF BINGAMAN. SEASONED AND HIGHLY SKILLED LEGISLATORS AT THE TOP OF THEIR CRAFT, BOTH HAVE TODAY JUSTIFIED EVERY PENNY AND MORE THAT WE COULD EVER OFFER THEM. I AM INFORMED THAT THE PRESIDENT WILL LIKELY SIGN THE LEGISLATION NEXT WEEK. THIS LAW WILL ONCE AND FOR ALL ALLOW ALBUQUERQUE, NOT THE SPECIAL INTERESTS, AND NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, TO DETERMINE THE USE OF OUR PRECIOUS SAN JUAN CHAMA WATER. TO THOSE WHO OPPOSED THIS LEGISLATION, I OFFER MY HAND AND EXTEND MY WILLINGNESS TO PARTNER ON HOW WE CAN TOGETHER FIND SOLUTIONS TO PROTECT OUR PRECIOUS ECOSYSTEM ALONG THE RIO GRANDE.

I AM PLEASED THAT IN JULY, FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, WE TURNED ON THE SWITCH TO INTRODUCE SAN JUAN CHAMA WATER INTO OUR PUBLIC TURF SYSTEM AT AND AROUND OUR INTERNATIONAL BALLOON FIESTA PARK. TWO YEARS FROM NOW, WE WILL TURN ON THE SWITCH FOR OUR DRINKING WATER PROJECT, THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT PUBLIC WORKS PROJECT IN THE HISTORY OF ALBUQUERQUE. TOGETHER, IN THE DRIEST PERIOD IN HISTORY, WE HAVE STILL REDUCED WATER USE BY ANOTHER ONE PERCENT FOR A TOTAL OF 29% IN JUST 9 YEARS. AT THE SAME TIME, WE MADE WATER AVAILABLE TO SAVE OUR FARMER NEIGHBORS TO THE SOUTH AND PROVIDED WATER FOR HABITAT PRESERVATION FOR THE SILVERY MINNOW. I SAY “WE” BECAUSE IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT “WE” MAKE THOSE WATER DECISIONS, NOT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT AND NOT THE SPECIAL INTERESTS.

OUR WATER CONSERVATION PROGRAM IS TODAY THE SINGLE MOST SUCCESSFUL AND AGGRESSIVE PROGRAM IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND THE BEST IS YET TO COME. WE HAVE RAISED OUR SIGHTS EVEN HIGHER WITH A NEW GOAL OF 150 GALLONS PER CAPITA. ALBUQUERQUEANS HAVE RESPONDED, NOT TO THREATS OR SANCTIONS BUT TO EDUCATION AND INCENTIVES. ALBUQUERQUE'S WATER FUTURE IS SECURE. I WANT TO CAUTION EVERYONE, HOWEVER, THAT WE MUST CONTINUE ON OUR PATH TO CONSERVE WATER, USE OUR SURFACE WATERS, AND PROTECT OUR EVER FRAGILE AQUIFER. IT IS A SACRED DUTY WE OWE TO ALL FUTURE GENERATIONS.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF OUR NEIGHBORING JURISDICTIONS FOR PARTNERING WITH ALBUQUERQUE THIS YEAR TO ENGAGE IN TRULY REGIONAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT SAVING OUR AQUIFER FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS. OUR AQUIFER RUNS FROM COCHITI ALL THE WAY SOUTH TO SAN ACACIA. PICTURE IF YOU WILL ONE LARGE GLASS WITH MULTIPLE STRAWS DRAWING FROM THAT GLASS. WE SUCCESSFULLY RESISTED ATTEMPTS TO PLACE GROUPS WITH INTERESTS ANTITHETICAL TO OURS OVER OUR USE OF THE AQUIFER. INDEED, ALBUQUERQUE IS THE ONLY ONE WITH A STRAW ENGAGING IN MEANINGFUL WATER CONSERVATION. IT SEEMED TO ME THAT IF WE REALLY WANT TO SAVE THE AQUIFER BY REDUCING OUR PUMPING, WE SHOULD EXCLUDE THE OUTSIDE INTERESTS AND BRING TOGETHER ONLY THOSE WHO ACTUALLY DRAW FROM THE AQUIFER. IN THIS WAY, WE CAN COLLECTIVELY DESIGN STRATEGIES FOR HOW ALL OF US CAN COOPERATE IN SAVING OUR AQUIFER AND PROTECTING OUR WATER FOR ALL GENERATIONS TO COME.
I HOPE YOU LIKE OUR NEW TRICENTENNIAL LOGO AND OUR TRICENTENNIAL SLOGAN, MAKING HISTORY – HACIENDO HISTORIA. YOU WILL SEE THEM IN EVEN MORE PLACES AS WE PREPARE FOR OUR 300TH BIRTHDAY BEGINNING IN MID 2005 AND CONTINUING THROUGH 2006. “MAKING HISTORY” IS INDEED WHAT WE ARE ALL DOING TOGETHER. AND IN THAT REGARD, BEFORE I GO ANY FURTHER, I WANT TO TAKE SOME TIME OUT TO HONOR ONE OF OUR OWN WHO HAS HELPED MAKE ALBUQUERQUE HISTORY. HE LED OUR COMMUNITY WITH DIGNITY AND VISION, AND I MAKE THIS SPECIAL PRESENTATION IN THAT SPIRIT.

HARRY KINNEY SERVED TWO TERMS AS OUR MAYOR, DURING THE EARLY DAYS OF OUR PRESENT FORM OF GOVERNMENT, STARTING IN 1973, THROUGH 1977 AND AGAIN FROM 1981 TO 1985. HE CAME TO PUBLIC SERVICE AFTER A CAREER AS AN ENGINEER WITH THE LABS. THROUGHOUT HIS PUBLIC LIFE, HARRY HAS ALWAYS REMAINED A MAN OF THE PEOPLE, MOST RECENTLY AS A SUBSTITUTE PUBLIC SCHOOL TEACHER. I DARE SAY IF THERE WERE A HARRY KINNEY IN EVERY CLASSROOM, WE'D HAVE THE MOST ACCOMPLISHED SCHOOL SYSTEM IN AMERICA. I AM HONORED AND HUMBLED TO CALL HARRY KINNEY A MENTOR AND FRIEND. MAYOR, MUCH OF WHAT IS RIGHT WITH OUR CITY TODAY CAN BE TRACED BACK TO PLANNING AND FORESIGHT DURING YOUR TIME OF PUBLIC SERVICE. IN HONOR OF THAT SERVICE, I WANT TO PRESENT YOU TODAY WITH ONE OF THE MAYOR'S A+ AWARDS, THIS ONE BEING THE FIRST EVER “MAKING HISTORY” AWARD.

RIGHT UP THERE WITH PUBLIC SAFETY AND WATER, I WAS ELECTED ON A PLATFORM OF SUPPORT FOR ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY. MY GOAL IS AN ECONOMY SO DIVERSE AND VIBRANT, THAT OUR CHILDREN HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAY IN THEIR HOME TOWN AND RAISE THEIR CHILDREN. IF THEY CHOOSE TO LEAVE ALBUQUERQUE TO FOLLOW THEIR DREAMS, SO BE IT. BUT THEY SHOULD NEVER HAVE TO DO SO BECAUSE WE HAVE MADE POOR DECISIONS ABOUT HAVING GOOD JOBS AVAILABLE TO THEM HERE. HOWEVER, YOU CAN'T LIFT A COMMUNITY UP ECONOMICALLY IF YOUR OWN HOUSEHOLD IS IN FINANCIAL DISORDER. THE 50 MILLION DOLLAR DEFICIT THIS ADMINISTRATION INHERITED IS ERADICATED. WE HAVE MADE THE TOUGH CHOICES, WE HAVE TRIMMED SOME 79 MILLION DOLLARS IN RECURRING EXPENDITURES FROM OUR BUDGET AND THROUGH ATTRITION, WE ARE DOWN ABOUT 300 EMPLOYEES.
AND I WANT PARTICULARLY TO THANK OUR CITY EMPLOYEES. UNLIKE THEIR COUNTERPARTS IN THE OTHER PUBLIC SECTOR ENTITIES AND THE PRIVATE SECTOR, THEY HAVE ENDURED THE CUTBACKS AND PERSONNEL REDUCTIONS FOR THE MOST PART WITHOUT ANY PAY RAISES. ALL THE WHILE, DEMAND FOR SERVICE HAS GONE UP AND RESOURCES DIMINISHED. THEY HAVE PERFORMED EXCEPTIONALLY WELL AND WHEN, AS A RESULT OF THEIR SACRIFICES, ONE-TIME, NON RECURRING MONIES BECAME AVAILABLE, I WAS PLEASED TO FIGHT FOR AND SECURE A ONE-TIME BONUS SIMPLY TO SAY THANKS FOR A JOB WELL DONE. THOSE OF US IN GOVERNMENT SHOULD NEVER LOSE SIGHT OF THE FACT THAT THE TAXPAYER IS THE CUSTOMER. BUT TAXPAYERS NEED TO REMEMBER AS WELL THAT WITHOUT CITY EMPLOYEES, THERE IS NO ALBUQUERQUE. THERE ARE NO ROADS, NO POLICE, NO GARBAGE PICKUP, NO ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS TO KEEP OUR AIR AND WATER CLEAN -- IN SHORT, NO CITY.
SO TOGETHER THIS YEAR, WE TIGHTENED THE BELT AND WORKED TO ENGAGE IN POLICIES THAT ALLOW THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO DO ITS JOB -- TO CREATE WEALTH. WE DIDN'T WAIT FOR WASHINGTON. WE DIDN'T WAIT FOR SANTA FE – THOUGH WE CERTAINLY APPRECIATE ANY ASSISTANCE THEY MAY HAVE. EMPLOYEES WERE REWARDED FOR THEIR DEDICATION AND UNLIKE 2 YEARS AGO, WE HAVE MONEY IN THE BANK. I CAN'T UNDERSCORE ENOUGH HOW GOOD A FEELING IT IS AS YOUR MAYOR TO LOOK INTO THE FUTURE AND SEE SURPLUSES RATHER THAN RED INK.

I AM REALLY PLEASED THAT FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER, OUR MARVELOUS BALLOON FIESTA PARK WHICH WE SECURED TOGETHER DURING MY FIRST TERM IS NOW FULLY GRASSED. OUR BALLOON MUSEUM IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION. THE ATOMIC MUSEUM IS NOW LOCATED OFF OF THE BASE AND IN THE HEART OF OUR CULTURAL AMENITIES IN OLD TOWN. AND PHASE 2 OF OUR ALBUQUERQUE MUSEUM IS FULLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION. TINGLEY BEACH RENOVATION, STALLED FOR YEARS, WILL FINALLY BREAK GROUND IN EARLY 2004. NOW WHAT DO THOSE PROJECTS HAVE TO DO WITH ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT? RICHARD FLORIDA, AUTHOR OF “THE RISE OF THE CREATIVE CLASS”, POSITS THE THEORY THAT, UNLIKE 50 YEARS AGO, WHEN POPULATION FOLLOWED THE JOBS, JOBS NOW FOLLOW THE POPULATION. EVERY SUCCESSFUL ENTREPENEUR KNOWS THAT NEXT TO A GOOD IDEA OR PRODUCT, THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF ANY SUCCESSFUL ENTERPRISE IS THE WORK FORCE. THE MONEY IS IN CREATIVITY AND ATTITUDE AND IF YOU HAVE THOSE ASSETS, THE JOBS WILL FOLLOW. AMENITIES LIKE OUR WORLD CLASS ZOO AND BIO PARK AND TINGLEY BEACH AND THE BALLOON MUSEUM ELEVATE ALL OF US AND SPEAK NATIONALLY THAT WE ARE A COMMUNITY OF CREATIVE PEOPLE, A COMMUNITY WITH STRONG CORE VALUES. THE JOBS WILL FOLLOW. IT IS TO MY WAY OF THINKING GOOD OLD “NEW FASHIONED” ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. MY PREDECESSOR WORKED HARD TO BRING BASEBALL BACK TO ALBUQUERQUE. I AM PLEASED THAT UNDER MY WATCH, THE BEAUTIFUL “RENNOVATED” ISTOPES STADIUM WAS BID, CONSTRUCTED AND OPENED ON BUDGET AND ON TIME. OUR FIRST YEAR COULD NOT HAVE BEEN MORE SUCCESSFUL, IT PUT MONEY IN THE BANK AND BROUGHT US NATIONAL ATTENTION AS A CITY THAT VALUES ITS HISTORY BUT BUILDS ON THE UNDERSTANDING THAT WE ARE MAKING HISTORY. SURELY, IT IS THE ONLY REASON THAT OUR PARENT TEAM, THE FLORIDA MARLINS, WON THE WORLD SERIES THIS YEAR!

I WANT TO TELL YOU BRIEFLY ABOUT OUR NEW OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. AT 8 EMPLOYEES WHEN I LEFT, IT SHRANK TO 3 BY THE TIME I RETURNED. TODAY, WE ARE HIRING ANEW TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF DOORS OPENING IN MEXICO AS A RESULT OF OUR NEW GOVERNOR. SAN ANTONIO HAS 14 FULL TIME PEOPLE DOING NOTHING BUT SOUTH OF THE BORDER WORK. THEY HAVE 2 OFFICES IN MEXICO. BY CONTRAST WE HAVE NONE. THAT IS NOW CHANGING.

ALSO WITHIN THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS OUR NEW FILM LIAISON. UNFORTUNATELY, THE NEW MEXICO FILM COMMISSION, LOCATED IN SANTA FE, OFTEN OPERATED FRANKLY ONLY AS A SANTA FE FILM COMMISSION. AND WHILE I APPLAUD THE NEW STATE DIRECTOR, WE'RE NOT WAITING. I KNOW THAT ALL OF ALBUQUERQUE ENJOYED THE FILMING OF “ELVIS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING” WITH SCORES OF ELVIS IMPERSONATORS IN THE FILM BY JOEL ZWICK, DIRECTOR OF “MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING”. MORE IMPORTANTLY, I KNOW THAT WE ALL ENJOYED THE 5 MILLION DOLLARS THEY SPENT WHILE HERE. AND WHY ALBUQUERQUE? BECAUSE THEY FOUND THAT THEY CAN FILM ALMOST ANY CITY IN THE WORLD RIGHT HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE. WITH THE NEW STATE TAX INCENTIVES, THEY SAVED MONEY AND WE MADE MONEY. FILMS OF ALL SORTS WILL CONTINUE TO BE ONE OF OUR GREAT PRIORITIES.

IN HIS BOOK, RICHARD FLORIDA ALSO IDENTIFIES ALBUQUERQUE AS THE SINGLE MOST CREATIVE CITY OF 500,000 OR LESS IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. WE CAN RIGHTFULLY BOAST THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF PHD'S PER CAPITA IN THE COUNTRY. CORPORATE CITIZENS LIKE ECLIPSE AVIATION THAT BRING HIGH PAYING NEW TECHNOLOGY JOBS TO ALBUQUERQUE REPRESENT OUR VERY BEST FUTURE. AND I WANT TO THANK VERN RAYBURN, CEO OF ECLIPSE FOR BEING HERE WITH US THIS EVENING. A LITTLE LESS THAN 40 YEARS AGO, A YOUNG MAN CAME TO ALBUQUERQUE WITH A DREAM FOR A NEW WAY OF MAKING COMPUTERS WORK. HE WAS NOT VALUED AND HE WENT BACK HOME TO SEATTLE. THAT MAN WAS BILL GATES AND HIS DREAM WAS MICROSOFT. IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN, VERN RAYBURN, AN EARLY EMPLOYEE OF MICROSOFT, FIRST MET BILL GATES IN ALBUQUERQUE. VERN, WE'RE NOT GOING TO MAKE THE SAME MISTAKE TWICE. WE'RE NOT LETTING YOU GO.

I AM REALLY PLEASED THAT OUR FOCUS ON WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND PRODUCTIVITY WAS A MAJOR FACTOR IN THE DECISION OF TEMPUR WORLD TO ANNOUNCE LAST WEEK THAT THEY WILL BE BUILDING THEIR NEW TEMPUR PEDIC MATTRESS FACTORY, WHICH WILL EMPLOY ABOUT 400 PEOPLE, ON ALBUQUERQUE'S WEST SIDE. LIKE ECLIPSE AND SO MANY OTHER FINE CORPORATE CITIZENS, THEY COULD LOCATE ANYWHERE. THEY HAVE CHOSEN ALBUQUERQUE AND WE APPRECIATE THEM FOR IT. THIS AFTERNOON, I ATTENDED THE RIBBON CUTTING FOR K-TECH IN THE SANDIA SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY THAT WE BUILT TOGETHER DURING MY FIRST TERM. EARLIER THIS YEAR, WE FLOATED 10 MILLION DOLLARS IN INDUSTRIAL REVENUE BONDS FOR K-TECH, A MODEL NEW TECHNOLOGY EMPLOYER. THE RESULT? 390 NEW TECHNOLOGY JOBS FOR A HOME GROWN COMPANY. THAT IS GREAT NEWS INDEED. THAT IS ALSO ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THIS YEAR, ALBUQUERQUE WAS CITED AMONG THE COUNTRY'S BEST PERFORMING CITIES IN TERMS OF JOBS CREATION BY THE MILKEN INSTITUTE AND A TOP 20 ART DESTINATION BY AMERICAN STYLE MAGAZINE.

ALBUQUERQUE REMAINS THE CENTRAL CITY OF NEW MEXICO, THE ENGINE THAT DRIVES THE STATE ECONOMY, THE PLACE WHERE KIDS COME FROM DATIL AND MORA AND LOVINGTON TO REALIZE THEIR DREAMS. I ACCEPT AND TONIGHT REAFFIRM THAT DESTINY AND DUTY FOR MY HOME TOWN.

SO WE HAVE MADE THE TOUGH DECISIONS, BROUGHT A GROWING DEFICIT UNDER CONTROL AND RESTORED FISCAL DISCIPLINE TO CITY HALL. FROM MY PERSPECTIVE, A FINANCIAL HOUSE IN GOOD ORDER ALLOWS US TO FOCUS ON OTHER IMPORTANT POLICY PRIORITIES. PRIORITIES LIKE STRONGER PARTNERSHIPS WITH OUR SCHOOLS AND OTHER NEIGHBORS FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE ENTIRE REGION, INDEED THE BETTERMENT OF ALL OF NEW MEXICO. WE HAVE THIS PAST YEAR MADE GREATER STRIDES TO RE-INTRODUCE MUSIC INTO THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. WE HAVE FILED OUR APPLICATION TO CREATE AN ALL NEW SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HIGH SCHOOL FOR ALBUQUERQUE. I WAS APPROACHED BY A PARENT THE OTHER NIGHT AT OUR SON'S CHESS TOURNAMENT. SHE ASKED ME HOW FAR OFF THE OPENING OF THE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY HIGH WAS BECAUSE SHE AND HER HUSBAND WERE ACTUALLY BASING WHETHER TO STAY OR LEAVE ON IT BEING AVAILABLE TO THEIR FAMILY.

I AM PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT MARGARET'S INITIATIVE TO ENCOURAGE FIRST GRADERS TO OBTAIN LIBRARY CARDS HAS RESULTED THUS FAR IN 600 NEW 1ST GRADE CARD HOLDERS. THEIR LIVES, AND AS A RESULT OUR LIVES, WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. AND TONIGHT, I WANT TO ANNOUNCE A NEW INITIATIVE, A PRODUCT OF MARGARET'S PASSION FOR KIDS, THAT WILL BEGIN IN JUST A FEW SHORT WEEKS ON KOB RADIO. READING WITH THE MAYOR AND MARGARET WILL BE A HALF HOUR SUNDAY EVENING RADIO PROGRAM. TEXTS HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED THROUGHOUT THE 2ND GRADES OF ALBUQUERQUE. PARENTS WILL BE ENCOURAGED TO GATHER THEIR YOUNGSTERS AFTER DINNER AROUND THE RADIO WITH THEIR PRESELECTED READING BOOKS. WE WILL READ TO THEM AND AS THE PROGRAM PROGRESSES, KIDS THAT HAVE SHOWN MARKED IMPROVEMENT IN THE READING SKILLS, WILL BE INVITED TO JOIN US ON THE PROGRAM TO READ TO THEIR FELLOW STUDENTS. IMAGINE THE PRIDE OF A 2ND GRADER WHO HAS IMPROVED HIS OR HER SKILLS, READING TO ALL OF ALBUQUERQUE! THAT YOUNG READER WILL NEVER BE THE SAME. MARGARET, THANK YOU FOR A HOME RUN IDEA FOR LITERACY.

THE SOUNDNESS OF OUR FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT HAS BEEN REFLECTED IN OUR TOP BOND RATING. OF COURSE, OUR RATING IS MEANINGLESS IF WE DON'T ACTUALLY APPROVE THE BONDS AT ELECTION TIME. FOLKS WHO CAMPAIGNED EFFECTIVELY, IF NOT SO SINCERELY, AGAINST OUR ROAD BONDS PACKAGE DID SOME REAL DAMAGE TO OUR ECONOMIC PROSPECTS IN THE NEAR TERM. NOT ONLY IS THERE $53 MILLION LESS IN ECONOMIC ACTIVITY AND ELEVEN HUNDRED FEWER JOBS AS A RESULT, BUT NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS THAT SUPPORT YOU AND THE BUSINESSES WHO SERVE YOU HAVE BEEN POSTPONED. I ACCEPT AND RESPECT THE DECISION OF THE VOTERS. THE NEED FOR SOUND INFRASTRUCTURE HOWEVER IS UNDIMINISHED AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH OUR NEW CITY COUNCIL TO MEET ALL OF THE NEEDS OF OUR GROWING CITY.

AND WE ARE A GROWING CITY. I BELIEVE IN PLANNED GROWTH. IF WE DON'T TALK SERIOUSLY AND REALISTICALLY ABOUT HOW WE INTEND TO GROW, THEN WE WILL LOSE AN OPPORTUNITY TO PRESERVE AND BUILD UPON WHO WE REALLY ARE AS A COMMUNITY. NO GROWTH IS SIMPLY NOT AN OPTION. IT WILL NOT HAPPEN. THE ONLY MEANINGFUL QUESTION IS HOW WE WILL GROW AND WHETHER WE WILL SHAPE AND DIRECT IT TO CONTROL OUR OWN DESTINY.
THE PLANNED GROWTH STRATEGY, SIGNED INTO LAW BY ME THIS YEAR, IS IN SERIOUS JEOPARDY AND WE NEED TO TALK CANDIDLY ABOUT WHY. FIRST, OUR LEGISLATURE WITH THE SIGNATURE OF OUR GOVERNOR, DID WHAT NO OTHER LEGISLATURE OR GOVERNOR IN THE COUNTRY WOULD EVER CONSIDER DOING TO A STATE'S LARGEST CITY. THEY MADE ALL FUTURE ANNEXATION BY THE CITY DEPENDENT UPON APPROVAL OF THE COUNTY GOVERNMENT. THIS EFFECTIVELY TAKES AWAY OUR ABILITY AS A CITY TO GROW RESPONSIBLY, TO EXPAND OUR TAX BASE AND HAVE A MAJOR VOICE IN WHETHER THE REAL SPRAWL IS SUBJECTED TO QUALITY CONTROL. SECOND, THEY TOOK AWAY OUR WATER SYSTEM. IMAGINE CHICAGO, DENVER, SAN FRANCISCO, NEW YORK OR MIAMI AND IMAGINE THE STATE TAKING AWAY THEIR WATER SYSTEM. IT WOULD NEVER BE SERIOUSLY CONSIDERED, EVEN FOR A MOMENT. FOR ALBUQUERQUE, 600 EMPLOYEES ARE DIRECTLY IMPACTED AND THE LEGISLATION IS SO POORLY DRAFTED THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE WHERE THE WATER AUTHORITY CAN OPERATE WITHOUT RATE INCREASES. THE FAILURE OF UNIFICATION THIS WEEK MEANS THAT WE MUST PROCEED WITH THIS NEW STATUS QUO. TO TRY TO TURN BAD INTO GOOD AND MAKE A HORRIBLE SITUATION TENABLE, I HAVE PLEDGED TO MY FRIENDS IN COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO WORK WITH THEM. I HAVE KEPT AND WILL CONTINUE TO KEEP THAT PLEDGE. THE PLEDGE IS COMPLICATED, HOWEVER, BY THE COUNCIL DIRECTIVE TO FILE SUIT TO SET THE ENTIRE WATER AUTHORITY LEGISLATION ASIDE. THIS MONTH, I WILL HONOR THAT LAWFUL DIRECTIVE OF THE CITY COUNCIL. SO FOR NOW, WE KNOW THAT OUR GROWTH BOUNDARIES ARE SET AT OUR CURRENT GEOGRAPHICAL AREA AND WE CAN'T IMPACT WATER POLICY EVEN WITHIN THE CITY WITHOUT SUBSTANTIAL APPROVAL BY BERNALILLO COUNTY. JUST ABOUT ALL THAT REALLY REMAINS OF THE PLANNED GROWTH STRATEGY ARE THE DESIGN CRITERIA AND IMPACT FEES. IMPACT FEES, WHICH I SUPPORT AS A GOOD WAY TO ARTICULATE BOTH THE COSTS AND BENEFITS OF EXPANDING INFRASTRUCTURE AND GROWTH ARE ALREADY REQUIRED BY OTHER STATE LAW. WE WILL GET THAT PART DONE. AND MAKE NO MISTAKE ABOUT IT; ALBUQUERQUE NEEDS FAIR AND REASONABLE DESIGN STANDARDS. AS WE GROW, WE MUST BE EVER VIGILANT THAT IT BE DONE IN A HIGH QUALITY MANNER AND NOT ON THE CHEAP TO MEET THE SHORT TERM INTERESTS OF THOSE FEW WHO WOULD PUT PROFIT AHEAD OF COMMUNITY. TONIGHT, I RENEW MY PLEDGE TO WORK WITH COUNTY GOVERNMENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUES CONFRONTING US, AND I ASK THE GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE TO LOOK ONCE AGAIN AT THE LEGISLATION PASSED EARLIER THIS YEAR. I FEAR THAT WITH THESE MEASURES, YOU HAVE CONDEMNED US TO FAILURE AND AS THE ECONOMIC ENGINE FOR NEW MEXICO, WE NEED YOUR HELP.
WE MUST CONTINUE TO WORK HARD TO RESPECT EACH OTHER AND OUR CHOICES. THIS COMMUNITY IS NOT ABOUT THE HEIGHTS, THE WEST SIDE, THE VALLEY OR THE DOWNTOWN. IT IS ABOUT ONE GREAT CITY. FOR IN ALBUQUERQUE, WE CAN CHOOSE A SUBURBAN EXPERIENCE, A SEMI RURAL EXPERIENCE OR AN URBAN DOWNTOWN EXPERIENCE. THAT IS REMARKABLE DIVERSITY AND SOMETHING TO BE VALUED, NOT CONDEMNED. I AM PLEASED THAT DOWNTOWN CONTINUES TO PROSPER WITH NEW HIGH DOLLAR CONSTRUCTION UNDERWAY AND AN OVERFLOWING RENOVATED ALBUQUERQUE HIGH SCHOOL WHICH WE PURCHASED TOGETHER DURING MY FIRST TERM. WE MUST MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AS ALBUQURQUEANS AND NOT GEOGRAPHICAL SUBSETS.

THE LAST YEAR HAS NOT BEEN PERFECT. WE HAD A TERRIBLE ISSUE WHERE A HANDFUL OF 911 CALLS WENT UNANSWERED. TO ME, IT DOESEN'T MATTER WHETHER ONE ANSWERS NEARLY A MILLION CALLS A YEAR (WHICH WE DO). IF WE MISS 1, WE HAVE FAILED AT A PART OF OUR CORE MISSION. THIS ADMINISTRATION MOVED IMMEDIATELY AND AGGRESSIVELY TO IMPLEMENT BOTH SHORT AND LONG TERM SOLUTIONS. ONE OF THE REAL EXCITEMENTS OF MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IS THAT MURPHY DOES WORK HERE. IF SOMETHING CAN GO WRONG IT WILL GO WRONG. I CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT NOTHING WILL EVER GO WRONG BUT I GUARANTEE WE WILL ALWAYS GET IT RESOLVED IMMEDIATELY AND LEARN FROM OUR MISTAKES SO AS NOT TO REPEAT THEM.
ONE AREA IN WHICH I REMAIN DISSATISFIED IS HOW WE HANDLE LITTER. WHILE WE HAVE MORE INDIVIDUALS THAN EVER BEFORE OUT PICKING UP THE LITTER AND WHILE MY NEW PROPOSAL FOR STIFFER PENALTIES IS CURRENTLY BEFORE THE COUNCIL, I JUST DON'T THINK WE'RE DOING ENOUGH. I HAVE SET IN MOTION A SERIES OF MEETINGS AND NETWORKS TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM. I REFUSE TO BELIEVE THAT WE CAN'T KEEP OUR STREETS AND NEIGHBORHOODS CLEAN. WE CAN AND WE WILL DO BETTER. AND I KNOW THAT WE CAN DO A BETTER JOB WITH THE PANHANDLERS WHO REDUCE OUR QUALITY OF LIFE. I AM OPTIMISTIC THAT MY PROPOSAL TO BAN AGGRESSIVE PANHANDLING WILL BE PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL. TWO OF OUR FELLOW RESIDENTS WERE STABBED THIS YEAR BECAUSE THEY SAID NO. THAT IS SIMPLY UNACCEPTABLE. I AM PLEASED THAT MY PROPOSAL IS SUPPORTED BY NEARLY EVERY SERVICE PROVIDER FOR THE HOMELESS. THEY KNOW THAT A DOLLAR FOR A BEER IS NO HELP AT ALL. RATHER, A COMPASSIONATE REFERRAL FOR GOOD SERVICES IS THE WAY TO HELP THOSE LESS FORTUNATE.

I HAVE HAD THE HONOR TO BE YOUR MAYOR FOR 6 YEARS NOW. AND I WANT TO TELL YOU THIS EVENING THAT I STILL GET UP EVERY MORNING, EXCITED TO GO TO WORK AND HUMBLED AND HONORED BY THE GREAT OPPORTUNITY YOU HAVE GIVEN ME. AND I WANT TO TELL YOU TONIGHT, THAT AS GOOD AS THE LAST TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN, THE BEST IS YET TO COME. WE WILL BUILD ON OUR SUCCESSES AND WE WILL REALIZE NEW ONES.

ONE OF MY PRINCIPAL COMMITMENTS IN THE CAMPAIGN WAS TO BRING MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT INTO THE NEW ERA OF TECHNOLOGY, BOTH IN HOW WE INTERACT AMONG OURSELVES AND WITH THE PUBLIC. WHEN WE SEEK TO ATTRACT A NEW TECHNOLOGY COMPANY HERE OR GROW ONE FROM WITHIN, I WANT THOSE COMPANIES TO SEE THEMSELVES WHEN THEY LOOK AT US. WE CAN'T TALK THE TALK EFFECTIVELY UNLESS WE ALSO WALK THE WALK. IN THIS RAPIDLY CHANGING ENVIRONMENT, ORGANIZATIONS THAT DON'T ADAPT, AND THAT INCLUDES GOVERNMENT, SHOULD EXPECT TO BECOME IRRELEVANT. HENCE, IN ALBUQUERQUE, PETS CAN NOW BE FOUND OR ADOPTED ON LINE. WATER BILLS CAN BE PAID ON LINE. RESTAURANT INSPECTIONS, NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME STATS, AND CAPITAL PROJECTS STATUS CAN BE OBTAINED ON LINE. NEXT YEAR, AND IN PART DUE TO THE PASSAGE OF BONDS LAST WEEK, WE MOVE TO THE NEXT LEVEL WHERE EVERY ASPECT OF CITY HALL BECOMES FULLY INTERACTIVE. THIS REQUIRES TECHNICAL CHANGE BUT EVEN MORE IMPORTANTLY, A CHANGE IN THE WAY WE AS HUMAN BEINGS, PERFORM OUR JOBS.

NEXT YEAR, WE WILL UNVEIL OUR NEW RAPID BUS PILOT PROJECT, A PRODUCT OF A VISIT TO LOS ANGELES THIS YEAR. IT WILL GIVE US A GLIMPSE OF WHAT LIGHT RAIL CAN MEAN FOR ALBUQUERQUE. AND I REMAIN COMMITTED TO LIGHT RAIL FOR OUR CITY. IT IS STILL MY HOPE, IF THE STATE WILL COOPERATE, TO BREAK GROUND ON THE INITIATIVE DURING OUR 300TH BIRTHDAY. ONE OF THE EARLY STRANDS OF THE STRING OF PEARLS IS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION AT THE RIO GRANDE ZOO AND WILL OPEN NEXT SEPTEMBER. THE TRAIN, WHICH WILL RUN THROUGH THE NEW AFRICA EXHIBIT AT THE ZOO AND DOWN TINGLEY BEACH AND INTO THE BIO PARK, WILL PROVIDE AN EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCE FOR ALL RESIDENTS AND GUESTS ALIKE. THE BALLOON MUSEUM WILL BE COMPLETE. THE ALBUQUERQUE MUSEUM ADDITION WILL BE COMPLETE. ALBUQUERQUEANS AND IMPORTANTLY OUR YOUTH WILL HAVE MORE CONSTRUCTIVE AND ENGAGING OPTIONS THAN EVER BEFORE.

I BELIEVE IN MIRACLES AND WITH US TODAY IS PROOF THAT MIRACLES HAPPEN. JUST FIVE MONTHS AGO, SARGEANT CAROL OLEKSAK WAS ATTACKED AND SHOT IN THE HEAD BY A DERANGED, MENTALLY ILL INDIVIDUAL. HE WAS LATER SHOT AND KILLED BY POLICE AS HE PROCEEDED EAST ON CENTRAL THROUGH THE NOB HILL AREA, GUN IN HAND, WITH EVERY APPARENT INTENT OF SHOOTING OTHERS AND INDEED, AS HE PREPARED TO SHOOT THE SECOND OFFICER. HE WAS CLEARLY NOT A CRIMINAL BUT RATHER A MENTALLY ILL INCOMPETENT WHO HAD NUMEROUS INTERACTIONS WITH THE SYSTEM BUT WHO KEPT FALLING THROUGH THE GAPS. CAROL WAS RUSHED TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE MEN AND WOMEN FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT THROUGHOUT THE STATE JOINED IN PRAYER WITH HER FAMILY. FRANKLY, MOST ASSUMED THAT SHE WOULD NOT SURVIVE THE NIGHT AND IF SO, THE DAMAGE TO HER BRAIN WOULD BE SUCH THAT THE CAROL WE KNEW AND THE CAROL WHO SERVED ALBUQUERQUE SO PROUDLY WOULD NEVER COME BACK. PLEASE STAND AND RECOGNIZE ONE OF ALBUQUERQUE'S HEROES, OUR OWN MIRACLE SARGEANT CAROL OLEKSAK.

ON DECEMBER 4TH AND 5TH, I WILL HOST A DAY AND A HALF SYMPOSIUM TO FOLLOW UP ON NUMEROUS MEETINGS THAT HAVE BEEN HELD IN THE PAST MONTH – TO COMPREHENSIVELY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM OF BEHAVIORAL HEALTH IN ALBUQUERQUE, PARTICULARLY AS IT IMPACTS PUBLIC SAFETY. THE MAN WHO SHOT SARGEANT OLEKSAK DID NOT NEED A JAIL BUT RATHER MEDICATION, CASE MANAGEMENT AND IF NECESSARY HOSPITALIZATION. SERVICE PROVIDERS, JUDGES, ATTORNEYS, PSYCHOLOGISTS AND MEDICAL DOCTORS WILL JOIN TOGETHER TO ESTABLISH A COMPLETE MODEL FOR ADDRESSING THIS ENORMOUS PROBLEM. I BELIEVE THAT MUCH OF THE INTERVENTION MONIES FROM THE RECENTLY PASSED PUBLIC SAFETY TAX WOULD BE WELL UTILIZED TO ENACT THE WORK PRODUCT OF THIS SYMPOSIUM. AND WHILE WE ADDRESS MENTAL ILLNESS AS IT AFFECTS PUBLIC SAFETY, I WANT ALSO TO ADDRESS MENTAL ILLNESS AS IT SIMPLY AFFECTS DAY-TO-DAY LIFE IN ALBUQUERQUE. WE NEED TO RAISE OUR AWARENESS OF THE PROBLEM AND REACH OUT WITH COMPASSION AND UNDERSTANDING TO THOSE SUFFERING FROM MENTAL ILLNESS. IT IS IN THIS FASHION THAT THEY WILL BE LIBERATED AND WE WILL BE MADE MORE COMPLETE AND SAFE AS A COMMUNITY. AND IT IS IN THIS FASHION THAT WE WILL PREVENT FUTURE INCIDENTS SUCH AS OCCURRED WITH CAROL OLEKSAK. I DO NOT WANT OUR JAIL TO BE A PLACE WHERE WE NEEDLESSLY LOCK UP THOSE WHO ARE REALLY THERE FOR BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OR BRAIN INJURY ISSUES AND WHO, WITH A PROPER SYSTEM OF SUPPORT IN THE COMMUNITY, COULD RETURN TO LIVES OF WORKING, PAYING TAXES, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND ADDING POSITIVELY TO THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY.

MY REPORT TO YOU THIS EVENING IS THAT LIFE IS GOOD IN ALBUQUERQUE. WE ARE MOVING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. OUR WATER FUTURE IS SECURE. CRIME IS DOWN. AND JOBS ARE UP. WE CONTINUE TO BE A CITY THAT ACKNOWLEDGES ITS CHALLENGES AND ADDRESSES THEM RESPONSIBLY.

I WANT TO THANK AGAIN THE CITY COUNCILORS ELECT AND CITY COUNCILORS ALREADY SERVING FOR JOINING US. I PLEDGE TO YOU PUBLICLY AS I HAVE PRIVATELY MY SINCERE DESIRE TO WORK WITH YOU TO ACCOMPLISH GREAT THINGS FOR ALBUQUERQUE. I CANNOT SUCCEED UNLESS YOU SUCCEED.

AS A GREAT CITY, WE REALLY ARE RICH IN HISTORY YET YOUNG AT HEART, AND ARE JUST BEGINNING TO MAKE THE NEXT GRAND CHAPTER IN OUR PROUD AND COLORFUL HISTORY. I AM A STRONG BELIEVER IN BEST PRACTICES AND I WILL CONTINUE TO SEARCH OUT GREAT IDEAS IN CITIES ACROSS AMERICA. HOWEVER, LET US ALWAYS BE MINDFUL THAT THE GREATNESS OF ALBUQUERQUE IS NOT IN OTHER PLACES BUT WITHIN US. IT IS IN OUR CULTURE, OUR HISTORY, AND OUR MAGNIFICENT NATURAL ENVIRONMENT. JOIN WITH ME IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS AS WE MAKE GREAT HISTORY FOR A GREAT CITY.

GOD BLESS.