Substance Abuse Summit The Director of Drug Control Policy of the United States – of America Again, my budget message last year indicated that we have embraced the mantle of leadership. We would become necessarily brave in our efforts to address the capital needs of our community. In the past year, while we have done a lot, we have yet to determine how we expect to address the challenges of our crumbling infrastructure. The fact remains that if we are going to create the innovative city that is acknowledged as the brightest, most luminous mid-size community in the nation, we must establish a long-term capital improvement program. Restating my words from last year, that are even truer today for the 2015-16 budget…and I quote: capital budget could easily be $2 million to $3 million per year. “Our We have constructed a budget within the limits of our revenues. We will continue to strive for excellence in all that we do. It is necessary for us to determine how we will address our long-term capital needs. Just as we have successfully established a paving program by having a dedicated revenue source, we need to establish a consistent capital improvement program. Our present revenue structure does not allow us to budget for these needs. We face issues that can no longer be ignored. Our biggest challenge will be to determine how we should respond to that which can no longer be ignored.” My final words were: we are here to do a new thing. It’s been a long time coming, but I know change “Behold, is going to come.” Those words were purposely crafted at the end of my address to leave a lasting impression that, indeed, we are here to do a new thing. These words ring more true today than they did a year ago. We have addressed this in part. Truly it has been a long time coming. And change has presented itself. As we embrace a new way. As we prepare a new direction. As we direct a new path. We have to acknowledge the issues that confront us. We live in a marvelous city. Our city was constructed in a way that leaves others envious. Our city has wonderful bones. The bones have been allowed to deteriorate. But the structure can be restored to its former grandeur.
Substance Abuse Summit – The Director of Drug Control Policy of the United States of America Again, my budget message last year indicated that we have embraced the mantle of leadership. We would become necessarily brave in our efforts to address the capital needs of our community. In the past year, while we have done a lot, we have yet to determine how we expect to address the challenges of our crumbling infrastructure. The fact remains that if we are going to create the innovative city that is acknowledged as the brightest, most luminous mid-size community in the nation, we must establish a long-term capital improvement program. Restating my words from last year, that are even truer today for the 2015-16 budget…and I quote: “Our capital budget could easily be $2 million to $3 million per year. We have constructed a budget within the limits of our revenues. We will continue to strive for excellence in all that we do. It is necessary for us to determine how we will address our long-term capital needs. Just as we have successfully established a paving program by having a dedicated revenue source, we need to establish a consistent capital improvement program. Our present revenue structure does not allow us to budget for these needs. We face issues that can no longer be ignored. Our biggest challenge will be to determine how we should respond to that which can no longer be ignored.” My final words were: “Behold, we are here to do a new thing. It’s been a long time coming, but I know change is going to come.” Those words were purposely crafted at the end of my address to leave a lasting impression that, indeed, we are here to do a new thing. These words ring more true today than they did a year ago. We have addressed this in part. Truly it has been a long time coming. And change has presented itself. As we embrace a new way. As we prepare a new direction. As we direct a new path. We have to acknowledge the issues that confront us. We live in a marvelous city. Our city was constructed in a way that leaves others envious. Our city has wonderful bones. The bones have been allowed to deteriorate. But the structure can be restored to its former grandeur.
State%20of%20the%20City%202015.docx