STATE OF THE
CITY 2006
................................................................................
On February 7, Mayor Tom Bates delivered the 2006 State of the City
Presentation. The
community gathered to hear the Mayor outline his strategy to complete
the goals he has set for the upcoming year.
Coverage of the speech from the Contra
Costa Times, Daily
Californian, Berkeley
Daily Planet and Oakland
Tribune.
Priorities
focus on six major areas:
SUPPORTING
OUR YOUTH means
building healthy minds and bodies by making sure all our children
have access to the resources they need to succeed in school and thrive
in the new global economy. The Mayor is working to improve coordination
between the City, schools and community-based agencies, with the goal of
expanding after-school and summer programs that promote literacy,
physical activity and healthy eating.
ENVIRONMENTAL
LEADERSHIP means
taking the lead in adopting environmental policies and innovations that
will ensure a healthy city and planet. The Mayor has set an ambitious
goal of making Berkeley the first ‘Zero Greenhouse Gas’ city in the
nation. This spring, the Mayor will convene a citywide summit to examine
policy options, set goals and develop a strategy for our city and for
our residents so we can be a model for the rest of the world.
ENDING
CHRONIC HOMELESSNESS
means implementing a regional strategy and breaking the cycle of
homelessness right when it starts. The City must address the unique
challenge of homeless youth by creating a one-stop center that links
homeless youth with the services they need to gain permanent supportive
housing. The Mayor firmly believes that homelessness is not a problem to
be managed but rather a problem to be solved.
INVESTING
IN INFRASTRUCTURE
means keeping faith with current and future residents by maintaining and
protecting the vital infrastructure of our beautiful, safe and livable
city. A firm city commitment is required to rebuild and protect our
aging infrastructure. This year, the Mayor will request that the City
Council set aside a series of workshops to assess the City’s
infrastructure requirements and develop a long-term approach to meet our
needs.
DISASTER
PREPAREDNESS means
ensuring the future health of our city by making sure every member of
our community is equipped with the necessary tools and training to take
care of themselves and others when disaster strikes. The Mayor has made
investing in neighborhood preparedness a top priority by setting up
community outreach and training programs. Berkeley is a national leader
in disaster planning and must be ready to handle any disaster for seven
days without outside help.
SUSTAINABLE
ECONOMY
means focusing on building a fair and innovative economy that is
inspired and uplifted by our thriving arts and cultural life. The City
must focus on areas of consensus such as our growing green business
sector, our neighborhood business districts, and our cultural arts. The
arts must be recognized as both an economic driver and a central part of
our city’s soul. The
Mayor is committed to guaranteeing funding for the arts and encouraging
the expansion of our burgeoning arts districts.
