NEW YORK—Mayor Bloomberg delivered the State of the City Address Thursday at Brooklyn College in Flatbush.
In attendance at the address were former Mayors Edward Koch and David Dinkins, City Comptroller Thompson, Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, as well as the Borough Presidents.
The Mayor began his speech with an acknowledgement of tough times New Yorkers have come through in the past, from the Great Depression, the recession of the 1970s, and the post 9-11 times. Bloomberg referenced the New Deal, and how it once seemed like a distant memory, but how in the wake of the global financial meltdown following the sub-prime mortgage write-downs, more people are concerned over job security and financial set backs in any time since the depression.
Bloomberg continued his address with a recap of favorable statistics from the past seven years:
“Crime: down nearly 30 percent, thanks to our Finest”
“Fire deaths: the lowest seven-year total in history, thanks to our Bravest.”
“High school graduation rates: Up 22 percent, thanks to our Smartest”
“Tourism: Up more than 30 percent”
“Welfare rolls: Down to a 45-year low”
“Ambulance response times: The fastest on record”
“The city’s population: At an all time high”
Bloomberg described the city as “Strong. Fuerte. Resilient. Valiente. United. Unido…and ready to pull through this recession and bring our economy back…as New Yorkers, together.”
The Mayor outlined his economic recovery plan in three main parts:
One: Spurring and supporting job growth in all five boroughs.
Two: Strengthening the quality of life in every neighborhood so recession does not lead to disinvestment and abandonment, as it has in the past.
And three: Stretching every dollar further—and holding agencies accountable for delivering results for the New Yorkers who need them now more than ever.
The Mayor then outlined a nine-point plan to retain and create “as many jobs as possible now and 400,000 jobs over the next six years, in all five boroughs.”
Below are summarized the nine points of the Mayor’s plan:
• Invest in infrastructure—the city is funding $10 Billion in capital projects.
• Diversify the economy reducing dependence on Wall Street.
• Strengthen small business- providing emergency loans where needed.
• Align tax laws so they end unnecessary tax burdens that stifle job creation.
• Make it easier to do business with the city—with one stop shopping for City permits and making it easier and faster to start or expand a business.
• Growing green industries—requiring private sector buildings to improve energy efficiency and investing $900 million over next nine years to retrofit City schools, hospitals and other public buildings.
• Helping more New Yorkers acquire the skills prized by industries that are actually hiring now.
• Encouraging work, three years ago the Center for Economic Opportunity was created, now Bloomberg would like to pass a Federal pilot program to make New York a proving ground for expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit.
• Do more to keep those who have been laid off in the financial sector to stay in the city and keep New York the strongest financial capital in the world.
In attendance at the address were former Mayors Edward Koch and David Dinkins, City Comptroller Thompson, Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum, as well as the Borough Presidents.
The Mayor began his speech with an acknowledgement of tough times New Yorkers have come through in the past, from the Great Depression, the recession of the 1970s, and the post 9-11 times. Bloomberg referenced the New Deal, and how it once seemed like a distant memory, but how in the wake of the global financial meltdown following the sub-prime mortgage write-downs, more people are concerned over job security and financial set backs in any time since the depression.
Bloomberg continued his address with a recap of favorable statistics from the past seven years:
“Crime: down nearly 30 percent, thanks to our Finest”
“Fire deaths: the lowest seven-year total in history, thanks to our Bravest.”
“High school graduation rates: Up 22 percent, thanks to our Smartest”
“Tourism: Up more than 30 percent”
“Welfare rolls: Down to a 45-year low”
“Ambulance response times: The fastest on record”
“The city’s population: At an all time high”
Bloomberg described the city as “Strong. Fuerte. Resilient. Valiente. United. Unido…and ready to pull through this recession and bring our economy back…as New Yorkers, together.”
The Mayor outlined his economic recovery plan in three main parts:
One: Spurring and supporting job growth in all five boroughs.
Two: Strengthening the quality of life in every neighborhood so recession does not lead to disinvestment and abandonment, as it has in the past.
And three: Stretching every dollar further—and holding agencies accountable for delivering results for the New Yorkers who need them now more than ever.
The Mayor then outlined a nine-point plan to retain and create “as many jobs as possible now and 400,000 jobs over the next six years, in all five boroughs.”
Below are summarized the nine points of the Mayor’s plan:
• Invest in infrastructure—the city is funding $10 Billion in capital projects.
• Diversify the economy reducing dependence on Wall Street.
• Strengthen small business- providing emergency loans where needed.
• Align tax laws so they end unnecessary tax burdens that stifle job creation.
• Make it easier to do business with the city—with one stop shopping for City permits and making it easier and faster to start or expand a business.
• Growing green industries—requiring private sector buildings to improve energy efficiency and investing $900 million over next nine years to retrofit City schools, hospitals and other public buildings.
• Helping more New Yorkers acquire the skills prized by industries that are actually hiring now.
• Encouraging work, three years ago the Center for Economic Opportunity was created, now Bloomberg would like to pass a Federal pilot program to make New York a proving ground for expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit.
• Do more to keep those who have been laid off in the financial sector to stay in the city and keep New York the strongest financial capital in the world.
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