Title
Budget Address
Mayor John F. Street
January 29, 2002
Council President Verna, members of City Council, members of my Cabinet and Administration, special friends and guests: Good morning.
Last January, I stood before you and proudly announced - "We are a government that gets things done."
2001 was a year of difficult challenges. Nonetheless, it was a year of accomplishment. Sustained by our shared ideals and nourished by pride in our great City, we continue to make progress on behalf of the people, the businesses which employ our workers, and the great region of which we are a vital part. Today, I can modify my statement from a year ago: we are a government that gets things done despite a series of difficult challenges -
• despite a national economic downturn and the abrupt end to the longest period of economic expansion in our history;
• despite a changing and very challenging political environment;
• despite the escalating security costs and emotional trauma caused by the tragic events of September 11.
Vince Lombardi, the ledgendary former coach of the Green Bay Packers, used to tell his players, "When the going gets tough, the tough get going." During the year 2001, we proved our toughness. We refused to let the rough economic climate impede our progress. We managed the affairs of the City with unwavering commitment to our vision of a better Philadelphia. We moved closer to this vision -
• forging a historic agreement with the Commonwealth and securing a better and brighter day for our public school students and their families,
• creating jobs by attracting entrepreneurs seeking a progressive pro-business environment,
• protecting and strengthening the hospitality industry,
• making our neighborhoods cleaner, safer, and more beautiful, and
• remaining faithful to our pledge to make every year in Philadelphia the "Year of the Child."
Tough times inevitably create new imperatives. If we are to succeed, we...
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