HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem #03 - Discussion ItemCOMMENTS OF MAYOR STEPHEN P. CLARK
SWEARING IN CEREMONY
NOVEMBER 10,1993
LADIES AND GENTLEMAN, AS I SAID YESTERDAY I AM VERY PROUD
OF THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF MIAMI. THEY HAVE SAID NO TO DIVISION
AND HATRED, AND THEY HAVE SAID YES TO INCLUSION AND
COOPERATION YESTERDAY,VOTERS ALONG ALL ETHNIC AND
GEOGRAPHIC LINES IN THIS CITY SENT A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THIS
COMMISSION THAT THEY ARE TIRED OF DISRUPTIVE AND DIVISIVE
POLITICS AND WANT THE MANY PROBLEMS THAT FACE OUR CITY TO BE
ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. HAVING RECEIVED THAT MESSAGE LOUD AND
CLEAR, I AM PROUD TO SAY THAT TODAY MARKS A NEW BEGINNING FOR
THE CITY OF MIAMI.
THERE ARE MANY CHALLENGES THAT FACE OUR CITY AND MANY
IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. THE GREATEST
CHALLENGE AHEAD IS TO BUILD UPON THE SENSE OF UNITY WE
EXPERIENCED YESTERDAY AND CREATE A COMMON SENSE OF PURPOSE
AMONG ALL MIAMIANS AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY,AMONG THE MEMBERS
OF THIS NEW COMMISSION. WE MUST REMEMBER THAT WE ARE ALL
MIAMIANS FIRST. AND TOGETHER, WE MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR
OUR PROBLEMS AND WORK DILIGENTLY TO FIND SOLUTIONS.
KEEPING THAT ALWAYS AT THE FOREFRONT OF OUR THINKING,WE
MUST TAKE BOLD STEPS WITHIN THE NEXT 120 DAYS TO ADDRESS THE
MANY PROBLEMS THAT FACE US AS A COMMUNITY:
*CRIME ON OUR STREETS;
*DETERIORATING NEIGHBORHOODS;
*THE CITY'S CRUMBLING FINANCIAL SITUATION;
*THE RENEWAL OF OUR DOWNTOWN AREA; AND
*THE RE-CREATION OF JOBS AND ECONOMIC
OPPORTUNITY WITHIN OUR CITY.
WITHIN THE NEXT FEW WEEKS, I WILL PRESENT WHAT I BELIEVE SHOULD
BE THE GOALS AND PRIORITIES FOR THIS NEW COMMISSION TO ADDRESS
THE PROBLEMS JUST MENTIONED. ACCORDINGLY, I WILL ASK EACH OF MY
COLLEAGUES TO PLAY IMPORTANT ROLES IN GETTING THIS CITY MOVING
IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AGAIN. I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED IN THE
PEOPLE OF THIS GREAT CITY. AND AFTER YESTERDAY, I HAVE MORE
CONFIDENCE AND FAITH THAN EVER, THAT TOGETHER AS A UNIFIED
COMMUNITY AND COMMISSION, WE CAN OVERCOME THE PROBLEMS
BEFORE US AND GET THIS CITY BACK ON TRACK.
93- 696 - 3
LADIES AND GENTLEMAN IT IS NICE TO BE BACK HOME. IT IS HARD
FOR ME TO BELIEVE THAT IT WAS IN THIS SPOT 30 YEARS AGO TO THIS DAY
THAT MY LIFE AS A PUBLIC SERVANT BEGAN. BUT IT IS GOOD TO KNOW
THAT AFTER 30 YEARS I CAN STILL SHAKE A FEW PEOPLE UP. AGAIN, LET
ME SAY THAT I AM VERY PROUD OF THIS CITY AND ITS PEOPLE. IT HAS
BEEN MY HOME FOR OVER 45 YEARS. I LOOK FORWARD TO SERVING THIS
CITY AGAIN AND WANT ALL OF YOU TO KNOW THAT MY DOOR WILL
ALWAYS BE OPEN. THANK YOU AND GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
93- 696.3