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Mayor Brown's Harvard University Address

MAYOR BYRON W. BROWN
HARVARD UNIVERISTY
JOHN F. KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT/
INSTITUTE OF POLITICS
6TH ANNUAL CITY FAIR CONFERENCE
FEBRUARY 22, 2006

THANK YOU, GOVERNOR SHAHEEN FOR YOUR KIND INTRODUCTION.  HAILING FROM THE EMPIRE STATE, WHOSE MOTTO EXCELSIOR MEANS "EVER UPWARD," I APPRECIATE THE WELCOMING REMARKS OF THE FORMER LEADER OF THE GRANITE STATE WHOSE MOTTO "LIVE FREE OR DIE," WHILE CERTAINLY FIRM, IT CAN BE, EVEN FOR A NEW YORKER, A BIT INTIMIDATING.  IT'S NICE TO BE HERE WITH YOU.

AND THANK YOU DEAN JOSEPH MCCARTHY FOR YOUR GENEROUS INVITATION TO DELIVER THE KEYNOTE ADDRESS TO THIS YEAR'S KENNEDY SCHOOL OF GOVERNMENT AND INSTITUTE OF POLITICS' CITY FAIR.  AS THE NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR OF BUFFALO, I AM HONORED TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS PRESTIGIOUS EVENT.

I AM ALSO GLAD TO JOIN TWO FORMER MAYORS THIS EVENING, BOTH OF WHO ACHIEVED GREAT ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN THEIR RESEPCTIVE CAREERS.

MAYOR JANE CAMPBELL (CLEVELAND, OHIO), GOVERNOR SHAHEEN AND I ALL REPRESENT FIRSTS IN OUR RESPECTIVE CAREERS.  AND WHILE IT'S NICE TO ACHIEVE THE FIRST ACCOMPLISHMENT IN ANY ENDEAVOR – FIRST WOMAN MAYOR OF CLEVELAND, FIRST WOMAN GOVERNOR OF NEW HAMPSHIRE OR FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAYOR OF BUFFALO – WE ALL AGREE THAT WHILE ENTERING OFFICE BY BREAKING BARRIERS IS IMPORTANT, IT'S HOW WE LEAVE OUR COMMUNITIES THAT MATTERS MOST.

AND SOMEONE WHO KNOWS A THING OR TWO ABOUT HOW TO LEAVE A CITY BETTER OFF THAN WHEN HE FOUND IT IS MAYOR STEPHEN GOLDSMITH WHO, OVER TWO TERMS, INITIATED PROGRAMS AND POLICIES IN THE CITY OF INDIANAPOLIS THAT REMAIN MODELS OF URBAN REFORM.

AS A PUBLIC SERVANT, TO STAND HERE IN THIS PLACE OF LEARNING THAT BEARS THE NAME OF ONE OF AMERICA'S MOST INSPIRING LEADERS, JOHN KENNEDY, IS AN HONOR.

I THANK ALL OF THE GUESTS WHO HAVE ASSEMBLED THIS EVENING, PARTICULARLY THE KENNEDY SCHOOL GRADUATE STUDENTS.  YOU WILL SOON TAKE YOUR ACQUIRED KNOWLEDGE AND APPLY IT TO THE DAY-TO-DAY REALITIES OF PUBLIC SERVICE, POSSIBLY IN CITIES LIKE BUFFALO.  I WISH YOU GREAT SUCCESS, FULFILLMENT AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO POSITIVELY AFFECT THE LIVES OF THE CITIZENS YOU SERVE.

ACCORDING TO THE GREAT SAGE AND FORMER NEW YORK YANKEE AND HALL OF FAMER, YOGI BEARA, COMING HERE THIS EVENING FEELS LIKE DÉJÀ VU ALL OVER AGAIN.

IT WAS ONLY TWO MONTHS AGO THAT I CAME TO THE KENNEDY SCHOOL FOR THE NEWLY ELECTED MAYOR'S CONFERENCE.  I ARRIVED IN CAMBRIDGE BRIMMING WITH CONFIDENCE AND GREAT EXCITEMENT.  AFTER ALL, I HAD JUST BEEN ELECTED MAYOR OF NEW YORK STATE'S SECOND LARGEST CITY.

I WAS EQUALLY EXCITED TO RETURN TO THE KENNEDY SCHOOL, TO COME TO HARVARD AND CAMBRIDGE AND THE STORIED ENVIRONMENT THAT EVOKES SUCH RESPECT AND AWE JUST BY UTTERING THE WORD – HARVARD.  IT CONJURES IMAGES OF SCHOLARSHIP AND ACHIEVEMENT, LOVE OF KNOWLDEGE AND, PERHAPS THE GREATEST FEAT, TAKING ACADEMIC LEARING INTO THE ROUGH AND TUMBLE WORLD OF GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS AND SUCCEEDING.

EVEN TODAY, THE SCHOOLS NAMESAKE, JOHN FITZGERALD KENNEDY CONTINUES TO INSPIRE US TO HIGHER ACHIEVEMENTS.

WELL, I TRULY ENJOYED COMING HERE FOR THE MAYOR'S CONFERENCE AND MY WIFE, MICHELLE, WAS JUST AS EXCITED, HAPPY TO JOIN ME FOR WHAT PROVED TO BE AN EXCELLENT INTRODUCTION INTO THIS ENTIRELY NEW AND DRAMATICALLY DIFFERENT CHAPTER IN OUR LIVES.

AND SO HERE WE WERE AT HARVARD IN DECEMBER, THRILLED TO HAVE SUCCEEDED IN OUR QUEST TO WIN ELECTION AS MAYOR AND EQUALLY THRILLED TO BE IN THIS INCREDIBLE ENVIRONMENT WITH FORMER, CURRENT AND RECENTLY ELECTED MAYORS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

DURING A RARE BREAK IN THE CONFERENCE SCHEDULE, MICHELLE AND I TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE A BIT OF CAMBRIDGE.  STROLLING THROUGH HARVARD SQUARE, WE DECIDED TO GRAB A SNACK.  WE WENT INTO A SHOP AND THE CLERK BEHIND THE COUNTER TOOK OUR ORDER.

WHEN SHE RETURNED WITH OUR ORDER, THE CLERK LOOKED AT ME AND SAID"YOU'RE BYRON BROWN."

WELL, I WAS TAKEN ABACK AND – FRANKLY – A BIT PERPLEXED.  AND THOUGHT TO MYSELF, WELL, WE ARE AT HARVARD AND MAYBE THERE WAS SOME ADVANCE PUBLICITY ABOUT THE CONFERENCE.  MAYBE THE ORGANIZERS USED MY PHOTOGRAPH AS PART OF THE PUBLICITY.

MAYBE I WAS REALLY GETTING FAMOUS AND THIS KIND PERSON WAS ACKNOWLEDGING THAT FACT.  I FELT A SURGE OF PRIDE.

AND SO I RESPONDED, "OH, DID YOU SEE SOME PUBLICITY FOR THE MAYOR'S CONFERENCE AT THE KENNEDY SCHOOL?  I AM BYRON BROWN, MAYOR OF BUFFALO."

STARING BLANKLY BACK AT ME AND WITH AN UNIMPRESSED LOOK THE CLERK RESPONDED DRYLY, "NO, YOU'RE WEARING YOUR NAME TAG."

WELL, SHE WAS RIGHT AND I WAS QUICKLY RETURNED TO MY RIGHTFUL PLACE ON EARTH – HUMBLED.  MICHELLE AND I MADE OUR WAY BACK – ANONYMOUSLY – TO THE CONFERENCE.

PUBLIC SERVICE CAN BE UPLIFTING.  IT CAN ALSO BE HUMBLING.

AND I BELIEVE THAT NO PUBLIC OFFICE HOLDS MORE OPPORTUNITY FOR ACHIEVEMENT, OR MORE PERIL FOR FAILURE, THAN HEADING A CITY IN THE UNITED STATES. 

WITH DECLINING POPULATIONS, IMPOVERISHED CITIZENS, OLD SCHOOL BUILDINGS, AND A DWINDLING PLACE IN OUR COUNTY'S IMAGINATION LET ALONE OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S RADAR, THE CONDITION OF MANY AMERICAN CITIES IS A CONTINUING CONCERN COAST-TO-COAST.

AS A RESULT, I BELIEVE THAT CITIES ARE THE PLACE TO BE FOR ANYONE WHO WANTS TO BOTH PRESERVE AND CHANGE THE COURSE OF AMERICAN HISTORY.   

THAT'S WHY I ENTERED POLITICS; THAT'S WHY I RAN FOR MAYOR, AND THAT'S WHY I AM HERE WITH YOU TODAY.

I WANT TO TELL YOU ABOUT MY PLANS TO TAKE WHAT IS UNIQUELY AMERICAN ABOUT MY CITY OF BUFFALO, AND UTILIZE THESE ASSETS TO REVERSE THE SAD ECONOMIC DECLINE THAT HAS BEEN THE STORY OF MY CITY FOR MOST OF MY LIFETIME.

WHILE HERE IN DECEMBER, MY FELLOW NEW MAYORS AND I HAD LITERALLY JUST COME INTO OFFICE.  IT SEEMS LIKE A LIFETIME SINCE THEN.

I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MY EXPERIENCE IN BUFFALO, BUT I'M SURE THE OTHER NEW MAYORS WOULD AGREE THAT THE FIRST MONTH IN OFFICE IS QUITE POSSIBLY ONE OF THE BUSIEST, EXHILARATING AND ALL-CONSUMING TIMES OF THEIR LIVES.

WELL, IT'S THE LIFE WE CHOSE.

WITH MY ELECTION AS THE 58TH MAYOR OF THE CITY OF BUFFALO, THE MANDATE OF THE CITY'S VOTERS WAS CLEAR – THEY WANTED CHANGE AND THEY DEMONSTRATED THAT THE MESSAGE OF MY MAYORAL CAMPAIGN WAS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THEY WANTED FOR THEMSELVES AND FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.  THE DECADES LONG ECONOMIC DECLINE OF BUFFALO HAD TAKEN A TOLL ON THE PEOPLES' CONFIDENCE AND TRUST; THEY WERE FED UP.

IN MANY WAYS, BUFFALO IS A CONTRADICTION.  AFTER DECADES OF GROWTH, PROSPERITY, INNOVATION AND STRENGTH, POST-WORLD WAR II BUFFALO, LIKE OTHER NORTHEASTERN "RUST BELT" CITIES, EXPERIENCED A VARIETY OF ECONOMIC SETBACKS THAT HAVE COMBINED TO UNDERMINE AND DEPLETE THE INDUSTRIAL MIGHT THAT BUILT THE CITY.

AND YET, DESPITE THE YEARS OF ECONOMIC DECLINE, THE CITY OF BUFFALO RETAINS AN INNER STRENGTH AND VITALITY THAT IS DEEPLY IMBEDDED WHERE IT MATTERS MOST – ITS PEOPLE. 

IF YOU'VE EVER HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO VISIT BUFFALO AND TRULY SEE THE CITY – NOT FROM A HOTEL ROOM WINDOW OR DRIVING ALONG THE INTERSTATE – YOU'VE SEEN THE WONDERFULLY DIVERSE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT STILL POSSESS THE RICH ETHNIC AND RACIAL HERITAGE OF THE CITY. 

YOU'VE ALSO, NO DOUBT SEEN THE ARCHITECTURAL ACHIEVEMENTS OF WRIGHT, RICHARDSON, SULLIVAN, BURNHAM AND OTHER REVERED MASTERS OF AMERICAN ARCHITECTURE.  AND OF COURSE, THERE'S THE REMARKABLE URBAN PARKS SYSTEM DESIGNED BY FREDERICK LAW OLMSTED.  AND EVEN THEN, YOU'VE NOT SEEN ALLTHAT MAKES BUFFALO SPECIAL.

WE HAVE SO MANY ATTRIBUTES THAT SHOULD ATTRACT INVESTMENT AND DEVELOPMENT.

ONCE THE WESTERN END OF THE ERIE CANAL – AMONG THE GREATEST AMERICAN ENGINEERING TRIUMPHS OF THE 19TH CENTURY – BUFFALO STILL RESIDES AT A CRITICAL PLACE ALONG AN IMPORTANT TRADE ROUTE WITH CANADA, OUR NATION'S LARGEST TRADING PARTNER.

YET, DESPITE SUCH ATTRIBUTES, OUR CITY HAS EXPERIENCED A POPULATION FLIGHT THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT NOW CONFRONT US.  WHILE WE HAVE OVER 60,000 STUDENTS ATTENDING 17 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN AND AROUND BUFFALO, THE LIKELIHOOD OF THEIR REMAINING IN THE CITY AFTER GRADUATION TO THIS POINT HAS BEEN MINIMAL.  WHILE GOOD JOBS ARE AVAILABLE, THERE JUST HAVEN'T BEEN ENOUGH OF THEM.

TO ME, THIS REPRESENTS ONE OF OUR GREATEST CHALLENGES.  THAT IS WHY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT WAS THE PRIORITY OF MY CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR – IT IS THE ECONOMY.

AS MAYOR, MY HIGHEST PRIORITY IS THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY OF BUFFALO.

AS A FORMER MEMBER OF BUFFALO'S CITY COUNCIL AND THE NEW YORK STATE SENATE, I WAS AFFORDED A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE TO UNDERSTANDING BUFFALO'S FISCAL SITUATION. DESPITE THE MANY ACTIONS TO CUT THE SIZE OF GOVERNMENT, TO CONSOLIDATE AND TO CONTAIN COSTS, IT HAS NOT BEEN ENOUGH.

THE INCREASE IN OUR FIXED COSTS – IN FACT THE INCREASE IN HEALTH CARE COSTS AND UTILITY COSTS – EXCEED ANY NEW REVENUE SOURCES THE CITY HAS ACQUIRED OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS.

SIMPLY, BUFFALO CANNOT CONTINUE DOWN THIS PATH. DEFICIT FINANCING, WAGE AND HIRING FREEZES IMPOSED BY A STATE-CREATED FISCAL CONTROL BOARD WERE DIFFICULT MEASURES, BUT THEY ARE NOT SUFFICIENT TO CAUSE THE TURN AROUND THAT IS NEEDED.

THE TURN AROUND WILL COME WHEN PEOPLE VOLUNTARILY CHOOSE TO INVEST AND REINVEST IN THE CITY. HOMEOWNERS MUST AGAIN SEE THEIR HOME AS AN ASSET LIKELY TO INCREASE IN VALUE YEAR AFTER YEAR, SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS MUST GAIN CONFIDENCE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS AND ENTREPRENEURS MUST WANT TO SELECT BUFFALO FOR THEIR NEW WEALTH PRODUCING EFFORTS. ALL MUST HAVE CONFIDENCE OUR GOVERNMENT IS IN THE EFFORT WITH THEM, WORKING COLLABORATIVELY AND COOPERATIVELY. 

SOME HAVE SAID THAT WHEN THEY LOOK AT THE TRENDS THEY THINK THAT BUFFALO IS IN A RACE TO INCREASE ITS TAX BASE FASTER THAN FIXED COSTS GO UP. I REJECT THIS ANALOGY. I DON'T THINK BUFFALO IS IN A RACE – I THINK BUFFALO IS IN A WAR.

IN A RACE, WE TYPICALLY SAY, IT'S ACCEPTABLE TO LOSE IF YOU DO YOUR BEST. YOU TRIED HARD AND BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME. THERE ARE NO REAL CONSEQUENCES FROM LOSING MOST RACES.

EVEN FOUR CONSECUTIVE SUPER BOWL LOSSES DIDN'T DAMPEN OUR LOVE FOR THE BUFFALO BILLS – THEY WERE STILL CHAMPIONS OF THE AFC WE TOLD EACH OTHER AND THAT WAS PRETTY GOOD.

IN A WAR, THERE ARE REAL DIRE CONSEQUENCES FROM LOSING. THE CONSEQUENCES ARE FAR RANGING AND AFFECT MANY LIVES, FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME.

IN WAR, SOME DON'T SURVIVE AND OTHERS NEVER RECOVER FROM THE HORRIFIC EFFECTS OF THE CONFLICT.  I KNOW THIS SOUNDS DRAMATIC, BUT I TAKE TRUNING THE CITY OF BUFFALO AROUND JUST THAT SERIOUSLY.

SUCH OUTCOMES IN MANY AMERICAN CITIES HAVE BEEN EVIDENT FOR YEARS,ESPECIALLY IN THE NORTHEAST, WHICH HAS BEEN HIT BY ECONOMIC DIFFICULTIES – SOME BEYOND THE REGION'S CONTROL, OTHERS OF ITS OWN MAKING – WHILE OTHER REGIONS AND CITIES, LIKE THE SOUTHWEST, THE CAROLINAS AND CITIES SUCH AS LAS VEGAS, HAVE BENEFITTED FROM AGGRESSIVE MARKETING EFFORTS, GROWING ECONOMIES AND NEW JOB OPPORTUNITIES.

DESPITE SERVING IN THE CITY COUNCIL, I HAVE NOW BEEN REAQUAINTED WITH HOW THINGS OPERATE IN CITY HALL. ALTHOUGH THE WORK FORCE IS FULL OF HARD WORKING AND DEDICATED CIVIL SERVANTS'. THEY ARE YEARNING FOR STRONG LEADERSHIP, A SOUND PLAN AND A SENSE OF PURPOSE.

THE TECHNOLOGY LEAVES MUCH TO BE DESIRED AND NEEDS A COMPLETE UPGRADE. DESPITE THE REALITIES OF BUFFALO'S ECONOMY, COMMITMENT TO CHANGE HAS BEEN LACKING AND MORALE HAS BEEN SEVERELY TESTED. THE CUTS IN MIDDLE MANAGEMENT HAVE BEEN VERY SEVERE AND WILL PROVE TO BE A CHALLENGE AS WE INITIATE PROGRAMS AND POLICIES FOR CHANGE.

MY ADMINISTRATION'S GOAL FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IS CLEAR AND SIMPLE:

TO MAKE OUR PROCESS MORE BUSINESS FRIENDLY, WHICH IS AT THE HEART OF OUR TOP-TO-BOTTOM REORGANIZATION, INCLUDING CREATING TWO NEW DEPUTY MAYOR POSITIONS AND A COMMISSIONER OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND THEREBY INCREASE INVESTMENTS BY BUSINESSES AND HOMEOWNERS IN OUR CITY, THUS PRESERVING AND IMPROVING WEALTH, JOBS, AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF ALL.

MUCH OF THE DEVELOPMENT THAT HAS TAKEN PLACE, AND THAT IS LIKELY TO TAKE PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY, WILL COME FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR PARTICULARLY FROM SMALL- TO MID-SIZED COMPANIES LOCATED THROUGHOUT BUFFALO.

TO USE A BASEBALL ANALOGY, IT WILL BE VERY RARE THAT WE CAN GET TO THE PLATE WITH THE BASES LOADED AND WIN WITH ONE WELL-TIMED SWING.  BUT MY OPTIMISM PERSISTS, AFTER ALL WHO AMONG YOU THOUGHT TWO YEARS AGO THAT THE RED SOX WOULD COME FROM THREE GAMES DOWN TO ELIMINATE THE FABLED NEW YORK YANKEES?

YOU SEE, MIRACLES CAN HAPPEN – BUT USUALLY THEY DON'T HAPPEN JUST BY GOOD LUCK, YOU HAVE TO WORK HARD, TOO.

IN BUFFALO, WE ARE MORE LIKELY TO WIN WITH BUNTS, SINGLES, STOLEN BASES, AND HUSTLE.   AND IN THE END, IT COMES DOWN TO HARD WORK, GRIT, DETERMINATION, DEDICATION, SOUND PLANNING AND COMMITMENT.

CHICAGO HAS ALWAYS BEEN KNOWN AS THE CITY OF BROAD SHOULDERS, A TERM HONORING THE WORK ETHIC OF ITS RESIDENTS. 

WELL, BUFFALO IS REALLY NO DIFFERENT; IN FACT, OUR SHOULDERS ARE JUST AS BROAD, OUR BACKS JUST AS STRONG, OUR WORK ETHIC JUST AS FOCUSED AND OUR WELL-EDUCATED WORKORCE JUST AS SMART AND RELIABLE.  IT IS FOCUSING THE POWER OF THESE ATTRIBUTES THAT WILL CONTRIBUTE TO OUR REVITALIZATION.

AS FORMER PRESIDENT CLINTON SAID DURING A RECENT VISIT, "YOU CAN'T BE A WUSS AND LIVE IN BUFFALO."  

WHILE THERE IS MUCH THAT CAN AND MUST BE DONE AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, I CANNOT HELP BUT COMMENT ON POLICIES BEING SET AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL. WE ARE EXPERIENCING A THREE FOLD PHENOMENON THAT MAKES IT ALL THE HARDER FOR CITIES:

1. MORE OF THE NATIONS RESOURCES ARE GOING TO WASINGTON AND TO STATE CAPITALS AND NOT RETURNING. AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL, FUNDS ARE GOING OVERSEAS AND INTO THE MILITARY. LOCAL GOVERNMENTS ARE LEFT TO PROVIDE SERVICES WITH  PROPERTY AND SALES TAXES.
2. WITH THE GOVERNMENT PULLING OUT OF LOCAL EFFORTS, COSTLY NEW MANDATES, IF NOT LEGAL MANDATES AND BURDENS ARE IMPOSED.
3. AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS, OUR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS BEEN INDIFFERENT TO URBAN AREAS AND THE POOR WHO ARE DISPROPORTIONATELY LOCATED IN CITIES.

IN THE PAST PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION THESE CRITICAL ISSUES WERE NEVER ADDRESSED. I HOPE THAT THE UPCOMING MID-TERM CONGRESSIONAL ELECTIONS AND, MORE IMPORTANTLY, THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION WILL FOCUS ON THE NEED FOR A PROGRESSIVE, FAR-REACHING AND IMPACTFUL URBAN POLICY.

IN THE END, WE MUST AFFECT CHANGE OURSELVES, AND OTHERS WILL WANT TO JOIN US.  AS I STATED REPEATEDLY THROUGHOUT MY CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR, I WILL PURSUE  BEST GOVERNMENT AND BUSINESS PRACTICES AND INITIATIVES TO BRING CHANGE – REAL, LASTING AND POSITIVE CHANGE – TO THE CITY OF BUFFALO.

AND THAT'S WHY I'M GLAD STEPHEN GOLDSMITH IS HERE.  MAYOR, YOU HAVED PROVED IT IS POSSIBLE TO DEVELOP SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIPS BETWEEN PRIVATE, PUBLIC AND NOT-FOR-PROFIT INTERESTS, FOCUSING ON GOALS RATHER THAN PROCESSES, DELIVERING THE SERVICES OUR CITIZENS DESERVE BRINGING ABOUT POSITIVE CHANGE.  AS A RESULT, IN 1997, INDIANAPOLIS RANKED SEVENTH AMONG FORTUNE MAGAZINE'S NORTH AMERICA'S MOST IMPROVED CITIES LIST.

MY ADMINISTRATION WILL AGGRESSIVELY PURSUE PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES THAT CAN BRING SUCCESS AND LASTING IMPACT TO BUFFALO.

IT IS ESSENTIAL TO SEEK THE BRIGHTEST MINDS, EXPLORE INNOVATIVE POLICIES, PROMOTE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING, DEMAND ACCOUNTABILITY AND ENSURE RESPECT FOR DIVERSITY THROUGHOUT A GOVERNMENT THAT SERVES SUCH A DIVERSE URBAN POPULATION.

IN FACT, I INTEND TO VISIT BALTIMORE NEXT WEEK TO MEET WITH MAYOR MARTIN O'MALLEY AND SEE FIRSTHAND HOW CITISTAT HAS NOT ONLY STREAMLINED GOVERNMENT SERVICES THERE, BUT SAVED THE CITY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS. 

IT IS MY INTENTION TO REPLICATE CITISTAT IN BUFFALO AND IMPLEMENT THE TYPE OF MANAGEMENT TRACKING AND EMPLOYEE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM THAT WILL INCREASE EFFICIENCY, FOCUS THE PROPER DEPLOYMENT OF OUR PRECIOUS RESOURCES AND, MOST IMPORTANTLY, DELIVER THE HIGHEST QUALITY SERVICES.

AND IT'S IMPORTANT TO MOVE QUICKLY.  THERE ARE SEVERAL KEY DEVELOPMENTS OCCURING THROUGHOUT BUFFALO – FROM THE APPROXIMATELY $300 MILLION DOLLAR REDEVELOPMENT OF OUR WATERFRONT, TO THE GROWING LIFE SCIENCE ACTIVITY OF THE BUFFALO NIAGARA MEDICAL CAMPUS THAT REPRESENTS CLOSE TO $200 MILLION DOLLARS IN PUBLIC/PRIVATE INVESTMENT, TO THE TEN-YEAR, $1 BILLION REBUILDING OF OUR PUBLIC SCHOOL INFRASTRUCTURE – THAT, WHEN COMPLETED, WILL HAVE A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE FUTURE OF THE CITY.  IT'S ESSENTIAL THAT THESE DEVELOPMENTS SUCCEED AND MOVE FORWARD TO PROVIDE LASTING BENEFIT TO THE ENTIRE CITY.

AND WITH THESE DEVELOPMENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES, MY ADMINISTRATION'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS WILL REMAIN FOCUSED ON OUR GOAL OF INCREASED INVESTMENT AND JOB CREATION BY:

1. INSTITUTING A BUSINESS-LIKE ENVIRONMENT IN CITY HALL, WELCOMING INVESTMENT AND ENCOURAGING GROWTH
2. DEVELOPING FORMER BROWNFIELDS AS "SHOVEL READY" LAND FOR DEVELOPMENT
3. FOSTERING TARGETED, DIRECT, AGRESSIVE BUSINESS PROMOTION EFFORTS
4. ENCOURAGING AND SUPPORTING NEIGHBORHOOD BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT
5. BRINGING TOGETHER PUBLIC AND PRIVATE SECTOR PARTNERS TO MAXIMIZE DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

HAVING RECENTLY LOST TWO GREAT CHAMPIONS OF THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT – CORETTA SCOTT KING AND ROSA PARKS – WE ARE REMINDED OF THE SACRIFICE, DETERMINATION AND DEDICATION OF THE PARTICIPANTS OF THAT MONUMENTAL AND SOCIETY-CHANGING MOVEMENT.

THEY GREW UP IN ERA WHEN THEY WERE REPEATEDLY TOLD THAT CHANGE COULD NOT OCCUR, THAT THINGS WERE THE WAY THEY WERE AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE.

WELL, CORETTA SCOTT KING, ROSA PARKS, RUBY BRIDGES – WHO BRAVELY INTEGRATED HER SCHOOL IN LOUSIANA – AND SO MANY OTHERS DECIDED THAT CHANGE MUST OCCUR, THAT THINGS COULD NOT STAY THE SAME.

FROM HIS JAIL CELL IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA, REV. DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WROTE, "HUMAN PROGRESS NEVER ROLLS IN ON THE WHEELS OF INEVITABILITY.  IT COMES THROUGH TIRELESS EFFORTS AND PERSISTENT WORK.  WE MUST USE TIME CREATIVELY, AND FOREVER REALIZE THAT THE TIME IS ALWAYS RIPE TO DO RIGHT."

AS DETERMINED AS THESE PEOPLE WERE TO CHANGE SOCIETY, SO TOO MUST WE BE DETERMINED TO CHANGE AND STRENGTHEN OUR CITIES.  IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE THAT OUR CITIES, THE CULTURAL, GOVERNMENTAL AND ECONOMIC CENTERS OF OUR RESPECTIVE REGIONS, MUST STRUGGLE TO MAINTAIN THEIR STRENGTH AND VITALITY.

WHILE THIS IS A CALL FOR TALENTED YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE YOU TO HELP; IT'S MORE THAN THAT, IT'S A CALL TO ARMS!

IT IS A CHALLENGE TO OURSELVES TO REFORM OUR SYSTEMS OF GOVERNMENT, TO HEAL OURSELVES AND TAKE HOLD OF OUR OWN DESTINY.

MAYORS GOLDSMITH AND CAMPBELL KNOW OF WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT AND I LOOK FORWARD TO RETURNING TO HARVARD IN THE COMING YEARS TO SHARE WITH YOU A MORE EXCITING, NATIONAL STORY ABOUT THE RENAISSANCE OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

THANK YOU.