2006 STATE OF THE CITY SPEECH
Mayor Thomas J. Longo
GARFIELD HEIGHTS CHAMBER OF
COMMERCE
ANNUAL DINNER - JANUARY 28,
2006
FIRST OFF... I WOULD LIKE TO
CONGRATULATE THE FAMILY PET CLINIC AND THE SISTERS OF SAINT JOSEPH, THIRD ORDER
OF SAINT FRANCIS. THE INVESTMENT YOU
HAVE MADE IN GARFIELD HEIGHTS IS IMMEASURABLE.
I THANK YOU AND APPLAUD YOU FOR YOUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR COMMUNITY.
ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE
BEST ABOUT ADDRESSING THIS BODY IS THAT BUSINESS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT
TAKES TO MAKE A VENTURE SUCCESSFUL. THEY ALL START WITH AN IDEA, EXECUTED BY A
WELL-DESIGNED PLAN AND GUIDED BY A SOUND STRATEGY. ADD SOME HARD WORK TO THE
MIX AND YOU’VE GOT A SUCCESSFUL ENTERPRISE.
BUT HOW DO YOU SUSTAIN THAT
SUCCESS? ESPECIALLY WHEN CONFRONTED WITH UNUSUAL AND UNEXPECTED CIRCUMSTANCES? PLANNING AND STRATEGY MAY NOT COVER SUCH
SITUATIONS, SO YOU HAVE TO EMPLOY SOME SECRET WEAPONS - IMAGINATION AND
RESOURCEFULNESS... AS IS THE CASE IN THE FOLLOWING TALE:
A
BUSINESS OWNER WAS CONCERNED WHEN A BRAND-NEW STORE B MUCH LIKE HIS OWN B OPENED
UP NEXT DOOR AND ERECTED A HUGE SIGN WHICH READ, “BEST DEALS.”
SOON
AFTER, HE WAS FURTHER UNNERVED TO DISCOVER ANOTHER COMPETITOR OPENING UP ON HIS
RIGHT, ANNOUNCING ITS ARRIVAL WITH AN EVEN LARGER SIGN THAT READ, “LOWEST
PRICES.”
THE
SHOPKEEPER FELT LIKE HIS BUSINESS WOULD SURELY SLIP AWAY, UNTIL HE GOT AN IDEA.
THE NEXT MORNING, HE WAS DELIGHTED TO SEE CUSTOMERS FLOWING INTO HIS STORE,
RESPONDING TO THE BIGGEST SIGN OF ALL, WHICH HE HAD HUNG OVER HIS OWN
SHOP. IT SIMPLY READ: “MAIN ENTRANCE.”
WHICH,
OF COURSE, BRINGS ME TO OUR CITY’S OWN NEW AMAIN ENTRANCE: CITY VIEW CENTER B
AND THE OTHER EXCITING DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE TAKING PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY...
CITY
VIEW CENTER
THE OLD ROCKSIDE LANDFILL THAT PLAGUED OUR COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN FOUR DECADES, IS BEING RECLAIMED WITH OVER 90 MILLION DOLLARS IN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC DOLLARS. THE FOLLOWING BUSINESSES ARE SCHEDULED TO OPEN, AS FOLLOWS:
RETAIL
STORES
BED, BATH AND BEYOND FEBRUARY 20, 2006
DICK’S SPORTING GOODS MARCH 1, 2006
A.J. WRIGHT MARCH 16, 2006
OFFICE MAX APRIL 1,
2006
WAL-MART APRIL 13,
2006
GIANT EAGLE APRIL 13, 2006
CIRCUIT CITY APRIL 21, 2006
JO ANN MAY
5, 2006
RESTAURANTS
(TO DATE)
Q-DOBA APRIL/MAY
MEGA WRAPS APRIL/MAY
FAT BURGER APRIL/MAY
DEDICATION
OF CITY VIEW WILL BE SCHEDULED IN MAY.
ALSO, PLANS ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED TO DEVELOP MORE THAN ONE MILLION
SQUARE FEET OF OFFICE PARK SPACE, EAST OF TRANSPORTATION BLVD., OR ACROSS THE
STREET FROM CITY VIEW CENTER.
PLANS
AND FINANCING ARE PROCEEDING TO COMPLETE TRANSPORTATION BLVD. TO ROCKSIDE ROAD
IN 2007.
VISTA
WAY
AS
YOU COME OFF I-480 EASTBOUND, THERE IS A GROUP OF RESTAURANTS AND STORES
PARALLELING THE EXIT RAMP THAT WILL BE OPEN IN MAY OF 2006:
STARBUCKS
E.B.
GAMES
RUBY
TUESDAY
ALLCARE
DENTAL
PENN
STATION
STEAK
N SHAKE
FIFTH
THIRD BANK
CHIPOTLE
I
WIRELESS
BRIDGE
VIEW CROSSING
NORTH
OF I-480 TO GRANGER ROAD, WEST OF TRANSPORTATION BLVD. TO OUR WESTERN BORDER,
PLANNING CONTINUES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIRTY-PLUS ACRES CALLED ABRIDGE
VIEW CROSSING, AS FOLLOWS:
1)
RE-ALIGN
THE I-480 AND TRANSPORTATION BLVD. INTERCHANGE;
2)
WIDEN
TRANSPORTATION BLVD. AND ITS BRIDGE OVER I-480;
3)
RE-DESIGN
AND WIDEN GRANGER ROAD HILL TO VALLEY VIEW;
4)
BRING
UTILITIES AND ACCESS ROADS INTO BRIDGE VIEW;
5)
HELP
THE DEVELOPER TO PURCHASE PROPERTY, AS NEEDED.
THIS DEVELOPMENT HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO ADD AN ADDITIONAL 30 MILLION DOLLARS TO OUR TAX BASE.
MARYMOUNT CAMPUS
CONSTRUCTION IS UNDER WAY,
EXPANDING THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND INTENSIVE CARE FACILITIES AT THE
HOSPITAL. A NEW NURSING HOME IS SCHEDULED
TO OPEN IN DECEMBER OF THIS YEAR, CONNECTING MARYMOUNT PLACE, CLARE HALL AND
THE SISTERS OF SAINT JOSEPH CONVENT.
THESE TWO PROJECTS ARE AN INVESTMENT OF 45 MILLION DOLLARS.
IN THE NEAR FUTURE, ONCE
PLANS ARE FINALIZED, THE CONVENT WILL, ALSO, BE RENOVATED UTILIZING HISTORIC
TAX CREDITS. AS PLANS UNFOLD, WE WILL
ADVISE YOU ACCORDINGLY.
CLEVELAND
METROPARKS
THE CLEVELAND METROPARKS
WILL BE INSTALLING A 3.9 MILLION DOLLAR EXPANSION TO THEIR ALL-PURPOSE TRAIL
SYSTEM, FROM BACCI PARK (CANAL ROAD IN CUYAHOGA HEIGHTS) TO GARFIELD BLVD. THIS INVESTMENT, SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED
THIS YEAR, WILL ADD MANY ACRES OF RECREATIONAL ACTIVITY OPTIONS FOR OUR
RESIDENTS. THIS EXPANSION WILL ALSO
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES ALONG WARNER ROAD.
GARFIELD MALL
PLANS ARE BEING FINALIZED TO
EXPAND AND RENOVATE GARFIELD MALL. WE
ARE ANTICIPATING A COMMITMENT OF 17 MILLION DOLLARS.
GARFIELD HEIGHTS CITY
SCHOOLS
THIS SPRING, CONSTRUCTION
SHOULD START ON THE PERFORMING ARTS BUILDING FOR THE GARFIELD HEIGHTS HIGH
SCHOOL.
CITY OF GARFIELD HEIGHTS
1) 3 MILLION DOLLARS WILL BE SPENT ON
DEVELOPING HATHAWAY PARK’S 47 ACRES INTO AN OUTDOOR RECREATION COMPLEX;
2) $300,000 IN IMPROVEMENTS WILL BE MADE TO
THE DAN KOSTEL RECREATION CENTER;
3) $300,000 IN BACK-UP GENERATORS WILL BE
INSTALLED AT OUR CIVIC CENTER AND FIRE STATIONS;
4) BROADWAY WILL BE WIDENED, FROM I-480 TO MC
CRACKEN ROAD, TO HELP ALLEVIATE GRIDLOCK AND TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC EXPANSION, AT
A COST OF 2.4 MILLION DOLLARS. (1.2
MILLION DOLLARS IN GRANTS HAS BEEN OBTAINED.)
THIS WORK IS SCHEDULED FOR COMPLETION IN 2007;
5) A CLOCK TOWER, WITH DONATIONS FROM THE
GARFIELD HEIGHTS ROTARY CLUB, IS BEING INSTALLED AT THE CIVIC CENTER;
6)
THE
SENIOR CENTER’S SERVICES HAVE AND ARE BEING EXPANDED:
7) THE MEALS ON WHEELS PROGRAM HAS BEEN
ASSIMILATED FROM OUR LOCAL CHURCHES;
8) SENIOR TRANSPORTATION CAPABILITIES ARE
EXPANDING;
9) PLANNING FOR FUTURE PROGRAMS IS IN
PROGRESS, VIA A GRANT FROM THE CLEVELAND FOUNDATION. THE GRANT IS DESIGNED TO IDENTIFY SENIOR FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES. GARFIELD HEIGHTS, MAPLE HEIGHTS AND BEDFORD
HEIGHTS ARE INVOLVED IN THIS EFFORT.
10) OUR BUILDING DEPARTMENT WILL BE ESCALATING
INSPECTIONS OF RENTAL PROPERTIES. AT
THE SAME TIME, BETTER COORDINATION IN TRACKING VACANT AND FORECLOSED PROPERTIES
IS BEING IMPLEMENTED. THE STATE OF
OHIO RANKS NUMBER ONE IN THE COUNTRY WITH FORECLOSURES. COLUMBUS MUST STEP UP AND HELP COMMUNITIES
ACROSS THE STATE IN DEALING WITH FORECLOSURES CREATED BY PREDATORY LENDING.
11) OUR SAFETY FORCES, EQUIPMENT, INCLUDING
SQUAD CARS AND AMBULANCES, WILL CONTINUE TO BE UPGRADED. WE ARE ALSO EVALUATING AND CONSIDERING
REVERSE 9-1-1 SERVICE FOR OUR COMMUNITY.
12) EXPANSION OF OUR COMMUNITY EMERGENCY
RESPONSE TEAM (C.E.R.T.) IS UNDER WAY.
PLANS ARE ALSO BEING DRAFTED, IN THE EVENT OUR COMMUNITY IS FACED WITH A
PANDEMIC FLU OUTBREAK.
NORTHEAST OHIO REGIONAL
SEWER DISTRICT
THE SEWER DISTRICT IS
COMPLETING TUNNELING OF PHASE III OF THE MILL CREEK INTERCEPTOR (KERRUISH PARK
TO GARFIELD PARK, 15,000 FEET). ALSO,
THE ADJACENT TUNNEL FROM EAST 90TH STREET AND GARFIELD BLVD., TO THE
EAST 88TH STREET APARTMENTS, IS BEING COMPLETED. SEWAGE AND OVERFLOWS WILL BE ADDRESSED AT:
1) MC CRACKEN AND BROADWAY;
2) MC CRACKEN AND HENRY STREET;
3) EAST 117TH STREET AND GARFIELD
PARK;
4) EAST 111TH STREET AND GARFIELD
PARK.
THESE PROJECTS WILL HELP
ALLEVIATE BASEMENT FLOODING AND INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF OUR LOCAL SEWERS, AT
NO COST TO OUR COMMUNITY. THE NORTHEAST
OHIO REGIONAL SEWER DISTRICT’S INVESTMENT IS OVER 200 MILLION DOLLARS, TO DATE.
FIRST ENERGY
FIRST ENERGY IS SPENDING
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN GARFIELD HEIGHTS, TO UPGRADE AND EXPAND ELECTRIC SERVICE
THROUGHOUT OUR CITY.
HOME DAYS
THIS YEAR’S HOME DAYS
CELEBRATION WILL AGAIN FEATURE A CHRISTIAN MUSIC FESTIVAL ON SATURDAY, JULY 1,
2006. THIS YEAR, SPECIAL ATTENTION
WILL BE PLACED ON SECURITY, TO ENSURE A SAFE, FAMILY ENVIRONMENT . . .
ESPECIALLY ON THE FOURTH OF JULY.
PRAYER BREAKFAST
THE NINTH ANNUAL MAYOR’S
PRAYER BREAKFAST WILL BE HELD ON MAY 4TH, THE NATIONAL DAY OF
PRAYER, AT THE KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS HALL.
THIS YEAR’S THEME IS: WHERE WE
WERE; WHERE WE ARE; WHERE WE ARE GOING.
MASTER PLAN UPDATE
IT IS TIME TO UPDATE THE
CITY’S MASTER PLAN. WE ARE DOING THIS
IN TANDEM WITH THE GARFIELD HEIGHTS SCHOOL SYSTEM. IT IS TIME TO CONNECT THE SOCIAL CONCERNS OF OUR CONSTITUENTS
WITH THE PROJECTS AND EVENTS TAKING PLACE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
WHEN CITY VIEW CENTER IS
DISCUSSED WITH RESIDENTS, THEIR RESPONSE IS AI CAN SHOP THERE, OR, AMY SON OR
DAUGHTER CAN WORK THERE. MANY PEOPLE STILL DON’T GET THE CONNECTION BETWEEN
EXPANDING THE TAX BASE AND IMPROVING CITY OR SCHOOL SERVICES.
WE HAVE RETAINED THE
SERVICES OF THE COBALT GROUP TO INTERVIEW VARIOUS SEGMENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY,
INCLUDING MEMBERS OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS MASTER PLAN UPDATE IS FOR THE CITY AND SCHOOLS TO DO
A BETTER JOB OF INTEGRATING HUMAN AND SOCIAL CONCERNS INTO OUR PLANNING.
THIS IS A CUTTING-EDGE
PROJECT. VERY FEW COMMUNITIES HAVE
MASTER PLANS, LET ALONE ATTEMPT TO IMPLEMENT THEM. TO UPDATE THE MASTER PLAN
WITH INPUT AND COOPERATION FROM THE ENTIRE SOCIAL FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY, IN
CONJUNCTION WITH THE CITY SCHOOLS, IS UNIQUE. IF YOU ARE ASKED TO PARTICIPATE
IN THIS PLANNING PROCESS, PLEASE HELP US TO BETTER PLAN OUR COMMUNITY’S FUTURE.
REGIONALIZATION
WE HAVE, AND WILL CONTINUE,
TO EXPLORE OPPORTUNITIES TO IMPROVE SERVICES AND TO CUT COSTS FOR OUR
RESIDENTS, BY CONSOLIDATING SERVICES WITH OTHER COMMUNITIES. THESE EFFORTS MUST BE A “WIN-WIN” FOR
EVERYONE INVOLVED.
STATE OF OHIO
THIS PAST YEAR, AS HEAD OF
THE CUYAHOGA COUNTY MAYORS AND CITY MANAGERS ASSOCIATION, I HAD TO COORDINATE
AND SPEND MANY HOURS LOBBYING IN COLUMBUS, TO AVOID DISASTROUS CUTS IN OUR
LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUND. IF THE
GOVERNOR’S PROPOSED BUDGET HAD BEEN IMPLEMENTED, IT WOULD HAVE DEVASTATED
COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.
THANKFULLY, COMMON SENSE PREVAILED.
THIS YEAR, BEING AN ELECTION
YEAR, WE ARE FACED WITH SEVERAL OHIO CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS:
1) SECRETARY OF STATE J. KENNETH BLACKWELL IS
PROMOTING TWO PROPOSALS AS HE SEEKS THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE:
A) THE TAX EXPENDITURE LIMITATIONS (T.E.L.)
AMENDMENT; AND
B) THE 65-CENT SOLUTION.
I AM SURE THERE WILL BE
OTHER PROPOSALS PUT FORWARD FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION IN NOVEMBER. MR. BLACKWELL’S MOTIVES HAVE MORE TO DO WITH
ADVANCING HIS CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR THAN THEY HAVE TO DO WITH IMPROVING THE
WELFARE OF OUR STATE AND OUR COMMUNITIES.
THE T.E.L. PROPOSAL WILL
IMPACT EVERY PUBLIC ENTITY IN THE STATE, INCLUDING CITIES, VILLAGES, LIBRARIES,
SCHOOLS AND SPECIAL AGENCIES SUCH AS THE METROPARKS, PORT AUTHORITIES,
ETC. IT WILL ALLOW A MODEST RESERVE
FUND AND MAINTAIN THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT FUND.
ANY INCREASE IN TAX REVENUE
WOULD BE GIVEN BACK TO THE CONSTITUENTS.
WE COULD ASK TO KEEP ANY INCREASE FOR ONLY ONE YEAR. WE COULD ASK TO KEEP REVENUE, OR FOR AN
INCREASE IN TAX REVENUE AT ANY TIME.
BUT TO INCREASE TAXES WOULD REQUIRE 50% PLUS ONE VOTE OF REGISTERED
VOTERS TO APPROVE SUCH MEASURES.
THIS MEANS THAT VOTERS WHO
STAYED HOME AND DID NOT VOTE WOULD BE EMPOWERED OR REWARDED FOR NOT VOTING . .
. IT WOULD BE LIKE VOTING NO!
IF EXPENSES WERE LIMITED TO
3.5%, AND ROADS NEEDED RESURFACING, WE WOULD HAVE TO GO ON THE BALLOT AND ASK
FOR NEW TAX DOLLARS. AGAIN, 50% OF THE
REGISTERED VOTERS, PLUS ONE, WOULD BE NEEDED TO PASS A NEW TAX. SO IF NEW TAX
DOLLARS COME IN VIA CITY VIEW, THEY WOULD BE GIVEN BACK TO THE COMMUNITY.
WITH THIS BEING THE
SITUATION, WHY THEN WOULD LOCAL OFFICIALS DO ANYTHING TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC
EXPANSION? THIS PROPOSAL WAS
IMPLEMENTED IN COLORADO AND THEIR INFRASTRUCTURE WAS DECIMATED. COLORADO SUSPENDED THEIR T.E.L. AMENDMENT
BECAUSE IT DOES NOT WORK.
THE INFRASTRUCTURE IN
CUYAHOGA COUNTY WOULD, ALSO, BE SEVERELY IMPACTED. HOW IS THE COUNTY ENGINEER GOING TO MAINTAIN BRIDGES WITH A 3.5%
LIMIT ON EXPENSES? HOW WILL THE VOTERS
OF CUYAHOGA COUNTY RESPOND TO AN INFRASTRUCTURE TAX FOR THE ENGINEER’S
OFFICE? YOU KNOW THE ANSWER!!!
IN GARFIELD HEIGHTS, OUR
EXPENSES INCREASE BY 4.6% A YEAR WITHOUT DOING SPECIAL PROJECTS, LIKE ROAD
RESURFACING. THAT IS EQUIVALENT TO
$460,000 A YEAR IN NEW DOLLARS. THE
CITY SCHOOLS CAN QUOTE SIMILAR FIGURES.
WEALTHY COMMUNITIES WILL BE
REDUCED TO MEDIOCRITY WITH THESE ARTIFICIAL LIMITS. IS THIS GOOD FISCAL POLICY?
NO! THIS IS A CLASSIC POLITICAL GIMMICK, DESIGNED FOR POLITICAL GAIN B
THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE B WHILE REDUCING OUR STATE’S ABILITY TO RESPOND AND
COMPETE WITH PROSPERING STATES AROUND THE COUNTRY.
MR. BLACKWELL IS ALSO
PROPOSING FOR NOVEMBER, A 65-CENT SOLUTION FOR OHIO’S SCHOOLS, REQUIRING 65% OF
SCHOOL FUNDS TO BE USED IN THE CLASSROOM, VERSUS 55% IN TODAY’S SCHOOLS. THIS FORMULA WILL ELIMINATE OVER 100,000
NON-TEACHING JOBS IN OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
. . . AND DOES NOTHING TO ADDRESS PROPER FUNDING FOR EDUCATION IN OHIO. THIS PROPOSAL AND TAX APPROVALS REQUIRING
50% OF THE REGISTERED VOTERS, ARE NOTHING MORE THAN POLITICAL GIMMICKS
MASQUERADING AS TAX REFORM. PREDICTABLY, SUCH POLITICALLY-EXPLOITIVE SOLUTIONS WOULD
CREATE NEW PROBLEMS... NOT SOLVE CURRENT ONES - PLACING THE ENTIRE STATE IN
A SHOE BOX.
I AM GOING TO ASK THE
GARFIELD HEIGHTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE TO JOIN WITH THE MAYORS AND CITY MANAGERS
IN OPPOSING THESE INITIATIVES. THESE
PROPOSALS DO NOT HELP TO PROMOTE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, IMPROVE EDUCATION OR
HELP PEOPLE IMPROVE THEIR QUALITY OF LIFE.
THEY ARE SELF-SERVING AND DETRACT FROM THE TRUE ISSUES FACING THE STATE
OF OHIO.
AS I HOPE YOU’VE LEARNED
TONIGHT, OUR OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES ARE UNIQUE AND DEMANDING. NO TWO DAYS ARE THE SAME . . . AND AS WE
INVEST IN OUR COMMUNITY, OUR RETURN ON OUR INVESTMENTS ARE STARTING TO GENERATE
SUBSTANTIAL DIVIDENDS. THANK YOU ALL
FOR YOUR CONTINUING SUPPORT AND CONFIDENCE.