Today is a new day for America, our state, and our great city. We re-elected President Barack Obama, and whether you supported him or Governor Romney, we now need to unite and move our great country forward. We all love America, and I believe strongly that our best days are ahead. Diversity of people and opinions makes our country stronger, and we don’t always have to agree, but we should always support our country, and each other.
I’m proud that we have elected local leaders who are committed to doing just that. Our outstanding new Congressional delegation of Representatives Alan Lowenthal and Janice Hahn, who are both friends and mentors of mine, will bring a strong voice to Washington, D.C. State Senator Ricardo Lara and Assemblywoman Bonnie Lowenthal will also do a terrific job of representing Long Beach in Sacramento.
I also want to congratulate my colleague Gary DeLong on his Congressional run. He and his family deserve our thanks for their service to our city, and I look forward to continuing to work together to make Long Beach the best city it can be.
Meanwhile, we have so much to look forward to in Long Beach in the coming year. I will be especially focused on three areas:
Economic development
Supporting economic development in our downtown and throughout the city, including the creation of an economic development officer, and working to attract high-tech business and green industries. We need to make Long Beach a leader in innovations and new technologies.
Fiscal discipline and pension reform
Continuing fiscal discipline with smart budgeting and completing our pension reform process with the city’s largest union, which I am hopeful we will do by early 2013.
A safer city
We need to continue enhancing, expanding and modernizing public safety services, including graduating a new academy class, modernizing fire stations, and restoring funding to public safety as much as possible.
Today is a day to put the past behind us and move our city, state and country forward. I’m proud to continue serving you by working to expand economic opportunity, keep our streets and neighborhoods safe, and make government more efficient and responsible. And I’m grateful to all of you for your continued love of our city and all your contributions to the community. Thank you!
Robert Garcia
Vice Mayor
Long Beach
