On this past Tuesday, D.C. Mayor Vincent C. Gray gave his 2nd State of the District of Columbia Address.
In his prepared remarks, given at the Sixth and I Historic Synagogue and before a packed audience, Mayor Gray reflected on the accomplishments of his first two years and his goals and vision for the future. Using several athletic metaphors, Mayor Gray cited achievements made and laid out a direction for the District’s future.
Among Mayor Gray’s vision for a greater District of Columbia are expectations for “…the best public schools in the country; …a diversified economy no longer hugely dependent on the federal government.” “…a job for every District resident who wants one, and all District residents will have the skills to compete.” Mayor Gray also envisions a District of Columbia where residents “…will live more safely, more healthy, and more sustainably…” with “…affordable housing…spread across all … wards….”
Several other topics addressed by Mayor Gray included streamlining the District’s procurement system, pay raises for District government employees, continued District public education reform, and continued public safety.
Mayor Gray hopes to achieve all these policy goals while growing the District’s economy.
“I’m proud of what we’ve been able to accomplish over the past two years, and I hope that you are as well. But, while we celebrate, we must also be sober and clear-eyed in realizing that our prosperity gives us an unprecedented opportunity to make a great city even greater,” said Mayor Gray.
Mayor Gray was upbeat about the District's future. He should be.
E-mail contact information: rbrannum@robertbrannum.com
Twitter: @robert158
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