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2014 S1A1L Cl 1PL Cl1?

!ackson, Mlsslsslppl, l would be remlss lf l dld noL Lhank you for Lhe unwaverlng
supporL you have shown Lhls admlnlsLraLlon and lLs lnlLlaLlves over Lhe pasL few
monLhs. l sLand before you humbly buL confldenL LhaL Lhe !ackson we seek ls
already Laklng shape. 1here ls much work Lo be done, buL wlLh your conLlnued
supporL Lhere ls no obsLacle LhaL wlll negaLe our lnfluence. !ackson, Mlsslsslppl
Lhls ls Cur MomenL, Cur 1lme" and LogeLher we wlll make an lmpacL on our clLy
LhaL we can all be proud of. l musL flrsL off recognlze my blggesL supporLer and
frlend, my wlfe 8osallnd for her love and supporL over Lhe pasL LhlrLeen years of
our llves LogeLher. l would llke Lo personally Lhank you, Carmen, Cameron, and
1onl Mlchelle for your commlLmenL Lo be a servanL famlly.
1o my colleagues on Lhe Councll of our clLy, elecLed offlclals and clLy leaders, our
amazlng ClLy employees, and Lhe clLlzens of Lhe 8old new ClLy of !ackson,
Mlsslsslppl: l Lhank you for [olnlng me here aL 1halla Marla Pall ln Ward 7 and
across our clLy vla varlous medla ouLleLs for Lhe 2014 SLaLe of Lhe ClLy Address. As
l look LhroughouL Lhe room LonlghL, l see an eclecLlc mlx of !acksonlans eager Lo
push Lhe clLy we love onward, upward, and forward. 1hls mlx ls comprlsed of
young, old, shorL, Lall, black, whlLe, brown, docLors, plumbers, lawyers, clerks, eLc.
2014 S1A1L Cl 1PL Cl1?
and lL ls a Lrue represenLaLlon of Lhe klnd of clLy we are. lL ls a dlrecL reflecLlon of
our people who are so lmporLanL Lo Lhe vlLallLy of our nelghborhoods and Lhe
vlLallLy of Lhe human splrlL ln our communlLy.
When l reflecL on whaL ls Lhe mosL lmporLanL asseL ln our clLy, Lhere ls no
quesLlon ln my mlnd LhaL lL ls found ln Lhe very naLure of our people - and Lhe
sLrengLh of communlLy." Cur communlLy" ls an exLraordlnarlly powerful and
poslLlve force LhaL ls helplng Lo make !"#$%&'( !"# %&'( )#* +,-. of Lhe SouLh.
We saw Lhe power and synergy of Lhls force, Lhe communlLy, ln Lhe dlverse
mlxLure of groups and lndlvlduals who came LogeLher Lo pass a much needed
sales Lax lncrease ln Lhe mldsL of a slowly recoverlng naLlonal economy. lL was a
commandlng vlcLory whlch found lLs sLrengLh ln a vlslon of whaL Lhe fuLure holds
for our clLy, lLs people and our chlldren.
rogress ls a 24-7, 363 day a year [ob LhaL requlres Lhe dlllgence Lo sLlck wlLh and
Lhrough Lhe process of beLLermenL. As we sLrlve Lo consLanLly progress, lL ls
lmporLanL LhaL we conLlnue Lo have falLh ln our creaLor and ln each oLher. 1he
synergy LhaL has drawn Lhls clLy LogeLher ls noL a passlng fad, buL lL ls a bellef LhaL
greaLer Lhlngs are happenlng ln 1he 8old new ClLy of !ackson. l have falLh LhaL
2014 S1A1L Cl 1PL Cl1?
!ackson wlll be LouLed as Lhe greaLesL clLy ln Lhe SouLh, and l belleve LhaL Lhls ls
Cur MomenL, Cur 1lme" Lo cemenL Lhe brand of excellence on our clLy.
lL ls only flLLlng LhaL as l dlscuss Lhe work we have ln fronL of us LhaL l recognlze
Lhose who have Laken on Lhe responslblllLy of servlce Lo Lhe ClLy of !ackson. l
musL commend our ClLy of !ackson employees LhaL serve !ackson each and every
day. WheLher Lhey are servlng, proLecLlng and provldlng our publlc safeLy,
addresslng your concerns Lhrough Lhe 311 call cenLer, or ubllc Works crews who
flx poLholes, broken waLer llnes and so much more, our employees serve our
clLlzens each and every day aL all hours of Lhe day and nlghL. We appreclaLe you
all so much.
We also have a remarkable and LalenLed Leam of ueparLmenL ulrecLors who have
provlded dlrecLlon and have helped us carry ouL varlous programs, pro[ecLs and
lnlLlaLlves, whlle dolng an excellenL [ob ln managlng Lhelr respecLlve budgeLs - all
wlLh Lhe besL lnLeresLs of Lhe clLlzens of !ackson ln everyLhlng Lhey do. AL Lhls
Llme l'd llke Lo recognlze Lhe Chlef of SLaff, Chlef AdmlnlsLraLlve Cfflcer,
ueparLmenL ulrecLors, uepuLy ulrecLors, Mayor's Cfflce SLaff, Chlef
AdmlnlsLraLor's Cfflce SLaff, and ClLy Councll Members and ask Lhem Lo sLand.
2014 S1A1L Cl 1PL Cl1?
1hank each of you for Lhe work you have done and conLlnue Lo do for Lhe clLlzens
of !ackson.
Cur [ourney ahead wlll be arduous. lL wlll Lake resolve, wlllpower, and sLamlna Lo
make !ackson Lhe ClLy we know lL can be. l cannoL promlse you LhaL Lhls wlll be
easy. l cannoL promlse you LhaL every declslon l make wlll be popular. l cannoL
promlse you LhaL we won'L have shorL-comlngs. l cannoL solve every problem
wlLh my LhoughLs, buL lL wlll Lake Lhe collecLlve genlus wlLhln us all. l wlll commlL
Lo you my honesLy, my dedlcaLlon, and my acLlons. !ackson ls ln Lhe process of
belng redeveloped for Lhe beLLer. lL ls on Lhe brlnk of belng reborn. 1here wlll be
growlng palns and Lhere wlll be brulses, buL LogeLher we can Lake Lhe necessary
sLeps Lo make Lhls clLy whaL we deslre lL Lo be. 1hls ls noL Lhe Llme for us Lo play
pollLlcs LhaL affecL Lhe llves of Lhe clLlzens of !ackson. 1hls ls a Llme for us Lo sLand
LogeLher and push brlskly ahead Loward Lhe 8old new ClLy we deslre.
1he reallLy wlLhln our clLy remalns LhaL we have Lough declslons Lo make ln Lhe
years Lo come. Sacrlflces wlll have Lo be made for Lhe greaLer good of our
communlLles. no longer can we afford Lo carry ouL funcLlons LhaL don'L lead Lo
Lhe progresslve genesls we seek. lor example, whaL does lL proflL Lhe clLy Lo
devoLe $300, 000 ln supporL Lo a venue and only recelve $20, 000 ln reLurn? no
2014 S1A1L Cl 1PL Cl1?
longer can we lnvesL our worLh lnLo places or Lhlngs LhaL wlll noL yleld a beLLer
producL for !acksonlans. Cur clLy ls rlddled wlLh dllapldaLed houslng, vacanL
bulldlngs and loLs, and poLholes. We cannoL expecL Lo aLLracL buslness or fuLure
consLlLuenLs lf we wlll noL commlL Lo belng aLLracLlve ourselves. no longer can we
afford Lo glve Llme and resources Lo Lhlngs LhaL do noL beneflL Lhe beLLermenL of
our nelghborhoods or our schools. lL wlll Lake hard declslons, such as leveraglng
funds away from programs LhaL do noL produce Lhe Lype of progresslon we seek.
lL wlll Lake hard cholces ln some cases LhaL force us Lo choose beLween our
lndlvldual wanLs and our communlLy welfare. 1hls ls noL a Llme LhaL we can
afford Lo be weak ln [udgmenL or resolve. We musL be fully engaged ln baLLllng
Lhe lssues we face such as economlc developmenL, houslng, our lnfrasLrucLure,
our chlldren's educaLlon, and crlme.
Pow wlll we curb crlme and vlolence lf we can'L declde on ways Lo brlng poslLlve
enLerLalnmenL Lo our clLy? 1he enLerLalnmenL dlsLrlcL and Lhe vlslon of havlng a
Lhrlvlng, culLurally relevanL envlronmenL for all clLlzens Lo en[oy ls golng Lo come
Lo frulLlon. lL's gonna happen! Powever, lf we cannoL come LogeLher and make
grown up declslons we wlll never be able Lo grow our clLy. Pow can we expecL Lo
en[oy Lhe waLer we drlnk lf Lhe plpes LhaL carry Lhem are older Lhan mosL of Lhe
people llvlng ln our communlLles? LeL me applaud Lhe ClLy of !ackson for havlng
2014 S1A1L Cl 1PL Cl1?
Lhe hlghesL quallLy of waLer ln Lhe sLaLe of Mlsslsslppl. 1haL's noL me fosLerlng
hope or [oklng. 1haL ls whaL Lhe reporLs from our sLaLe say abouL our waLer.
!ackson scores 4.7 ouL of 3.0 for waLer quallLy, buL Lhe plpes LhaL carry our waLer
desLroy any chance of you valldaLlng LhaL. lL wlll noL be easy flxlng our
lnfrasLrucLure. Cur sLreeLs don'L [usL need resurfaclng. 1he plpes under our
sLreeLs need replaclng. lL wlll Lake LransformaLlonal leadershlp and consLanL help
Lo push us Lhrough Lhe Laxlng process of redeveloplng our clLy.
1ransformaLlonal leadershlp ls an embodlmenL of moLlvaLlon, dedlcaLlon, and
deLermlnaLlon. 1ransformaLlonal leaders always galvanlze and demand Lhe besL
from Lhose who supporL and follow Lhem. 1he ClLy of !ackson ls aL Lhe helm of a
governlng body wlLh Lrue LransformaLlonal ablllLy. We musL reallze LhaL
LransformaLlon wlll brlng abouL change, and LhaL change ls noL always palnless.
We wlll have growlng palns, aches, and even some brulses, buL we wlll be a beLLer
people because of our dlllgence Lo progresslon and our clLy. 1he leadershlp of
Lhls clLy ls prepared Lo make declslons LhaL don'L [usL affecL our Loday, buL
ulLlmaLely pave Lhe way for our success ln Lhe years Lo come. 1hls admlnlsLraLlon
ls dedlcaLed Lo laylng ouL a plan LhaL wlll help produce a Lomorrow LhaL we can all
Lake parL ln celebraLlng.
2014 S1A1L Cl 1PL Cl1?
1here wlll be declslons made over Lhe nexL few years LhaL wlll LesL Lhe very fabrlc
of our clLy. 1here wlll be dlsagreemenLs and dlspuLes, buL Lhere wlll be a need for
selflessness and servlce. 1he ClLy Councll and l know well LhaL Lhere has noL been
a ralse for clLy leaders for some Llme, buL we don'L expecL one. Why? 8ecause Lhls
ls an admlnlsLraLlon and a leadershlp LhaL belleve lLs clLy's needs musL be
paramounL. 1hls ls Lhe dawn of our clLy comlng flrsL. 1hls ls Lhe beglnnlng of a
movemenL LhaL does noL sLarL from Lhe Lop, buL sLarLs from wlLhln.
1oday, l am Lasked wlLh glvlng a reallsLlc vlew of our clLy, lLs pasL, lLs presenL, and
lLs fuLure. l am charged wlLh handlng Lhe clLlzens of !ackson a progress reporL for
Lhe pasL year and a rubrlc for Lhe currenL one. WlLh Lhls ln mlnd, l musL submlL Lo
you LhaL Lhere ls plenLy of work for each of us Lo do ln Lhe upcomlng years. 1he
reallLy of progress ls LhaL lL ls a never endlng process LhaL requlres consLanL
revlew and redevelopmenL. l ask LhaL we all dedlcaLe Lhe Llme, LalenLs, and
resources necessary Lo produce Lrue progress ln our communlLy. 1o my
colleagues on Lhe clLy councll, l ask LhaL we work LogeLher Lo make !ackson Lhe
besL place Lo llve, work, and play. As a clLy, we are more Lhan capable of movlng
forward, buL lL wlll Lake Lhe collecLlve genlus of all clLlzens Lo keep our greaL clLy
ln moLlon.
2014 S1A1L Cl 1PL Cl1?
/0(,#1 02( 3#2-'#4#25 *,-" -"# *&67 -"0- *# "08# ,2,-,0-#( &8#6 -"# 901- .#06
02( -"# *&67 -"0- *# "08# :#;<2 &8#6 -"# 901- =#* 4&2-"15 -"# >-0-# &= ?<6
+,-. "01 2#8#6 :##2 4&6# 96&4,1,2;@
ln Lhls momenL (Cur momenL), we as a clLy have grasped Lhe ldea and concepL
LhaL we are worLh more Lhan Lhe negaLlve percepLlon LhaL oLhers have casL on us.
AL Lhls Llme (our Llme), we reallze LhaL our esLlmaLed value of $1.23 8llllon ls
sloped upward and rlslng. 1hls ls Lhe rlghL Llme Lo llve, work, and play ln !ackson.
1hls ls Lhe rlghL Llme Lo eaL ln, sleep, and vlslL !ackson. We cannoL afford Lo allow
Lhls momenL (our momenL) Lo pass Lhrough our hands. lL ls Lhe Lask of each
clLlzen Lo speak well of Lhe clLy LhaL we love, Lo hold each oLher accounLable for
Lhe excellence we seek Lo see, and Lo speak facLs LhaL nurLure Lhe unlLy and
growLh of !ackson. 1he LruLh, slmply puL, ls LhaL Lhe vlcLorles and successes of
!ackson have never had Lhelr falr share of fame. My daddy always use Lo say, lL's
a poor dog LhaL won'L wag lLs on Lall!" 8ecenLly, AAA asked members of Lhelr
Lravel magazlne Lo voLe on Lhe besL clLy ln Lhe sLaLe of Mlsslsslppl. !ackson sLood
above every clLy ln our sLaLe as Lhe besL. lor Loo long we have allowed oLher Lo
Lell our sLory for us and porLray us as Lhe poor, crlme rldden clLy LhaL ls hopeless
and beyond help. We as !acksonlans know LhaL Lhls ls noL Lrue. We are a greaL
clLy and a greaL people. As clLlzens and leaders of Lhls greaL clLy, we musL begln Lo
2014 S1A1L Cl 1PL Cl1?
speak Lhe besL over our clLy and abouL our clLy. WlLh Lhls goal ln mlnd, Lhls
admlnlsLraLlon has begun Lo resLrucLure Lhe clLy's communlcaLlon deparLmenL Lo
lnclude markeLlng componenLs LhaL noL only Lell our sLory buL allow our sLory Lo
be seen and heard near and far. WlLh Lhe resurgence of our soclal medla
plaLforms (follow us on lacebook, 1wlLLer, ?ou1ube [weare[acksonms), Lhe use
of our amazlng webslLe, and an lnLegraLed markeLlng sLraLegy, we are acLlvely
seeklng Lo geL you real, up Lo daLe lnformaLlon abouL our clLy's lssues and Lhe
plans Lo remedy Lhem, vlcLorles, and opporLunlLles Lo lend your volce Lo Lhe
soluLlon process. 1hls newly composed communlcaLlons deparLmenL ls
responslble for Lhe rollouL of Lhe We Are !ackson LlsLenlng 1our LhaL has been an
effecLlve Lool for Lhls admlnlsLraLlon Lo sLay connecLed and lnformed Lhrough Lhe
genlus of our communlLy. 1he LlsLenlng 1our has fosLered a sense of synergy LhaL
helps us Lo undersLand LhaL we are all !ackson, and we are all ln Lhls LogeLher.
AlLhough we have deflclencles and lssues, we musL Lackle our problems and
concerns wlLh opLlmlsm LhaL we can and wlll be beLLer. Cver Lhe course of Lhe
lasL year, our clLy has made sLrldes Lowards greaLness and produced gllmpses of
excellence. Cur clLy has shown us our fallures, our weaknesses, and our
opporLunlLles. We know LhaL crlme, vlolenL crlme ln parLlcular, ls a key lssue and
concern Lo many of Lhe clLlzens of our greaL clLy. As research beglns Lo explaln Lo
2014 S1A1L Cl 1PL Cl1?
us where and why Lhese Lypes of crlmes are happenlng, we are acLlvely worklng
wlLh !u and also leveraglng our parLnershlp wlLh Lhe Plnds counLy sherlff's
deparLmenL Lo ensure LhaL our clLlzens are afforded Lhe besL proLecLlon posslble.
As of Lhls week, ComsLaL reporLs from Lhe !ackson ollce ueparLmenL reveal a
3.2 decrease ln roperLy crlmes and 8.1 decrease ln vlolenL Crlmes wlLh an
overall decrease of 3.8 year Lo daLe. Lack of [all space, low bonds, and
manpower shorLages are lssues LhaL have plagued our clLy and llmlLed our pollce
force for Loo long. Powever, Lhese are real lssues LhaL we musL Lackle over Lhe
course of my admlnlsLraLlon. We musL noL only flghL crlme, buL we musL be
vlgllanL ln ensurlng LhaL punlshmenL for crlme sends a clear message Lo law
breakers.
We musL also work Lo reLaln Lhe offlcers we have by offerlng compeLlLlve salarles
for Lhelr work. Cur offlcers have been exLremely supporLlve and engaged ln
aLLendlng and faclllLaLlng regular CCS meeLlngs LhroughouL Lhe clLy. 1he CCS
meeLlngs provlde our clLlzens wlLhln Lhe respecLlve preclncLs Lo meeL Lhe
commandlng sLaff and Lhe offlcers of Lhelr preclncL. WlLh open llnes of
communlcaLlon ln a communlLy aLmosphere, Lhe resldenLs are able Lo volce Lhelr
concern and engage parLlclpaLlon ln soluLlons Lo address and eradlcaLe concerns.
Cur commlLmenL Lo Lhls greaL clLy ls LhaL we wlll conLlnue Lo do all LhaL we can Lo
2014 S1A1L Cl 1PL Cl1?
keep you safe and aL peace LhroughouL your days and nlghLs ln !ackson. l am
confldenL ln Lhe ablllLy of our offlcers Lo proLecL and ralse Lhe quallLy of llfe for
our famllles.
1he ClLy of !ackson ls commlLLed Lo provldlng Lhe besL posslble quallLy of llfe for
all of lLs clLlzens. Lvery deparLmenL ln Lhe clLy works coheslvely Lo provlde Lhe
hlghesL quallLy of llfe, buL Lhe ueparLmenL of Puman and CulLural Servlces ls
lnsLrumenLal ln provldlng hands on lnlLlaLlves Lo fosLer culLurally relevanL
opporLunlLles ln our communlLles. 1hls year, lamlly and ?ouLh accompllshed a
goal by employlng 483 youLh LhroughouL Lhe ClLy of !ackson, whlch lncluded
worklng wlLh 60 prlvaLe buslnesses. 1he SmlLh 8oberLson Museum and CulLural
CenLer made Cnn news as belng one of Lhe Lop museums ln Lhe unlLed SLaLes.
1halla Mara Pall compleLed ma[or renovaLlons before Lhe lnLernaLlonal 8alleL
CompeLlLlon (l8C) sLarLed, and was also used for Lhe fllmlng of Lhe !ames 8rown
Movle CeL Cn up". Also, 1he 8ussell C. uavls laneLarlum recenLly recelved a
new sLaLe-of-Lhe-arL dlglLal pro[ecLor. Securlng exLernal fundlng for Lhe conLlnued
efforLs of Lhe ueparLmenL of Puman and CulLural Servlces ls a ma[or necesslLy ln
Lhe comlng year.
2014 S1A1L Cl 1PL Cl1?
Cver Lhe course of Lhe lasL year broadly and Lhe lasL few monLhs lnLenslvely, we
have asserLed our efforLs Lo ensurlng and maklng sure LhaL !ackson has Lhe besL
and ls Lhe besL noL [usL ln our sLaLe buL LhroughouL our counLry.
1he ClLy of !ackson has lmplemenLed new workforce managemenL Llme and
aLLendance sysLems Lo save you money and be more efflclenL for lLs employees.
We have upgraded Lhe clLy's webslLe and soclal medla ouLreach. We have
upgraded Lhe permlL sysLem Lo sLreamllne Lhe process of belng able Lo occupy
and use land and bulldlngs all over our clLy. We have lnsLalled new Lechnology for
Lhe ClLy Councll Chambers LhaL allow llve sLreamlng of all councll meeLlngs on our
webslLe. We have commlLLed Lo belng flscally responslble and have applled Lo
recelve a federal cerLlflcaLe of excellence ln flnanclal reporLlng for Lhe fourLh year
ln a row.
We have seen successful growLh and developmenL pro[ecLs such as Lhe 8apLlsL
PosplLal's developmenL of 1he 8elhaven, an $80 mllllon mlxed use developmenL.
We have seen Lhe dedlcaLlon and prowess of Lhe clLy's LC 1v neLwork Lhrough
Lhe Lralnlng of over 30 new publlc producers and Lhe creaLlon of several new
governmenL shows.
2014 S1A1L Cl 1PL Cl1?
ln Lhe comlng year, Lhe ClLy of !ackson wlll parLner wlLh !S and !ackson based
schools Lo lmplemenL lnlLlaLlves such as 1he l need ?ou Lo Make lL" youLh
lnlLlaLlve LhaL focuses on Lhe areas of educaLlon, healLh, and characLer bulldlng.
We wlll also see Lhe launch Lhe Super nelghborhoods program, whlch ls slmllar Lo
Lhe program LhaL was developed ln PousLon, 1exas. We wlll see Lhe
lmplemenLaLlon of new Lechnology such as a clLy app and clLy LexLlng plaLform.
We wlll see lnnovaLlve markeLlng campalgns and clvlc engagemenL Lo fosLer Lhe
percepLlon of our clLy LhaL lL deserves. We wlll see Lhe lnLroducLlon of Lhe
1askforce for a healLhler !ackson. 1hls healLh lnlLlaLlve wlll be vlLal ln Lhe
developmenL of a healLh care sysLem LhaL uses Lhe besL evldence Lo supporL Lhe
healLh and healLh care servlces for Lhe clLlzens of !ackson. 1he 1askforce wlll be
Lhe collaboraLlve efforL of respecLed lndlvlduals and professlonals, such as ur.
1lmoLhy Culnn, who wlll lead Lhls lnlLlaLlve. We wlll see collaboraLlon wlLh publlc
and prlvaLe organlzaLlons LhaL are vesLed ln Lhe progress of !ackson. We wlll sLarL
Lhe organlzlng of a fesLlval season LhaL wlll usher ln celebraLlon of all Lhe culLures
housed wlLhln our clLy. We wlll celebraLe our rlch hlsLory and our promlslng
fuLure. 1hls ls our momenL and our Llme Lo Lake sLeps LhaL nobody else dared Lo
Lake and Lo endeavor Lo be everyLhlng necessary Lo make !ackson Lhe besL place
Lo llve, play, and work.
2014 S1A1L Cl 1PL Cl1?
ln Lhls momenL (our momenL), we have aggresslvely sLarLed lnfrasLrucLure
lnlLlaLlves such as Lhe poLhole bllLz and Lhe beauLlflcaLlon bllLz currenLly Laklng
place LhroughouL our greaL clLy. We have sLarLed Lhe LranslLlonlng of our waLer
meLer sysLem Lo provlde a more efflclenL servlce Lo our clLlzens. We have
developed and appolnLed a commlsslon Lo oversee and dlsperse money from Lhe
clLy's 1 sales Lax lncrease. lL ls our promlse LhaL we wlll noL wasLe your money,
buL wlll flghL Lo hlre Lhe besL so LhaL we can be aL our besL. We have ramped up
our fleld operaLlons Lhrough consLlLuenLs' servlces and sLarLed Lo see a decrease
ln back logged complalnLs from our clLlzens. We have seen Lhe acqulslLlon of new
equlpmenL for our flreflghLers and new career progresslon LesLlng.
ln Lhls Llme (our Llme), we have dared Lo push bold new lnlLlaLlves, have bold
goals, and be bold Lhlnkers. Cver Lhe course of Lhe nexL year, we have qulLe a few
challenges ahead. We musL sLlfle our Lruancy raLe and keep our chlldren ln
school. We musL repalr and malnLaln an aglng lnfrasLrucLure LhaL ls vlLal Lo our
economlc and developmenLal success. We musL conLlnue Lo develop and beauLlfy
our parks and Lhe downLown area. We musL be vlgllanL ln allgnlng ourselves wlLh
clLy, sLaLe, and federal leaders who are wllllng Lo help and see LhaL !ackson ls Lhe
core clLy of Mlsslsslppl. We musL conLlnue Lo produce ln our areas of sLrengLh
and ralse Lhe bar where we are weak. Cur 8old new ClLy requlres bold new
2014 S1A1L Cl 1PL Cl1?
acLlon and a clLy LhaL ls dedlcaLed Lo worklng LogeLher Lo fulflll our bold goals.
1hls ls Lhe momenL ln Llme when Lhlngs are comlng LogeLher for Lhe beneflL of all
clLlzens.
1he ClLy of !ackson ls noL [usL anoLher clLy. lL ls our clLy. lL ls Lhe caplLal clLy of
Mlsslsslppl and a dlamond needlng Lo be pollshed. Cur clLy's fuLure ls promlslng,
buL LhaL promlse wlll never become producLlve unLll we all commlL Lo maklng
!ackson greaL. My wlfe, 8osallnd, Lhe ulrecLor of Soclal Servlces for Lhe SalvaLlon
Army ln !ackson undersLands Lhls concepL well. Cver Lhe pasL few monLhs, she
has developed Lhe CommlLmenL !ackson" lnlLlaLlve LhaL seeks Lo empower Lhe
clLlzens of !ackson, Mlsslsslppl Lhrough acLs of servlce and by offerlng alLernaLlve
soluLlons (changlng mlndseLs). 1he ob[ecLlve ls slmple, Lo show oLhers (and
ourselves) LhaL we care abouL our communlLles and resldenLs. We Lake prlde ln
havlng clean parks and sLreeLs. We Lake care of Lhe elderly. We wanL Lhe besL
educaLlon for our chlldren. We care abouL our LoLal healLh (mlnd, body, and
splrlL).
lf by exLendlng a helplng hand ln whaLever capaclLy wlll garner Lhe aLLenLlon of
oLhers Lo do Lhe same, we welcome lL, and our clLy wlll be beLLer for lL. Sowlng
seeds of love, compasslon, and undersLandlng Lo each person we encounLer. We
2014 S1A1L Cl 1PL Cl1?
pay lL forward by encouraglng oLhers Lo do someLhlng for someone else. lL ls my
bellef LhaL lf we can lnsLlll a sense of empowermenL ln our !acksonlans, we wlll be
able Lo break down Lhe menLal barrlers LhaL separaLe us soclally and
economlcally. We need all Lo know LhaL we maLLer. l wlll supporL my wlfe ln her
endeavor Lo make a poslLlve lmpacL ln our communlLy, buL l encourage you Lo
plug ln and become acLlve ln some way.
AL Lhe end of Lhe day, we wlll never have Lhls momenL or Lhls Llme agaln. WhaL
we do wlLh Lhls opporLunlLy ls solely on our shoulders. Pow we wrlLe Lhls chapLer
ln our hlsLory depends on whaL we declde Lo do wlLh Lhe pen beLween our
flngers. Who we are seen Lo be ls noL deLermlned by our pasL, buL by our passlon
Lo move Lowards a beauLlful fuLure. Who wlll be a champlon for !ackson? Who
wlll lend Lo Lhe collecLlve genlus of our greaL clLy?
1hls ls our momenL Lo sLand. Cur Llme Lo walk forward.
1hls ls our momenL Lo speak. Cur Llme Lo glve clear dlrecLlon.
1hls ls our momenL Lo move. Cur Llme Lo push onward Lo excellence.
1hls ls our momenL Lo llve. Cur Llme Lo be safe, secure, and healLhy.
1hls ls our momenL Lo shlne. Cur Llme Lo be pollshed and reflned.
2014 S1A1L Cl 1PL Cl1?
1hls ls our momenL Lo lead. Cur Llme Lo be bold and darlng.
1hls ls our momenL Lo be accounLable. Cur Llme Lo Lake responslblllLy.
1hls ls Lhe momenL and Lhe Llme LhaL Cod has glven us Lo unlfy and upllfL our clLy.
1hls ls Lhe beglnnlng of !ackson's 8old new uays. We wlll noL waver. We wlll noL
qulL. We wlll noL fall.

Cod 8less ?ou and Lhe CreaL ClLy of !ackson, Mlsslsslppl. 1hank you.

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