Orlando’s Mayor Buddy Dyer, before a standing room only gathering at the City Council Chambers, delivered today, a very upbeat 2010 State of the City Address. Making clear that “the state of the city is strong even in a time of struggle”, the mayor delivered a wide-ranging address, making job creation a central theme.
“We are proud of what we’ve done to stem the tide of recession,” Mayor Dyer said. “But we know government alone can’t solve the problem.”
Pointing to the many initiatives that were being undertaken to assist the private sector in job creation, including the Main Street Program and Community Venues projects, the mayor referred to SunRail and High Speed Rail and the transformational impact that was expected through job growth, connectivity and new companies building America’s new rail network.
Several new initiatives aimed at revitalizing Downtown Orlando including the $30 million GAI Building and the soon-to-be completed Amway Center were highlighted. But Dyer said that “bolstering the entrepreneurial spirit” and building on earlier success in turning downtown into the “Entrepreneur Zone or E-Zone” remains a priority. The growth of Southeast Orlando as one of the most dynamic medical, research and transportation corridors in the world was also recognized and according to the mayor some 20,000 jobs are expected to be created over the next decade in the surrounding area.
While projecting much optimism for the future, Mayor Dyer spoke briefly to overcoming the challenge of homelessness and the new men’s facility spearheaded by the Coalition for the Homeless which would be funded from federal block grant resources.
See Full Statement and Video of the 2010 State of the City Address Here
Reiterating the city’s commitment to Orlando’s youth and in particular the Parramore Kidz Zone, Dyer noted that nine out of ten kids in the neighborhood have been impacted by the program and youth crime had declined by 80 percent. More generally, the mayor acknowledged the achievements of the Orlando Police Department under the leadership of Chief Val Demings, in dramatically reducing violent crime by more than 26 percent in 2009. But he noted that it was going to be a tough budget year and everything would be done not to compromise public safety.
Mindful that the State of the City address would not be complete without an update of the iconic Lake Eola fountain, quiet for the past several months, Mayor Dyer opined that the city will be partnering with Disney’s “Imagineers” to have it functioning on an interim basis by the summer, while a more comprehensive restoration plan nears completion.
