Laserfiche WebLink
January 31, 2002 Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge <br /> <br />State of the City: Three Directions for 2002 to 2005 <br /> <br />Thank you for coming. It is a beautiful day in downtown Riverside! <br /> <br />Thank you Cindy Roth and the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce. More people are here <br />than ever before in the 25 year history of the State of the City. <br /> <br />November 6th was my seventh and final City election, four for Council and three for Mayor. In <br />2005, I will be in elected office longer than anyone in the City's history. I am deeply honored by <br />this community's confidence and trust. <br /> <br />Political campaigns are difficult and intense, but city elections are largely decided by conversations <br />among friends and neighbors. I want to thank supporters all across the City for their <br />encouragement, kind words...and votes. <br /> <br />Finally, I want thank my wife Marsha--friend, counselor, and partner. We were married by her <br />father, a Methodist Minister, in June 1961. The answer to the most important accomplishment in <br />my life is quick and certain; it is my marriage to Marsha, our years and experiences together. <br /> <br />OVERRIDING QUESTIONS <br /> <br />Shortly after the November election, I was eating lunch at the Tamale Factory. Bob Krieger, <br />President of Krieger & Stewart, asked: "What will be different in the next year? And, what will you <br />do differently?" <br /> <br />This year's State of the City is framed by Bob Krieger's questions. <br /> <br />WHAT WILL BE THE SAME IN 2002? <br /> <br />But first, what will be the same in 2002? <br /> <br />As a graduate student at Stanford, the first lesson I learned was that research and knowledge <br />depend on the previous work of others...it is cumulative! So it is for a community. <br /> <br />Riverside has a success story to tell. We have a wonderful citrus history and architectural heritage. <br />We have four colleges and universities, many good neighborhoods, and a downtown, one of few in <br />Southern California. We have arts and culture, striking in variety and quality. We have many and <br /> <br /> <br />