2018 BAILEY STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS

Home

I have visited RCC so many times, that the former President, now Chancellor, Dr. Wolde-Ab Isaac was asked if I work there. He jovially replied, "Yes, but I don't have to pay him for it." Our universities and college are a treasure trove of talent, from the faculty that guide and inspire their students, to the staff that keeps the campuses clean and beautiful, to the administration that continues to find innovative ways to increase attendance, maintain quality, and support affordability. I can't thank our educators enough for what they bring and what they mean to our city, from the intellectual stimulation and the social capital, to the talent dividend and the economic stimulus, but especially to the friendships and support that they provide me, both personally and professionally. Thank you Superintendents and principals, teachers, Presidents and Chancellors, for leaning in and for reaching out. You know my door is open, and our city is grateful to you for shepherding and inspiring the next generation of Riversiders. You create value for future generations to come, every single day. As we move deeper into the 21St century, Riverside sits on the cusp of another transformative movement: preparing its residents for the jobs and lifestyle of a sustainable economy. To empower this movement, we will create an Innovation District which focuses our government on the right things in the right places and inspires private investment toward the opportunities that lie in wait throughout this city. After two years of study, community meetings and unanimous approval by City Council, the Riverside Innovation District launches this year, in large part due to the leadership and organizational skills of Jack Clarke Jr., Ted Weggeland, Al Zelinka, Lalit Acharya, Cheryl Hansberger and Josh Maher. Gratitude to the six of you for seeing the potential of this international movement toward economic development in the future and to all of you for making it happen in Riverside. The Innovation District also serves as a catalyst for individual and collective efforts, in the community -- and by the community -- to advance mobility solutions, to further high-speed broadband connectivity for homes and businesses, and to expand choice and access for all to entrepreneurship, employment, entertainment, and housing. Now let me give you some examples of where and how this spirit of entrepreneurship is already happening in Riverside: 1. On University Avenue, which UCR's Center for Environmental Research and Technology now calls the Innovation Corridor, a plug-in hybrid electric bus will operate along the avenue, taking advantage of synchronized and sensored traffic lights and other forms of connectivity that allow for vehicle -to -infrastructure communication. This corridor is part of the overall plan to become a "smart city of the future." Page 2of9