1999 LOVERIDGE STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS

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Riverside Comes of Age into the 21st Century State of the City * Riverside, California * January 21, 1999 Mayor Ronald O. Loveridge For the past five years, I have started the State of the City with the words, 'q'hank you Art for the introduction." Over 20 years ago, this address wes conceived by Art Pick. It is even rumored that he was the primary author of the first few speeches. As with so many projects Art designed, the State of the City is intended to promote community and enhance our civic capital. Please join me in saluting Art Pick, President/CEO of the Greater Riverside Chambers of Commerce, for his extraordinary good work in the life and times of this City. Art, I thank you and the community thanks you! Four headline events, two quite tragic, define 1998. First, Riverside will long remember the moming of October 6th when shots were fired in the small room next to the Council Chambers. It wes both a "Nightmare at City Hall" and a "Miracle on Main .Street." A wonderful resident and extraordinary wife, Sally Beaty, wrote these words in the family's Christmes letter: "A random event, like the tragedy tha~ occurred that October morning on Main Street in our town, can happen anywhere, anytime. What is so incredible about Riverside is the way the community resp()nded...with courage and with a sense of family and 'community' that is truly extraordinary." There are many heroes who gave us life and community rather than death and funerals on that day. Sec o nd, last January, there were other heroes who demonstrated their courage and conviction under pressure. The Riverside Unified School Board voted unanimously to name its new high school in honor of Martin Luther King, a great American. And again, this community--after intense discussions--responded in a unified way to support their decision. Third, in June the City of Riverside was selected by the National Civic League as an All Amedca City. More than 112 cities nationwide competed for this honor--in my view the highest award a city can receive. In the 1990's only three cities in Soulhern California have been selected: Westminster, Monrovia, and now Riverside. Affer completing a detailed application which focused on three major youth initiatives, Riverside was selected as one of 30 tinalists to go to Mobile, Alabama. A 50 member delegation presented the messages of collaboration, partnership, and community problem solving toa jury of twelve national civic leaders. I cannot overstate the excitement we felt when Riverside was officially chosen. Before a cheering convention hall of hundreds of people representing the best of democratic govemance, Riverside was named an All America City. This award is not for City Hall, it is for our community and its civic capital. The Mobile rally cry was "Riverside Pride--Any way you slice if". The fourth defining event is the tragedy of Tyisha Miller's death. It is a sad and difficult time for the family as well as for the community and the Riverside Police Department. We are being tested once again to live up to the All America city standards of inclusiveness and community problem solving. I salute the members of the Riverside Clergy Association who have sought to bring us together, seeking answers rather than increasing tensions. If there is one approach that must always characterize this City, it is civility. We will never have a time without problems or even tragedies. However, we must demonstrate that reasonable people, even those with differing views, can come together to advance the greater interests of Riverside and the many communifles that make up this City. We have done so many times in the past; and we must do so now. Riverside has sought to be an inclusive community: we integrated our schools; started groups such as the Urban Coalition and Community Relations Commission; privately funded the Ismael Villages and Martin