1999 LOVERIDGE STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS

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Luther King statues; named buildings, streets, and schools after Afdcan- Amedcan and Hispanic leaders; supported groups like the Urban League and People Reaching Out; presented formats to improve race relations such as Common Ground and Study Circles; and worked hard on youth initiatives like University Eastside Community Collaborative and RCC's Passport to College. While certainly imperfect and incomplete, we have walked our talk! The tragedy of the December 28th shooting requires that this community must again take steps, this time to make sure that such an incident does not happen again. We must do whatever we can to make this community safer for all its people. For that purpose, I announced on Sunday the formation of a special panel. Its primary charge is to prepare a public report within 90 days for the Mayor. It will evaluate current use of force policies and procedures and recommending changes--if called for--to the City Council and Riverside Police Department. Governor Gray Davis in his recent State of the State emphasized, '%1o less important to Californians than their freedom is their sense of justice and fairness. We are one people, and we will rise or fall together .... the time has come for all of us to pull together, not apart. If we work together, there's no telling how far we can go or how high California can soar." That applies also to Riverside. State of City: Highest Marks in 1998 Beyond the headline events, 1998 was the very best year in my twenty years in elected office. And as a professor of political science, I also give 1998 the highest marks. It has been an extraordinary year, for many good things happened. First, you can experience the excitement and success in the vaded exhibits in this hall. These 25 exhibits represent some of our best initiatives and projects in 1998. Second, the fundamental measures of a good city are "Safe Streets. Good Jobs. and Great Neighborhoods." Streets are safer. From 1994 to 1997, serious crimes were down by 1/3; this is a reduction of over 7,000. And in 1998, serious (:rimes were down again by 15%; they are at their lowest numerical level since the year 1972. Kudos to Police Chief Jerry Carroll, officers of the Riverside Police Department, and Community Policing. The economy as measured by employment, payroll, taxable sales, average pay, and number of companies are all at their highest levels. For 1998, Bob Wales, Assistant City Manager for Development, had 18 major projects on his '1o do" list; only one now remains. And for neighborhoods, home prices and home sales are at their highest levels in the 1990's. Also, major city initiatives like the Mission Village Project are beginning to make noticeable differences in improving and stabilizing older neighborhoods. Third, City Hall works. Kudos to the excellent leadership of the City Council and to the excellent work of our City employees. The delivery of services receives high rankings when compared to major cities across the country. The City recently conducted a citizen's survey to measure opinions on services we deliver. The overall results were strikingly positive. The 1998-99 budget is one of black ink rather than red, with the General Fund of $107 M tallying an estimated one time 5.2 million dollar surplus. All the bargaining units signed two year labor contracts. The City systematically focused on long term solutions to the Y2K problem. Big projects were undertaken, like the $10 M capping of the Tequesquite Land Fill and the Arlington RR Underpass. City departments are delivering services, efficiently and effectively with an identifiable customer k)c. us. Finally, the City's electrical deregulation strategies are earning confidence and developing momentum. Kudos are in order for Bill Camahan, Public Utilities Director, and his staff. Fourth, beyond City Hall, two major outreach efforts have successfully continued in 1998. For one, I completed the second round of Mayor's Night ()ut. Each month I visited one of the City's 26 neighborhood communities. In February, I begin again with a more expanded format called Mayor's Day 2