Miami Mayor Delivers State Of The City Address

COCONUT GROVE (CBS4) -Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado was front and center Friday at noon when he delivered his second State of the City Address.

The address was held at Miami City Hall at 3500 Pan American Drive in Coconut Grove and began with a presentation by the honor guards of the City of Miami Police and Fire Department, followed by the national anthem.

During the address, the mayor spoke about the city's beautification, job creation, promoting local art and the challenges ahead, including deep cuts in the social services programs proposed by the Obama administration and the US Congress.

"As your Mayor I am proud to report that in these times of national and local economic and political turmoil our City has not only survived but thrived," Regalado said. "For the first time in many years our City is moving forward, and while other government entities have balanced the budget on the backs of their residents we tighten our belts while continuing to provide our residents with the same level of services."

Regalado, who said there was a team behind the city's success, began his address by recognizing his colleagues at the City Commission, including Chairman Willy Gort, Vice-Chairman Frank Carollo, Commissioner Marc David Sarnoff, Commissioner Francis Suarez and Commissioner Richard Dunn.

"Our City Commission reduced operating and labor cost in order to achieve a structurally balanced budget while maintaining our commitment to our residents by not increasing taxes," he said.

Regalado said that this year's budget included new "cost savings and revenue-enhancing initiatives that were based on utilization and new revenue production instead of tax assessment."

"At present we continue to monitor the performance of these initiatives and while some are under-performing we have implemented alternative cost-saving and as a result we're confident that these measures will aid us in ending the fiscal year with no use of the reserves," he said. "And while that may not sound extraordinary, it is because this will be the first time in the last five years that we will end a fiscal year without dipping into the reserve fund."

The mayor continued his address with "beautification operations" throughout the city. Regalado noted that the city comprises of beautiful skylines and vistas, but also abandoned houses, debris and trash.

"Last Saturday, we conducted a major clean-up of SW 8th Street with the cooperation of dozens of volunteers from Mira, a community group, the SW 8th Street Chamber of Commerce and local stores such as El Dorado, which donated money and products toward the clean-up effort," Regalado said. "The event was not just about cleaning up SW 8th Street, but also about sending a message to the residents and merchants of our neighborhoods, demonstrating to them that we are committed to having the cleanest city in the United States."

Regalado said he knew that people may wonder why he started his address talking about picking up garbage and pressure cleaning the streets and he said there was a reason for that.

"The reason is that we are have been blessed and entrusted with a wonderful City, with a City that is by all accounts truly a Paradise," he said. "And it is time that we recognize just how wonderful our City really is and take pride in making her as beautiful as she deserves to be."

Regalado noted that the city's beatification is not limited to its physical appearance.

"In order to have true international appeal, our City must be a center for arts and culture," he said. "This administration is committed to the arts and culture not just as a means of attracting more visitors to our City but also a way of elevating our residents' quality of life by providing all of our residents with free education and entertainment."

Regalado said the first aspect of the city's commitment is the newly revitalized Arts and Entertainment Council.

"Under the counsel's leadership for the first time ever we are compiling the City of Miami's Art Collection, a comprehensive inventory of all the paintings and sculptures that have been donated to our City throughout the years," he said. "Many of these pieces which have been sitting in offices and other remote locations for decades are being organized as an exhibit for their owners, the residents of the City of Miami, to admire and enjoy."

Regalado said they are not only focusing on the art the city owns, but also reaching out to the art owned by many local residents and "facilitating the exhibition of these pieces in public places."

Regalado noted that the city partnered with the private sector and presented the first ever Bennial of Sculptures in Bayfront Park. Additionally, this coming May, the city will continue it's commitment to art in public places with the first ever "Paint Miami" Exhibit. The exhibit will be accessible to all residents at the Mary Brickell center and will be an interactive exhibit that showcases not only local artists but the theme of their art, Our beautiful City, he said.

The Mayor said they are also promoting film production in the city.

We are working with production and film industries to make Miami the Hollywood of the South. We recently officially welcomed back the cast and crew of Burn Notice, the USA Network show which showcases Miami in 53 countries around the world and are actively reaching out to other shows that were once filmed in our great City."

The city is also "expanding the scope of our film appeal by reaching out to international film markets."

Regalado also spoke about making the city's "public treasures" a priority.

"Despite the economic downturn, this administration has made safeguarding and revitalizing our public treasures a priority," he said. "While we strive to balance our budget while still providing our current residents with services, we are also forging a sustainable infrastructure for our future residents and insuring that our public treasures are not only physically but also financially preserved."

Last year Regalado spoke about his commitment to the preservation of the Miami Marine Stadium, a historic venue admired by many in the nation and around the world, which he said was neglected by our City since 1992.

"Today I am happy to report that the project is moving forward," he said. "In fact, after much work, in just a few days we will begin the legislative process that will finally make the Dream of a fully functioning Miami Marine Stadium a reality."

Regalado also added that with the City Commissions' approval they "began the process to guarantee that another of our city's jewels the Guzman Center will be restored to its glory days. After years of barely surviving the Guzman will have the funds to finish its restoration and become an active part of the transformation of Downtown Miami."

The mayor also spoke about the transformation of Downtown Miami.

"In this following year, this administration will continue its commitment to the revitalization of Downtown Miami," he said. "We are looking forward to revamping the city's image and diversifying its appeal. For example, we are working with different entities to promote medical tourism in our great city."

The mayor also spoke about job creation.

"Now I know that these days economic growth and job creation has become a bit of a cliché but beyond the conference room we have actually physically helped our residents get jobs," he said. "Last year, for example, we held the first ever Mayor's job fair wherein we brought local business and residents to City hall, the event was a success and resulted in 58 residents securing new jobs."

Regalado said that in the coming year they will be providing more job fairs and actively participating in linking local business with residents.

But the job fair wan not the only first this year. The mayor hosted the first Mayor's Bal, which he said was a success.

"As many of you know I don't dance but I do feel strongly about the importance of Parks and park programs for our children," he said. "So along with the Police Benevolent Association (PAL) I hosted a ball where we raised enough funds to re-open the boxing gym in West Grove."

The mayor added that his administration is committed to young residents.

"For those of you not familiar with PAL and the many volunteers that provide our youngest residents with after school activities, I want you to know that this administration is committed to filling our playgrounds not our jails. But the Mayor's ball was just the beginning at present we are working on a golf tournament to raise money for summer camp scholarships."

Regalado spoke of the challenges the city is facing.

"We must be honest and recognize that the year ahead pose some challenges," he said. "We have our house in order in terms of the budget and services we provide for our residents, yet we face major challenges because of the budget issues of other government entities, specifically the Federal Government."

Regalado said that the biggest challenge is the "attack on the poorest of our society; our elderly and our children". Noting that the Obama administration and the US Congress are "proposing deep cuts in the social services programs."

"And so we are committed to protect the poorest of our residents, those that depend on social services," he said. "We have personally gone to Washington not to lobby for special earmarks but rather to protect the poorest of the poor, to insure that our residents have food and shelter. I know that it's not a sexy topic but it is one that we must face."

Regalado said he is dedicated to the city and its residents.

"Unlike other Mayors, when in Washington I have not asked for a leadership position or to be appointed to some advisory board, instead I have spoken to our legislators and the Obama administration about the Little Havana Activities and Nutrition Center, the Allapattah Community Action, De Hostos Senior Center, Southwest Social Services, Curly's House of Style, Sisters and Brothers Forever, Sunshine For All, and Catholic Charter at Gesu. I have told them about the people that make up the numbers, about our seniors in need who are Hispanic, White Anglo and African-American. I have also told them about our children, the children of the working poor, the children from Centro Mater, Sagrada Familia, Kiddo, Notre Dame, Saint Alban, Coconut Grove Cares, Belafonte Tacolcy Center, Regis House, Aspira and many more."

In his support for his residents, Regalado urged them to organize a rally at the end of April for the needy.

"We will continue traveling to Washington to state our case, we will continue telling the members of Congress and the Obama Administration that these too are their constituents. But we also need your support and so we will have organized a rally for the needy on April 25th at the (Manuel) Artime Theatre, I hope to see you all there so that together we can demonstrate that we truly are one City."

Regalado was expected to address the firestorm at Miami Police headquarters involving Chief Miguel Exposito, and so he did.

"I cannot in good faith ignore the very sensitive issues that have placed Miami in the national spotlight and not in a good way. As many of you know, we have been looking closely at the issues surrounding the recent police involved shootings."

He said that, "while the final determination as to whether these shootings were justified must come from the office of the Miami Dade State Attorney we are examining the training, assignment, supervision and management of the Police department to determine if changes need to be implemented immediately."

He noted that they are looking to Paul Philips, the director appointed to oversee the operations of the Miami Police Department, for answers.

"We are looking to Mr. Paul Philips for his recommendations on these and other matters and to the manager to implement said recommendations so that we can move forward and provide our residents with the safe and united City that they deserve," he said.

The mayor concluded his speech by speaking about leadership.

"I am proud to report that the City of Miami has been throughout this economic and political turmoil been an example of courageous leadership," he said. "Our Commission and this Administration has not only talked about unity, respect and civility but has demonstrated the importance of these principles in our day to day dealings with each other, our staff and our residents."

He said that in difficult times they city has not taken the easy way out and have always "considered the effects that our actions have on the image and viability of our great city."

Regalado thanked everyone for their commitment and dedication to the city.

"In the year that follows we will continue to lead by example and to demand that our employees treat each other and our residents with the respect and civility that they deserve."