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From YouTube: 2022 State of the City
Description
Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt delivers his annual "State of the City" address. Be informed about Oklahoma City's key projects and initiatives and be inspired about its future development and opportunity.
B
I
hope
you're
enjoying
lunch
and
please
continue
eating.
While
we
have
some
more
remarks,
but
shortly
we
will
be
hearing
from
our
dynamic
mayor
who
brings
so
much
excitement
and
energy
to
his
role
as
leader
of
oklahoma
city,
but
before
we
welcome
him
to
the
stage
I'd
like
to
recognize
our
presenting
sponsor
the
oklahoma
city
thunder
for
their
continued
support
of
this
signature
event.
B
B
You
didn't
stand
very
long,
but
thank
you
so
much
today
we're
pleased
to
hear
from
oklahoma
city
mayor
david
holt.
This
is
his
fourth
state
of
the
city
address
since
his
election
in
2018,
mayor
holt
has
brought
passion
and
energy
to
that
role.
That
few
others
can
match
with
unity
and
equality
in
mind.
B
A
Well,
thank
you
ronda
and
my
gratitude
as
well
to
chairman
sean,
trotsky,
ceo,
roy
williams
and
everyone
in
the
chamber's
leadership.
The
strong
partnership
between
city
leaders
and
our
business
community
continues
to
be
a
national
model
and
one
of
the
most
important
ingredients
in
our
city's
success
and
to
everyone
here.
A
Thank
you
for
committing
a
little
time
this
afternoon
to
the
civic
life
of
our
city.
Ultimately,
our
own
individual,
economic
and
personal
goals
are
made
possible
by
the
larger
direction
of
the
community
in
which
we
live.
I
know
the
life
that
rachel
george
and
maggie
and
I
share,
would
not
be
possible
anywhere
else.
The
community
opportunities
and
challenges
I'll
talk
about
today
are
intertwined
with
the
goals
you
have
for
your
own
life,
your
own
family
or
your
own
career
or
business.
A
A
A
Imagine
what
it
was
like
to
live
in
this
city
in
1931,
when
the
first
national
opened
the
population
of
oklahoma
city
was
185.
000
people
and
its
size
was
30
square
miles.
The
first
national
stood
watch
as
this
massive
metropolis
grew
around
it.
It
survived
urban
renewal,
but
by
the
turn
of
this
century,
one
had
to
wonder
if
it
would
survive
the
relentless
passage
of
time.
A
A
Now
it
joins
the
skirvin,
the
oklahoma
city,
museum
of
art,
the
ford
model,
t
assembly
plant
and
other
downtown
successes
that
have
reimagined
major
historic
structures
that
have
been
here
longer
than
almost
anyone
alive.
This
project
was
not
cheap
or
easy.
It's
a
300
million
dollar
undertaking
and
it
required
a
significant
public
partnership.
It
required
vision,
otherwise
it
wouldn't
have
made
any
economic
sense,
but
the
project
was
a
gift
to
our
city
and
our
descendants.
A
A
A
A
A
A
You
beginning
a
second
term
emerging
from
a
once
in
a
century
pandemic.
These
are
milestones
that
signal
a
new
chapter
for
our
city.
Another
milestone
was
also
reached
since
we
last
gathered
one
that
was
referenced
earlier.
It's
one
that
further
signals
a
new
day,
one
that
we
have
never
seen
before,
and
it
will
shape
everything
about
our
community
as
we
move
forward.
I
am
speaking
of
our
official
arrival
as
america's
20th
largest
city
to
put
that
ranking.
In
some
perspective.
A
I
want
you
to
understand
that
in
1970
a
date
not
so
distant
for
many
in
this
room,
we
were
the
37th
largest
city
in
the
united
states.
Barely
top
40.
top
40
is
nice,
I
suppose,
but
there's
a
big
difference
between
top
40
and
top
20..
You
know
who's
in
the
top
40.
Today,
cities
like
colorado,
springs
and
omaha
lovely
towns,
but
no
one's
wearing
their
jerseys
in
paris.
A
A
This
isn't
angelo
scott's,
oklahoma
city
or
even
your
parents
heck.
We
were
27th
when
I
gave
this
speech
two
years
ago.
As
of
the
most
recent
population
data
oklahoma
city
is
the
home
of
687
000
residents,
as
recently
as
2010.
That
number
was
579
000..
That
means
on
average,
for
each
of
the
fourth
4
000
days
in
between
2010,
and
when
that
data
was
taken.
27
people
moved
here
every
single
day.
This
growth
is
happening
fast
and
it
validates
everything
this
community
has
done
for
three
decades
to
build
a
city
where
people
want
to
live.
A
I
make
pitches
to
job
creators
and
other
interested
parties
almost
every
week,
and
we
continue
to
be
successful
because
I
can
tell
them
that
one.
We
offer
a
unique
combination.
All
of
the
cultural
amenities
you
expect
in
a
big
city,
an
amazing
arts,
community
world-class
dining
major
league
sports,
unique
museums,
but
we
are
uniquely
combined
that
is
uniquely
combined
with
the
ease
of
living
friendliness
and
low
cost
of
living.
You
expect
in
a
much
smaller
place
two.
This
is
a
mission
focused
community
that
is
hungry
notice.
A
How
we
got
here
and
knows
how
to
stay
here
fully
75
of
our
residents
say
we
are
heading
in
the
right
direction,
a
number
dramatically
higher
than
other
big
cities.
Our
optimism
is
contagious.
Three.
It
is
easy
to
do
business
here,
something
that
has
been
documented
in
many
studies,
and
our
people
have
a
great
work
ethic
and
for
the
catalyst
for
our
success
maps
and
its
investments
in
our
city
are
guaranteed
to
continue
for
another
decade.
A
We
are
now
america's
20th
largest
city,
and
we
will
have
to
act
like
it
today.
We'll
talk
about
what
that
means.
First
of
all,
anytime,
we
talk
about
the
civic
aspirations
of
this
city.
We
have
to
start
with
course,
services
the
things
we
do
collectively,
largely
through
your
city
government
that
cover
the
basics.
A
These
efforts
cost
money,
of
course,
and
fortunately
our
economy
is
booming
and
tax
proceeds
reflect
that
sales.
Tax
receipts
have
been
breaking
records
for
much
of
the
last
year.
That's
a
great
indicator
of
our
local
economic
strength,
but
it
also
means
that
at
city
hall,
we
can
generally
provide
services
at
the
level
you've
grown
accustomed.
A
A
A
On
the
latter
point
regarding
our
geographic
size,
I
try
to
come
here
every
year
with
a
new
way
to
shock
you
on
this
topic.
So
here
goes
the
city
limits
of
oklahoma
city
clock
in
at
620
square
miles.
That
means
we
are
the
size
of
eight
cleveland,
ohios
washington
dc
yeah.
We
could
take
10
of
those
pittsburgh
pennsylvania,
we're
11,
pittsburghs
miami
florida
sure
we
are
17
miami
floridas,
how
about
this
one
inside
the
city
limits
of
oklahoma
city?
A
Imagine
all
the
infrastructure
and
city
service
challenges
of
all
those
cities
combined
into
one
that's
oklahoma,
city.
Having
said
that,
it
is
what
it
is
right.
We
have
to
face
things
as
they
are.
Fortunately,
this
community
stepped
up
in
2017
and
approved
the
largest
infrastructure,
and
specifically
the
largest
street
repair
package
in
city
history,
that
initiative
known
as
better
streets,
safer
city
is
still
underway
just
in
streets.
That
initiative
amounts
to
nearly
800
million
dollars
and
has
completed
132
projects
has
101
projects
underway
and
200
more
projects
still
planned.
A
That's
a
total
of
433
street
projects.
What
has
been
accomplished
so
far
is
making
a
difference.
For
example,
there
was
a
national
scale
called
the
pci
pavement
condition
index
that
rates
payment
on
a
scale
from
zero
to
100..
Eight
years
ago,
our
citywide
average
was
63.
this
fiscal
year.
We
expect
to
bring
that
city-wide
average
up
to
71..
A
A
This
top
20
city
will
talk
again
in
the
next
four
years
about
our
basic
infrastructure
needs
and
when
we
do
we'll
need
to
aim
high
thanks
to
the
bipartisan
infrastructure
law
enacted
last
year,
we
may
have
more
federal
help
than
ever
before,
but
we'll
still
have
a
tremendous
need.
Core
services
aren't
just
streets.
Of
course,
public
safety
is
actually
the
biggest
investment
the
city
hall
makes
every
year
and
we
have
increased
that
funding
for
police
and
fire.
The
last
two
years.
Satisfaction
levels
remain
high.
In
citizen
surveys
we
conduct
every
year.
A
The
most
recent
found
that
91
of
residents
are
satisfied
or
very
satisfied
with
their
fire
service
and
73
percent
are
satisfied
or
very
satisfied
with
their
police
service,
even
with
relatively
high
satisfaction
levels.
We
have
always
felt
we
can
improve
every
city
service.
Our
work
towards
public
safety
receives
the
most
funding
and
the
most
attention
because
we
sincerely
want
all
communities
within
our
city
to
feel
safe.
A
Two
areas
have
been
the
focus
of
much
discussion,
the
past
few
years,
police,
staffing
levels
and
police
use
of
force.
On
the
latter,
an
inclusive
task
force
worked
with
national
experts
for
almost
two
years
to
develop
39
recommendations
that
were
received
by
the
council
in
march.
The
council
and
city
management
have
committed
unprecedented
energy
and
resources
to
pushing
those
recommendations
into
reality.
A
A
Knowing
what
I
do
about
the
mountain
we
have
to
climb,
I
recognize
it
will
still
take
years,
but
city
leadership,
ocpd
leadership
and
the
fraternal
order
of
police
are
all
focused
on
the
challenge
and
working
together
to
address
it.
So
we
can
bring
staffing
levels
where
we
want
to
see
them
even
as
we've
dealt
with
those
challenges,
violent
crime
rates
have
consistently
declined
in
oklahoma
city
since
2017..
A
Some
people
get
their
news
from
national
sources,
so
they
repeat
information
that
may
be
true
about
the
nation,
but
is
faults
about
oklahoma
city,
so
it
bears
repeating
in
oklahoma
city,
almost
all
of
our
violent
crime
rates
are
going
down
and
have
been
for
five
years.
The
data
doesn't
lie.
Our
police
department
deserves
our
appreciation
for
that.
A
By
the
way,
the
county
jail
is,
by
definition
not
in
the
city
government's
jurisdiction,
but
I
recognize
how
much
this
community
needed
to
see
a
resolution
there
and
it
brought
people
together
from
many
different
perspectives.
Of
course,
work
still
remains
for
oklahoma
county
to
implement
the
plan
that
the
voters
approved
last
month,
but
just
getting
to
that
important
point
took
two
decades
and
a
very
unified
effort,
and
I
commend
everyone
involved,
especially
this
greater
oklahoma
city,
chamber
of
commerce,
oklahoma,
county
officials,
the
criminal
justice
advisory
council
and
the
jail
trust
among
many
others.
A
A
We
continue
to
have
the
highest
bond
ratings
and
a
new
study
from
wallet
hub
recently
said
we
are
the
eighth
best
run
city
in
america,
special
gratitude
to
city
manager,
craig
freeman,
our
nearly
5
000
city
employees
and
our
hundreds
of
volunteers,
many
of
whom
are
in
the
room
who
serve
on
boards
and
commissions.
Can
we
show
our
appreciation.
A
A
A
In
the
last
four
years
we
have
opened
a
streetcar.
We
have
improved
bus
service
on
numerous
fronts,
adding
sunday
bus
service,
adding
holiday
bus
service,
more
routes,
frequency
and
hours
maps
4
will
provide
500,
new
bus
shelters
and
funding
for
better
bus
service,
and
now
we
are
constructing
bus,
rapid
transit.
A
For
the
first
time,
we
have
matched
a
major
federal
grant
for
a
bus,
rapid
transit
line
up
classen
and
northwest
expressway
that
will
provide
quick,
convenient
service
to
the
40
000
people
who
live
within
easy
walking
distance
of
the
line
that
construction
got
started
at
the
end
of
june
and
will
reach
completion
a
year
from
now
dubbed
the
rapid.
This
new
service
will
redefine
how
our
residents
think
of
public
transit,
high
frequency,
simple
route,
high
level
passenger
experience
in
other
cities.
A
Bus
rapid
transit
has
become
an
option
of
choice
rather
than
an
option
of
last
resort
and
maps.
Four
funds,
two
more
lines,
one
to
the
south
and
one
to
the
northeast
and
finally,
regional
transit
commuter
rail.
Connecting
our
suburbs
to
oklahoma
city
is
a
major
opportunity
that
continues
to
get
closer
to
reality
in
the
next
four
years.
Our
growing
metropolitan
area
will
finally
have
the
chance
to
adopt
this
vision.
A
Three
cities
now
comprise
the
regional
transit
authority
that
was
first
formed
in
2019,
and
they
are
three
of
the
five
largest
cities
in
the
state
of
oklahoma.
All
metro
cities
were
offered
the
opportunity
to
join
the
rta
and
some
have
come
and
gone,
but
these
three
always
represented
the
major
energy
behind
this
concept.
A
A
Now,
let's
pivot,
to
talk
about
a
critical
issue
we
have
to
address
in
the
next
few
years,
and
this
one
gets
to
the
core
of
who
we
are
and
how
we
got
here,
and
this
topic
is
arguably
one
of
the
most
important
I
will
address
today,
partly
because
today
is
the
first
time
I
am
having
the
chance
to
share
its
urgency
with
you
there's
so
many
changes
that
have
come
in
the
last
three
decades
in
this
in
this
city.
But
unquestionably,
one
milestone
stands
apart.
Our
cities
arrival
as
a
major
league
sports
city
in
america.
A
There
are
cities
with
major
league
professional
sports
and
there
are
cities
without,
and
most
of
us
are
old
enough
to
tell
you
the
difference.
The
arrival
of
our
thunder
in
the
nba
changed
everything
in
oklahoma
city.
Yes,
it
gave
life
to
our
downtown
at
least
41
nights
a
year
and
gave
us
something
to
rally
around
as
a
community
that
we
had
always
lacked,
and
yes,
the
on-court
experience
has
been
amazing.
We're
excited
for
this
new
rise
that
is
already
underway
and
we're
grateful
to
have
hosted
some
of
the
greatest
players
in
history.
A
A
A
Our
economy
and
our
population
have
exploded
in
the
same
time
frame
that
we
have
been
a
major
league
sports
city.
The
signal
that
is
sent
by
having
a
major
league
sports
team
is
critical.
Having
a
major
league
sports
team
sends
an
implicit
message
to
the
world
that
this
city
has
the
people,
the
corporate
presence
and
the
general
wherewithal
to
host
one
of
the
world's
strongest
brands.
A
It
sends
a
message
that
this
place
matters
and
clearly
that
message
has
been
received
by
people
around
the
country
and
around
the
world,
and
I
do
mean
the
world
no
franchises
in
sports
are
as
well
known
both
in
america
and
around
the
world
as
the
30
franchises
of
the
national
basketball
association,
and
we
in
oklahoma
city
have
one
of
them.
It
is
a
truly
global
sport,
so
not
only
did
we
luck
out
having
a
major
league
sports
team,
but
we
got
the
best
one
we
could
have
hoped
for.
A
This,
however,
is
not
something
you
can
take
for
granted.
If
your
city
wants
water,
you
have
to
build
lakes
and
water
pipes,
your
city
wants
police,
it
has
to
build
police
stations
and
buy
police
cars.
If
your
city
wants
major
league
professional
sports,
it
has
to
have
the
facilities.
The
infrastructure
for
professional
sports
is
not
optional.
If
you
want
to
have
professional
sports,
we
absolutely
have
the
discretion
to
be
or
not
be,
a
major
league
sports
city,
but
we
have
no
discretion
as
to
what
that
requires.
A
A
Only
two
nba
markets
are
smaller
than
ours
and
18
metropolitan
statistical
areas
in
this
country
that
don't
currently
have
an
nba
team
are
larger
than
ours.
Our
ascension
into
the
ranks
of
nba
cities
was
remarkable
because
it
lifted
us
into
an
entirely
new
group
of
peer
cities.
However,
that
means
we
now
exist
in
a
hyper
competitive
environment,
an
unforgiving
environment.
We
are
not
in
some
junior
version
of
the
nba.
We
are
in
the
same
league
with
teams
who
play
in
billion
dollar
arenas,
and
we
have
non-nba
cities
checking
our
pulse
every
morning
bottom
line.
A
A
So
you
all
elected
me
to
tell
you
the
truth.
At
least
that's
the
way
I
see
it
here
are
some
truths
about
our
city's
professional
sports
infrastructure.
Our
arena
that
you
need
to
know
our
downtown
arena
celebrated
its
20th
anniversary
this
year.
This
the
decision
to
build
it
was
made
by
the
voters
a
full
three
decades
ago,
when
the
first
maps
passed
in
1993..
A
At
the
time
of
that
decision,
our
existing
arena,
the
myriad
was
21
years
old.
The
decision
to
build
the
new
arena
was
brilliant.
For
all
the
reasons.
I've
just
stated
it
changed
our
city
forever.
We
have
learned
that
a
state
of
the
art
arena
is
critical
to
a
city's
overall
growth.
In
our
case,
it
established
our
ability
to
host
major
league
sports
and
world-class
entertainment.
A
A
A
In
fact,
nba
arenas
have
never
been
known
for
their
longevity
all
nba
arenas,
except
for
madison
square
garden,
opened
in
1990
or
later.
That
means
that
the
oldest
nba
arena,
other
than
madison
square
garden,
is
just
32
years
old
and
though
it
might
technically
be
old,
madison
square
garden
received
a
1
billion
dollar
renovation
in
2013..
A
A
We
made
a
further
commitment
to
the
arena,
and
now
190
million
dollars
in
total
has
been
invested
in
paycom
center
when
compared
to
the
cost
of
all
their
nba
arenas
in
2022
dollars
that
total
ranks
ahead
of
only
one
nba
arena
smoothie
king
center
in
new
orleans
after
the
los
angeles
clippers,
complete
their
new
2
billion
arena.
Currently
under
construction,
10
of
the
30
nba
arenas
will
have
construction
costs
that
were
all
originally
in
excess
of
at
least
475
million
dollars.
A
All
you
have
to
do
is
look
at
the
pictures
to
see
the
difference,
but
there
are
some
differences
that
may
be
more
subtle
and
are
even
more
important
other
than
cost
one
of
the
most
illustrative
comparisons
for
nba
arenas
is
total
square
footage.
Total
square
footage
reflects
the
amenities
available
to
users,
as
well
as
the
opportunity
to
provide
further
amenities,
the
less
the
total
square
footage
the
less
potential
a
building
has.
As
I
mentioned
earlier,
our
arena
was
not
planned
with
the
nba
in
mind
and
in
586
000
square
feet.
A
A
A
A
We
can
and
will
secure
a
long-term
relationship
with
the
nba,
because
we
have
great
partners
in
the
oklahoma
city
thunder
and
the
time
to
open
that
dialogue
with
our
partners
is
now
so
you
probably
didn't
have
a
calendar
reminder
set
for
the
expiration
of
the
thunder's
original
agreement
to
play
in
oklahoma
city.
But
that's
why
you
have
us
in
2008
the
thunder
signed
a
15-year
agreement
to
play
here.
A
A
I
can't
emphasize
enough.
This
is
a
collaborative
partnership
with
thunder
leadership
led
by
chairman
clay
bennett,
and
we
are
on
the
same
page.
We
want
the
same
things
for
our
city
that
we
love.
We
have
the
same
aspirations
and
I
think
they
are
shared
by
every
person
in
this
room.
The
potential
of
america's
20th
largest
city
is
dynamic
and
limitless,
and
we
know
what
it
is
to
dream
big
and
follow
through,
because
we
have
done
it
so
many
times
before.
A
A
First
of
all,
I
want
to
remind
you
that
it
takes
years
to
execute
large
public
projects,
the
maps
arena
open
nine
years
after
voter
approval,
the
convention
center,
in
which
we
sit
open
almost
12
years
after
voter
approval.
This
is
one
of
the
primary
reasons
we
have
to
plan.
Now
we
want
to
develop
a
plan.
We
can
fully
execute
before
the
end
of
this
decade
and
though
that
may
seem
a
long
way
off
from
2022.
It
is
not
in
any
case
wherever
this
dialogue
leads.
A
Paycom
center
will
still
be
the
proud
home
of
the
oklahoma
city
thunder
for
years
to
come.
As
such,
we
obviously
can't
let
it
collapse
in
the
meantime,
fortunately,
the
maintenance
necessary
to
preserve
its
operability
has
already
been
secured
through
maps.
Four
maps
four
is
already
slated
to
provide
routine
improvements
to
the
arena
in
the
near
term,
including
new
seating
and
mechanical
and
technology
maintenance.
However,
beyond
those
necessary
items
already
underway,
we
are
asking
the
maps
for
citizen
advisory
board
to
pause
further
work.
A
While
we
determine
the
best
future
use
for
the
remaining
maps
for
arena
funds
that
will
allow
for
approximately
70
million
dollars
to
remain
available
for
use
in
the
vision
we
develop,
preserving,
it
is
good
planning.
The
thunder
will
also
pause
their
plans
for
a
thunder
alley
development.
While
we
develop
this
larger
vision
for
our
city's
future,
there
is
obviously
a
lot
of
work
that
lies
ahead,
but
I'm
excited
at
the
opportunity
we
have
here.
A
This
dialogue
we
will
embark
upon
is
not
just
our
chance
to
secure
a
long-term
relationship
with
the
nba,
but
it
is
a
chance
to
cast
a
new
vision
for
our
city
to
believe
in
our
future.
As
the
campaign
slogan
proclaimed
in
1993,
our
city
must
continue
to
pursue
ambitious
aspirations.
Otherwise
our
momentum
evaporates
as
our
beloved
sage,
will
rogers
once
famously
said.
Even
if
you
are
on
the
right
track,
you'll
get
run
over.
If
you
just
sit
there,
we
have
to
keep
moving.
A
A
Now,
speaking
of
legacies,
maps
is
the
well-known
engine
that
has
made
everything
possible
and
its
legacy
is
still
being
written.
Since
we
last
gathered,
work
has
continued
on
maps
three
as
it
nears
its
completion.
Scissortail
park
has
become
such
an
essential
part
of
okc
life
that
we
can
hardly
imagine
our
city
without
it.
So
the
news
I'm
about
to
share
is
especially
exciting.
Scissortail
park
is
about
to
double
in
size.
A
This
september,
the
lower
part
of
the
park
will
open,
bringing
the
north
and
south
parts
of
our
city
even
closer
together
and
giving
us
more
of
a
great
thing,
and
the
work
to
revive
union
stations
still
lies
ahead.
Meanwhile,
maps
three
senior
wellness
centers
in
far
south
okc
and
northeast
okc
are
well
underway.
A
The
last
two
and
a
half
years
have
been
a
time
of
planning
for
maps
four,
but
those
plans
are
soon
to
yield
gold
shovels,
look
for
the
maps
for
the
first
maps
for
groundbreakings
to
come.
This
fall,
no
doubt
I'll
have
much
more
to
say
about
maps
4
in
future.
State
of
the
city
addresses,
but
suffice
it
to
say
no
other
city
in
america
has
a
billion
dollar
quality
of
life
initiative
already
committed.
As
you
recall,
this
maps
is
focused
on
neighborhood
and
human
needs
like
never
before.
A
We
are
on
track
for
dramatic
parks,
improvements,
citywide,
youth
soccer
upgrades
oklahoma,
river
investments,
state
of
the
art,
youth,
centers,
a
fifth
senior
wellness
center
mental
health
and
addiction
facilities,
a
new
home
for
palomar,
the
transit
investments
that
I
mentioned
earlier.
Sidewalks
bike
lanes,
trail
and
street
lights,
funding
for
truly
affordable
housing
to
address
homelessness,
the
investments
and
sports
facilities.
A
A
A
This
chart
illustrates
the
number
of
people
experiencing
homelessness
each
year
since
2005
in
our
city's
annual
point
in
time
count.
The
most
recent
number
this
year
was
1339.,
as
you
can
see
during
a
time
period
where
a
city's
overall
population
has
grown
by
30
percent.
The
population
of
those
experiencing
homelessness
has
slightly
declined
or
has
been
held
essentially
flat.
A
That's
among
the
reasons
why
the
issue
is
very
much
a
priority.
Here's
another
important
data
point
69
of
the
people
experiencing
homelessness
became
homeless,
while
living
right
here
in
oklahoma
city,
another
14
came
from
a
different
city
in
oklahoma.
Only
15
of
the
people
experiencing
homelessness
came
from
somewhere
else.
In
other
words,
these
folks
are
us.
They
are
our
neighbors.
A
A
Three
years
ago,
I
asked
a
broad
group
of
community
leaders,
led
by
bob
ross
and
suen
arnault,
to
develop
a
unified
strategy
for
addressing
homelessness
in
our
community.
That
task
force
delivered
its
report
last
year
and
combined
with
the
ongoing
work
of
the
nonprofit
sector,
the
business
and
philanthropic
community
city
staff
and
ocpd,
and
utilizing
the
50
million
dollars
in
truly
affordable
housing
coming
from
maps
four.
We
have
every
reason
to
believe
we
will
continue
to
make
progress
in
meeting
this
challenge,
as
our
top
20
city
continues
to
grow
in
the
years
ahead.
A
A
Riversport
is
hosting
regional
national
international
events.
All
the
time
cities
like
to
brag
when
they
are
clearly
the
best
at
something
we
have
long
had
rightful
claims
to
being
the
horse,
show
and
softball
capitals
of
the
world
we're
headed
towards
being
the
paddle
sport
capital
of
the
world.
This
status
also
gives
us
a
unique
place
in
the
olympic
movement,
one
of
the
most
important
movements
in
modern
civilization.
A
It
is
a
deepening
relationship
we
will
continue
to
pursue
in
the
years
ahead.
Public
education
remains
an
important
issue
for
america's
20th
largest
city,
and
we
must
continue
to
elevate
it
in
our
former
government.
It
is
separate
from
city
hall,
but
we
certainly
recognize
its
importance
to
our
future.
There
is
one
major
effort
underway
this
year.
A
The
lack
of
investment
before
2001
put
the
district
in
an
enormous
infrastructure
hole.
The
maps
for
kids
assistance
of
half
a
billion
dollars
from
the
city
was
a
huge
boost,
and
in
that
time
period,
okay
cps
also
got
into
the
routine
of
passing
its
own
bond
issues,
but
the
reality
was
that
maps
for
kids
was
a
one-time
infusion
and
the
rate
at
which
okcps
was
receiving
ongoing
infrastructure
dollars
was
still
far
below
other
districts.
A
We
can't
let
our
city's
largest
district
fall
behind
again.
Okcps
is
preparing
a
bond
issue
proposal
for
voters
to
consider,
perhaps
by
the
end
of
this
year,
and
this
city
needs
to
rally
behind
it.
The
oklahoma
constitution
doesn't
do
school
districts
in
this
state,
any
favors,
if
they
so
much
as
want
to
replace
a
broken
air
conditioner,
they
have
to
ask
the
voters
and
they
need
60
approval.
A
A
Cities
in
america
rarely
ascend
as
we
have
without
economic
diversification.
After
the
experience
of
the
1980s
oil
bust
and
four
decades
of
effort,
we
now
clearly
have
that
diversification
aerospace,
including
our
ongoing
project,
to
expand
tinker
biotech
innovation
in
general,
are
all
thriving.
The
visitor
economy
continues
to
take
off.
Just
this
week
we
had
750
state
legislators
visit
us
from
around
the
southern
united
states,
and
the
film
industry
continues.
A
Now
our
city
is
hosting
tulsa
king
created
by
taylor
sheridan
with
terence
winner
and
starring
sylvester,
stallone
sly,
just
celebrated
his
76th
birthday
last
week,
right
here
in
oklahoma
city
and
we're
seeing
real
estate
development
announcements
like
never
before
I
mentioned
convergence
at
the
innovation
district
earlier,
but
it
is
also
worth
noting.
The
dirt
is
now
moving
at
the
exciting
342
million
dollar
chickasaw
nation
development
around
first
americans
museum.
A
A
A
And
developers
announced
plans
just
this
week
for
a
boutique
hotel
to
continue
growth
around
the
award-winning
eastpoint
development,
and
while
we
speak
of
inclusion,
it
is
worth
noting
that
since
we
last
gathered,
we
also
announced
the
exciting
plans
to
permanently
commemorate
the
city's
historic
and
groundbreaking
sit-in
movement.
Just
a
few
blocks
from
here.
Those
sit-ins
led
by
clara
looper,
were
the
core
of
our
city's
civil
rights
movement
and
must
be
appreciated
right
here
in
the
heart
of
the
city
where
they
occurred.
A
A
We
continue
to
strive
for
inclusion
in
everything
we
do
and
as
I've
detailed
here
before,
we
continue
to
bring
more
diversity
to
boards
and
commissions.
That's
one
example:
since
we
last
gathered,
I
made
54
appointments
to
the
maps
for
subcommittees.
52
of
those
appointments
were
women.
41
were
people
of
color,
including
20,
26
of
all
those
appointments
being
black
residents.
Meanwhile,
our
council
will
soon
consider
the
restoration
of
our
city's
human
rights
commission
following
two
years
of
task
force
work.
A
A
Making
sure
that
everyone
is
a
part
of
our
story
is
critical
as
we
continue
to
grow
top
20.
Cities
are
diverse
cities.
We
are
now
a
city
that
includes
people
from
every
life
experience
and
every
corner
of
the
world.
Our
fact
I
acknowledged
when
I
asked
afghan
refugee
dr
pharaohs
bashari,
to
administer
my
oath
of
office
in
may.
A
I
became
mayor
of
a
city
in
2018
that
I
thought
had
already
arrived.
I
had
lived
through
the
era
that
began
in
1993
and
in
comparison
I
could
hardly
recognize
the
city
we
had
in
and
yet
today,
just
four
years
later,
I
am
mayor
of
a
very
different
city.
Once
again,
I
became
mayor
of
america's
27th
largest
city,
and
now
I
am
mayor
of
its
20th
largest
city.
People,
who
don't
come
here
for
a
couple
years
invariably
say
the
same
thing.
Wow
this
city
has
changed.
A
The
improvement
is
relentless.
Perhaps
dr
angelo
scott
said
it
best
109
years
ago.
It
is
the
law
of
growth
and
we
would
not
wish
it.
Otherwise
are
we
wiser
than
angelo
scott's
generation,
as
he
predicted
happier
better?
Perhaps
we
have
certainly
exceeded
his
wildest
dreams
and
those
of
even
more
recent
dreamers.
A
A
The
state
of
our
city
is
dynamic
and
it
is
unified.
We
are
setting
aside
the
things
that
could
divide
us
and
we
are
finding
common
purpose.
We
resolve
disagreements
through
discussion
and
compromise
and
we
move
forward
as
one
okc.
We
are
lucky
to
live
in
this
time
and
in
this
place
in
america's
most
unified
and
dynamic
city.