►
Description
Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett's annual State of the City Address given to the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber on
Wednesday, January 13, 2016.
A
Around
the
world,
people
are
noticing
that
Oklahoma
City
is
changing
and
a
lot
of
people
apparently
like
what
they
see.
40,000
people
have
moved
here
since
2010.
As
you
know,
the
media
loves
to
rank
cities.
Just
last
week,
USA
Today
came
out
with
a
list
the
14
places
you
have
to
visit
in
2016.
Now
they
have
places
like
Hawaii,
San,
Diego,
Philadelphia,
Las
Vegas
and
us
we
made
the
list
and
that's
a
great
compliment
to
our
tourism
industry
other
lists.
In
the
past
year,
new
geography
magazine
named
us
one
of
the
top
cities
for
veterans.
A
We
were
number
one
on
their
list.
A
website
called
thumbtack
named
us
as
the
number
one
community
for
small
businesses
that
wanted
to
grow.
Entrepreneur
Magazine
agrees.
They
put
together
a
list
of
the
top
25
cities
worth
moving
to.
If
you
want
to
launch
a
business,
we
were
number
one
on
their
list.
A
Cbre
looked
to
see
which
cities
were
growing
their
technology
markets,
no
city
in
the
country
has
a
faster
growth
rate
than
Oklahoma
City
were
up.
Thirty-Eight
percent,
the
University
of
Michigan
conducted
a
study
on
traffic
commutes
in
a
lot
of
cities.
Commuters
spend
hours
a
week
in
their
cars,
Oklahoma
City
ranked
number
one
for
the
fastest
commute
in
the
United
States.
A
We
have
been
noted
for
our
low
construction
costs,
our
low
cost
of
living
and
our
manufacturing
industry
is
remaining
strong
stronger
than
any
city
west
of
the
Mississippi.
Virtually
any
media
organizations
that
looks
at
cities
and
starts
to
look
at
jobs
puts
us
on
the
list.
Millennials
are
encouraged
to
move
here.
Retirees
are
encouraged
to
move
here
and
if
you
don't
want
to
move
here,
Travel
and
Leisure
magazine
insists
that
you
should
visit.
They
put
us
on
their
list
as
one
of
the
friendliest
travel
destinations.
A
A
To
other
rankings
I
want
to
mention,
we
all
know
about
our
nation's
growing
issues
with
inequality.
You
should
know
that,
according
to
Brookings,
we
have
one
of
the
lowest
rates
of
inequality
in
the
country,
and
this
one
may
surprise
you
we've
long
had
a
history
and
reputation
of
being
an
energy
based
economy,
but
20
years
ago
we
started
making
significant
efforts
to
diversify
and
you
know
the
results
we
have
companies
today,
like
Boeing
GE
del
hurts.
American
fidelity
loves
hobby
lobby,
integris,
sonic
LSB.
A
Oh
you,
medical
I
could
go
on
and
on
well,
a
national
look
at
350
different
local
economies
had
us
ranked
number
11,
as
the
most
diversified
in
the
united
states
were
eleventh
out
of
350.
So
if
you're
wondering
why,
in
2016,
when
oil
prices
are
down,
there's
still
so
much
new
construction
taking
place,
that
is
part
of
the
reason.
The
oil
and
gas
industry
is
three
percent
of
our
employee
base.
A
Now
it's
a
much
larger
percentage
of
our
economy
because
those
are
higher
paying
jobs,
but
the
idea
that
we
can't
survive
a
reduction
in
energy
prices
is
an
outdated
viewpoint
in
preparing
for
this
address.
One
of
the
most
difficult
aspects
of
it
is
trying
to
reflect
on
the
importance
and
our
appreciation
of
the
nonprofit
sector.
We
try
to
keep
government
small
in
Oklahoma.
A
We
generally
do
a
good
job,
but
that
does
mean
that
we
rely
more
and
more
on
nonprofits
to
help
the
community
create
the
type
of
city
where
people
want
to
live
and
the
type
of
community
that
we
expect
and
obviously
I
can't
possibly
name
all
of
the
nonprofit's
that
do
great
work,
but
I
do
want
to
mention
a
few
and
some
of
our
best
success
stories.
The
first
one
is
the
homeless
Alliance
they
and
their
individual
agencies
are
dealing
with
our
most
vulnerable
citizens.
A
The
Alliance
deals
with
so
many
different
people
in
so
many
difficult
situations
that
it
is
hard
to
categorize,
but
let
me
just
put
in
a
pitch
for
you
to
help
them
with
their
charitable
dollars.
They
have
a
tough
job.
Their
success
in
dealing
with
veterans
who
are
homeless
is
something
that
you
should
be
proud
of.
In
2014,
the
homeless
Alliance
began
a
program
called
journey
home.
Okay,
see
we
identified
373
veterans
who
fit
the
definition
of
chronically
homeless.
Of
that
373
262
now
have
a
place
to
live.
A
And
we
anticipate
that
by
the
end
of
this
year,
we
may
have
a
place
that
all
373
can
call
home.
There
is
no
one
cure
for
homelessness
in
America,
but
we
are
moving
in
the
right
direction
and
we're
doing
it
with
your
help.
We
also
work
closely
with
the
Humane
Society.
They
were
organized
back
in
2007
and
since
that
time
they
have
helped
us
find
homes
for
over
20,000
dogs
and
cats.
With
their
efforts
we
have
spayed
or
neutered
over
78,000
animals.
A
We've
still
got
work
to
do
in
this
area,
but
again
we're
heading
in
the
right
direction.
Our
live
release
rate
is
something
we
can
now
be
proud
of.
Food
distribution
is
still
a
big
issue
in
our
city.
How
do
we
deal
with
hunger
and
obesity
at
the
same
time?
How
do
we
make
sure
that
everyone
in
our
community
has
access
to
fresh
fruits
and
vegetables?
Our
local
food
bank
is
doing
a
wonderful
job,
helping
us
to
distribute
food
to
those
in
need.
In
health.
A
Our
local
city,
county
health
department
has
become
a
national
model
and
again
you
can
look
at
the
statistics
and
understand
that
we
have
a
long
way
to
go.
There
are
so
many
health
issues
that
are
the
result
of
behavior
it's
hard
for
a
community
to
improve
its
health
statistics
quickly.
It's
tough
to
change
behavior,
but
no
community
in
the
country
is
doing
more
than
we're
doing
from
building
health
facilities
and
income
challenge
neighborhoods
to
increasing
health,
education
in
the
schools
to
building
sidewalks
and
bike
trails
and
senior
wellness
centers.
A
We
are
changing
the
culture
of
health
in
this
community.
We
are
also
not
going
to
become
the
community
that
we
want
to
be
without
a
commitment
to
the
Arts
and
the
amount
of
money
that
is
going
to
the
Arts
is
also
up.
Allied
arts
is
celebrating
its
45th
anniversary
this
year
they
helped
son
fund,
so
many
arts
organizations
in
our
community,
but
they
broke
their
fundraising
record
again
in
2015
over
3.4
million
dollars,
distributed
to
arts
and
educational
organizations
around
the
Metro.
A
A
Many
of
the
paintings
and
sculptures
that
you'll
be
able
to
see,
have
never
left
Europe
before
Oklahoma
City
will
be
the
only
stop
in
North,
America
and
you'll
be
able
to
see
it
here
this
summer
we
are
also
about
to
enter
a
golden
age
in
live
music
on
Northwest
23rd.
The
remodeled
tower
theater
will
open
this
spring.
Meanwhile,
in
bricktown
the
criterion
theatre
is
under
construction
and
on
the
western
edge
of
downtown
the
21c
Hotel.
It
too
will
have
a
live
music
component
in
public
safety.
The
crime
rate
is
down
another
ten
percent.
A
However,
our
homicide
rate,
which
had
dropped
significantly
in
2013
and
dropped
again
in
2014,
has
followed
the
national
trend
and
is
back
up
in
2015,
though
it
is
still
lower
than
it
was
three
years
ago,
and
when
you
look
through
the
numbers,
many
of
our
homicides
are
the
result
of
domestic
violence.
In
the
past
two
years,
we
have
made
significant
changes
in
the
way
we're
dealing
with
these
situations.
A
We're
handling
the
calls
differently,
we're
handling
the
investigations
differently,
we're
learning
more
and
more
about
the
type
of
cases
that
are
likely
to
escalate
and
as
part
of
that
effort
this
year
the
YWCA
opened
up
the
filmer
gaylord
emergency
shelter,
it
more
than
doubles
our
ability
to
get
people
out
of
a
dangerous
situation.
Our
new
expanded
efforts
on
domestic
violence
are
drawing
national
attention
as
a
best
practice.
This
is
not
an
issue
that
just
affects
a
few
people.
A
A
The
idea
that
domestic
violence
is
going
to
improve,
if
we
do
nothing,
is
part
of
the
reason
we
have
such
a
problem.
To
begin
with,
we
have
more
resources
to
deal
with
mental
illness,
anger
management
and
family
crisis
prevention
than
ever
before.
We
are
moving
forward
with
the
concept
of
a
Family
Justice
Center,
a
comprehensive
facility
where
victims
of
domestic
violence
can
access
much-needed
resources
in
a
safe
and
non-threatening
environment.
A
A
As
you
know,
our
number
one
priority
at
City
Hall
is
Public
Safety,
it's
where
most
of
your
local
tax
dollars
are
spent.
The
last
bond
issue
we
passed
included
several
capital
projects
for
the
police
and
fire
departments,
and,
as
a
result
of
that
commitment,
we
opened
up
a
new
police
station.
This
past
fall.
It
replaces
a
building
that
had
served
us
well
for
over
60
years
and,
as
you
probably
also
know,
we're
always
looking
for
new
police
officers.
A
So
if
you
know
of
a
young
person
that
might
make
a
quality
police
officer,
especially
if
they
can
add
to
the
diversity
of
our
force,
please
encourage
them
to
apply
as
for
construction
projects,
they
are
seemingly
everywhere.
You
look
we're
investing
in
new
schools.
We
have
plans
to
build
new
fire
stations.
We
are
repairing
bridges,
improving
parts,
we're
addressing
our
drainage
systems,
we're
replacing
buses,
we're
updating
libraries
when
you
put
more
money
into
streets
and
police
and
schools,
you
are
building
stronger,
neighborhoods
and
neighborhoods
are
important
to
us.
A
Of
course,
many
of
the
construction
projects
you
see
around
town
are
part
of
maps.
Three
and
twenty
sixteen
will
be
the
biggest
year.
Yet
for
this
initiative
that
began
back
in
2010
this
spring,
we
will
open
up
the
river
sport
Rapids,
a
man-made
whitewater
facility
that
you
and
your
family
can
enjoy
as
a
kayaking
adventure,
but
before
you
get
a
chance
to
show
it
or
to
try
it,
the
United
States
Olympic
team
will
get
a
chance.
We're
going
to
hold
the
Olympic
Trials
here.
This
may
also
scheduled
to
open
this
summer.
A
Is
the
Expo
Center
at
the
fairgrounds?
It's
a
two
hundred
ninety
thousand
square
foot
building
that
will
become
the
centerpiece
of
our
exhibit
space
at
the
fairgrounds
Maps
three
is
a
significant
part
of
all
the
improvements
you
see
out
there.
New
and
better
parking
better
access,
and
this
Expo
building
should
be
a
big
economic
development
driver
for
decades
to
come.
A
Also
currently,
under
construction
is
the
first
of
our
four
senior
wellness
centers.
This
facility
will
open
up
at
north
us
112
and
Rockwell,
like
every
community
in
the
country,
we're
growing
older
as
a
population.
This
facility
reflects
our
commitment
to
helping
seniors
live,
healthy,
active
lives.
A
A
How
about
a
round
of
applause
for
the
maps?
Three
trail
slide
right
and
the
next
trail
is
already
under
construction.
As
you
know,
maps
3
includes
sidewalks.
How
many
in
here
have
seen
the
sidewalk
construction
that's
taking
place
in
the
city
yeah?
Well,
thank
you.
The
feedback
is
overwhelmingly
positive,
we're
connecting
neighborhoods
with
parts
and
schools
and
shopping
centers
every
once
in
a
while,
though
I
I
get
into
a
conversation
with
someone
who
is
not
thrilled.
It
usually
goes
like
this
they'll
say
mayor
you're,
building
a
sidewalk
in
my
neighborhood,
and
it's
at
this
points.
A
A
A
Well,
we
appreciate
those
that
send
in
their
pictures
and
you'll,
be
pleased
to
know
there
are
more
sidewalks
on
the
way
the
three
highest
profile
maps.
Three
projects
are
about
ready
to
come
out
of
the
ground.
The
park
is
already
under
construction.
Just
to
the
south
of
here,
the
streetcar
in
the
Convention
Center
are
not
far
behind
that's
over
five
hundred
million
dollars
in
planning
and
construction
that
will
be
introduced
to
our
economy
over
the
next
few
years
in
education.
A
Although
success
is
a
little
inconsistent,
we
are
sensing
real
improvement
in
some
of
our
classrooms.
For
the
past
several
years,
we've
seen
poor
results
at
the
middle
school
level.
In
the
Oklahoma
City
public
school
system,
we've
seen
a
tendon
strop
we've
seen
test
scores
continue
to
slip.
Things
are
changing
this
year,
the
math
scores
in
our
middle
schools
rose,
18
points,
yeah.
A
And
enrollment
in
the
district
as
a
whole
is
up
to
46
thousand.
The
demographics
in
the
district
are
continuing
to
change
and
they
have
changed
rapidly.
15
years
ago,
nineteen
percent
of
the
district
was
Hispanic.
Today,
it's
over
half
and
if
you
look
into
the
suburbs,
it's
a
similar
story.
The
Putnam
City
School
District,
is
now
21
percent
Hispanic.
As
you
know,
we've
had
a
lot
of
construction
projects
over
the
years,
75
of
them
with
maps
for
kids
in
the
K
through
12
education.
A
Many
of
these
projects
are
taking
place,
not
just
in
the
inner
city
district
but
all
over
the
city
and
during
the
construction
of
Emerson
school
we
discovered
something
quite
extraordinary.
You
may
have
seen
this.
Last
summer
we
removed
a
wall
and
uncovered
some
blackboards
that
had
been
perfectly
preserved
for
nearly
100
years.
A
few
weeks
ago,
we
tore
down
another
wall
and
we
found
some
more
of
these
blackboards
and
I
wanted
to
show
you.
A
These
are
dated
from
December
of
1917,
so
the
teachers
and
the
boys
and
the
girls
who
were
involved
in
this
worker
long
gone,
but
I
felt
compelled
to
show
it
to
you,
because
it
seems
to
me
that
they
purposely
left
these
black
boards
for
us
to
see
at
a
later
date.
The
penmanship,
the
colors
and
I
think
it's
a
reminder
that
when
you're
doing
school
construction,
it's
going
to
have
to
stand
the
test
of
time
at
the
higher
ed
level.
A
I
want
to
take
a
moment
to
mention
our
ever
growing
relationship
with
you
co-president
bets
and
his
staff
are
continuing
their
commitment,
Oklahoma
City,
you're,
probably
aware
of
ACM
the
school
of
rock
that
they
offer
downtown.
You
may
be
less
aware
of
their
new
boathouse
and
jazz
lab
on
the
river
or
the
new
downtown
MBA
program.
A
We
are
also
working
with
them
and
the
Brookings
Institute
are
improving
our
innovation
district
and
none
of
these
are
small
and
elsewhere.
Higher
ed
got
a
boost
with
the
Oklahoma
City
University
Law
School
moving
downtown
the
Stephenson
Cancer
Center
on
the
oh
you
Health,
Sciences
Center
is
growing
they're
going
to
be
applying
for
NCI
designation
later
this
year.
There
is
new
construction
on
osu's
campus
in
oklahoma
city,
as
well
as
o
Triple
C
enrollment
in
our
career
text
is
up.
A
Nothing
contributes
more
to
adding
to
our
investments
in
workforce
than
investments
in
education
and
I
cannot
imagine,
there's
another
city
in
the
country
that
has
more
education
and
research
projects
underway
than
us
2016
figures
to
have
its
share
of
landmark
events
in
these
areas
and
others.
Now
we
still
have
a
little
work
to
do,
but
it
appears
that
the
American
Indian
cultural
center
is
back
on
track.
A
I
hope
that
soon
we
can
reach
an
agreement
between
the
city
and
the
state
and
the
Chickasaw
Nation
and
get
construction
going
again
out
there
in
the
innovation
district.
The
new
GE
oil
and
gas
technology
center
will
open
this
year
and
in
sports
this
is
going
to
be
a
busy
spring
in
March
will
be
hosting
the
big
12
women's
basketball
tournament
in
this
building.
A
I
sorry
across
the
street
and
in
the
building
across
the
street,
and
then
the
first
and
second
round
of
the
NCAA
Men's
Basketball
Tournament
are
going
to
be
right
here
in
Oklahoma
City,
so
the
road
to
the
Final
Four
heads
right
down,
Reno
Avenue
in
April.
We
expect
over
20,000
participants
in
the
oklahoma
memorial
marathon
in
may.
We
expect
the
Thunder
to
be
in
the
NBA
playoffs
again.
A
A
A
If
there
are
young
people
in
your
life,
read
to
them.
If
there
are
older
people
in
your
neighborhood
check
in
on
them
occasionally
and
see
how
they're
doing
support
your
local
merchants
and
volunteer
at
your
kids
school
at
your
church
or
one
of
the
many
nonprofits
that
is
doing
incredible,
work
to
move
this
city
forward.
Thank
you
for
doing
all
you're
doing
to
make
this
such
a
great
city,
and
thanks
for
coming
today,.