12:32pm | Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster gave his yearly State of the City address on January 9, 2012.
Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster addresses the crowd at the 2012 State of the City. Photos by Samuel Lippke.
“I’m proud to say that last year, over 31% of Long Beach purchases went to Long Beach businesses totaling over $86 million. That is more than double what we accomplished in 2010. I want you to prosper. I want to see small business grow into midsize companies and expand right here. “
“Police response time for Priority 1 calls is 4.2 minutes – and that is among the fastest for large cities in California. “
City Council Members sit front row for the Mayors speech.
“We resurfaced nearly 19 miles of streets and over 17 miles of sidewalks, filled 39,000 potholes and trimmed 20,000 trees. We recycled 27,000 tons of material at curbside, planted at least 200 new trees, and delivered 250 tons of mulch-to whom, I don’t know. “
“As many of you know, I have taken to cycling as a way to shape up, inspired by the great playwright George Bernard Shaw’s observation that ‘No diet will remove all the fat from your body because the brain is entirely fat. Without a brain, you might look good but all you could do is run for public office.'”
“I know that we have a better future – let us rededicate ourselves beginning here tonight. Thank you.”
Long Beach Mayor and First Lady Bob & Nancy Foster.