Photos by Sarah Bennett
Speaking to a full audience at the Center Theater Tuesday night, Mayor Bob Foster told of Long Beach’s positive progress alongside reminders of what is left to be done in his seventh State of the City address. His address tackled the city’s fiscally painful journey to the present, as well as its optimistic future, all under the tone of perseverance.
Citing City Council’s earlier-that-day passage of much-needed pension reform, Foster noted that the city has taken “difficult and proactive steps” to healing the city’s finances. He maintained that better times are on the horizon, but urged care in not repeating the same mistakes again.
“While the economy does not yet have the strength we all desire,” Foster said early in the speech, “growth has returned, employment is modestly up, business activity is increasing and this City continues on the road to better financial footing.”
Foster’s speech ran through a growing list of accolades that were bestowed upon Long Beach this past year, including dozens of Olympic athletes and recognition of LGBT inclusion.
He also cited many infrastructural investments the city made in 2012–from the “overdue” improvements to the Long Beach Airport to needed expansions at Port of Long Beach. These massive construction efforts signaled to Foster the rebound of the city and highlighted its resilience during hard times.
“In all, over $4 billion of construction–and 4,000 construction jobs annually–will cement our port as the place to send your cargo,” Foster said. “We will move it faster, greener and in greater volumes than anyone in the country.”
Noting that the City’s Small Business Enterprise Program saw a 25 percent increase in registrants over last year, Foster also talked about the importance of efficiency in raising Long Beach’s economic profile. Though he admits that there is still room to be better, reformation to the planning and permitting process have reduced fees by close to 33 percent, and customer approval ratings have topped 90 percent under the new program.
Despite Foster’s admission that Long Beach’s public safety resources are under tremendous financial strain, Long Beach has reported its lowest violent crime level since 1972. Foster also lauded the LBCOP system that was unveiled in August 2012 and noted that more surveillance cameras will be added to various parks and intersections in the next year to add to the network of information available to first responders and investigators.
Praising Rio de Janeiro–where the entire city is televised on an 80-meter segmented screen–Foster seeks to model Long Beach after them.
“This year I will ask City staff to explore bringing such a system to Long Beach,” he said. “There is no doubt that it would benefit our City and move us into the 21st century.”
Foster refused to make any predictions about the future, but noted that the city needed to move into a new phase of its history. He highlighted the importance of continuing to make the city more efficient, green and modern in order to assure opportunities for future generations.
The capstone to the address was about political cynicism. Admitting to falling victim to cynicism himself, it was through the inquisitive minds of high school students that Foster found self-reflection. While our political system might not be the most efficient, it is durable, and Foster extolled to the audience his desire to not push our current problems to the next generation.
“My responsibility is to use my authority on your behalf; to provide safety today and opportunity tomorrow,” Foster said. “To make sure your tax dollars are spent well and that sound financial principals govern our conduct. I will do everything I can and use every power of my office to assure that resources are used consistent with that imperative.”
Additional reporting by Sarah Bennett and Brian Addison.