It's a beautiful day in Houston, Texas. You know, Houston has always been America's great city of opportunity. We've provided people an opportunity to seek the American Dream, people who come here all over the country, all over the world, for well over 100 years.
Last year our nation discovered that Houston is also our great city of hope, as we sheltered our neighbors and lived our faiths through our deeds.
Though Houstonians come from many backgrounds, we share some common values and common goals: we want to preserve our neighborhoods and keep our children safe; reduce traffic congestion; attract new jobs; improving the quality of life in our neighborhoods; and making our City Hall the most efficient and responsive in the nation. In these next two years we will not keep our eye off those goals.
This inauguration is not the time or place to recount all that we've accomplished or what we intend to do. The voters talked about performance at the ballot box. There will be a State of the City Address and numerous Council committee meetings to discuss our plans for the coming years. This is a time to renew our commitment to our common values.
We welcome four new Council members to this body. They come from different backgrounds and our whole life at City Hall will be enriched by those differences. As each of you makes that sacred transition to being an elected official, just remember that Houstonians want us to act boldly and to get things done; to talk to each other, not about each other; to find common ground rather than accentuating differences. As you thank these citizens who fought hard against tough competitors to serve you, say a special thanks to their families. No one can serve in an office like this without the support of family.
Two years ago I challenged citizens to volunteer to work in their neighborhoods, public and non-profit organizations, temples, synagogues, or churches, and to reach out to those from different neighborhoods. I can't list all the miracles that have happened in this city, but you've seen a transformation.
So I just want to give you two examples as a result of that challenge: Thousands of Houstonians working through the Rotary Club have helped the city rebuild and reopen the Riverside Clinic in the Third Ward, allowing us to offer more services than ever before and than we could ever afford simply with public sector money. And within three months, we will take delivery of two new mobile health facilities, provided by the men and women of Aramco Services. That is just one example of numerous corporations, large and small, who have helped, us sometimes anonymously, get things done.
Because the City, County, METRO, Hospital District and private sector worked together, it made things easier during the September hurricane crisis. That experience helped shaped our new identity, and showed the people of this world what it means to be one people, under God, with liberty and justice for all.
Where else but Houston can you observe as I did a few weeks ago as our strong and vibrant Interfaith Community convened at the Jewish Temple Immanuel to honor the Islamic Society of Houston as Houston's 2005 "organization of the year" for their Katrina relief efforts. And the leader of that interfaith community, a person who is a great lay-leader of the Jewish faith in this community was able to embrace the leader of the Islamic society, and said that he found his soul mate and best friend. Can't the world learn from that?
This spirit of teamwork will allow us to do things in 2006 that people talked about for decades but never could get done. We will break new ground, literally, in 2006 on over two hundred new homes that will be built in our most neglected neighborhoods, all built on properties abandoned for decades, sometimes even crackhouses, as part of a massive redevelopment we call Project Houston Hope along with private builders and community-based organizations. We will break ground this year on a new downtown park with over $40 million in private donations combined with an equal public commitment.
While we focus today on this City's work, let's not forget that our future depends on a new commitment by all the people in this community. My wife Andrea and I will spend time each month working to reduce the dropout rate in this community. Most people without degrees cannot compete effectively in a world economy. Not only our schools and our educators, but all of our citizens must reach out and do what they can for our schools.
Opportunity also requires growth, but we neither can nor should grow at the expense of healthy air. We must clean up our air in Houston, Texas. That means government enforcement but also personal responsibility by Houston drivers, residents, and businesses. So, within three months, I challenge citizens to make bold and practical plans to help consumers and business better reduce our fuel and power costs with efficient use of energy. This will also reduce emissions. Houston has long been the world's energy capital. Wouldn't it be great to also take pride in being a world leader in more efficient energy consumption and the use of alternative sources of energy?
As we celebrate contributions of citizens, and we inaugurate elected officials, I want to dedicate this day to the city employees who are indispensable to Houston's success and our daily survival as a city. We're going to make this city work, and work effectively.
Over 20,000 women and men show up to work to keep our water flowing, maintain thousands of miles of streets; mow the grass in our parks and rights of way; operate airports that double passenger boardings every 14 years; respond to more than 8,000 daily calls at 311 and over 9,000 daily calls to 911.
Many do more than what is in their job description. Like Mark Phalesburgh, a sideloader operator with Solid Waste. After years of humble and dependable work, he severed his thumb unloading recycled waste into the recycling machine. He was operating it safely, but there was a problem with the machine. This former Golden Glove recipient at first was embarrassed to shake hands. Mark, we are honored to shake your hand and thank you for your work.
Paul Davila maintains our storm sewers, which we count on to protect our homes from floodwaters. He and six others who work with Paul physically enter the large pipes to inspect, maintain, and repair them. At times they must use breathing apparatus, and they encounter snakes and rodents. Once they continued to work as water levels rose up to their waists. And they have also rescued family pets and even helped HPD retrieve a gun from a sewer to solve a crime.
Sandy Farmer is just one of those librarians who not only taught young people to use computers for the first time, but has helped provide a safe and nurturing environment for some young people who seek refuge in our libraries from troubled homes. Sandy's compassion and competence make it a natural for her to set up a library activity room for young evacuees from Katrina.
And, of course, our police and firefighters risk their lives every day. After a few months in office it was part of my responsibility to bury firefighter Keven Kulow, who made the call before his shift because he wanted to help wherever he could. And later we lost Capt. Grady Burke, who searched the interior of a burning house trying to save a life, just as he had done months before when he had lifted a senior from flames to safety.
Many firefighters and policemen risk their lives every day. That's why this Police Memorial is a fit place for today's celebration of public service, as it reminds us of the 102 HPD officers who made the ultimate sacrifice. Those brave men and women in blue risk their lives so others can live without fear.
Like the police officer I visited at the emergency room a few weeks ago, after Dr. Red Duke removed bullets from his stomach and ankle. He and his partner were working undercover against drug dealers, in response to hundreds of citizens who had asked Chief Hurtt, Ada Edwards, and I in a townhall meeting for more aggressive action in their neighborhood. We sent in our best.
You see, this officer is a veteran of the drug war. For security reasons, he cannot be named today. A few years ago he had taken a bullet between the eyes. His partner told me this officer was so hardheaded that he was back to work within a week after they dug the bullet out of his skull.
Now this officer has a lot to live for, including a beautiful wife and two children. He risks his time on this Earth with them so your families will be safer.
So, let the sacrifice of these City employees remind all citizens to help make Houston an even greater city of opportunity and hope. Let us resolve on this sacred site that we will lift the governance of this City above all pettiness and selfishness. Pray that God gives me and all others who take this oath today the strength to strive to make these next two years the best in Houston's life. Years that people will describe with pride to the next generation. Years when Houston stood out among the world's cities as the city on the move.
May God bless Houston, Texas, and the United States.
