[City Council Inauguration on June 20, 2023. ]
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AND GENTLEMEN, MAY I PLEASE HAVE YOUR ATTENTION.LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MAY I PLEASE HAVE YOUR ATTENTION.
PLEASE BEGIN TAKING YOUR SEATS AS THE EVENT IS ABOUT TO BEGIN.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING.
MY NAME IS RASHAD RAYNA AND WELCOME TO THE 2023 CITY OF DALLAS MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL INAUGURATION LIVE FROM INSIDE THE MORTON H MYERSON SYMPHONY CENTER IN DALLAS ARTS DISTRICT.
PLEASE WELCOME OUR INCOMING AND OUTGOING DALLAS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
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THANK YOU FOR THAT WONDERFUL SELECTION FROM THE TURTLE CREEK CORRAL.AND NOW PLEASE HELP ME IN WELCOMING OUR INCOMING AND OUTGOING DALLAS CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS.
WE WILL BEGIN WITH MR. ZARIN GRACIE AND ABS ABSENTIA, KATHY STEWART.
NEXT WE HAVE GABE DONNEL WILLIS, PAUL E WRIGLEY, JESSE MORENO, JAMIE SCHULTZ, ADAM, BASIL INIA, CHAD WEST, PAULA BLACKMON, KARA MENDELSSOHN, JAIME RESENDEZ, DEPUTY MAYOR PRO, TIM CAROLYN, KING ARNOLD, MAYOR PRO, TIM NEL ATKINS.
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OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBER SERVING FOUR TERMS. BYRON ADAM MCGEE, ALSO OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBER SERVING FOUR TERMS. CASEY THOMAS II.SENATOR JOHN CORNING AND THE 60TH MAYOR OF DALLAS, TEXAS.
PLEASE GIVE A THUNDEROUS ROUND ROUND OF APPLAUSE TO THESE LEADERS AT THIS TIME.
PLEASE STAND IF ABLE AS WE HAVE THE HONOR OF HAVING MINISTERS JK HAMILTON OF MOUNTAIN VIEW, CHURCH OF CHRIST AND DALLAS, PROVIDING THIS MORNING'S INVOCATION TO THE GOD OF HEAVEN AND EARTH.
THE MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE, THE ONE WHO PROVIDES OUR LEADS ACCORDING TO HIS RICHES IN GLORY.
AND WE COME GIVING THANKS AND LAYING GRATITUDE BEFORE YOU THIS DAY FOR THIS MOMENTOUS OCCASION, CELEBRATING WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, CELEBRATING HOW YOU HAVE PROTECTED THE CITY AND CELEBRATING AGAIN, HAVING ERIC JOHNSON AS OUR MAYOR FOR ANOTHER TERM.
LORD, I'M ASKING THAT YOU PROTECT EVERY FAMILY REPRESENTED HERE, PROTECT THE CITY, BE WITH EVERY CITY COUNCIL MEMBER, BE WITH EVERYONE IN OFFICE.
KEEP US AND BLESS THIS OCCASION AND WE WILL BE CAREFUL TO GIVE YOU THE GLORY AND WE WILL BE CAREFUL TO GIVE YOU THE HONOR IN THE NAME OF JESUS.
NOW PLEASE REMAIN STANDING FOR THE PRESENTATION OF COLORS AND PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE BY BOY SCOUT TROOP NINE 14 OF ST.
LUKE COMMUNITY, UNITED METHODIST CHURCH GUARD, MARK COLOR GUARD, CROSS COLOR GUARD PLEASE
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YOU TO THE SOUTH DALLAS CONCERT CORRAL FOR THAT PERFORMANCE OF LIFT EVERY VOICE AND SIN.NOW PLEASE WELCOME MAYOR ERIC L. JOHNSON AND CITY MANAGER TC BAR NEXT AS THEY PRESENT A SPECIAL RECOGNITION TO OUR OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
YES, EVERYONE, PLEASE HAVE A SEAT.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
IT IS MY DISTINCT HONOR TO RECOGNIZE THE SERVICE OF OUR OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
SO COUNCIL MEMBERS, AS I CALL YOUR NAME, PLEASE COME DOWN AND BE RECOGNIZED.
FIRST WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER BYRON ADAM MCGOO YOU.
AND NOW WE HAVE COUNCILMEMBER CASEY THOMAS.
THANK YOU COUNCIL COLLEAGUES FOR SERVING ALONGSIDE ME AND HELP ME TO MAKE DALLAS A BETTER PLACE.
SO LET'S HAVE ANOTHER ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR OUR OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
AND NOW TO ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE TO THE NEWLY, NEWLY REELECTED MAYOR FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
PLEASE WELCOME UNITED STATES SENATOR FROM TEXAS.
SENATOR JOHN CORNY I'LL WANTED TO MAKE SURE IT WAS TIME.
RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
I, ERIC L. JOHNSON, DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE.
THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE, THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, OF MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND, PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE CONSTITUTION OF LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
THE CONSTITUTION AND LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES.
AND NOW THE HONORABLE PRESTON ROBINSON, ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
WILL NOW ADMINISTER THE OATH OF OFFICE FOR OUR INCOMING COUNCIL MEMBERS.
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2023.COUNCIL MEMBER ELECT, PLEASE RISE, PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AS I WILL NOW ISSUE YOUR OFFICIAL OATH OF OFFICE.
DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR OR AFFIRM OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL FAITHFULLY, I FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE DUTIES, EXECUTE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF THE OFFICE OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBER OF CITY COUNCIL MEMBER DISTRICT FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AND WILL AND WILL TO THE BEST OF MY ABILITY.
PRESERVE, PRESERVE, PROTECT, PROTECT AND DEFENSE AND DEFENSE.
THE CONSTITUTION, THE CONSTITUTION.
AND THE LAW OF THE UNITED STATES.
OF THE UNITED STATES, AND OF THIS STATE.
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU NOW, MAYOR JOHNSON, CITY SECRETARY JOHNSON TO ELECTED COUNCIL WITH THEIR OFFICIAL CERTIFICATE.
COUNCIL MEMBER CHAD WEST IS ENTERING HIS THIRD TERM FOR DISTRICT ONE.
COUNCIL MEMBER JESSE MORENO IS ENTERING HIS SECOND TERM FOR DISTRICT TWO COUNCIL MEMBER ZARIN GRACIE IS ENTERING HIS FIRST FULL TERM REPRESENTING DISTRICT THREE, DEPUTY MAYOR PROTI.
CAROLYN KING ARNOLD IS ENTERING HER THIRD TERM REPRESENTING DISTRICT FOUR COUNCIL MEMBER JAIME RESENDEZ IS ENTERING HIS THIRD TERM REPRESENTING DISTRICT FIVE
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COUNCIL MEMBER OMAR NARVAEZ IS ENTERING HIS FOUR TERM REPRESENTING DISTRICT SIX COUNCIL MEMBER ADAM BASIL IS ENTERING HIS THIRD REPRESENTING DISTRICT SEVEN MAYOR PRO TIM 10.NEL ATKINS IS ENTERING HIS FOURTH TERM FOR THE FOURTH TIME REPRESENTING DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBER PAULA BLACKMUN IS ENTERING HER THIRD TERM REPRESENTING DISTRICT NINE COUNCIL MEMBER KATHY STEWART IS ENTERING HER FIRST FULL TERM REPRESENTING DISTRICT 10, BUT SHE'S NOT IN TODAY.
BUT WE WANT TO RECOGNIZE HER DISTRICT.
NEXT WE HAVE COUNCIL MEMBER JANIE SCHULTZ IS ENTERING HER SECOND TERM REPRESENTING DISTRICT 11 COUNCIL MEMBER KAREN MENDELSON IS ENTERING HER THIRD TERM REPRESENTING COUNCIL MEMBER GAY JANELLE WILLIS IS ENTERING HER SECOND TERM REPRESENTING DISTRICT 13.
AND COUNCIL MEMBER PAUL E RIDLEY IS ENTERING HIS SECOND TERM REPRESENTING DISTRICT 14.
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THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE DISTRICTS, PLEASE.ONE MORE TIME, GIVE THEM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
IT'S GREAT TO BE BACK IN DALLAS WITH MY WIFE SANDY UP THERE SOMEWHERE.
AND MY, MY COLLEAGUE, UH, TED CRUZ, WHO'S HERE TODAY TO HONOR THESE COUNCIL MEMBERS AND, UH, AND THE MAYOR ON THEIR, UH, NEW TERM OF OFFICE FOR THE LEADERSHIP OF THIS, THIS GREAT, GREAT TEXAS AND GREAT AMERICAN CITY.
I WANNA OFFER MY PERSONAL CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE NEW AND RETURNING COUNCIL MEMBERS AND OF COURSE TO MY FRIEND MAYOR ERIC JOHNSON.
PEOPLE ARE SOMETIMES SURPRISED THAT THE MAYOR AND I HAVE SUCH A GOOD WORKING RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE AT FIRST GLANCE, WE DON'T APPEAR TO HAVE THAT MUCH IN COMMON.
WE COME FROM DIFFERENT GENERATIONS, WE COME FROM DIFFERENT RACES, DIFFERENT POLITICAL PARTIES.
NOT ONLY THAT, HE HOLDS THREE IVY LEAGUE DEGREES AND I HAVE NONE.
WELL, DESPITE THOSE DIFFERENCES, WE BEGAN WORKING TOGETHER AND QUICKLY REALIZED THAT WE SHARED SOMETHING IN COMMON, WHICH IS WE CARE DEEPLY ABOUT THE PEOPLE WE SERVE.
TEXANS HAVE ENTRUSTED EACH OF US WITH AN AWESOME RESPONSIBILITY TO REPRESENT THEIR INTERESTS.
WHETHER IT'S HERE AT THE CITY HALL IN DALLAS OR IN THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS.
THEY'RE COUNTING ON US TO IMPLEMENT POLICIES THAT MAKE THEIR COMMUNITY SAFER, HEALTHIER, AND MORE PROSPEROUS.
AND NOW MORE THAN EVER IN THESE HIGHLY POLARIZED TIMES, THAT WORK REQUIRES A HEAVY DOSE OF BIPARTISANSHIP.
WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER WHERE WE CAN, IN THE PAST FEW YEARS, HAVE CHALLENGED THIS GREAT CITY IN OUR GREAT STATE IN WAYS WE NEVER COULD HAVE ANTICIPATED FROM THE NIGHTMARE THAT WAS THE PANDEMIC TO FLOODS AND TORNADOES, CONCERNS ABOUT RACIAL JUSTICE.
WE'VE NEEDED TO WORK HAND IN HAND TO ENSURE DALLAS RESIDENTS RECEIVE OUR VERY BEST EFFORTS.
WHEN YOU COMPARE THE MAJOR CITIES ACROSS AMERICA, DALLAS STANDS OUT FOR ALL THE RIGHT REASONS.
WHILE MANY MAJOR CITIES ARE FACING A POPULATION DECLINE, DALLAS IS ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING CITIES IN THE COUNTRY.
IT'S THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND EXODUS.
MANY OTHER STATES ARE EXPERIENCING.
THERE'S NO MISTAKING THAT MANY AMERICANS ARE VOTING WITH THEIR FEET TO COME TO THE LAND OF OPPORTUNITY THAT WE CALL HOME.
DALLAS IS AN ECONOMIC GIANT JUST AS ATTRACTIVE TO FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES AS IT IS TO FIRST TIME ENTREPRENEURS EVERY DAY.
MORE BUSINESSES, MORE INVESTORS ARE BETTING ON DALLAS BECAUSE OF ITS COMMON SENSE, BUSINESS-FRIENDLY APPROACH.
AND OF AMERICA'S 10 LARGEST CITIES, DALLAS IS THE ONLY ONE, THE ONLY ONE WITH TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF LOWERING CRIME RATES ACROSS THE BOARD.
THERE'S NO MYSTERY BEHIND WHY DALLAS WAS ABLE TO BUCK THE TREND.
WHEN ELECTED OFFICIALS IN MANY MAJOR CITIES BOWED TO POLITICAL PRESSURE TO DO THINGS LIKE DEFUND THE POLICE, MAYOR JOHNSON FOUGHT TO GROW THE CITY'S POLICE FORCE AND IMPROVE PUBLIC SAFETY AS A RESULT, AS CRIME WENT UP IN OTHER PLACES, IT CAME DOWN IN DALLAS THAT DALLAS IS A NATIONAL POWERHOUSES, NO COINCIDENCE.
IT'S A RESULT OF STRONG LEADERSHIP, EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS, AND AN ENDURING COMMITMENT TO THE PEOPLE WHO CALL THIS CITY HOME.
I'M GRATEFUL FOR EVERYTHING MAYOR JOHNSON HAS DONE TO MAKE DALLAS
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A GREAT PLACE TO WORK, LIVE AND RAISE A FAMILY.AND I LOOK FORWARD TO OUR CONTINUING TO WORK TOGETHER.
IT'S MY HONOR TO NOW INTRODUCE THE 60TH MAYOR OF THE GREAT CITY OF DALLAS, MY FRIEND MAYOR JOHNSON.
UM, I'D ALSO LIKE TO THANK OUR UNITED STATES SENATORS, PLURAL, JOHN CORN AND TED CRUZ, BOTH FOR BEING HERE TODAY.
IT IT'S TRULY AMAZING THAT BOTH OF OUR UNITED STATES SENATORS ARE PRESENT TODAY TO CELEBRATE THIS VERY SPECIAL AND JOYOUS OCCASION FOR THE CITY OF DALLAS.
AND I KNOW THAT BOTH OF OUR SENATORS HAVE TO LEAVE NOW TO GO ACTUALLY VOTE, UM, LATER TODAY IN WASHINGTON.
THEY ACTUALLY CAME IN THE MIDDLE OF A WORKDAY.
SO PLEASE JOIN ME AGAIN IN THANKING THEM FOR BEING HERE.
SENATOR MEMBERS OF DALLAS CITY COUNCIL, CITY MANAGER, BROAD CITY, CITY STAFF, DISTINGUISHED GUESTS, FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND OF COURSE, UM, MY FELLOW DALLAS SITES.
I AM HONORED BEYOND ALL POSSIBLE DESCRIPTION TO CONTINUE SERVING AS THE 60TH MAYOR OF THE CITY OF DALLAS, TEXAS.
I THANK GOD EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR THIS OPPORTUNITY AND I AM OVERWHELMED BY ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT.
THIS CITY IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE MY HOME.
AND I'M DALLAS'S NUMBER ONE CHAMPION AND NUMBER ONE CHEERLEADER BECAUSE I'VE BENEFITED PERSONALLY FROM THIS CITY'S GREATNESS.
AND WHERE I STAND RIGHT NOW, LITERALLY IS PROOF.
YOU SEE, IT WAS EXACTLY 29 YEARS AND 18 DAYS AGO THAT I STOOD ON THIS VERY STAGE AS A HIGH SCHOOL SENIOR AND DELIBERATE THE COMMENCEMENT ADDRESS FOR THE GREEN HILL SCHOOL CLASS OF 1994, A SCHOOL THAT I ATTENDED ON A SCHOLARSHIP BECAUSE OF MY FIRST GRADE TEACHER AT CF CARR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN WEST DALLAS.
MS. FERRIS, WHO'S ACTUALLY HERE TODAY.
THANK YOU MS. FERRIS FOR BEING HERE.
I'M HERE CAUSE SHE SAW POTENTIAL IN ME 29 YEARS AND 18 DAYS AGO.
I STOOD RIGHT HERE AND I SHARED MY HOPES, MY DREAMS, AND MY ASPIRATIONS FOR MY HIGH SCHOOL CLASSMATES.
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO OVERSTATE WHAT A BLESSING IT IS TO STAND HERE TODAY, 29 YEARS AND 18 DAYS LATER TO SHARE MY HOPES, MY DREAMS AND MY ASPIRATIONS AGAIN.
BUT THIS TIME FOR NEARLY 1.3 MILLION DALLAS RESIDENTS AS THEIR MAYOR, MY DREAMS CAME TRUE BECAUSE OF THE LOVE AND SUPPORT OF THIS COMMUNITY, WHICH IS WHY I'VE MADE IT MY LIFE'S MISSION TO ENSURE THAT THE DREAMS OF OTHERS CAN COME TRUE IN THIS CITY TOO.
FOR FOUR YEARS, I FOUGHT FOR KIDS GROWING UP IN DISADVANTAGED CIRCUMSTANCES, JUST LIKE I EXPERIENCED AND SOME OF THE FOLKS ON THIS STAGE BEHIND ME WHO WERE DALLAS NATIVES EXPERIENCED RIGHT HERE IN THIS CITY.
I FOUGHT FOR CHILDREN LIKE MY OWN LITTLE
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ONES, WILLIAM AND GEORGE AND LELA.I FOUGHT FOR BOTH NATIVE DALLAS SITES AND NEWCOMERS ALIKE, ALL WHO ARE IN PURSUIT OF WHAT I LIKE TO CALL THE DALLAS DREAM.
THAT'S WHY I'M SO EXCITED THAT OUR CITY HAS UNITED BEHIND MY BACK TO BASICS AGENDA TO MAKE DALLAS A PLACE OF GENUINE OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL.
IT'S BECAUSE OF THE UNPRECEDENTED UNITY IN THIS CITY BEHIND THIS STRAIGHTFORWARD AGENDA THAT WE'VE ACHIEVED SO MANY OF THE REMARKABLE GAINS THAT SENATOR CORNIN, UH, MENTIONED IN HIS INTRODUCTION FOUR YEARS AGO.
NONE OF US IN THIS ROOM COULD HAVE IMAGINED THE TRIALS THAT AWAITED US, A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, THE FURY OF AN E F THREE TORNADO THAT HIT RIGHT IN THE HEART OF OUR CITY, DEVASTATING WINTER STORMS ALONGSIDE A NATIONWIDE SURGE AND VIOLENT CRIME, CIVIL UNREST, YOU NAME IT.
YET DESPITE THESE CHALLENGES, DALLAS NOT ONLY WEATHERED THESE STORMS, BUT EMERGED AS A BEACON OF RESILIENCE AND A LEADER ON THE NATIONAL STAGE.
THERE'S A REASON WHY DALLAS IS CAPTURING THE ATTENTION OF PEOPLE AROUND THE WORLD.
WE'RE THE NINTH LARGEST CITY IN AMERICA AND WE'RE THE ECONOMIC AND CULTURAL ENGINE OF THE FOURTH LARGEST AND FASTEST GROWING METRO AREA IN THE WHOLE UNITED STATES.
WERE HOME TO 11 FORTUNE 500 COMPANY HEADQUARTERS AND ONE OF THE WORLD'S FINEST INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS, WHICH WAS RECENTLY RANKED AS THE WORLD'S SECOND BUSIEST.
THE UNITED STATES TRAVEL ASSOCIATION CALLED US AMERICA'S COMEBACK CITY COMING OUT OF THE PANDEMIC.
AND SINCE THEN, SINCE THEN, DALLAS HAS BEEN DESCRIBED IN A LOT OF DIFFERENT WAYS.
WE'VE BEEN CALLED THE WALL STREET OF THE SOUTH AND WE'VE BEEN EVEN CALLED THE NEW DUBAI BECAUSE OF OUR CITY'S NOTEWORTHY LUXURY RESTAURANTS.
RECENTLY DALLAS WAS NAMED THE TOP CITY IN THE UNITED STATES FOR SPORTS BUSINESS.
AND NOW AS A CONFIRMED HOST OF THE 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP, DALLAS IS COMPETING WITH CITIES LIKE NEW YORK AND LOS ANGELES TO HOST THE FINAL WORLD CUP MATCH.
AND IF YOU DON'T ALREADY LIVE IN DALLAS, YOU'RE PROBABLY TRYING TO MOVE HERE OR AT LEAST VISIT BECAUSE DALLAS IS RANKED AS ONE OF THE TOP 10 MOVING DESTINATIONS IN THE COUNTRY AND ACTUALLY LEADS THE UNITED STATES AND THE NUMBER OF HOTEL PROJECTS CURRENTLY UNDER CONSTRUCTION.
THE DALLAS MARKET ADDED 400,000 NEW JOBS IN THE LAST THREE YEARS, WHICH IS MORE THAN ANY OTHER MARKET IN THE COUNTRY.
AND RECENT DATA REVEALS THAT DALLAS ALSO ADDED MORE APARTMENTS OVER THE LAST DECADE THAN ANY OTHER PLACE IN THE COUNTRY.
RENOWNED GLOBAL FIRMS ARE ALSO CHOOSING DALLAS, NEW YORK BASED FINANCIAL GIANT.
GOLDMAN SACHS WILL SOON BREAK GROUND ON ITS NEW $500 MILLION CAMPUS.
UPON ITS COMPLETION, GOLDMAN SACHS DALLAS CAMPUS WILL BE THE ONLY AMERICAN OFFICE IN THAT FIRM'S PORTFOLIO THAT HAS EVERY SINGLE FUNCTION OF THAT FIRM REPRESENTED.
DALLAS IS THE PLACE TO BE AND DALLAS IS WELL POSITIONED TO WIN THE FUTURE.
BUT DALLAS'S FUTURE PROSPERITY IS NOT GUARANTEED.
PEOPLE CAN CHOOSE TO LIVE AND WORK JUST ABOUT ANYWHERE THEY WANT TO THESE DAYS, WHICH IS WHY DALLAS IS IN COMPETITION, NOT ONLY WITH OUR NEIGHBORS IN THE NORTH TEXAS REGION.
SEE MY FRIEND HERE, UH, MADDIE PARKER FROM, UH, FORT WORTH.
SO WE'RE IN COMPETITION WITH GREAT CITIES LIKE FORT WORTH, WHICH WE LOVE, BUT WE'RE COMPETING WITH THEM.
BUT WE'RE ALSO IN COMPETITION WITH OTHER MAJOR CITIES AROUND THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST HERE IN THIS REGION.
AND AS YOU KNOW, IN DALLAS, WHEN WE COMPETE, WE COMPETE TO WIN.
SO FOR EXAMPLE, ACCORDING TO THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, NEW YORK CITY, THE LARGEST AND MOST FAMOUS AMERICAN CITY LOST NEARLY 470,000 PEOPLE
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BETWEEN APRIL, 2020 AND JULY, 2022 BECAUSE OF COVID LOCKDOWNS RISING CRIME AND AN EVER RISING COST OF LIVING.THAT'S MORE PEOPLE THAN LIVE IN THE ENTIRE CITY OF MIAMI.
SO WE DON'T WANT TO BE LIKE NEW YORK CLEARLY.
WE ALSO DON'T WANT TO FALL IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF LOS ANGELES, ANOTHER GREAT AMERICAN CITY THAT SADLY HAS BECOME OVERRUN BY PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS AND IS SHEDDING CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS EVERY YEAR TO CITIES LIKE DALLAS TO NAME JUST TWO.
THE WORLD'S LEADING COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FIRM.
C V R E MOVED ITS GLOBAL HEADQUARTERS FROM CALIFORNIA TO DALLAS IN 2020 AND CONSTRUCTION GIANT AECOM FOLLOWED IN 2021.
WORSE STILL, DALLAS COULD BECOME LIKE CHICAGO, A CITY THAT THESE DAYS IS LESS KNOWN FOR ITS EXCEPTIONAL CULTURE, CUISINE OR ATTRACTIONS, AND IS MORE KNOWN FOR ITS TRULY SHOCKING LEVELS OF VIOLENT CRIME AND ITS STEADILY DECLINING POPULATION.
TO DATE, DALLAS HAS MADE VERY DIFFERENT CHOICES THAN OUR BIG CITY RIVALS.
WE'VE APPLIED BOTH AND SOLUTIONS TO ADDRESS VERY COMPLEX PROBLEMS. WE'VE FOCUSED ON DATA DRIVEN POLICY MAKING AND WE HAVE HONORED OUR RESIDENTS BY UNITING BEHIND AN AGENDA THAT PRIORITIZES THOSE WHO HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE CONSEQUENCES OF OUR DECISIONS.
WE'VE TAKEN A FIRM STANCE AGAINST PUBLIC CORRUPTION.
CURRENT CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR RECENT VOTE ON ETHICS REFORM.
WE'VE INVESTED IN RESTORATION PROJECTS AND MAJOR NEW DEVELOPMENTS THAT ARE GONNA BRING JOBS, ENTERTAINMENT, AND NEW LIFE TO OUR CITY.
WE'VE MADE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT THANK YOU, OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBER CASEY THOMAS AND, AND UM, JANIE SCHULTZ.
WE'VE MADE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT A TOP PRIORITY FOR THE FIRST TIME IN OUR CITY GOVERNMENT'S HISTORY.
BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY, WE'VE PRIORITIZED THE THREE BIGGEST GENERATORS OF OPPORTUNITY FOR DALLAS RESIDENTS, PUBLIC SAFETY PARKS AND PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.
THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY OF ANY GOVERNMENT AT ANY LEVEL, CONGRESSWOMAN JOHNSON, YOU KNOW THIS, ANY LEVEL OF GOVERNMENT IS TO PROTECT ITS CITIZENS.
IT DALLAS RESIDENTS DON'T FEEL SECURE.
OUR CITY'S OTHER OBJECTIVES ARE GUARANTEED TO FAIL.
I AM INCREDIBLY PROUD THAT WE, WE APPEAR THAT WE'VE PRIORITIZED PUBLIC SAFETY ABOVE ALL ELSE HERE IN DALLAS, NO MATTER WHICH WAY THE NATIONAL POLITICAL WINDS BLEW.
AND AS A RESULT, AS A RESULT, AS SENATOR CORIN POINTED OUT, WE DID RECENTLY BECOME, I DON'T CARE WHAT ANYBODY TELLS YOU, THESE NUMBERS DO NOT LIE.
DALLAS IS THE ONLY TOP 10 CITY IN AMERICA TO RECORD TWO CONSECUTIVE YEARS OF YEAR OVER YEAR REDUCTIONS IN EVERY MAJOR VIOLENT CRIME CATEGORY TRACKED BY THE FBI.
NO OTHER TOP 10 AMERICAN CITY HAS ACHIEVED RESULTS.
ANYTHING LIKE WHAT WE ARE SEEING IN DALLAS, PERIOD, FULL STOP.
THIS ACHIEVEMENT IS A TESTAMENT TO THE DEDICATION OF THE INCREDIBLE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT.
YES, YES IT IS, BUT IT'S ALSO A TESTAMENT TO THE COLLECTIVE STRENGTH OF OUR CITY.
YOU SEE, IN RESPONSE TO NATIONAL PROTESTS FOLLOWING THE TRAGIC KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD, SEVERAL MAYORS AND CITY COUNCILS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING RIGHT HERE IN TEXAS, VOTED TO CUT THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGETS BY ARBITRARY PERCENTAGES.
YOU KNOW WHAT ARBITRARY MEANS? IT MEANS THERE WAS NO RHYME OR REASON TO IT.
WE SAID THAT DALLAS NEEDS MORE AND BETTER TRAINED POLICE OFFICERS IN ADDITION TO A DATA DRIVEN VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION PLAN AND COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS TO IMPROVE THE SAFETY OF EVERY DALLAS NEIGHBORHOOD.
DALLAS HAS ALSO BECOME A NATIONAL MODEL FOR EXCELLENCE IN DEVELOPING INNOVATIVE GREEN SPACES BECAUSE OF OUR SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS IN OUR PARK SYSTEM.
THANK YOU ARUN AGRAWAL, OUR PARKWOOD PRESIDENT AND OUR MEMBERS OF OUR PARK BOARD WHO ARE HERE, CITY MANAGER'S,
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OFFICE, PARK BOARD, A PARK DEPARTMENT, PARK REC DEPARTMENT.IT'S BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENTS THAT WE'VE MADE IN OUR PARK SYSTEM THAT DALLAS JUMPED NOT ONE, NOT TWO 10 POSITIONS FROM 53 TO 43 ON THE PARKS FOUR INDEX, WHICH IS A NATIONAL RANKING.
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING I'M MADE UP.
THAT'S A NATIONAL RANKING OF PARK SYSTEMS IN THE 100 LARGEST CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES.
I COULDN'T BE MORE EXCITED IN CASE YOU CAN'T TELL ABOUT THE DIRECTION THIS CITY IS GOING IN TERMS OF INCREASING OUR RESIDENTS ACCESS TO PARKS, TRAILS, AND OTHER GREEN SPACES.
I HEAR OFTEN FROM DALLAS RESIDENTS WHO ARE JUST AS EXCITED AS I AM ABOUT OUR PROGRESS TOWARD A GREENER AND GREATER DALLAS.
IN FACT, JUST LAST MONTH I WAS STOPPED AT A TARGET BY AN EMPLOYEE NAMED GRACIE WHO ASKED FIRST IF I WAS THE MAYOR OF DALLAS, SHE WANTED TO KNOW IF SHE WAS TALKING TO THE RIGHT PERSON FIRST.
WHEN I CONFIRMED THAT I WAS, SHE EXCITEDLY TOLD ME THAT SHE RECEIVES MY WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AND THAT SHE WAS THRILLED TO READ ABOUT THE VISION FOR A PARK CALLED HAROLD SIMMONS PARK THAT DOESN'T EXIST YET, BUT SHOULD AND WILL A 250 ACRE COMMUNITY PARK THAT'S GOING TO TRANSFORM THE TRINITY RIVER CORRIDOR AND BECOME AN ICONIC DALLAS DESTINATION.
AND I GOTTA TELL YOU, UM, I COULDN'T AGREE MORE WITH MS. GRACIE.
FINALLY, I'M PROUD TO HAVE SUPPORTED TAX RATE REDUCTIONS EVERY SINGLE YEAR THAT I'VE BEEN YOUR MAYOR EVERY YEAR.
AND I'M EVEN MORE PROUD THAT LAST YEAR WE REDUCED THE CITY'S PROPERTY TAX RATE.
THANK YOU MR. SEAMAN FOR YOUR HELP WITH THAT.
THANK YOU COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR CURRENT COUNCIL MEMBERS FOR YOUR HELP WITH THIS FACT.
IT'S A FACT THAT WE REDUCED OUR CITY'S PROPERTY TAX RATE TO ITS LOWEST LEVEL IN 15 YEARS.
AND WITH THE LARGEST SINGLE YEAR RATE CUT IN FOUR DECADES, THAT'S A FACT.
AS YOU CAN SEE, IN FOUR YEARS, JUST FOUR YEARS, WE'VE MADE UNDENIABLE PROGRESS TOWARD PRESERVING DALLAS AS A CITY OF DREAMS. AND JUST LAST MONTH, DALLAS VOTERS REITERATED THEIR SUPPORT FOR MY VISION OF A DALLAS WHERE ANYBODY CAN ACHIEVE ANYTHING.
THAT'S WHY I AM REALLY RECOMMITTING US TO THREE GOALS AS WE LOOK TO BUILD FOR THE FUTURE.
FIRST, I'M GONNA WORK TIRE TIRELESSLY TO GET US EVEN CLOSER TO OUR GOAL, OUR SHARED GOAL OF BECOMING THE, NOT ONE OF THE BUT THE SAFEST MAJOR CITY IN THE UNITED STATES.
SECOND, I'M GONNA LEAD US FURTHER DOWN THE PATH TOWARD BECOMING THE MAJOR CITY WITH THE BEST PARK SYSTEM IN THE ENTIRE STATE OF TEXAS.
NUMBER ONE OF ALL TEXAS CITIES ON THAT PARK INDEX.
AND THIRD, I'M GOING TO ADVOCATE FIERCELY FOR ADDITIONAL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF.
SO THE DALLAS BECOMES THE MAJOR CITY WITH THE LOWEST RATE IN THE NORTH TEXAS REGION.
THE LOWEST PROPERTY TAX RATE OF ANY MAJOR CITY IN THE REGION IS STEADY PROGRESS TOWARDS THESE THREE GOALS.
THAT'S GOING TO ENSURE THAT DALLAS REMAINS A PLACE WHERE DREAMS CAN AND DO COME TRUE.
WHY, WHY THOSE THREE THINGS? FIRST, BECAUSE OPPORTUNITY BEGINS AND ENDS WITH SAFETY.
AND BECAUSE OF VIBRANT PARK SYSTEM CREATES OPPORTUNITIES FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES LIKE MINE GROWING UP, THOSE THAT DON'T HAVE BIG BACKYARDS OR SWIMMING POOLS OR PRIVATE COUNTRY CLUB MEMBERSHIPS OR PRIVATE GYM MEMBERSHIPS TO BE ABLE TO EXPERIENCE A DECENT QUALITY OF LIFE THAT'S IMPORTANT FOR OUR KIDS AND OUR FAMILIES.
IT'S, AND FINALLY, IT'S BECAUSE WITHOUT MEANINGFUL PROPERTY TAX RELIEF, RESIDENTS MAY CHOOSE OR EVEN BE FORCED TO FOREGO THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE AND WORK IN OUR GREAT CITY.
DALLAS IS RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY AND EVEN INTERNATIONALLY AS A RARE VALUE PROPOSITION.
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REPRESENT AMERICAN URBANISM AT ITS BEST.HOWEVER, LIKE ANY DREAM THE DALLAS DREAM COULD FADE, WHICH IS WHY STANDING UNITED, STAYING UNITED BEHIND THESE THREE GOALS IS SO ESSENTIAL.
I WANNA THANK AGAIN OUR OUTGOING COUNCIL MEMBERS, CASEY, THOMAS AND ADAM OF YOUR THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR EVERYTHING YOU DID.
YOU HAVE YOU, YOU HAVE MY SINCEREST GRATITUDE FOR THE SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS THAT YOU BOTH MADE IN YOUR INDIVIDUAL WAYS TO MAKING THIS AN EVEN GREATER CITY.
AND I WANT TO SAY TO ALL OF YOU, RETURNING AND ALL YOU NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS, CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU TWO.
IT'S AN, IT'S AN HONOR FOR ME TO STAND HERE TODAY AND SHARE IN THIS BLESSED, BLESSED OCCASION WITH YOU AND ALL OF YOUR FAMILIES AND ALL OF YOUR FRIENDS AND YOUR SUPPORTERS AND ALL THOSE FOLKS WITH THE LIGHTSABERS OUT THERE.
I'M TALKING TO THE COUNCIL NOW.
KNOW THAT THROUGHOUT THIS NEXT COUNCIL TERM, THERE ARE GOING TO BE CYNICS.
AND THOSE CYNICS ARE GONNA TELL US THAT WE HAVE TO PICK SIDES.
AND THOSE WHO THRIVE ON DIVISION AND CONFLICT, THEY'RE GONNA ENCOURAGE US TO BELIEVE THOSE SENTENCES.
THEY'RE GONNA TELL US THAT WE HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A SAFE CITY AND PROTECTING THE RIGHTS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR.
THEY'RE GONNA TELL US WE HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN AFFORDABLE HOUSING OR NEW BEAUTIFUL PUBLIC GREEN SPACES DELIVERING HIGH QUALITY SERVICES TO ALL DALLAS RESIDENTS OR LOWERING OUR TAX RATE.
BUT OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS Y'ALL HAVE BEEN AROUND.
NOW OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS, WE'VE PROVEN THAT THESE ARE FALSE CHOICES AND THAT DOWS RESIDENTS CAN HAVE IT ALL IN THIS EITHER OR WORLD.
YOU HAVE IN ME A BOTH AND MAYOR, WHICH DALLAS DESERVES FRANKLY.
AND DESPITE WHAT THE CYNICS AND THE DIVIDERS TELL YOU, DALLAS IS A GREAT CITY.
AND THAT'S WHY WE MUST CHOOSE GREATNESS EVERY SINGLE DAY FOR EVERY SINGLE DALLAS RESIDENT.
AND WE MUST NEVER SETTLE FOR ANYTHING LESS WHEN IT COMES TO OUR PEOPLE.
YOU TOLD ME WHEN I WAS 18 YEARS OLD THAT SOMEDAY I WOULD BE STANDING HERE AGAIN IN THIS EXACT SPOT, BUT THIS TIME TO DELIVER MY SECOND INAUGURAL ADDRESS AS THE MAYOR OF DALLAS.
I DON'T THINK MY MOTHER WOULD'VE BELIEVED YOU AND SHE BELIEVED IN ME MORE THAN ANYBODY.
I DON'T THINK MY FAMILY WOULD'VE BELIEVED YOU 29 YEARS IN 18 DAYS AGO.
MY PRESENCE ON THIS STAGE WAS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF MY FAMILY, MY FRIENDS, AND OF COURSE A LOVING AND SUPPORTIVE DALLAS COMMUNITY.
IT WAS COMPLETE STRANGERS WHO MADE THAT OPPORTUNITY FOR ME TO ATTEND GREENHILL SCHOOL.
DOESN'T BEGIN TO CONVEY THE EXTENT OF MY GRATITUDE.
THE WAY I STARTED IT, DALLAS IS AND ALWAYS WILL BE MY HOME.
AND IT'S THE HONOR AND PRIVILEGE OF A LIFETIME TO CONTINUE SERVING THE INCREDIBLE RESIDENTS OF THIS CITY.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL MY COLLEAGUES.
I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH ALL OF YOU TO PRESERVE AND PROTECT AND DEFEND, NOT JUST THE CONSTITUTION OF LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES AND OF THIS STATE, WHICH WE ALL HAD TO SAY, BUT TO PRESERVE, PROTECT, AND DEFEND THE DOWNSTREAM.
I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN ALL OF YOU, ALL OF YOU, WHICH MAKES ME CONFIDENT THAT THE DREAM WILL STAY ALIVE IN THIS CITY FOR GENERATIONS TO COME.
[01:10:01]
CHILDREN, FOR MY CHILDREN'S CHILDREN, FOR ALL OF YOUR CHILDREN.SO I WANNA SAY THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR TIME THIS MORNING.
I RAN LONGER THAN I WANTED TO, BUT I LOVE YOU SO MUCH, HAD SOME THINGS I WANTED TO SHARE WITH YOU.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRESENCE HERE TODAY.
I WANNA THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS AND FOR ALL THE MEMBERS OF THIS COUNCIL AND YOUR SUPPORT FOR THEM, WE'RE GONNA NEED IT FOR THOSE CYNICS AND THOSE DIVIDERS CUZ THEY'RE OUT THERE TOO.
AND WITH THAT, I WANT TO SAY IT IS TIME.
IT IS OFFICIALLY TIME FOR YOUR NEW DALLAS CITY COUNCIL TO GET TO WORK.
MAY GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU AND MAY GOD BLESS THE GREAT CITY OF DALLAS, TEXAS.
IF I COULD PLEASE HAVE THE CITY SECRETARY, BILLY RAY JOHNSON AND MAYOR JOHNSON TO JOIN US BACK ON THE STAGE.
THIS WILL BE FOR THE PRESENTATION OF YOUR CERTIFICATE OF ELECTION.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PLEASE ENJOY ONE FINAL SELECTION FROM THE SOUTH DALLAS COUNSELOR CORRAL.
[01:15:19]
THANK YOU SO MUCH TO THE SOUTH DALLAS CONCERT CHOIR FOR THAT, THAT WONDERFUL SELECTION.AT THIS TIME, PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO THE STAGE MINISTER JK HAMILTON, AS HE PROVIDES TODAY'S CLOSING BENEDICTION.
IF YOU DON'T MIND STANDING TOGETHER TO GOD BE THE GLORY FOR THE THINGS HE HAS DONE.
GOD, THANK YOU FOR THIS MOMENT.
THANK YOU FOR OUR NEW MAN WHO IS NOT SO NEW.
THANK YOU FOR CONTINUING HIS LEGACY AND EXTENDING HIS SHIFT.
NOW, LORD, WE ASK THAT YOU WOULD BLESS AMERICA AND WHILE YOU'RE BLESSED IN AMERICA, STOP BY TEXAS WHILE YOU'RE BLESSED IN TEXAS.
STOP IN DALLAS AND LORD BLESS EVERY STREET, EVERY AVENUE, EVERY BOULEVARD.
BLESS EVERY ENTITY, EVERY SCHOOL, EVERY BUSINESS, EVERY MARKETPLACE.
BLESS EVERY COMMUNITY FROM HOMES THAT SIT HIGH TO APARTMENTS THAT SIT WIDE AND EVERY PERSON WHO IS A CITIZEN OF THIS CITY.
BECAUSE LORD, WE KNOW THAT IF YOU BLESS HIM, WE'LL BE BLESSED NOW UNTO HIM WHO IS ABLE TO DO EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL THAT WE CAN ASK, THINK OR IMAGINE.
TO HIM BE THE GLORY AND THE HONOR AND THE POWER AND THE DOMINION AND THE MAJESTY.
AND GOD BLESS THE CITY OF DALLAS.
WELL, WE MADE IT TO THE END OF THE INAUGURATION.
WE THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME AND YOUR PATIENCE.
THE ONE THING THAT WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO REMEMBER IS THAT THERE WOULD BE NO ONE STANDING UP ON STAGE WITHOUT ALL OF YOU SITTING DOWN IN YOUR SEATS.
SO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HEAR YOURSELVES AROUND APPLAUSE AS WELL.
SO WHETHER IN PERSON OR WATCHING AT HOME, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US AND HAVE A GREAT DAY.