Mayor Sam Jones

STATE OF THE CITY

2011 ADDRESS

TO OUR CHAMBER CHAIRMAN ROBBIE BAKER; WIN HALLETT,

PRESIDENT/CEO; CHAMBER MEMBERS; CITIZENS OF MOBILE AND TO
EACH OF YOU IN ATTENDANCE, GOOD AFTERNOON!

TEAM IS A TERM THAT REPRESENTS A GROUP OF PEOPLE – WHO MAY

FUNDAMENTALLY DISAGREE SOMETIMES – BUT AT THE END OF THE
DAY WILL WORK VIGOROUSLY IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY OF
MOBILE.

AT THIS TIME, I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNIZE THE LEGISLATIVE SIDE OF

MOBILE’S TEAM – THE CITY COUNCIL

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO INTRODUCE YOU TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE

OF OUR TEAM – THE CITY EMPLOYEES. WILL ALL OF YOU STAND!

WE EXTEND A HEARTFELT THANK YOU TO OUR CITY EMPLOYEES

BECAUSE THEY HAVE TIGHTENING THEIR FINANCIAL BELTS, POOLING
THEIR DEPARTMENTAL RESOURCES – AGAINST SOME INCREDIBLE
ODDS AND CONTINUING TO POLICE YOUR NEIGHBORHOODS; RESPOND
TO YOUR CALLS FOR HELP; PICK UP YOUR GARBAGE; KEEP YOUR
PARKS MAINTAINED AND SUPPORT THE OPERATIONS TO KEEP OUR
CITY RUNNING – EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE UNDER STAFFED AND
FUNDING HAS BEEN SEVERELY REDUCED. THEY ARE TO BE
COMMENDED FOR THEIR DEDICATION!

PLEASE KNOW THAT THESE EMPLOYEES – LIKE MANY OF YOU IN YOUR

RESPECTIVE JOBS, BUSINESSES AND HOMES ARE WEATHERING THE
COUNTRY’S TURBULENT ECONOMY WITH A RESPECT FOR YOUR TAX
DOLLARS AND THE REALIZATION THAT THEIR SERVICES ARE THE
ENGINE THAT KEEPS OUR CITY MOVING IN A POSITIVE DIRECTION.

SINCE THE BUDGET CUTS WERE MADE – WE HAVE GOTTEN AN

OPPORTUNITY TO SEE THE CALIBER OF EMPLOYEES WHO WORK FOR
THE CITY OF MOBILE. WE ARE EXTEMELY PROUD OF WHAT WE SEE.

MANY OF OUR DEPARTMENT RECEIVED GRANTS THAT REQUIRED NO

CITY MATCH. FOR INSTANCE, THE TRAFFIC ENGINEERING EMPLOYEES
VALUED THE SAFETY OF OUR CHILDREN SO MUCH THAT TOOK IT UPON
THEMSELVES TO APPLY AND GET A $1 MILLION COMPETITIVE GRANT
FOR SIDEWALKS AROUND SCHOOLS;

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I DON’T WANT YOU TO FORGET OUR POLICE AND FIREFIGHTERS.
REALIZING THE BUDGET CUTS, THEY BOTH RESPECTIVELY COMPETED
AND RECEIVED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN GRANTS TO HELP IN THE
STRENGTHENING OF THEIR DEPARTMENTS.

THERE ARE MANY MORE OF THESE STORIES AT THE CITY.

AS A RESULT OF THEIR HARD WORK — WE WILL BE ABLE TO BALANCE

THE 2011–12 BUDGET. THE CITY OF MOBILE, LIKE EVERY OTHER
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT IN THE STATE AND NATION ARE GRAPPLING
WITH A DOWNTURN IN THE ECONOMY.
PLEASE KNOW THAT WE HAVE REDUCED, CONSOLIDATED AND CUT TO
THE POINT THAT SOME OF OUR EMPLOYEES ARE DOING THE JOB OF
TWO AND THREE PEOPLE, ALL TO INSURE THE EXCELLENT DELIVERY
OF SERVICES.

IN ADDITION TO THE CITY’S TEAM – WE ARE GRATEFUL TO THE

CITIZENS OF MOBILE. YOU MAKE OUR CITY GREAT! FOR WE REALIZE
THAT THE GREATNESS OF ANY CITY IS DERIVED FROM THE GREATNESS
OF ITS PEOPLE.

WE GAIN STRENGTH FROM THE CITY’S DIVERSITY AND COLLECTIVE

IDEAS WHICH FUELS OUR NEIGHBORHOODS; STRENGTHENS THE FIBER
OF OUR CITY THROUGH VOLUNTEERISM; AND BUILDS A BETTER
TOMORROW FOR OUR CHILDREN.

IT IS YOUR DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT THAT HAS PROPELLED

MOBILE INTO THE GLOBAL MARKETPLACE. WE THANK EACH OF YOU
FOR YOUR FAITHFULNESS AND COMMUNITY SPIRIT – CARING ENOUGH
TO GIVE OF YOURSELF TO MAKE THE PLACE WE LIVE, WORK AND PLAY
A BETTER PLACE.

TODAY IT IS MY HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO DELIVER MOBILE’S STATE

OF THE CITY ADDRESS FOR 2011.

LAST YEAR…WHAT A YEAR! IT WILL GO DOWN IN OUR CITY’S

HISTORY BOOKS AS A YEAR WHERE WE WON SOME…AND LOST SOME.
NEEDLESS TO SAY, THE LOSES, SEEM TO OUTWEIGH THE WINS.

FROM THE LOST OF THE EADS BID TO THE NEWS OF OUR SHIP SAILING
AWAY, THE PAST YEAR WAS AN INCREDIBLE EMOTIONAL AND

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TURBULENT YEAR. WE CHEERED WHEN AUSTAL WAS AWARDED THE
NAVY CONTRACT. OUR COLLECTIVE HEARTS GRIEVED WHEN EADS
LOST THE AIR FORCE BID. AND WE WERE STUNNED WHEN CARNIVAL
REDEPLOYED OUR CRUISE SHIP TO ANOTHER CITY.

IN TOUGH TIMES, WE MEET OUR CHALLENGES HEAD-ON, ONLY TO

EMERGE STRONGER, MORE ENCOURAGED AND KEENLY FOCUSED! FOR
WE KNOW THAT WITH CHALLENGES COMES OPPORTUNITY.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT WE HAVE HAD OUR SHARE OF CHALLENGES

OVER THE PAST YEAR. THOSE CHALLENGES DID NOT CHANGE THE
FACT THAT MOBILE IS STILL DETERMINED, PREPARED AND
COMPETITIVE!

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE PUT IN PERSPECTIVE TWO VERY IMPORTANT

VENTURES THAT WERE IN THE FOREFRONT OF OUR EFFORTS OVER
THE LAST YEAR.

THE AIR FORCE TANKER CONTRACT AWARD WAS CERTAINLY

DISSAPPOINTING TO OUR COMMUNITY. BUT WE WERE NOT IN THE
COMPETITION BY CHANCE. WE WERE THERE BECAUSE WE WERE ABLE
TO FORM A PARTNERSHIP WITH EADS/AIRBUS FOR SEVERAL YEARS,
WINNING THE COMPETITION IN 2008. THESE COMPANIES BROUGHT
THEIR WORLD CLASS AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURING EXPERIENCE AND
EXPERTISE TO THE TABLE AND MOBILE BROUGHT THE EXCELLENT
INFRASTRUCTURE OF BROOKLEY INDUTRIAL COMPLEX, THE PORT OF
MOBILE, A PREPARED WORKFORCE AND A GREAT QUALITY OF LIFE.

WHILE THE AIR FORCE TANKER CONTRACT WAS NOT AWARDED TO

EADS, WE STILL HAVE OTHER OPPORTUNITIES ON THE TABLE.

WE ARE STILL ONE OF THE MOST COMPETITIVE AND DESIRABLE

LOCATIONS FOR MANUFACTURING AIRCRAFT IN THE WORLD. WE ARE
ACTIVELY EXPLORING OUR OPTIONS. AIR FORCE TANKER CONTRACTS
ARE RARE. COMMERCIAL AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURING PROVIDES MANY
MORE OPORTUNITIES. WE ARE PREPARED TO COMPETE AND WE WILL
DO JUST THAT.

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JUST RECENTLY, CARNIVAL CRUISE LINES MADE A DECISION TO
REPOSITION SOME OF ITS SHIPS. UNFORTUNATELY, THE SHIP
ASSIGNED TO OUR PORT WAS REPOSITIONED. WE SPENT SEVEN
YEARS BUILDING A CRUISE INDUSTRY IN MOBILE. IT WAS A
SUCCESSFUL VENTURE FOR OUR CITY AND REGION. OUR TERMNIAL IS
CONSIDERED ONE OF THE BEST IN THE COUNTRY AND WE HAVE A
VERY SUCCESSFUL DRIVE MARKET. CARNIVAL WAS PLEASED WITH
OUR COMMUNITY AND THE ATTRACTIONS MOBILE HAD TO OFFER. BUT
THE CRUISE BUSINESS IS A VERY COMPETITIE INDUSTRY. EVERY SHIP
IS COMPARED TO THE OTHER SHIPS IN ITS CLASS BASED ON
OPERATIONAL COST AND REVENUE.

ALL OF THE CRUISES THAT LEFT OUR PORT WERE FULLY BOOKED. THE
DETERMINING FACTOR IS THE TICKET PRICING THAT FILLS THE SHIP.
THE PROBLEM WITH MAKING A LOCAL ASSESSMENT IS THAT THE
TICKET PRICE INFORMATION AND TICKET SALES REVENUE IS ONLY
AVAILABLE THROUGH THE CRUISE LINES.

WHEN CARNIVAL MADE ITS DECISION TO MOVE THE ELATION TO

ANOTHER PORT, THEN AND ONLY THEN, WAS MOBILE ADVISED THAT
THE ELATION WAS NOT MEETING CARNIVAL’S EXPECTATIONS.

AFTER SEVEN (7) YEARS WE ARE A WELL ESTABLISHED CRUISE PORT

WITH EXCELLENT FACILITIES AND A PROVEN TRACK RECORD OF
DRAWING A GOOD DRIVE MARKET. WE HAVE EXAMINED OUR MARKET
AND WITH THE HELP OF OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND
PROFESSIONALS IN THE INDUSTRY, WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WE WILL
BE EXTREMELY COMPETITIVE IN COMPETING FOR ANOTHER CRUISE
SHIP.

THESE ARE TOUGH COMPETITIONS BUT WE ARE PREPARED TO

COMPETE AT A HIGH LEVEL. OUR PLANS AND PROPOSALS FOR
RECRUITMENT OF CRUISE LINES AND MARKETING OUR PORT WILL
START IN THE NEXT THIRTY (30) DAYS. WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT OUR
APPROACH WILL BE VERY COMPETITIVE AND UNIQUE.

PLEASE REMEMBER THAT WE ARE STILL BLESSED WITH A BEAUTIFUL

BAY, WHICH HOLDS A PROSPEROUS PORT. WE WERE FORTUNATE TO

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LAND SOME OF THE BIGGEST ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS IN
THE COUNTRY – THYSSENKRUPP AND AUSTAL.

WE ARE SURROUNDED BY STRONG MANUFACTURING AND A WORLD-

CLASS MARITIME SECTOR. WE HAVE A WEALTH OF EDUCATIONAL AND
MEDICAL FACILITIES WHO ARE DEPLOYING INNOVATIVE STRATEGIES
TO MEDICINE AND EDUCATION.

WE HAVE AN ABUNDANCE OF COMPANIES – BOTH LARGE AND SMALL –

THAT ARE CREATING THE NEW ECONOMY IN MOBILE.

WE HAVE STRONG AND PROUD NEIGHBORHOODS, FILLED WITH

CITIZENS WHO ARE CREATIVE AND PASSIONATE ABOUT THE PLACE
THEY CALL HOME.

WE HAVE A THRIVING ARTS AND CULTURAL SCENE, STELLAR MUSICAL

FESTIVALS LIKE BAYFEST. WE HAVE A REVITALIZED DOWNTOWN,
STIMULATING THE HEART OF OUR CITY.

WE HAVE A MELTING POT OF CITIZENS – CHANGING THE LANDSCAPE

OF MOBILE IN A WAY THAT MANY NATIVE MOBILIANS THOUGHT
UNIMAGINABLE. THEY COME FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD WITH AN
ARRAY OF CULTURES AND DIVERSED IDEAS.

THOUGH CHALLENGES CAUSE MOMENTARY ROADBLOCKS, IT CANNOT

STOP OUR COLLECTIVE ABILITY TO FORGE ONWARDLY TO SUCCESS.

WE ARE NEVER SATISFIED WITH WHERE WE ARE, BUT I ENCOURAGE

EACH OF YOU - TO ALWAYS BE PROUD OF WHO WE ARE.

THIS IS OUR MOBILE, A CITY ENTRENCHED IN HISTORY, BUT

PROGRESSIVE-ENOUGH TO STAY FOCUSED ON THE AMENITIES THAT
HAVE MAKE US A WORLD-CLASS CITY.

I AM MORE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE OF OUR CITY THAN AT ANY

OTHER POINT. THE REASON WHY IS BECAUSE OF PEOPLE LIKE EACH OF
YOU IN THIS ROOM.

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ADMITTEDLY, THERE ARE CHALLENGES WE NEED TO OVERCOME, BUT
IT WILL ONLY HAPPEN WHEN WE CONTINUE TO POOL OUR IDEAS AND
CREATE STRATEGIC INITIATIVES TO ADDRESS THOSE ISSUES.

OUR MOBILE WILL ONLY FAIL IF WE TAKE OUR EYES OFF OF THE PRIZE.
GOVERNMENT CAN STEER, BUT BY NO MEANS CAN THEY KEEP THE
SHIP ON COURSE WITHOUT THE HELP OF THE CREW.

WE ARE EACH THE FUTURE OF MOBILE. IT IS OUR COLLECTIVE

RESPONSIBILITY TO TELL MOBILE’S AWESOME STORY.

THE TENACITY OF CITY EMPLOYEES, RESIDENTS, BUSINESSES AND

OVERALL CITY WILL BE CHALLENGED IN 2012. BUT I AM CONFIDENT
WE WILL AGAIN WORK TOGETHER AND TURN THOSE CHALLENGES
INTO OPPORTUNITIES FOR MOBILE’S FUTURE!

WHEN YOU WEIGH OUR GOOD DAYS AGAINST OUR BAD, IT IS

DIFFICULT TO COMPLAIN BECAUSE WE ARE TRULY BLESSED!

A QUOTE BY CHARLES DICKENS SUMS IT UP,

“REFLECT ON YOUR PRESENT BLESSINGS,
OF WHICH EVERY MAN HAS MANY, NOT ON
YOUR PAST MISTFORTUNES, OF WHICH ALL
MEN HAVE SOME...”

THANK YOU!