[Archived] Alexandria Mayor Highlights Success, Identifies Challenges in Annual State of City Address

City Press Release


	City of Alexandria, Virginia Office of the City Manager Alexandria City Hall 301 King Street, Suite 3500 Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3211 www.alexandriava.gov Telephone: 703.838.4300 Fax : 703.838.6343

Alexandria Mayor Highlights Success, Identifies Challenges
in Annual State of City Address

Today, Mayor Kerry J. Donley gave his State of the City address to an overflow crowd at the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce's annual State of the City Breakfast held at the Radisson Hotel in Old Town Alexandria.

Mayor Donley declared that the City "is in great shape," adding, "With the regional economy slowing--a 'growth recession' or 'soft landing' as some have labeled it--we will have to be innovative in protecting and improving our position in what will be a more competitive region. Alexandria is well-positioned to withstand any slowdown in the economy because of our past actions and responsible decisions."

Mayor Donley gave a number of examples why Alexandria is in such great shape: quality of life which is the City's hallmark; a vibrant economy reflected in a growing employment base with the number of people employed in the City reaching an all time high of 91,437 and the unemployment rate dropping to an all time low of 1.3%; a growing real property tax base; the continued interest of technology firms in locating in Alexandria; continued growth in the number of trade associations in Alexandria which number over 312; and our tourism industry which reported generating almost a half a billion dollars in spending and $10 million in local taxes.

The Mayor said that the resolution of three major issues, Potomac Yard, the Patent and Trademark Office and the Woodrow Wilson Bridge, by the previous City Council balance quality of life and economic viability and reflect the "...kind of well-organized planning, decision-making and management (that) help make Alexandria one of the most attractive and desirable cities in the country."

The Mayor also listed challenges facing the City in the future: securing stable and reliable revenue sources; supporting and expanding mass transportation to move people and not cars, and reducing the traffic impacts within the City and its neighborhoods; keeping Alexandria a safe place to live and work (preliminary figures for Part I crimes for 2000, which consist of violent and property crimes, are lower than in 1999, which were the lowest in 33 years for Part I crimes and the lowest in 38 years for violent crimes alone); finding a new location for the City's health department; the financial challenges associated with a growing student population that is expected to increase from 11,617 students this past September to 14,000 students by September 2005 and who presently come from 66 countries and speak 45 languages; increasing affordable housing opportunities in the City; and beginning the process of coming to a concensus on the type of redevelopment that should occur in the City, since the City is essentially built -up.

In delivering his speech, Mayor Donley expressed frustration with the Genereal Assembly and gave a number of examples where local authority is being reduced or curtailed. The Mayor has been working with other Northern Virginia officials on a number of initiatives such as the proposed 1% sales tax for transportaion and education. He remains committed to fighting for local control and said, "Richmond, we have problems! Give us the tools to fix them!"

The Mayor closed his remarks by relating his visit to the bond rating agencies this past spring where the City once again received a double-triple A rating from Moody's and Standard and Poors and where one agency remarked that "the City was the Tiger Woods of financial management" and the other agency stated, "if we gave a triple A plus rating we would have to give it to the City."

The Mayor's State of the City Address can be found by clicking on the marquee scroller on the City's homepage (ci.alexandria.va.us).

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