Release Date: January 28, 2010
Office of Mayor Julián Castro: 207-7083
Mayor Castro delivers State of the City Address
The Decade of San Antonio: A Big City transforming into a Great City
In his first State of the City speech today, Mayor Julián Castro proclaimed San Antonio as a city on the move that will vault forward economically in the coming decade.
"This is the decade of San Antonio, the decade of our emergence as an economic powerhouse nationally and internationally," Castro said. "We'll get there by building up brainpower and opportunity, making vibrant our public spaces, and getting the fundamentals of city government right."
Castro told a record crowd of more than 900 business and community leaders that his administration will not hide from the city's most difficult issues, which include raising the educational attainment level of the local workforce and investing in the city's urban core.
"Great cities are defined by their downtowns. San Antonio must invest in downtown and make it a magnet for residents and visitors alike," Castro said. "In these next few years, we will put a new streetcar system on the ground, redevelop our beloved Hemisfair, and enhance our Riverwalk to breathe new life into our downtown."
On Jobs:
"The top priority for 2010 is creating jobs for San Antonians. Our city has fared better than most American communities during this downturn, but we must work to fare better. 20,000 net new jobs in 2010 is the goal."
Green Economy:
"We must embrace new economic opportunities. San Antonio can and should become a leader in the green economy by investing in green job training, incentivizing green manufacturing and leading the way in the use of renewables to meet our energy needs."