Editor’s note: Quotes from Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton are taken from a transcript of Thursday’s speech.
Mayor Greg Stanton discussed the need for Phoenix to break out of its traditional economic cycle to create a new, thriving economy during his second State of the City Address Thursday at the Sheraton Phoenix Downtown Hotel.
Stanton formally introduced the new Downtown Phoenix, Inc., a group that “puts decision-making power in the hands of committed locals, downtowners who understand how to balance livability and commerce.”
David Krietor was introduced as the executive director of DPI. The organization’s board of directors will include Kimber Lanning of Local First AZ, Tim Eigo of Downtown Voices Coalition, Cindy Dach of Roosevelt Row Community Development Corp., and Erlinda Torrez of the Arizona Latino Arts & Cultural Center.
Stanton’s plan for the upcoming year focused on achieving economic stability for Phoenix through becoming more responsive, innovative and entrepreneurial. In addition to looking ahead, he highlighted several major accomplishments in Phoenix, including the development of the Biomedical Campus.
The Health Sciences Education Building opened in July 2012 and the city broke ground last week on the University of Arizona Cancer Center. The Biomedical Campus will join together Arizona State University, the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University, along with other organizations such as St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center and the Translational Genomics Research Institute.
These projects will create an annual economic impact of approximately $500 million, Stanton said.
“The city is more than a landlord here,” he said. “We committed $14 million during the worst economy since the Depression … because the cancer center is everything we want in the new Phoenix economy — an engine for high-wage jobs and a driver for better, life-sustaining health care.”
Stanton also discussed several other projects that are currently in progress in central Phoenix, including the bicycle-sharing program centered around the light rail and set to debut this year. He also detailed PHX Renews, the largest revitalization project of vacant land in the nation and a pilot program for temporary adaptive reuse across the city.
Further, the mayor outlined the growth of the light rail, which served a record 13.5 million riders in 2012. Ground was also broken on the three-mile Northwest Extension, which is just one of four extensions in planning.
Stanton also talked about the role of minorities in shaping Phoenix. He referenced both the DREAM Act and the new anti-discrimination ordinance that will affect LGBT and disabled individuals.
“We had to take action – decisive, forward-thinking action. And that’s exactly what we did,” Stanton said. “Today in Phoenix, no one will be denied a home, a job or a restaurant meal because of whom they love or their sexual orientation.”
He noted the city council’s approval of the city’s investment in the new law school on the Downtown campus, as well as the numerous housing and apartment projects in various states of approval and construction.
“A great downtown isn’t skyscrapers alone. It must be a neighborhood chock-full of life,” Stanton said. “We are well on our way.”
He continued by listing several cultural developments downtown, including the tripling of funding for arts and culture grants and the opening of a privately funded art gallery in City Hall.
“We must grow sustainably, making decisions today that protect tomorrow. We need safer neighborhoods and to embrace our city’s diversity, more support for our schools and more support for arts and culture,” Stanton said. “Let’s preserve our city’s history, and build a downtown that pulses with life.”
Stanton closed his speech by identifying the role of Phoenicians in shaping the future of their city.
“The future of Phoenix is not guaranteed,” Stanton said. “We have to make the right choices. We have to earn it. And we will. Today, the state of our city is strong. But together we will create the even stronger future Phoenix so richly deserves.”
Contact the reporter at kimberly.koerth@asu.edu
