Southwest Lansing (MI) and my neighborhood

Notes from my live-blogging of the 2008 “State of the City” speech by Lansing (MI) Mayor Virg Bernero:

1. He emphasizes importance of working together with the city council.
2. State of our city is good and growing stronger, he says.
3. Banner year for growth and investment in city.
4. Change is in our neighborhoods, etc.
5. Best is yet to come.
6. Lansing has all the ingredients of greatness.
7. If we leverage assets, we can grow Lansing to become one of the great midwest Capitol cities.
8. Investment in city will create thousands of new jobs.
9. Have sent message that Lansing is open for business.
10. Jackson National life to invest $60 million in Lansing-area expansion.
11. Stay tuned for more economic expansion.
12. Lansing’s Old Town is the capitol of cool.
13. Lansing, MI is the Little Engine that could.
14. Voters will be asked for millage approval to combine library and Impression Five Museum.
15. Downtown driving economic progress of the city.
16. Recognized buildings and trade workers.
17. Demmer is adding 1,000 new jobs.
18. GM–our hometown car company. Auto press has declared that Lansing built cars are some of the best in the world.
19. We should toot our horns about the great cars built here.
20. We can compete in the global economy.
21. Talks about Lansing high tech companies.
22. Plugs Sparrow Hospital and Ingham Medical.
23. He embraces Granholm plan to create smaller high schools in the city.
24. He shakes everybody’s hand.
25. He salutes Lansing police chief Mark Alley. He’s proud of chief and department. We are blest to have the best.
26. Lansing neighborhoods; have stepped up action against absentee landlords
27. New developments in old neighborhoods; more homes on school for the blind.
28. He’s addressing foreclosure crisis.
29. If you’re in danger of losing home, don’t wait, communicate.
30. Creates neighborhood empowerment center headed by Lynn Martinez.
31. Proposes new program for making qualified improvements will offer 50 percent tax break.
32. City spending $2 million to create southside community center.
33. He asks each group to stand and be recognized.
34. Invites visits to www.gogreengolansing.com.
35. Has stopped irresponsible spending of the past.
36. Great fiscal challenge in year ahead.
37. He and his team were first Lansing employees to pay share of their healthcare.
38. As long as he’s mayor, Lansing won’t be left behind.
39. He invites people to see that Lansing is being rebuilt right before their eyes.
40. Join him in dreaming big dreams.
41. We stand in the doorway to our future.