Today is a gloomy day in san Antonio, overcast and drizzling spotty rain. It seems a good time to present an abbreviated reprint of Mayor Phil Hardberger's annual report for 2007, which paints a bright picture for 2008.
Dear Friends,
I am proud to say that 2007 marks another year in which San Antonio continued to emerge as a dynamic city of great appeal, one
which is not only growing in population but is also recognized for its healthy mix of jobs, high quality of life, and welcoming people.
San Antonio expanded its economy in key sectors such as medicine and high tech. This year, we welcomed Microsoft and Lowe’s
data centers and helped craft a deal to allow Rackspace Managed Hosting to build a campus here in San Antonio, paving the way
to adding as many as 5,000 new technology jobs to our local economy.
As we grow we must take steps to preserve the charm, character and quality of life that make San Antonio such a special place.
One way we do that is by taking steps to ensure the quality of our air, water and tree canopy even as we build. To that end, we
acquired more than 1,000 acres of new parkland this year, completing the purchase of the former Voelcker Dairy Farm, which we
will develop as a major, 311-acre citywide park.
We are in the final stages of redeveloping the historic Main Plaza as a central gathering spot to be unveiled in
spring 2008. Also underway is an ambitious upgrade of the 13 miles of the San Antonio River from Brackenridge
Park to Mission Espada. When that’s completed, our children will be able to hike and ride bikes along a linear park
that connects downtown to the historic missions on San Antonio’s South Side, and further knits us together as a
community.
We’ve earned national recognition for our lively arts scene, and we increased our arts investment to nearly $8 million
to support a diverse mix of local arts organizations. The Houston Street Fair and Market, featuring all local artist
and entertainers, has experienced healthy growth since it began in October 2005. And we are planning a new citywide
arts event for March of 2008 called “Luminaria: Arts Night in San Antonio.”
This year, San Antonio voters overwhelmingly chose to invest in streets, drainage, parks and libraries with a $550
million bond package to modernize our infrastructure. We have taken key steps to build a more businesslike
culture in San Antonio, improving services at our Cliff Morton Development and Business Services Center and
expanding our 311 customer service line to respond rapidly to community concerns.
San Antonio is set apart as a special place by its people, who are hardworking, generous and determined. Because
of our people, the future is bright for San Antonio. Together we are building a city of great possibility and promise.
Sincerely,
Phil Hardberger
|
