2016 mayor fraim soc address

8/19/2019 2016 Mayor Fraim SOC Address

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Mayor Paul D. Fraim

2016 State of the City Address

Friday, March 17, 2016

Good afteroo, ad tha! you for the "arm "elcome.

# "at to tha! $rya Ste%es ad e%eryoe at the Cham&er of Commerce

for hosti' this e%et.

(orfol! offers a lifestyle ad ameities that are attracti' e" residets ad

&usiesses "ho are trasformi' our city ito a %i&rat, resiliet coastal

commuity.

(oe of this "ould &e )ossi&le "ithout the su))ort of our citi*es . . . the

&usiess commuity . . . our colle'es ad ui%ersities . . . our military )arters ad

so may other )eo)le ad or'ai*atios.

(orfol! is mo%i' i a directio that e+oys &road su))ort, ad the city

coucil +ois me i tha!i' you for all you are doi' to ma!e our city a &etter

)lace to li%e, "or! ad )lay.


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e-re )leased to ha%e some disti'uished military 'uests "ith us today

•

Frech Geeral Deis Mercier, (A/-s Su)reme Allied Commader

/rasformatio, ad Germa Admiral Mafred (ielso are here. A)ril

1st Admiral (ielso "ill &e'i ser%i' as (A/-s De)uty Su)reme Allied

Commader /rasformatio. elcome to (orfol! Admiral.

• Admiral Phil Da%idso, Commader, S Fleet Forces Commad, ad

• ear Admiral 3ac! Scor&y, 3r., Commader, (a%y e'io Mid4Atlatic.

/ha! you all for &ei' here.

Also, a 'ood fried, retired Admiral 3oh C. 5ar%ey, 3r., ir'iia-s Secretary

of eteras ad Defese Affairs is here. Admiral, 'ood to ha%e you "ith us.

e are )roud of (orfol!-s historic role i defedi' the atio, ad of our

stro' &od "ith the military. Memorials o the do"to" "aterfrot attest to this

herita'e, ad remid us of the sacrifices made &y acti%e duty military mem&ers ad

their families i defedi' our coutry.

e dee)ly a))reciate their ser%ice a&road ad here at home.

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(et year mar!s the 100th ai%ersary of (a%al Statio (orfol!. Fouded i

1817 o the 'rouds of the 1807 3amesto" 9)ositio, the &ase 're" to &ecome

the "orld-s lar'est a%al statio ad a hi'hly %alued mem&er of the (orfol! family.

e loo! for"ard to a eciti' ceteial cele&ratio.

Ad the :ieuteat Go%eror, our o" al)h (ortham is i the house.

/ha!s al)h.

As "ell as our 'ood fried Co'ressma $o&&y Scott.

e are also hoored to ha%e "ith us D Presidet 3oh $roderic!,

ir'iia esleya Presidet Scott Miller ad /CC Presidet 9da $aehre4

;olo%ai.

# am also 'lad to ha%e t"o of my fello" mayors < ill Sessoms ad ;ey

ri'ht. Good luc! o your re4electio efforts 'uys.

===

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4/43

:ast moth-s cold sa) tri''ered a out&rea! of fires across the re'io, &ut

oe a))roachi' the ma'itude of the Fe&ruary 1>th four4alarm fire i

illou'h&y that dama'ed 1? &uildi's ad destroyed @.

For o%er 12 hours, more tha 60 Fire escue )ersoel &attled "id4

"hi))ed flames ad &itterly cold tem)eratures &efore eti'uishi' the &la*e.

Miraculously, o li%es "ere lost.

(orfol! Fire escue )ersoel tured i a heroic )erformace fi'hti' "hat

Chief 3eff ise descri&ed as oe of the "orst fires he-s see i his >7 years of

ser%ice.

# su))ort, our re'ioal allies came to our aid.

e are 'rateful for the assistace (a%y e'io Mid4Atlatic-s federal

firefi'hters )ro%ided at the fire . . . for ir'iia $each ad Chesa)ea!e, "ho set

firefi'hters to &ac!fill (orfol! statios . . . the cities of 5am)to ad Suffol! "ho

assisted i i%esti'ati' the fire-s cause ad ori'i . . .

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5/, "ho, after oe )hoe call, set &uses for firefi'hters ad residets to

use as "armi' statios, ad the ed Cross ad City staff "ho o)eed a ear&y

recreatio ceter for dis)laced residets.

/his "as a 'reat eam)le of re'ioal )lai' ad coo)eratio.

Chief ise is here. Please +oi me i tha!i' him ad all the first

res)oders for their 'reat "or!.

===

(orfol! is ir'iia-s 'ate"ay for 'lo&al trade . . . home to the "orld-s lar'est

a%al &ase, the (orth America headuarters for (A/ . . . ad the &usiess,

fiacial, educatioal, cultural, ad medical ceter of the re'io.

ecet e"s of se%eral ma+or de%elo)mets comi' to the city "ill reiforce

our )ositio as the dyamic ur&a ceter of 5am)to oads.

First "as /uesday-s formal aoucemet of )las &y Fortue 2B1 com)ay

Automatic Data Processi' to o)e a office ad &ri' early 2000 +o&s to (orfol!

"ith a a))roimate 80,000,000 )ayroll.

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ADP is a 'lo&al cor)oratio s)eciali*i' i &usiess outsourci' solutios.

/hey are oe of the "orld-s most io%ati%e, di%erse ad admired com)aies.

ith o%er B6,000 em)loyees, ADP ser%es 620,000 customers i 12B coutries.

/hey "ill occu)y all >7B,000 suare feet i the 2 Commercial Place office

&uildi' )urchased &y de%elo)er, $uddy Gadams, as )art of a lar'er )ro+ect called

City al!.

/his is the lar'est um&er of +o&s to come to the re'io i "ell o%er a

'eeratio, ad is estimated to ha%e a total aual ecoomic im)act of early ?8B

millio dollars. 9m)loyees should start arri%i' &y et fall.

/his too! true team"or!. Go%eror McAuliffe "as istrumetal. /he etire

city coucil su))lied )olicy directio ad su))ort. /he effort "as led &y city

maa'er Marcus 3oes ad his admiistratio "ith le'al ad%ice )ro%ided &y city

attorey $erard Pish!o.

Please +oi me i tha!i' all of them for such 'reat "or!.

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/ha!s also 'o to 59DA, the Cham&er of Commerce, the Greater (orfol!

Cor)oratio, the Do"to" (orfol! Coucil, Feste%ets ad may others for their

i%ol%emet ad su))ort.

At the heart of all of this "as $uddy Gadams ad his team "or!i' to secure

a lease that "or!ed for ADP.

Please 'i%e them all a roud of a))lause.

/his total effort "as a %alidatio of years ad years of )u&lic ad )ri%ate

)artershi)s "or!i' to &uild a authetic ur&a core ad a ecoomic e'ie that

"ould )ay di%ideds for the "hole city of (orfol!.

As a result, the etire office mar!et has si'ificatly ti'hteed, setti' the

sta'e for future de%elo)met, future ecoomic 'ro"th, ad more +o& creatio.

Cetral to this "as $uddy-s aoucemet of his )la to )urchase the 2?4

story $a! of America &uildi' ad rede%elo) it ito #co at City al! 4 "ith 27B

luury4si*ed a)artmets.

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ith dramatic %ie"s of the 9li*a&eth i%er, a 'roud floor restaurat, )ool

ad s)a fitess facility, #co "ill offer a style of a)artmet li%i' uli!e aythi'

else i 5am)to oads.

/his 100 millio dollar i%estmet "ill &ri' B00 more residets to the

&usiess district, ad &oost the um&er of )eo)le li%i' do"to" to "ell o%er

6,000.

i'ht o time, ad set to o)e i March of et year, is /he Mai < a 224

story 5ilto 5otel < ad /he 9cha'e, a 10B,000 suare foot, state4of4the4art

coferece ceter. ith a moder desi' sym&olic of do"to"-s reaissace,

ad umerous 'uest ameities, /he Mai is 'oi' to &e a trasformatioal

de%elo)met that "ill allo" us to attract more ad lar'er cofereces.

/he )ro+ect created 700 costructio +o&s, ad it "ill add B00 e" +o&s "he

it o)es.

More 'ood e"s.

or! o the aterside District is o trac! for a A)ril 2017 o)ei'. /he

)ro)erty is 80 leased "ith teat aoucemets set to &e made et moth. e

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already !o" a&out Star 5ill $re" Pu&. /he de%elo)met "ill create early 1,000

full ad )art4time +o&s. /aylor Gray ad 3eifer Carter from /he Cordish

Com)aies are here. elcome to (orfol!.

/o'ether, ADP, the Mai, aterside District, ad #co at City al! "ill &e a

'ame cha'er for do"to". /hey "ill dramatically ehace do"to"-s

%i&racy, ad hel) &oost ad di%ersify the ecoomy creati' more i%estmet

o))ortuities.

/he sco)e of "hat $uddy has accom)lished o%er the )ast se%eral years is

ama*i'. Almost si'le4hadedly, he has created a ei'h&orhood i the middle of

do"to" "ith a total i%estmet o%er >00 millio dollars. /hat icludes

fiished "or! ad )ro)erties uder de%elo)met or costructio. $uddy is also

here.

Maratho De%elo)met o" leases 6B0 a)artmets do"to", that are 87

occu)ied. /here are aother B?B uits comi' olie i the et t"o years.

$uddy is dri%i' the &oom i do"to" residetial li%i', ad his street

le%el retail is 100 )ercet leased.

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10/43

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:ess tha 2 hours a'o, Go%eror McAuliffe, the City of (orfol! ad

Mo%emet Mort'a'e, oe of the atio-s fastest 'ro"i' mort'a'e com)aies,

aouced it "ill relocate 6B0 +o&s from "ithi the re'io ad add aother 200

e" +o&s to the former 3. C. Peey &uildi' at Military Circle.

Mo%emet Mort'a'e "as co4fouded i 200@ &y /o&y 5arris ad retired

(F: )layer Casey Cra"ford. # 201?, the com)ay 'eerated more tha 21?

millio dollars i re%eue ad ori'iated loas totali' more tha @ &illio

dollars.

Mo%emet Mort'a'e "ill &ri' e" eer'y to the Military 5i'h"ay

corridor . . . set the toe for the future rede%elo)met of Military Circle . . . ad

hel) us attract additioal e" de%elo)met. /o&y 5arris is here. Please "elcome

him to (orfol!.

# early May, Simo Pro)erty Grou) "ill &rea! 'roud o (orfol! Premium

utlets at the former :a!e ri'ht Golf Course. /his 7B millio dollar )ro+ect

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"ill create B00 costructio +o&s ad @00 full ad )art4time +o&s. #t is the most

im)ortat re'ioal retail destiatio sice MacArthur Ceter, )ro+ected to 'eerate

u)"ards of > millio dollars i aual ta re%eue.

(orfol! &ased S: (us&aum ealty "as istrumetal i ma!i' this )ro+ect a

reality. Please +oi me i tha!i' them.

Eou-ll &e sho))i' at the )remium outlets &y et summer.

e are also a railroad to". Sice 18@2, (orfol! has )roudly ser%ed as

headuarters for (orfol! Souther Cor)oratio, the atio-s )remiere railroad.

%er the years, (S has &ee oe of the city-s stro'est )arters. /hey cosistetly

ad 'eerously su))ort the arts. #ts em)loyees ser%e o city ad o4)rofit &oards.

/hey %oluteer i the commuity.

Ad +ust yesterday, Go%eror McAuliffe, (orfol! Souther ad the City of

(orfol! aouced that (orfol! Souther is i%esti' @.2 millio dollars i its

headuarters here to accommodate 16B e" em)loyees do"to". # "at to tha!

(orfol! Souther for all it does for us, ad eted a "arm "elcome to the e"

em)loyees "ho &ri' "ith them a additioal 20,000,000 )ayroll )ac!a'e. /his

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solidifies (orfol!-s role as home to our fla'shi) cor)orate citi*e. /ha! you

(orfol! Souther for your %ote of cofidece.

# also "at to co'ratulate ic! Moorma "ho retired as eecuti%e

chairma of the (S &oard of directors at the ed of the year. ic! "as succeeded

&y (S )residet ad C9 3im Suires. Mr. Suires is the latest i a lo' lie of

'reat leaders at (S "ith a fi'hti' s)irit "ho "ill maitai the ide)edece of

our railroad. 3im, tha!s for the 'reat +o& you ad your team are doi'.

/he o%er B,000 +o&s ADP, Mo%emet Mort'a'e, Simo, Cordish, Gold ;ey

P5, ad (S are &ri'i' to the city is far ad a"ay the most im)ortat ecoomic

de%elo)met achie%emet i more tha a 'eeratio. hy they chose (orfol!

should ecoura'e us all. /hey cited our "ired ad s!illed "or!force ear&y

colle'es ad ui%ersities a %ariety of housi' o)tios a 'ro"i' creati%e

commuity a )ro4&usiess e%iromet the arts li'ht rail &i!e )aths ad a

%i&rat, "al!a&le do"to".

All are ualities this coucil ad others &efore it "or!ed so hard to achie%e

i stri%i' to &uild a 21st cetury city. Decades of "or! are o" &ei' re"arded as

&usiesses ad residets disco%er the e" (orfol!.

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# also eed to add that our colle'es ad ui%ersities are addi' real %alue to

our ecoomic de%elo)met efforts. For #stace, ld Domiio i%ersity ra!s

secod i ir'iia i )roduci' S/9M45 de'rees.

/he Go%eror ad Geeral Assem&ly reco'i*ed this effort "ith their

decisio to fud costructio of a 71 millio dollar chemistry &uildi' ad

authori*ed )lai' of a 7? millio dollar 5ealth Scieces &uildi'. /hese

facilities re)reset D-s u"a%eri' commitmet to &olster our ecoomy ad

&ri' hi'h4)ayi', )ri%ate4sector +o&s to our re'io.

:i!e"ise, (orfol! State i%ersity-s selectio &y the federal

'o%ermet as the lead istitutio for a cy&ersecurity educatio ad "or!force

)i)elie iitiati%e "ill also cotri&ute to &usiess de%elo)met ad +o& 'ro"th i

this e%er more critical field.

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14/43

:ast year, our e"est )u&lic &uildi's 4 Slo%er :i&rary ad the cosolidated

courthouse < o)eed to "ides)read acclaim.

e of the 'oals for the Slo%er "as to ma!e it a destiatio, a )lace )eo)le

of all a'es "ould "at to %isit ad e)eriece ofte. /his has &ee achie%ed &y

offeri' areas ad acti%ities for childre, tees ad adults.

/he li!i' of Slo%er-s moder &uildi' to the historic city hall ad )ost

office &uildi' e)resses a )hiloso)hy of )reser%i' the &est of the )ast "hile

&uildi' the future. /his led the America #stitute of Architects ad the America

:i&rary Associatio to select Slo%er for the )resti'ious 201B :i&rary $uildi'

A"ard.

/he li&rary "as also a factor i )ersuadi' ADP to locate do"to".

Costructio o Phase ## of the courthouse is o trac! for com)letio et

March. #t icludes a ma!eo%er of the ci%ic ceter )la*a, ad &ri's Mai Street

across St. Paul-s $oule%ard.

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15/43

From Mai Street to ley oad, the Gra&y Street corridor is &ei'

eer'i*ed &y the reo%atio of the former io Missio, the historic ir'iia

Clu& &uildi', the /a*e"ell 5otel, ad more, ad &y the additio of 1B e"

&usiesses ad restaurats that ha%e o)eed or are )re)ari' to o)e.

/he Do"to" (orfol! Coucil is cotri&uti' to this acti%ity "ith its

i&rat S)aces )ro'ram, "hich )ro%ides 'rats to e" ad eisti' &usiesses that

create street4le%el %itality. Follo"i' Decem&er-s roud of a"ards, three e"

&usiesses 4 :amia-s Cre)es, Muddy Pa"s )et store ad Price #! Com)ay <

mo%ed to the ?00 &loc! of Gra&y Street.

Grats made to eisti' &usiesses iclude $ric! Achor $re" 5ouse <

"here &rothers Phil ad Gle Smith i%ested 2.1 millio dollars i a first4class

reo%atio of the former 3ac! ui-s. #t +ust o)eed last Friday, ad it is a 'reat

additio to do"to". Please "elcome Phil, "ho is here.

Ad it-s a&out time "e tha!ed Sture Si'fred, $ar&ara Ho&y ad oie

Ho&y for their may years of i%estmet i do"to". /heir latest ad )erha)s

&est effort is :eoe-s, their sith restaurat, "hich should o)e this summer < a

2,000,000 )ro+ect "ith roofto) dii'.

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/ha! you for your cofidece i (orfol!.

# the emer'i' Chelsea district, /he $irch, "hich o)eed i 2011, ser%es

uality rare ad eotic &eers, ad "as +ust rated the Bth &est &eer &ar i America &y

SA /oday. e are %ery )roud of all of Chelsea.

/he arts district < or (9( District as it-s o" called 4 s)ra' to life last

year "ith da**li' "all murals ad the additio of t"o e" arts %eues < or!

elease ad Glass heel Studio.

or! elease is a multi)ur)ose ehi&itio ad e%ets s)ace i the historic

/eaco &uildi' o Gra&y de%elo)ed &y $rother utter.

Glass heel Studio < de%elo)ed &y the Patricia ad Dou'las Perry

foudatio, located o ley oad < is a cotem)orary art studio "ith t"o rotati'

'alleries ad a studio artist )ro'ram. /he Perry-s are ot a&le to &e "ith us today,

&ut $rother utter is < )lease hel) me tha! them for their i%estmet i (orfol!.

Follo"i' its mo%e to the Du!e Grace &uildi', the D-Art Ceter o" calls

the (9( District home. D-Art, or! elease, Glass heel, the Chrysler

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Museum "ith its Perry Glass Studio, ad the 5arriso )era 5ouse 'i%e the

(9( si stro' achors to 'ro" from.

#t "ill ha%e se%e oce "or! is com)lete o Phase ## of the 5u'h . Co)elad

Ceter < a secod classroom ad theater &uildi' for the 5urrah Players.

For more tha >0 years, 5u'h has used the theater to )ro%ide studets "ith

a erichi' educatioal e)eriece. /he 5urrah Players eduri' )o)ularity

attests to 5u'h-s talet, so 5u'h, tha! you for all you do for our youth.

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:ed &y the Chrysler Museum < (orfol! is the cultural ca)ital of the

Commo"ealth. /he ir'iia Sym)hoy, ir'iia Arts Festi%al, ir'iia )era,

ad ir'iia Sta'e Com)ay are atioally reco'i*ed.

ur colle'es ad ui%ersities alo' "ith umerous other arts or'ai*atios

all cotri&ute to the a&udat cultural o))ortuities.

/his seaso mar!s Maestro 3oA Falletta-s 2Bth ai%ersary "ith the

Sym)hoy. der her &ato, the Sym)hoy has &ecome oe of the fiest

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orchestral 'rou)s i the coutry, ad /odd oselie& Dace is cele&rati' 10 years

o Gra&y Street.

/he ir'iia Arts Festi%al is cele&rati' its 20th ai%ersary, o& Cross ad

com)ay ha%e lied u) a &loc!&uster seaso featuri' )erformaces &y Eo Eo Ma,

the Al%i Ailey Dace Com)ay, ad of course, the ir'iia #teratioal /attoo,

amed &y the America $us Associatio as the to) .S. e%et of (orth America-s

100 $est 9%ets for 2016.

/he /attoo "ill also feature the first America Pi)e $ad Cham)ioshi).

/hree hudred )i)ers i ei'ht &ads from Caada, the ited ;i'dom ad the

.S. 4 ad ra!i' amo' the &est i the "orld 4 "ill com)ete for to) hoors at

Sco)e. #t "ill &e the &i''est 'atheri' of )i)e &ads i .S. history.

/he arts are %ital to (orfol!. /hey disti'uish us for their hi'h uality "hile

im)ro%i' our ecoomy.

# a city as di%erse as ours, "ith so may differi' )oits of %ie", the arts,

icludi' )u&lic art, hel) &ri' us to'ether. e ca all a'ree a&out our lo%e of

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&eauty ad the arts )ro%ide this i our li%es ad i the )u&lic realm. #t "or!s to

uify us.

More tha ay commuity i 5am)to oads or the Commo"ealth, "e

su))ort the arts ad are )roud to do so. /hey deser%e our su))ort &oth )u&lic ad

)ri%ateI.ad for 'ood reaso.

hat "ould "arm "eather &e "ithout Feste%ets ad its "aterfrot festi%als

led &y 5ar&orfest 4 the lo'est rui' free maritime festi%al i the atio. /his

year, 5ar&orfest cele&rates its ?0th ai%ersary "ith three days of tall shi)s, music,

family fu ad a s)ectacular fire"or!s sho".

Feste%ets has &ee a essetial i'rediet i do"to"-s re%itali*atio, ad

i (orfol!, &ecomi' a re'ioal etertaimet destiatio. For more tha >0

years, ;are Scher&er'er ad her taleted staff ha%e )roduced a"ard4"ii'

"aterfrot e%ets i do"to" ad i cea ie", &ri'i' millios of )eo)le to

(orfol!. /o ;are ad e%eryoe at Feste%ets, tha! you for all you ha%e doe

ad cotiue to do for us.

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20/43

# also "at to tha! Mary Miller ad the fol!s at the Do"to" (orfol!

Coucil for their solid ste"ardshi) of all thi's do"to", ad for 'i%i' us a

'reat family traditio "ith the Grad #llumiatio Parade. D(C-s First Fridays

ha%e also &ecome %ery )o)ular e%ets. # a thro"&ac! to yesteryear, the 2016

series !ic!4off o A)ril 1st "ill de&ut the retur of streetli'ht arches o Gra&y.

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ith more tha B00 aimals, four cotiets, ei'ht 'ardes ad a half4

millio %isitors a year, the ir'iia Hoo is a "orld4class attractio ad a 'reat )lace

for families. /his year the Hoo "ill &e cele&rati' its 11Bth ai%ersary "ith a

%ariety of e%ets icludi' the retur of Hoo to Do, a ca)ital cam)ai' for a re)tile

house, ad the o)ei' of /he Aimal elless Cam)us.

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/he $otaical Garde has de%elo)ed a atioal re)utatio for ecellece.

/hey are o" hosti' :ater Asia. >6 "or!s of art < some four stories tall ad

hi'hli'hti' traditioal Asia themes. hether see duri' the day, or illumiated

at i'ht, this is a s)ectacular ehi&itio.

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21/43

More tha a uarter4millio %isitors e)lored (auticus ad the $attleshi)

Wisconsin last year. (auticus- em)hasis o e%irometal educatio led to a"ards

for its 3uior Scietists Clu& ad for its )artershi) "ith the 9li*a&eth i%er

Pro+ect.

:ast year, the city "elcomed the retur of Cari%al Cruise :ies as

)asse'ers from across the mid4Atlatic &oarded shi)s &oud for the $ahamas ad

$ermuda. %erall, early >@,000 cruise shi) )asse'ers, ad 1?,000 cre"mem&ers

%isited Do"to" (orfol! i 201B.

/his year, our schedule cotiues to 'ro", i fact, "e are dou&le4&oo!ed for

a day i cto&er, "ith a shi) at 5alf Mooe ad aother at :am&erts Poit. e-ll

roll out the red car)et for more tha ??,000 )asse'ers ad 1?,000 cre" i 2016,

creati' a eormous ecoomic im)act.

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/o stre'the our city-s lo'4term fiacial sustaia&ility, the coucil

ado)ted )olicies that ha%e structurally &alaced the &ud'et ad fully fuded the

9coomic Do"tur ad is! Maa'emet reser%es.

e fiished the fiscal year "ith a @ millio dollar sur)lus, ad our )reset

o)erati' &ud'et, lar'ely &ecause of efficiecies, is less tha it "as si years a'o.

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22/43

For the third strai'ht year, real estate assessmets "ill see a icrease, ad

are )ro+ected to icrease et year. %er the last 20 years, assessmets city"ide

ha%e 'ro" from 7.@ &illio dollars to [email protected] &illio dollars < a stro' si' of a

'ro"i' ad resiliet ta &ase.

#t-s remar!a&le "he you cosider this 'ro"th occurred duri' the 'reat

recessio i a city that "as already 8B de%elo)ed.

ur )o)ulatio 're" a'ai last year, o" stadi' at o%er 2?7,000. #t has

icreased e%ery year for the )ast B years 4 lo' eou'h to declare this a tred.

9%e more ecoura'i', our )o)ulatio is 'etti' you'er < early oe4third

of our residets are milleials.

At last cout, there are more tha 20>,000 +o&s i the city "ith o%er B,000

more o the "ay, ad "e cotiue to ha%e the re'io-s hi'hest a%era'e "ee!ly

"a'e.

/he uem)loymet rate of B.2 is >.> )erceta'e )oits lo"er tha fi%e

years a'o < 'reat e"s.

22


23/43

/he stre'th of our o4lie &usiess commuities, to'ether "ith efforts to

im)ro%e &road&ad access for residets ad &usiesses to &e "ired ad "ireless,

"as reco'i*ed &y iteret techolo'y 'iat Goo'le, "hich amed (orfol! as

ir'iia-s eCity.

====

:ast fall, (orfol! "elcomed a e" cor)orate citi*e < the CD# Cor)oratio.

CD# )ro%ides e'ieeri', #/ ad staffi' solutios i a ra'e of idustries,

icludi' the defese idustry.

Follo"i' a half4millio dollar reo%atio of its &uildi' i (orfol!

#dustrial Par!, CD# o)eed last fall &ri'i' 200 hi'h uality +o&s to the city.

Scott Cummi's, CD# Director of 9'ieeri' ad Go%ermet Ser%ices, is here

"ith us. Please +oi me i "elcomi' him ad all CD# em)loyees to (orfol!.

Setara-s recet aoucemet that costructio is set to &e'i o a 188

millio dollar e)asio at (orfol! Geeral 5os)ital is 'reat e"s for the re'io-s

health care.

2>


24/43

/hree floors "ill &e added to the ;aufma ad i%er Pa%ilio "i's, 1@

o)erati' rooms "ill &e e)aded ad moderi*ed, ad the emer'ecy de)artmet

"ill &e e)aded.

Setara (orfol! Geeral has &ee ra!ed t"o years i ro" &y U. S. News

and World Report as ir'iia-s &est hos)ital. # the )ast 1@ moths, )atiets from

2@ states, Puerto ico, Caada, Germay ad other coutries ha%e tra%eled to

Setara (orfol! Geeral for cardiac, cacer, eurolo'y ad urolo'y care, ma!i' it

a Mid4Atlatic ad iteratioal destiatio for ad%aced medical treatmet.

Ad i less tha a "ee!, the ri&&o "ill &e cut o the fial )hase of Setara

:ei'h 5os)ital-s 120 millio dollar reo%atio.

====

Coloa-s Shi)yard < located i $er!ley 4 is the oldest family4o"ed ad

o)erated )ri%ate shi)yard i the atio. #t recetly aouced )las to i%est >0

millio dollars to e)ad its o)eratios "ith a lar'er dry doc!, ad to add B1 e"

+o&s.

2?


25/43

Coloa-s has called (orfol! home sice 1@7B, ad last year cele&rated its

1?0th year. Co'ratulatios to e%eryoe at Coloa-s. ;are Coloa is "ith us

today.

der the steady had of its eecuti%e director ad C9 3oh eihart, the

Port of ir'iia roared &ac! to )rofita&ility i 201B, hadli' early 20 millio

tos of car'o %alued at 60 &illio dollars < a record year that made the )ort the

fifth lar'est i the atio. Ad they are o trac! to ha%e aother record &rea!i'

year.

Accordi' to a 201? study, the )ort 'eerates more tha 60 &illio dollars

i s)edi', 7 of the state-s GDP < ad )ro%ides more tha >7?,000 +o&s. /hat-s

8.B of the state-s em)loymet.

/o )re)are for e%e lar'er shi)s, the )ort ad Army Cor)s of 9'ieers are

e%aluati' dred'i' the chaels dee)er tha B0 feet.

he com&ied "ith >1 millio dollars i im)ro%emets uder"ay at (#/,

this "ill allo" the )ort to mar!et the dee)est chaels ad most moder termials

o the 9ast Coast.

2B


26/43

# a effort to stimulate 'reater e)ort acti%ity, the city esta&lished the

Glo&al #itiati%es Fud, offeri' direct access to ca)ital for &usiesses loo!i' to

eter or e)ad ito the 'lo&al mar!et)lace.

/he 'oal is to create more com)aies li!e Sorretio Mariai, a

iteratioal firm fouded more tha 20 years a'o &y ic! ad Felicia Mariai.

/he Mariais maufacture hi'h uality furiture that-s shi))ed "orld"ide.

/he ma+ority of their 604)erso "or!force li%es i (orfol!. /he com)ay also

"or!s "ith the Secod Chaces )ro'ram to hire e4offeders.

Sorretio Mariai is i a 'ro"th mode, ad )las to i%est u) to ? millio

dollars for a e)asio i the Dou'las Par! area, ad add a additioal B0 to 60

e" +o&s.

ic! ad Felicia are "ith us, ad today +ust ha))es to &e their >@th "eddi'

ai%ersary. . . )lease stad so "e ca reco'i*e you.

====

26


27/43

/he City-s 7B4year )artershi) "ith (orfol! ede%elo)met ad 5ousi'

Authority has )roduced historic achie%emets. #t has re%itali*ed do"to", &uilt

e" ei'h&orhoods, re%itali*ed others, ad hel)ed de%elo) the cam)uses of

(orfol! State ad ld Domiio ui%ersities, ad /ide"ater Commuity Colle'e

that are so im)ortat to us.

More recetly, it has hel)ed trasform 9ast cea ie" "ith e"

commuities. 9ast $each, 5ar&or al! ad $ay $ree*e Poit ha%e icreased

homeo"ershi) rates ad, sice the year 2000, hel)ed icrease )ro)erty %alues

from ?2 millio to ?@0 millio dollars. ur )arter i the remar!a&le 9ast

$each de%elo)met is $art FryeI.let-s tha! him.

De%elo)met of the e" $road Cree! commuity has icreased )ro)erty

%alues from essetially *ero to @2 millio dollars, "hile addi' e" assets such

as the ama*i' @0 millio dollar ;roc Ceter, a e" ichard 5. $o"li'

9lemetary, ad a achor &rach li&rary that "ill start costructio later this year.

# the Church StreetJ5uters%ille corridor, rede%elo)met efforts ha%e

icreased %alues from >B millio dollars i 2000 to 1?2 millio dollars today.

27


28/43

Ad i $er!ley, rede%elo)met cotiues "ith the $a!s at $er!ley, a ?4story, B04

uit a)artmet commuity &y DA De%elo)met that &ro!e 'roud last fall. #t

is amed i hoor of lo'4time ci%ic leader Geor'e $a!s. Geor'e is here, so

)lease stad.

# ards Corer, acuisitio ad demolitio of &li'hted )ro)erties i De&y

Par!, de%elo)met of the 1@ millio dollar ;K; sho))i' ceter ad a e" 20

millio dollar Sam-s Clu& ha%e hel)ed dou&le )ro)erty %alues to early >80

millio dollars.

====

#m)ro%i' studet test scores ad the recet a))oitmet of Dr. Melida

$ooe as su)eritedet )romise &etter days ahead for (orfol! Pu&lic Schools.

Dr. $ooe retured to (orfol! after ser%i' as school su)eritedet i orcester,

Massachusetts. She is here today, so )lease 'i%e her a "arm "elcome home.

Dr. $ooe &e'is her teure i the middle of the most am&itious school

costructio )ro'ram i the city-s history.

2@


29/43

At this momet, four schools are uder costructio the Cam)ostella ;

throu'h @ S/9M School ichard 5. $o"li' :archmot ad cea ie"

elemetary schools. #cludi' the e" Crossroads 9lemetary, this is a 1>0

millio dollar i%estmet, ad fulfills the coucil-s )romise to &uild fi%e e"

schools. e are also committed to &uildi' a e" Cam) Alle 9lemetary "ith

the (a%y, ad desi' "or! is o" uder"ay.

he com&ied "ith the 200? o)ei' of (or%ie" 5i'h, Colema Place

9lemetary ad the reo%ated ad elar'ed $lair Middle School, "e "ill ha%e

&uilt 8 schools i 1> years at a total cost of 2?? millio dollars.

/he most si'ificat ca)ital i%estmet i our school system i the city-s

history.

#t-s o" time to focus o &uildi' a Career /echical 5i'h School. f the

estimated 1.B millio +o& o)ei's i the Commo"ealth i the et decade, B04

60 "ill ot reuire a four4year de'ree. $ut, they "ill reuire ad%aced traii'

i techical s!ills. /his is "hat C/9 schools s)eciali*e i, alo' "ith ri'orous

academics.

28


30/43

A C/9 School educates studets for a ra'e of career o)tios such as

tras)ortatio, health sciece ad iformatio techolo'y.

/he C/9 school e+oys real su))ort, &ut it "ill reuire a stro' )artershi)

amo' the city, the school system, the &usiess ad )hilathro)ic commuity ad

the state. ital for our childre-s future, it should &e our um&er oe )riority 'oi'

for"ard.

====

/he root of so may of the social challe'es "e face < "hether it-s crime,

educatioal attaimet, uem)loymet, or )u&lic health ca &e e)laied &y the

)resece of )o%erty. At 22, (orfol!-s )o%erty rate has remaied essetially

ucha'ed for decades.

/his led to the a))oitmet of a &lue ri&&o tas! force that recommeded

focusi' )o%erty reductio efforts o early childhood educatio, youth career

)ath"ays, adult "or!force de%elo)met ad ei'h&orhood re%itali*atio.

$e'ii' "ith last year-s &ud'et, >.8 millio dollars has &ee allocated

to"ard im)lemeti' those recommedatios. More "ill &e eeded.

>0


31/43

1.? millio hel)ed esta&lish a housi' trust fud to address the eed for

afforda&le housi'.

1 millio "as set aside for )lai' the Career /echical 9ducatio hi'h

school.

Ad 1.B millio "as dedicated to im)lemeti' recommedatios for

"or!force de%elo)met, ei'h&orhood re%itali*atio ad early childhood

de%elo)met.

/he "or!force de%elo)met com)oet "ill &e stre'theed &y a 2.7

millio dollar 5D 'rat that "ill allo" (5A to )ro%ide "or! readiess,

educatio ad fiacial em)o"ermet ser%ices to 22B families i the Eou'

/errace )u&lic housi' commuity.

/o'ether "ith our )ri%ate ad o4)rofit )arters, "e ca ad "e "ill &e'i

to mo%e more (orfol! residets out of )o%erty ad ito the maistream. LPAS9

>1


32/43

/e years a'o, the city ado)ted a $lue)rit to 9d 5omelessess. #t "as a

&old &e'ii' to tac!le a tra'ic ad com)licated )ro&lem. :oo!i' &ac!, it is

remar!a&le "hat has &ee accom)lished.

e o" ha%e a ffice to 9d 5omelessess that has )artered "ith do*es

of o4)rofit or'ai*atios to res)od to the eeds of homeless citi*es 4 es)ecially

families, %eteras ad the chroically homeless.

he "e started, there "as o su))orti%e housi' ay"here i the re'io.

/oday there are >20 uits. /he first 60 "ere &uilt i (orfol!, ad oce Church

Street Statio is com)leted at the ed of the year, aother ?0 uits "ill come o4

lie. 3ust last "ee! Crescet Suare "as o)eed i ir'iia $each.

As )art of our commitmet to %eteras, i Se)tem&er 201? (orfol! &ecame

the first city i ir'iia to si' o to the (atioal Mayor-s Challe'e to 9d

eteras 5omelessess.

e met that challe'e last eteras Day, tha!s to the assistace of our

may )arters at the federal, state ad local le%el.

>2


33/43

# "ould also li!e to ac!o"led'e "ith dee) a))reciatio, e%eryoe "ho-s

hel)ed ma!e our 5omeless Coect e%ets a 'reat success. /"ice a year for the

)ast te years, o%er B00 %oluteers ha%e assem&led at Sco)e to ser%e a a%era'e of

?B0 )eo)le eedi' assistace. #t is a is)iri' eam)le of huma com)assio.

====

As a city early surrouded &y "ater, floodi' has &ee a fact of life here for

ceturies. $ut risi' seas ad si!i' lad ha%e made floodi' a commo)lace

occurrece.

#t is a formida&le challe'e "ith multi)le solutios < oe of them

ie)esi%e. So the recet aoucemet that (orfol! "ill recei%e most of a 120

millio dollar federal flood miti'atio 'rat "as %ery "elcome e"s, ad allo"s

us to mo%e ahead o t"o im)ortat )ro+ects.

/he first is i the hio Cree! "atershed east of do"to". /here, )ortios

of ;im&all /errace ad estmister A%eue "ill &e ele%ated &erms ad s"ales

"ill &e costructed ad marshes im)ro%ed to ca)ture storm "ater i the

Chesterfield 5ei'hts ei'h&orhood.

>>


34/43

/he secod )ro+ect is de%elo)met of a Ncoastal resiliece acceleratorO to

iduce e" &usiesses de%oted to com&atti' risi' seas.

$e'ii' this s)ri', the Army Cor)s of 9'ieers &e'is a ma+or )ro+ect

to re)leish the &each from 9ast cea ie" to illou'h&y. /he city is

res)osi&le for 2B of the cost of this >@ millio dollar effort < a&out 8 millio

dollars.

he fiished, it "ill 'reatly im)ro%e the &eaches, ad )rotect &ay frot

commuities from storm sur'e floodi'.

Com)lemeti' this is a recetly a))ro%ed sad maa'emet )la to )rotect

the dues ad )romote &each sta&ility.

/he Army Cor) also chose (orfol! for a com)rehesi%e study to e%aluate

alterati%es for coordiated ad im)lemeta&le solutios for flood ris!

maa'emet. ur selectio "as su))orted &y the hite 5ouse, "hich has called

(orfol! a atioal model.

%er time, "e ha%e de%elo)ed a stro' )artershi) "ith our frieds at the

Cor)s ad "e should tha! them.

>?


35/43

/he city "ill also &e )art of a +oit lad use study the (a%y "ill &e

coducti' to &etter uderstad the effects of climate cha'e ad sea le%el rise o

a%al facilities here ad i ir'iia $each.

# additio to o4'oi' flood miti'atio )ro+ects such as raisi' road"ays,

istalli' more )um) statios ad com)leti' draia'e im)ro%emets, "e-%e also

&ee arro"i' o)tios ad cost estimates for flood &arriers to )rotect areas i

Ghet, cea ie" ad a lar'e )ortio of the city i the :afayette i%er

"atershed.

Miti'atio is also eeded i the (e"to Cree! "atershed, "hich

ecom)asses the St. Paul-s re%itali*atio area. /hese are &i' )ro+ects "ith &i'

costs reuiri' more assistace from the federal 'o%ermet.

Flood miti'atio is )art of a lar'er effort focused o resiliecy. # 201>,

(orfol! &ecame oe of the first mem&ers of the oc!efeller Foudatio-s 100

esiliet Cities. /his iitiati%e is hel)i' cities aroud the "orld &ecome &etter

a&le to meet )hysical, social ad ecoomic challe'es throu'h colla&orati%e

)ro&lem sol%i'.

>B


36/43

====

(orfol! has oe of the &est )olice de)artmets i the coutry, ad uder

Chief Mi!e Goldsmith-s leadershi), (PD is &ecomi' a more a'ile or'ai*atio,

ca)a&le of ada)ti' uic!ly to a cha'i' e%iromet.

A 'ood eam)le of this is the Crisis #ter%etio /eam, a +oit effort "ith

the Commuity Ser%ices $oard to trai officers i ho" to res)od more effecti%ely

to calls i%ol%i' )eo)le "ith se%ere )sychiatric )ro&lems.

# less tha a year, the )ro'ram 'raduated 200 )olice officers ad esta&lished

a ro%i' )atrol dedicated to as"eri' )sychiatric crisis calls.

/his has resulted i a u)recedeted decrease i arrests ad use of force &y

officers.

# reco'itio of this su)erior )erformace, the ir'iia C#/ Coalitio

a"arded the (orfol! Crisis #ter%etio /eam the 201B C#/ Pro'ram of the Eear

A"ard, so )lease +oi me i co'ratulati' (PD o this im)ortat achie%emet.

(PD "as also amo' the first )olice de)artmets i the state to ado)t the

use of &ody cameras. i'ht o", >?0 officers are eui))ed "ith &ody cameras.

>6


37/43

Aother 2B0 are o order, eou'h to eui) all uiformed officers i the Field

)eratios $ureau.

/he chief has also im)lemeted )ro'rams to im)ro%e officers- res)ose to

cultural, 'eder4&ased, a'e4related ad socio4ecoomic differeces, ad to idetify

&eha%ior )atters idicati' a officer may eed retraii' or su)er%isory

iter%etio.

/hese )roacti%e ste)s, to'ether "ith (PD-s etesi%e commuity outreach

efforts, )lace it i the forefrot of the most io%ati%e )olice de)artmets.

#-m also )leased to re)ort the o%erall crime rate fell a'ai last year &y >.

hile %iolet crime "as u), the > decrease i o%erall crime cotiues a 1B year

tred that, sice 2000, has see %iolet crime fall 2B, )ro)erty crime &y >6 ad

total crime &y >B.

/his achie%emet is due to solid )olice "or!, citi*e )artici)atio ad the

'ood "or! of the Crime :ie )ro'ram.

====

# the Glo&al ecoomy, tras)ortatio is destiy . . . for our ecoomy

to reach its full )otetial, our tras)ortatio et"or! must im)ro%e.

>7


38/43

ith the 5am)to oads /ras)ortatio Accouta&ility Commissio, "e

o" ha%e a %ehicle for fudi' ad &uildi' e" )ro+ects. So far, ie ha%e &ee

idetified "ith a )rice ta' of @.6 &illio dollars.

f those, the first )hase of "idei' #46? o the Peisula is uder

costructio, "ith the secod )hase slated to &e'i this fall.

the Southside, &ids "ill &e ad%ertised et moth o Phase # of a )ro+ect

to im)ro%e the #46?J#426? itercha'e. /he secod )hase "ill &e ad%ertised for &id

3auary.

Costructio is at last uder"ay o the #4B6? #termodal Coector. #t is a

17B millio dollar )ro+ect. #t "ill im)ro%e traffic co'estio i ad out of the

a%al &ase ad assist i the hadli' of icreasi' car'o loads at the )ort.

#t is desi'ed to hel) di%ert truc! traffic off 5am)to $oule%ard. #t also is

the first le' of the third har&or crossi'.

>@


39/43

Sice 1887, the third crossi' has &ee the re'io-s uaimously a'reed

u)o )riority for co'estio relief at har&or crossi' cho!e)oits < es)ecially at

the 5$/.

#t has &ee edorsed &y e%eryoe from the (a%y, the Cham&er of Commerce

ad (orfol! Souther Cor)oratio to the (orfol! Federatio of Ci%ic :ea'ues.

For the re'io-s ecoomic future, "e must fid a "ay to &uild the third

crossi'.

or! o the 2.1 &illio dollar Midto" /uel )ro+ect 4 oe of the re'io-s

lar'est hi'h"ay )ro+ects i the last >0 years is early com)lete. he fiished,

ho)efully et year, it "ill dou&le the ca)acity of the B0 year4old crossi', ad

reduce roud4tri) tra%el time &y >0 miutes.

#t "ill &etter coect the re'io ad, +ust as other &rid'e4tuel )ro+ects ha%e

doe, "ill stimulate the ecoomy, ad create +o&s "hile relie%i' some )ressure at

the Do"to" ad 5$/ tuels.

#t "ill also offer traffic relief o 5am)to $l%d. ad $ram&leto A%eue.

>8


40/43

ltimately thou'h, addi' more hi'h"ay laes "ill ot sol%e our co'estio

)ro&lems. Solutios must iclude alterate modes of tras)ortatio, ad these

iclude &us, li'ht rail ad hea%y rail.

(orfol! is the oly city i the Commo"ealth "ith a li'ht rail system, ad

"or! is o" )roceedi' o )las to eted the lie to the (a%al $ase, the et

lo'ical destiatio.

:et-s ho)e our frieds i ir'iia $each "ill mo%e ahead o etedi' /he

/ide from (e"to" oad to the /o" Ceter. /his is a atural coectio that

"ill im)ro%e commerce &et"ee the t"o cities e%e as it )ro%ides more

commuters a %ia&le alterati%e to the automo&ile.

ith the retur of itercity )asse'er rail i 2012, ridershi) has icreased

each year. :ast year, early 1B?,000 )eo)le rode the trai. /he Commo"ealth

has o" com)leted fudi' for ca)acity im)ro%emets &et"ee (orfol! ad

ichmod to allo" for trais t"o ad three. /rai t"o should &e i ser%ice &y

201@.

====

?0


41/43

(orfol! is a richly di%erse city, ad as "e loo! for"ard to the comi' year

ad &eyod, there is much to &e tha!ful for.

ur ecoomy is di%ersifyi' ad im)ro%i'.

:ocal re%eues are 'ro"i'. /he &ud'et is "ell4maa'ed ad structurally

&alaced. e fiished the fiscal year "ith a @ millio sur)lus.

ur uem)loymet is lo"er, ad more )eo)le are "or!i'. /he crime rate

cotiues o a do""ard tred, ad "e are "or!i' dili'etly to im)ro%e the li%es

of our eediest fello" citi*es.

e ha%e the &est city em)loyees ad &est city maa'er i ir'iia.

ur )o)ulatio is 'ro"i', ad 'ro"i' you'er as )eo)le ad &usiesses

redisco%er the may ad%ata'es of real city li%i' < its arts ad cultural lifeI.

hi'her educatio o))ortuitiesI. com)rehesi%e ad co%eiet medical careI..a

%i&rat do"to"I.. ei'h&orhoods of e%ery %ariety from ur&a to

su&ur&aI..&i!e )aths, &eaches ad "ater"aysI.. ad the co%eiece of li%i'

i the heart of the re'io.

?1


42/43

(orfol! is a %i&rat ad historic )ort city "here citi*es, the military, ad

&usiesses are creati' the most dyamic ad authetic ur&a "aterfrot

commuity i America.

All of this ma!es it )ossi&le to say that the state of this old sea)ort city is

stro', ad the future is %ery &ri'ht.

After 22 years as mayor, this is my 20th ad fial State of the City s)eech.

# ha%e cherished this lo', sometimes too lo', co%ersatio "e ha%e had

a&out the "ell4&ei' of our commuity.

ur city has made real )ro'ress o%er the last cou)le of decades. or!i'

to'ether, "e ha%e &uilt a &etter home for oursel%es ad our childre, ad "e are

)ositioed to ca)itali*e o the mometum 'eerated. ith recet aoucemets,

ad more o the "ay, # !o" "e ha%e tured a corer.

My o)timism is also &ased o my &elief that there is a taleted, ca)a&le,

you'er 'eeratio )reset ad ea'er to ta!e (orfol! for"ard. #-m 'oi' to e+oy

"atchi' it ha))e.

?2


43/43

/ha! you for your may years of hard "or!, ecoura'emet, ad su))ort.

#t has &ee a hoor.

God &less you ad God &less the City of (orfol!.

2016 mayor fraim soc address

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