City of Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer gave his State of the City Address on Wednesday, February 27, 2013, to a full house at Orlando City Hall. Below are the highlights. You can watch the video or read the transcript of the entire speech on the City of Orlando website.
The biggest news to come out the address is Dyer’s very clear statement that he will NOT be running for Governor.
He also touched on many projects that will be happening in the next few years.
In the speech, he touched on the need for the new police headquarters, saying that a new state of the art police station is needed to continue the “technology-based policing” that the 100+ cameras downtown have already begun to achieve and the 17 new cameras going in along Semoran Boulevard will achieve.
He acknowledged that while downtown has been successful, it's missing entertainment options for families. “We also want Downtown to be as vibrant a place for families as it is for 20-somethings on Saturday nights.”
He spoke of the growth that downtown is experiencing.
The address lasted just over 30 minutes and was filled with classic Mayor Dyer optimism. The speech focused on the achievements the city made during Dyer’s past 10 years (the day before his tenth anniversary of being in office) and the major plans the city looks to achieve over the next 10 years.
The biggest news to come out the address is Dyer’s very clear statement that he will NOT be running for Governor.
“After careful consideration, I have decided that I will not run for Governor. I believe that I have a responsibility to the people of Orlando to finish what we started. The next few years are going to be critical in terms of Orlando’s economic recovery and our efforts to create the jobs of the future. The decision not to run came down to a simple question. Are the next several years better spent on the campaign trail? Or, are they better spent at City Hall working every day to make Orlando the best place on earth to live, work, learn and raise a family? When boiled down to that question, the decision was remarkably easy. And, when I think about the stories of the residents we’ve heard today, there is no place I’d rather be than Orlando.”
When talking about Universal Studios, Mayor Dyer might’ve let the cat out of the bag on one big Universal Orlando announcement. It wasn't the "urban high crime area" tax breaks Universal Orlando has been claiming in order to pay less tax. It wasn't the tax payer funded bridge proposed for Universal Orlando.
“This summer they [Universal Studios] will open the new Transformers 3D ride, followed by the opening next year of a new resort hotel and the expansion of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.”
That last part is what raised eyebrows. Was Mayor Dyer saying that the new Harry Potter area would open next year? According to Universal, it will not. Universal has called anything like that just speculation.
In the speech, he touched on the need for the new police headquarters, saying that a new state of the art police station is needed to continue the “technology-based policing” that the 100+ cameras downtown have already begun to achieve and the 17 new cameras going in along Semoran Boulevard will achieve.
He acknowledged that while downtown has been successful, it's missing entertainment options for families. “We also want Downtown to be as vibrant a place for families as it is for 20-somethings on Saturday nights.”
He spoke of the growth that downtown is experiencing.
“In 2006, we joked that the “crane” was the official bird of downtown because of all the construction. While we missed them during the recession, we are happy to report that our cranes appear to be off the endangered species list.”
He explained that the next ten years will mean “not shying away from big ideas.” He used this as his segue to talk about the possible soccer stadium. The stadium looks like it will be placed downtown, possibly on some Parramore property recently acquired by the city, blocks from the Amway Center. While he did not provide official information on the stadium's appearance or it's likelihood of even getting built, Mayor Dyer is in full support of the *idea* of a stadium:
“We owe it to our community to work together to make this [the soccer stadium] happen. This stadium is about far more than sports. Orlando’s international flights have doubled in the last six years. Our local Hispanic population is booming. And, soccer is the world’s most popular sport, with Orlando boasting the second highest youth participation in soccer in the country. This means a world of soccer fans, and their economic impact, is at our front door.”
He talked about a new program which will have every Orlando resident trained in “Hands Only” CPR and the use of AED’s within the next five years.
He gave an update on the See Art Orlando program where he announced local artist Jacob Harmeling as the first artist for the program. Harmeling’s sculpture will be located in the roundabout near the intersection of Central Boulevard and Osceola Avenue. It should be in place by September, 2013.
He gave an update on the See Art Orlando program where he announced local artist Jacob Harmeling as the first artist for the program. Harmeling’s sculpture will be located in the roundabout near the intersection of Central Boulevard and Osceola Avenue. It should be in place by September, 2013.
The address lasted just over 30 minutes and was filled with classic Mayor Dyer optimism. The speech focused on the achievements the city made during Dyer’s past 10 years (the day before his tenth anniversary of being in office) and the major plans the city looks to achieve over the next 10 years.