Betsy Hodges Statement on Mayor R.T. Rybak’s Final State of the City Address

Betsy Hodges released this statement in response to Mayor Rybak’s State of the City today.

“People have confidence in Minneapolis again. The mayor laid out today precisely how we have made the progress we've made, and the responsibility we all have of making sure that progress continues.

Together, we have built a city that works and weathered this recession by keeping an eye on the bottom line while keeping true to our progressive ideals.  We’ve never stopped working for a city that’s safer and sounder, with a brighter future for everyone. I am proud of our work to make sure Minneapolis is poised to emerge from this recession stronger.

I know Mayor Rybak will work to improve our city until the last hour of the last day, After that, it will be up to all of us to continue our progress and take on our next challenges.

As mayor, I will make sure we continue to run this city well: balancing the budget, keeping our families safe and delivering city services.

But there is always more to be done. We need to unify this city. We need to create jobs in every neighborhood. We need to keep building a transportation system that’s an engine of economic growth that will take people to jobs and bring jobs to people. We need to support families and create an environment where all of our children prosper: recommitting ourselves to pre-natal programs for expectant mothers, pre-kindergarten for our kids, safe schools and strong communities of families supporting families.

To grow this city, we need make it easier to prosper in Minneapolis. We welcome everyone who comes here to contribute, from across the state or from around the world. In addition to an educated workforce and great transportation model, we need a city that people want to live in - parks, trails, bike paths and the arts.

We need everybody in the city to benefit from our opportunities. We need to build relationships to get things done.  And that’s why I’m running for Mayor”