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Thank you, District of Columbia!
Tonight, I am humbled and honored to stand before you as the next mayor of the District of Columbia. And I am equally proud to stand here next to my good friend and colleague, the next chairman of the council of the District of Columbia, Kwame Brown. Mr. Chairman-Elect, I know you will do an outstanding job, and I look forward to working with you and the entire council, as we move forward to build one city. This was not an easy journey getting here tonight. And the road ahead is even more difficult. The challenges we face as a city seem daunting. We've got to ensure that the school reform we began does not stop -- while expanding it so that parents and teachers are part of the process, and that more students enjoy its success. We have to address the sky-high unemployment rate that is ravaging our city. And we need to do more to support our struggling small business owners. We've got to do more to engage the community in the safety of our neighborhoods, and that begins by finding ways to get more police officers on our streets. We have to come together to find ways to address the huge budget crisis our city faces -- through shared sacrifice, by restoring fiscal responsibility and by showing respect for taxpayer dollars. We must come together to send a united messages to the congress -- no matter who is in control at the end of the night -- the people of our great city deserve the right and merit the opportunity to make decisions for ourselves! We pay our taxes and we do all the things required to be first-class citizens of this nation. And, perhaps most challenging, we have to find a way to heal the divisions in our city, and bring everyone together, in support of a common purpose, under the banner of one city, so that everyone has a chance to succeed and thrive in their communities. These are our shared challenges. But if there's one thing I know as a native Washingtonian -- it's that the people of our city are resilient. We are hopeful. We are optimistic. And there's nothing that we can't accomplish. But -- we all have to work together if we're going to do it. It doesn't matter if you live east or west of the Anacostia River. It doesn't matter if you have wealth or are struggling to make ends meet. It doesn't matter if you are black, white, yellow, or brown. It doesn't matter if you voted for me or not. If we're going to overcome these challenges, we all need to work together. We can't affored for anyone to sit on the sidelines. Over the last seven weeks, I've been encouraged by the thousands of people from all walks of life who've come to our town hall meetings across the city, sharing their visions and hopes for our city. But that's just the beginning. Now it's time for us to roll up our sleeves. As I said on primary night, my promise to you is that I will work every day to honor the trust you have placed in me and work hard to keep our city moving forward. But I need something from all of you as well -- get involved. Be a part of the process. And hold us accountable. Because only with your help can we truly create one city. Now, let me take a moment to thank the people who helped us get here. First, my family. Next, I want to thank my outstanding team of staff and volunteers who put so much time and effort into making this victory possible. And finally, to the people of the District of Columbia, I want to thank you for your support. I want to thanks you for your confidence. But most importantly, I want to thank you for your belief in one city. Tonight, we're here to celebrate. And to have a great time. But tomorrow morning, we've all got to get to work addressing our challenges. And get to work building one city! Because that is the pathway to the answers we need. Please help me to help you to help us! Thanks you very much. |
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