As with each of you, I’m certain, the holiday season is a time to reflect on the past and look forward to what the future will bring. We commit to letting bad habits go and are excited about starting fresh, each working towards what we fully hope will be a better future.

Of course I went through that process as we all do, on a personal level, but I also did it as your Mayor, and I want to openly and honestly share my thoughts with you.

I don’t believe we can be stuck in our past and move forward at the same time, but I do know the value and importance of looking back to see how far we’ve come and to ensure we carry those things that are part of us and that have served us well, into the future.

It wasn’t difficult to look back on the past year or so and see what I can refer to as an amazing beginning to a great transformation, and while it would be nearly impossible to touch on everything, here are some of the highlights: