1 00:00:03,360 --> 00:00:10,360 Hello friends family and residents of our beautiful city of 2 00:00:07,679 --> 00:00:15,200 Gonzalez as you may know after much prayer and consideration I've made the 3 00:00:13,400 --> 00:00:20,400 difficult decision to resign from my role as the mayor of 4 00:00:16,760 --> 00:00:25,760 Gonzalez over the last 16 years with you at my side we have learned what it takes 5 00:00:22,840 --> 00:00:32,960 to build a thriving City to invest in our community culture and resources and 6 00:00:29,519 --> 00:00:38,120 set the stage for future prosperity it's been the honor of a lifetime to take 7 00:00:35,280 --> 00:00:43,120 this journey with you the Investments we've made in our city has boostered our 8 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:49,079 way of life and transformed Gonzalez into a community that people are proud 9 00:00:45,399 --> 00:00:52,320 to call home since taking office our population has grown by 10 00:00:52,559 --> 00:01:01,320 35.5% and we've seen the Investments of many new businesses in our community not 11 00:00:58,399 --> 00:01:07,479 only has our po population and business Community grown but the estimated total 12 00:01:04,159 --> 00:01:14,840 market value of property in our city has grown 13 00:01:09,840 --> 00:01:20,840 81.9% putting us just above $674 million to support our rapid growth and 14 00:01:18,479 --> 00:01:25,079 prepare for our future needs my Administration has consistently 15 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:30,439 prioritized investments in our infrastructure we've secured over $21 16 00:01:27,680 --> 00:01:36,320 million in grant funding to to support critical infrastructure projects and 17 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:41,040 doubled the city's water and Waterway system 18 00:01:37,680 --> 00:01:46,960 capacity and our infrastructure planning expands beyond our City's borders we 19 00:01:44,439 --> 00:01:52,719 have worked closely with Mayors across the state legislators at the state and 20 00:01:49,960 --> 00:01:59,600 federal level and partners like the southern rail commission to make 21 00:01:54,880 --> 00:02:05,640 regional passenger rail a reality I work in supporting multimodal Transportation 22 00:02:02,640 --> 00:02:10,720 will help expand economic and cultural opportunities for our residents our 23 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:16,120 neighbors and Visitors by expanding connectivity like never 24 00:02:12,920 --> 00:02:21,959 before together we've invested in our way of life through expanding improving 25 00:02:19,519 --> 00:02:27,640 and developing Community parks and recreational facilities and developing 26 00:02:24,720 --> 00:02:31,879 Ascension parish's only state-of-the-art Performing Arts Conference Center 27 00:02:31,040 --> 00:02:38,440 in 2023 we became the second City in the 28 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:44,680 state to establish a climate action plan we've embraced this plan in our everyday 29 00:02:41,319 --> 00:02:50,319 operations and have made great strides to enhance our City's tree canopy 30 00:02:47,640 --> 00:02:56,599 implement solar power generation at our sewer treatment facility to reduce 31 00:02:53,280 --> 00:03:03,440 single use Plastics make Recycling and available for all residents and more 32 00:03:00,760 --> 00:03:09,319 these projects represent a fraction of the work we've accomplished together in 33 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:13,959 the last 16 years and I have no doubt that they've enhanced our quality of 34 00:03:11,040 --> 00:03:19,200 life and prepared our community for continued growth and 35 00:03:16,000 --> 00:03:25,080 prosperity and as we look to Gonzalez's future I would like to share an Insight 36 00:03:21,599 --> 00:03:30,439 on my future with all of you effective April 30th my time as your mayor will 37 00:03:27,799 --> 00:03:36,879 come to a close sir serving as your mayor was more than a job it was a 38 00:03:33,360 --> 00:03:42,159 commitment a commitment to serve lead and represent each and every one of you 39 00:03:39,799 --> 00:03:46,840 it's been the ultimate labor of love where I've had a unique opportunity to 40 00:03:44,599 --> 00:03:52,879 work hand inand with the residents who make me proud to call Gonzalez 41 00:03:49,519 --> 00:03:56,959 home and while I will undoubtedly miss the day-to-day functions of running our 42 00:03:54,599 --> 00:04:00,400 great City I am excited for the opportunity to bring my experience to a 43 00:03:59,280 --> 00:04:05,280 new Road as the executive director for the 44 00:04:02,159 --> 00:04:10,519 Louisiana Municipal Association where I will work alongside leaders to bring 45 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:14,200 prosperity to communities across the great state of 46 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:19,840 Louisiana this community has supported me throughout my career and I hope that 47 00:04:17,280 --> 00:04:25,600 as I move forward I can count on your support in this endeavor to build 48 00:04:22,360 --> 00:04:30,160 prosperity for every corner of our state and I want you to know that while my 49 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:36,400 time as your mayor is ending I will always be in your corner rooting for the 50 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:41,880 continued growth and success of our community thank you from the bottom of 51 00:04:39,440 --> 00:04:49,280 my heart for the privilege of serving you as mayor God bless you all and God 52 00:04:45,759 --> 00:04:49,280 bless Gonzalez