Web Extra: Taveras inauguration speech

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - Angel Taveras was sworn in Monday as Providence's new mayor, vowing to tackle the city's financial problems and improve its schools.

Here is the transcript of his inauguration speech, delivered at 1:30 p.m. in front of Providence City Hall.

 

Honorable elected officials, family and distinguished guests from near and far, good afternoon and welcome to Rhode Island’s great capital City – Providence.

 

Not far from where we are now gathered, Roger Williams planted the seed that would become Providence, Rhode Island: a community that refused to conform blindly, refused to accept the conventional wisdom of their time. This strong belief in self-determination helped develop Providence into a bustling city, where creativity and resourcefulness have been celebrated and encouraged ever since.

Today, Providence is home to history once again as I stand here, ready to begin work as Providence’s 37th Mayor.

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Honorables oficiales, familiares y huéspedes distinguidos de todas partes, muy buenas tardes y bienvenidos a la ciudad capital de Rhode Island – Providence.

Cerca de aqui nuestro fundador, Roger Williams, sembró la semilla que se convertiría en Providence, una comunidad de individuos que rehusaron aceptar ciegamente las normas y el pensamiento convencional de la época.

Esta fe en la autodeterminación ayudo a convertir a Providence en una ciudad dinámica caracterizada por su creatividad y recursividad.

Hoy, con mi investidura como el alcalde trijésimo-séptimo de esta gran ciudad, Providence se re-encuentra con la historia.

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History will reflect that we owe a debt of gratitude to the 36th Mayor, Congressman-elect David Cicilline for leading Providence out of the storm of corruption that stained the reputation of this proud city. Thank you Congressman-Elect Cicilline.

I stand before you today humbled by the honor Providence voters have given me: a once-in-a-generation chance to move our city forward. I know – and you know – that we face great challenges ahead. But I also know that with our collective determination, with our hard work, we have the resolve to meet these challenges head on.

We have at our fingertips resources and assets that other cities could only dream of. We walk on streets with history and beauty unruined by time. Our many universities and hospitals supply us with an abundance of talent, energy and innovation. We are blessed with a community of entrepreneurs, artists and activists who challenge and inspire us to dream big and do better. We are a city of creators, who for much of our nation’s history, have defined American arts, culture and industry.

As we stand here today, we are in the midst of a new storm - a financial storm that stretches far beyond Providence, beyond New England, beyond our nation’s borders to much of the world. It is a storm that has devastated cities across America from Atlanta to Newark, from Detroit to Sacramento. All over America, cities and states are struggling to overcome staggering budget deficits while maintaining basic services.

Rhode Island’s capital city has been especially hard hit by the effects of this global recession. We are currently operating without an approved budget and we face serious budget deficits for this year and next. Our unfunded pension liability has grown to more than $800 million, a figure that doesn’t even account for the cost of providing retiree health care or other post-employment benefits. Over the last several years, Providence has lost tens of millions of dollars through cuts to local aid. And while in some cases federal stimulus dollars softened these blows, these funds are drying up.

Compounding what I call the “ticking time-bomb” of our unfunded pension liability is a foreclosure crisis that hit our neighborhoods with relentless fury. Many have lost their homes and property values have plummeted. Unemployment in our city is rampant – exceeding 20% in some neighborhoods. Small businesses, the backbone of our local economy, are suffering.

Let me be clear: the time for Providence to take control of its financial future is now.

At the same time, we struggle with the development of our most precious resource: our children. Many of our public schools are under-performing. In this era, when even the most basic jobs require advanced skills, far too many of our children aren’t even graduating from high school.

More than half of our students are not proficient in reading and more than three quarters of our students are not proficient in math. It is unacceptable – and unconscionable – that we provide anything less than the absolute best: a college ready education for every single child in this city, regardless of family income, regardless of skin color, regardless of zip-code.

Let me be clear again: the time for Providence schools to become the envy of American urban education is now.

In the face of all these challenges, and in the midst of this storm, I am confident. Confident that together, we will overcome these challenges,