01/05/1987 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

e One of the things these wins give us--and why we need to take a minute to recognize them--is that they are wins of the community and they give us confidence to go on to the next challenge--to go the next step to do what needs to be done to improve this place we call home. One of the other agenda items that we have noted was downtown. We have talked about the 18 businesses that chose to make downtown their home this past year. But we did not mention the two major retailers--Kaufman's and Eugene Athletic--that announced expansions. Nor did we mention that Aster Publishing Company bought the Park Willamette Building and will move 70 employees downtown in the next few months. Or the corner of 10th and Willamette--a former problem spot--that is being transformed when the renovation of the Schaeffer Building and McDonald Theatre Building are completed. Ten new businesses will join the Downtown Athletic Club at that location. Again, many people deserve recognition. But during the past two years in bringing us to this point, there is one individual that has been in the Mayor1s office regarding downtown many more times than any other. There is one individual that believed, perhaps long before many of us. I would like, at this time, to recognize the individual that has been Chair of the Downtown Commission for the first two years of my term of office--Mike Schwartz. Mike, please come forward. e There are many others, obviously, that we could give awards to tonight. The fact is, the council creates the policy but individuals create the achievements. As Mike said, we have a great deal of work to do. And, hopefully, we will be able to recognize those people in the future. They are making a significant contribution. We want to recognize each of you and thank you for believing in us, for knowing it could be done, and again there are many people we want to thank. Perhaps they are not here and we will get the opportunity to do it. But despite the progress that we have recognized, despite the wins we have, our progress in economic recovery is, indeed, fragile. It requires our continued attention. Over the years, I have had the opportunity to study successful people. At the same time, I have had the opportunity to study successful and winning communities. I find that they have one thing in common. That is to be able to set objectives, focus on those objectives, set those goals, and not be distracted until they are achieved. They succeed because they do not allow themselves to be slowed by time. They succeed because they do not allow themselves to be distracted by doubt. They succeed because they do not become disillusioned by occasional defeat. Perhaps the best example of staying with it, of continuing on the course, is the birth of our nation. As you know, the colonists declared their independence from England in 1776. But the U.S. Constitution--which sets forth the basic principles of this nation--was not signed until 11 years later. It was, in fact, a second attempt. Their first effort at organizing a new nation under the Articles of Confederation had failed. But their vision and their determination and their belief remained steadfast and 11 years later our constitution was indeed signed. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council January 5, 1987 Page 6