Together, We Have Restored the Spirit of New York City
By Mayor Rudy Giuliani
For the past eight years I've had the honor of serving as the Mayor
of my hometown, the Capital of the World. I'm deeply grateful for
the opportunity that my fellow New Yorkers have given me.
Together, we have restored the spirit of New York City - that is
ultimately what my Administration has been all about. And as a result,
we face the future with confidence.
At my first inaugural, on January 1st 1994, I gave you "my solemn
pledge, to summon our courage to raise our hope and to build our confidence."
I asked you to work with me to "demonstrate that there is no
force sufficiently powerful to interrupt us as we scale new heights
as a people and as a city." I asked you to plan with me to make
realistic changes than could improve people's lives. I said we would
improve public safety, create jobs, instill fiscal responsibility,
and improve the quality of life.
Throughout the course of my administration we have always sought
to enact policies that made people more free and more responsible,
while making government more efficient and more accountable. The pursuit
of excellence is never over- - for individuals or a City -- but to
a greater extent than I ever imagined, we have accomplished what we
set out to do.
New York has been the safest large City in America since 1995. We've
cut crime in half and murder by nearly 70%. We've fundamentally reformed
welfare -- turning welfare offices into job centers and helping more
than 690,000 individuals move from dependency to the dignity of self-sufficiency.
The past eight years have seen record private sector job growth and
tourism, unprecedented tax cuts, and eight consecutive on-time balanced
budgets. We've shown people that a limited but activist government,
guided by a clear set of principles, can make a positive difference
in their lives.
But the real measure of a City's renaissance exists beyond statistics.
In ways both big and small, our lives are better than they were eight
years ago. For example, low crime rates create an atmosphere in which
mutual respect and civic pride can flourish. So we shouldn't be surprised
that we live together in greater harmony.
New York is proudly the world's most diverse City - with over 180
different languages and dialects spoken here. We are a living symbol
of our national motto -- e pluribus unum, out of many, one. We are
one city, with one standard. We understand each other better and respect
each other more than in the past, when high crime and a low quality
of life sparked division and distrust.
Our City's response to the attack of September 11th showed the world
that we have become a more civil society. On that day the world witnessed
the devastating effects of evil and blind hatred, the worst of humanity.
But the world also saw countless examples of the best of humanity,
extraordinary acts of selflessness and bravery by ordinary New Yorkers.
We succeeded in turning our darkest day into our finest hour.
We will never know all the details of the heroism that occurred on
September 11th. But we know that because of the actions of our Fire
Department, Police Department, Port Authority Police Department, EMTs
and Court Officers, 25,000 more people are alive today. In tribute
to the memory of these patriots, we should always remember that Ground
Zero does not just mark the site of tragedy, but the greatest and
most successful rescue operation in American history.
In the past, people might have predicted that New York City would
react to this attack with panic, chaos, and looting. Instead, New
Yorkers' orderly, dignified and courageous response on September 11th
defied those expectations.
We remain united in that spirit of love and mutual respect. In this
holiday season, our hearts are heavy because of the loved ones who
are no longer with us. But as New Yorkers observe all the season's
holy days -- Christmas, Hanukkah, Ramadan, Kwanzaa, and the Hindu
celebration of Diwali - their message of peace and love resonates
even more deeply. We are reminded of the blessings of friends and
family. We are reminded to give thanks for the blessings of life and
support those who may be suffering during difficult times.
Now more than ever, we understand how important it is that New York
always remain a beacon of freedom and equal opportunity to people
from around the world. Our City is strong and united. We are the Capital
of the World. I've never been more proud of our City. I've never been
more proud to be a New Yorker, and it has been a great honor to serve
as your Mayor.
