State of the City Speech

January 25, 2006 -- Toledo mayor Carty Finkbeiner is calling for a renaissance.

He delivered his state of the city address Monday night from UT's Nitschke Hall.

He welcomed the proposed merger between the University of Toledo and the Medical University of Ohio. He called the economy his bread and butter issue.

Finkbeiner cited the Jeep supplier park and the proposed Powertrain expansion, but also reached out to the smaller player.

"We will communicate to our small business and entrepreneurial leaders that they are one of the most importance resources Toledo has, we will lend them a hand."

The mayor also touched on education, insisting that parents must attend parent teacher association meetings.

He called for the creation of exercise programs to help people improve their health.

The Mayor says the marina district must be completed, and he said the Westgate Village Shopping Center redevelopment must be done right.

Councilwoman Ellen Grachak represents the district that includes Westgate, and says people shouldn't forget about the positives of the redevelopment plan.

"Now is not the time to be playing chicken with 35 million dollars of private investment and 188 good-paying jobs."

Mayor Finkbeiner has been critical of Costco's plan to move into Westgate, and has suggested changes to the design offered by Westgate management.

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