Listen to Mayor Jackson's address here.
Over the last year and a half, Mayor Jackson says he's been able to make improvements despite a projected 11 million-dollar loss in city revenue. Addressing the housing and foreclosure crisis, he said the city demolished nearly a thousand structures last year, and sued 21 lenders over the sup-prime mortgage crisis.
But Jackson says the work of rebuilding the city's economy cannot be done without more public and private investment in the community.
Frank Jackson: Two billion additional dollars invested in our local economy will create jobs and expansion opportunities. One example of this kind of investment is the Medical Mart.
That deal remains in question, but Jackson said new projects currently underway, including construction totaling 730 million dollars at University Hospitals, are a positive sign.
But, Jackson said, while city finances and the economy are important...
Frank Jackson: If we do all that and we don't address education and treat it as a priority and have quality premier education, then we'll be right back at the table talking about the same things over and over again.
And when an audience member asked about his personal top priority, Jackson unequivocally said education.
Tasha Flournoy, 90.3.