| Dear xxxxxxx,
We don't know what the future will bring, but I know this:
Minneapolis has always thrived, even in tough times, and we will again. We will continue to be a city filled with opportunity, but it will take vision, and it will take results.
That's why I'm asking you today to allow me to serve again as Mayor of Minneapolis. I am running for re-election because I believe I have shown how to bring this city together to dream big dreams, and make them happen.
I'm going to need your help. The election is in November but first I want to win the DFL endorsement this May. I would like you to visit my website...www.MayorRTRybak.com...to watch my announcement video, learn about how you can volunteer, about our campaign kickoff on February 7 and about how you can make a contribution. Those contributions, no matter how small, are critical because they will help us run a campaign that reaches everyone in every neighborhood.
Over these next few weeks I will be laying out my vision for Minneapolis in the coming years. It will focus on four areas:
First, to make every neighborhood a safe place to call home: Crime is down significantly across the city but we still have more work to do. We will be tough when we have to, but we will also build deeper partnerships between police and neighbors and focus on prevention programs, especially for young people, that make our neighborhoods safer.
Second, to create jobs and opportunity for everyone: We will continue to bring new businesses to town, like Allina in south Minneapolis and Coloplast in north Minneapolis. We will help small businesses grow on our neighborhood commercial corridors. There will be even more focus on homegrown industries and green jobs. And we will keep up the fight against foreclosure.
Third, we will build great places and neighborhoods: The most important part of this work will be implementing Access Minneapolis, our transportation vision that is helping to build light rail lines connecting Minneapolis to the University, St. Paul and the suburbs. And we will continue the work that has made Minneapolis the Number Two Biking City in America.
Fourth, something that means a great deal to me: We will help the next generation thrive. We will continue improving our schools, but our teachers and students also need our support outside the classroom. That means more focus on early childhood development, out of school activities, and The Minneapolis Promise, our groundbreaking initiatives that have put career centers in every school, created the Step Up summer jobs program and provided free college access through the Power of You and the Founder's Program.
We will do all this with the values that have driven all our work: Strong management that watches out for your tax dollars, green values that have every arm of Minneapolis government fighting to protect the environment and strong partnerships with residents that bring the views of your neighbors into City Hall.
I want to close by remembering that we have been through a lot together: The wake of 9-11, massive state budget cuts, the I-35W bridge collapse, today's economic challenges. We survived them all and came out better and we are going to do that again.
Night after night, as I go to every part of this city, I see that Minneapolis is filled with great people doing tremendous things for our city. It has been a tremendous honor being your Mayor and I ask for your support to continue working together.
I am deeply proud to be Mayor of Minneapolis, I'm excited about continuing our work together and I hope I can count on your support.
With respect,
Minneapolis Mayor R.T. Rybak |
