Autry's final State of the City speech was vintage Autry
I'm not sure why I thought this final State of the City speech of Alan Autry's eight-year mayoral run would be any different than the others. It wasn't, but it was pretty darned good. In fact, it may be the best State of the City speech that he's given. He was funny, preachy and visionary -- everything we've come to expect from the mayor.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger showed up in a surprise visit to the State of the City gathering, leading Autry to quip that he felt like Wayne Newton on stage, with Elvis Presley sitting in the audience. But the governor, who has become a close personal friend of Autry, wasn't there to upstage his pal. Schwarzenegger sat in the audience and applauded the mayor's speech. Very classy.
Autry also brought a roar from the crowd when he asked Fire Chief Randy Bruegman to stand up. The chief was so far back in the audience in the Exhibit Hall that Autry told City Manager Andy Souza he'd better get a better seat for Bruegman or he'll leave for Eugene, Ore., the way Assistant City Manager Jon Ruiz did.
The mayor apologized for the tone of some of the things he said in the heat of a political battle. But he said he would not apologize for wanting to improve the Fresno school system or blasting the federal government for its terrible immigration policy. He also criticized the courts for "trampling on the will of the people" by forcing God from the "public square" and "redefining marriage."
This speech, as well as the invocation and benediction, did not acknowledge the many faiths practiced in this diverse city. That made some audience members of other faiths uncomfortable. The benediction by Pastor H Spees was audience participation, except it didn't include those from non-Christian faiths.
Autry, who is not seeking re-election because of term limits, covered a lot of ground in the 33-minute speech. At one point, he offered this advice for his successor:
First, don’t expect anything to be given to Fresno, even that which we rightfully deserve. The Governor knows this, the fight that goes into that. I’m not saying to go look for a fight, but you must be willing to fight in order to protect the quality of life and interests of this city. Unfortunately, the state and federal governments control much of the resources that we depend on for a healthy city. The politics of exclusion has devastated Fresno and the Valley for over 40 years because of that policy. It will take a sustainable, continued fight to change those politics. It will be a fight to get our water and it will be a fight to keep our water. It will be a fight to clean our air and fix our highways. It will be a fight to educate our children, look out for our elderly and tend to our sick and disabled. My advice: walk softly, but carry a big two-by-four.Second, I would encourage you to come to office with unshakable principles and flexible politics. Too often it is the other way around. I believe with all my heart that, in order to keep this city moving forward, you will have to ask yourself three simple, yet very important questions:
1. Can I say no to my friends if what they are proposing is not in the best interest of this city, even if those friends were instrumental in getting me elected?
2. Can I say yes to people if what they are proposing is good for our city, even if those people worked overtime to keep me from being elected?
3. Are the things I stand for important enough that I am willing to get recalled to get them done?
If the answer to any of those three questions are “no,” I would advise you, even at this late date, to reconsider your candidacy because you will fail. But if the answers are all “yes,” I have no doubt that you will be successful in continuing to move our city forward.
Comments
I think that Mayor Autry was bang on about the immigration. He has tried very hard to draw attention to that problem. It is one that will haunt Fresno for many, many years.
I am very British in my attitude about religion and wish that Mayor Autry would not pontificate about his personal relationship with God. The Mayor does not get it, and that is sad.
Using the Rev. H. Spees for the benediction was a poor choise, even if it was a personal one. To exclude folks of a different faith is wrong and part of what needs to be addressed in Fresno.
I would have been thrilled if Mayor Autry had issued a call to arms about drug dealers selling 'poison' to school children and others. 'Poison' is going to kill us all. Mind, the Mayor listens to the Rev. H. Spees and the good Rev. and his family believe that one can 'peacefully co-exist' with drug dealers. 'No hands on, in your face courage there.'
His advise to folks wanting his job is noble but not likely to be followed. Special interests will win out and there is not a one with Mayor Autry's fame in the lot and hardly think there is a GIANT amoung them. They all will do what they have to do to stay in office and risk nothing.
What do I know? I am still reminded that I am a NEWCOMER and have no right to have an opinion.
Posted by: RobDeFrees | May 31, 2008 9:18 AM
Rob DeFrees:
Where, in heaven’s name do you get such an erroneous misconception? "..... (Rev. H. Spees) ... the good Rev. and his family believe that one can 'peacefully co-exist' with drug dealers."
That’s a brash and unwarranted assumption. The pastor & his family have lived for years in a downtown blighted area - not to co-exist with drug dealers - but to bring help and change to the neighborhood through servanthood to the poor and "hurting" of the inner city. The way you put it makes it seem that he is affirming their drug life-styles.
Are you sure you’re not just "ticked off" because Pastor Spees' benediction at the Mayor’s State of the City speech wasn’t beforehand approved by you?
Posted by: T C Morgan | June 2, 2008 3:27 PM
The Rev. H. Spees' wife told MOI to my face that she and he did not like my 'in your face' community activism and that they 'believed in 'peaceful co-existance'.
However you want to cut the tea cake, that means that one will not be active in fight to get drug dealers selling 'poison' off the road. "Evil exist, when good men and women say and do nothing". If Rev. Spees and his family fail to act on evil on the road, they are part of the problem that has killed the road and the neighborhood.
If Rev. Spees and his wife want to challenge the remarks made to MOI, they may, I stand behind my remarks. When a drug dealer was killed on Calaveras last year, Rev Spees and his family did not hold a march to help the 'poor' deal with the flying bullets or evil that the killing of the drug dealer brought to the road.
Posted by: RobDeFrees | June 3, 2008 9:03 AM