I will call on each of you to work with local census officials to make sure no one is missed in 2000. This is money we desperately need, but more importantly it is money we deserve. We have also begun a project I call Citystat. You have all heard me discuss the successes of Comstat in New York City, and you know of Commissioner Daniel's eagerness to implement the same practices here in Baltimore. We can no longer view the funds city government receives from residents, businesses, the state and the federal government as entitlements.
Taxes are investments - in our children, in our adults, in our infrastructure and in our economy.
Those who invest in Baltimore have a right to expect a return on their investment - or they will go to another jurisdiction and invest there. We must make wise use of our investors' capital, and we must produce results. The people of our city are optimistic - as optimistic as we've been in years. We must harness this momentum to initiate change - now. More than 400 people from across the city, from all walks of life, volunteered hours of their time and contributed their best ideas by participating in the transition process we will formally complete this week.