2007.01.26: January 26, 2007: Headlines: Figures: Staff: Politics: City Government: San Antonio Express: Phil Hardberger sees 'golden years' ahead for San Antonio

Peace Corps Online: State: Texas: June 26, 2005: Index: PCOL Exclusive: Phil Hardberger (Staff) : 2007.01.26: January 26, 2007: Headlines: Figures: Staff: Politics: City Government: San Antonio Express: Phil Hardberger sees 'golden years' ahead for San Antonio

By Admin1 (admin) (ppp-70-245-26-66.dsl.okcyok.swbell.net - 70.245.26.66) on Thursday, February 01, 2007 - 11:04 am: Edit Post

Phil Hardberger sees 'golden years' ahead for San Antonio

Phil Hardberger sees 'golden years' ahead for San Antonio

The current year, he said, "will be a year to make good on the promise of our dreams, and a year to see a new San Antonio rise before our eyes." He said the effort is well under way to "rebuild the foundation of our city ... that will allow our city to prosper not just for the next decade, but for the next century."Hardberger, who has announced his intention to seek a second two-year term, said the May 12 bond election — in which the city hopes to win voters' approval for $550 million worth of major street paving and storm drainage projects as well as park improvements — will be a key element to lead San Antonio's "emergence into its golden years." San Antonio Mayor Phil Hardberger served as a Peace Corps Staff member in the 1960's.

Phil Hardberger sees 'golden years' ahead for San Antonio

Hardberger sees 'golden years' for S.A.

Web Posted: 01/26/2007 02:06 AM CST

Guillermo X. Garcia
Express-News

In an address laced with bold statements about his vision for the city's future, Mayor Phil Hardberger on Thursday called the coming year "a time for doing" and vowed to lead San Antonio into unprecedented growth and prosperity.

Addressing a downtown hotel ballroom packed with city, county and business leaders, Hardberger struck a relentlessly optimistic tone in his State of the City speech, promising big changes in the coming year, with more to come thereafter.

The changes this year include $550 million in new public spending he plans to put before voters in May as well as an assortment of public and private investments planned around the city in the coming months.

In a 25-minute speech interrupted a half-dozen times by applause, Hardberger said 2006, his first full year in office, had been a time for planning.

The current year, he said, "will be a year to make good on the promise of our dreams, and a year to see a new San Antonio rise before our eyes."

He said the effort is well under way to "rebuild the foundation of our city ... that will allow our city to prosper not just for the next decade, but for the next century."Hardberger, who has announced his intention to seek a second two-year term, said the May 12 bond election — in which the city hopes to win voters' approval for $550 million worth of major street paving and storm drainage projects as well as park improvements — will be a key element to lead San Antonio's "emergence into its golden years."

"The importance of (the bond's) successful passage cannot be overstressed," he said. "A bond election is a city's vote of confidence in itself. It means that San Antonio's citizens have optimism about their city and their future" and that "they trust their government to deliver."

Despite the size of the bond proposal — the largest in the city's history — Hardberger stressed there wouldn't be a tax increase.

That drew applause at the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored luncheon.

He said the bond package, while unprecedented in size, "is also historic for the manner in which it will be spent."

The proposal would provide $300 million for street paving and sidewalk improvements, $150 million for drainage projects, $50 million for acquisition of parklands and upgrades to existing parks and $50 million for community initiative projects to be split evenly among the 10 City Council districts.

Hardberger said City Manager Sheryl Sculley, whom he hired, is "the finest city manager in the United States."

The hard-driving manager created the citizens bond panels that will guide the allocation of the funds.

Four 32-member panels have headed the different bond initiatives. They have, for the most part, endorsed spending proposals developed by city staff. The panels' outlines of how to spend the bond funds will be presented to the City Council next week.

The mayor highlighted unprecedented business growth and said the developments of the coming year will be the foundation from which business and public/private ventures flourish.

He said a host of business growth would contribute to the city's national prominence, including AT&T's local construction of the largest voice and data network in the world; the decision by Tesoro, a Fortune 500 firm, to build a new facility on 122 acres on the North Side; the opening of a $24 million, 258,000 square-foot research and development lab at Brooks City-Base; and the planned construction of a $550 million data center by Microsoft.

The mayor also noted that Fort Sam Houston is set to spend $1.6 billion for new construction.

Hardberger said that within the next three months, three major public-private ventures will be launched including a new homeless shelter, the redevelopment of Main Plaza and the Museum Reach of the River Improvement Project.

Hardberger spoke of the foresight of Walter Mathis, who developed the once-seedy, now-trendy King William neighborhood, as the blueprint for his own vision of park development.

Key to that vision will be the $36 million in bonds that will be used to purchase the Voelcker Ranch.

A Hardberger favorite, the 204-acre property that he predicted will become "one of the finest urban parks in the United States," is virgin land he termed "a breathtaking expanse of urban landscape" containing centuries-old trees.

"To walk among those trees — many older than the heroes of the Alamo, older than the Alamo itself — is to know our history," he said, drawing sustained applause from the overflow crowd.
ggarcia@express-news.net




Links to Related Topics (Tags):

Headlines: January, 2007; Staff Member Phil Hardberger; Figures; Staff; Politics; City Government; Texas





When this story was posted in February 2007, this was on the front page of PCOL:


Contact PCOLBulletin BoardRegisterSearch PCOLWhat's New?

Peace Corps Online The Independent News Forum serving Returned Peace Corps Volunteers
Subscribe to Peace Corps News Date: January 14 2007 No: 1059 Subscribe to Peace Corps News
Don't miss our new web site, Peace Corps News, for the latest news about the Returned Volunteer community and what is going on with the Peace Corps around the world. Subscribe to our news feed to get Peace Corps news delivered to your desk as it happens. Then visit the Peace Corps Library, History of the Peace Corps, the worldwide RPCV Directory or leave a message for the RPCV community on the RPCV Bulletin Board.

Top Stories and Breaking News PCOL Magazine Peace Corps Library RPCV Directory Sign Up

January 14, 2007: This Month's Top Stories Date: January 14 2007 No: 1050 January 14, 2007: This Month's Top Stories
Dodd declares candidacy in 2008 Presidential race 11 Jan
Malawi RPCVs found "Orphan Support" 11 Jan
John Garamendi takes oath as California Lt. Governor 8 Jan
Amy Smith prepares her students for field trips to remote villages 8 Jan
CES provides loans to rural constituents in Guatemala 6 Jan
RPCV Tom Bissell writes: Rolling Estonia 5 Jan
Lance Holter writes: 1st Lt. Ehren Watada risks it all 2 Jan
Paul Theroux writes: Remember the Cicadas 2 Jan
Louise M. Pascale republishes Afghan children's songs 31 Dec
Husband remembers Niger RPCV Mary Ann Hobson 30 Dec
Bob Leventry faces problems importing organic quinoa 29 Dec
Congressmen urge increase in diplomatic and development programs 27 Dec
Family says treatment after PCV death left bitter feeling 27 Dec
Family finishes project after PCV dies in shark attack 26 Dec
Mark Ridoff writes: Productivity doesn't aid middle class 24 Dec
Dodd says begin process of getting troops out of Iraq 24 Dec
PCVs caught in street protest in Bolivia 22 Dec
Honda named to powerful Appropriations Committee 22 Dec
PCOL and NPCA collaborate on story "Snowshoe Bob" 21 Dec
Alejandro Toledo charged in Forgery Scheme 21 Dec
Michael O'Hanlon writes: The State of Iraq 20 Dec
Carl Pope writes: Renewable energy offers new jobs 20 Dec

December 20, 2006: This Month's Top Stories Date: January 14 2007 No: 1051 December 20, 2006: This Month's Top Stories
Tunisia RPCV Jeannie Ritter is new first lady of Colorado 13 Dec
John Nichols writes: Petri ought to consider change to Democrat 19 Dec
Craig Simons writes: Wolong is home to wild pandas 17 Dec
George Neavoll holding essay contest for stamp collection 17 Dec
Taft plans to revisit Tanzania where he served as PCV 17 Dec
Tschetter gives address at Florida Gulf Coast University 16 Dec
President of Macedonia addresses PCVs taking oath 15 Dec
President Dr. Thomas Boni Yayi of Benin visits PC HQ 14 Dec
Submissions sought "Letters Home from the Peace Corps" 14 Dec
Hill leads negotations with North Korea after 13-month hiatus 14 Dec
Reed Hastings endows new charter school organization 14 Dec
John Bridgeland launches 'Malaria No More' 14 Dec
Ann Easterly creates libraries in Africa 13 Dec
Damian Jones started Annapolis-based "Aid Through Trade" 13 Dec
Alberto Ibarguen to be Chairman of the Newseum 13 Dec
Jonathan Lash writes: World undergoing rapid change 13 Dec
Ben Moyer named Chief Executive Officer of Pro Mujer 12 Dec
James Rupert drafts letter of protest to 'Newsday' 11 Dec
Tom Weisner potential contender to replace Dennis Hastert 11 Dec
PC deploys SPSS Predictive Analytics for PCV Surveys 11 Dec
Congress passes Walsh's Resolution supporting democracy in Nepal 10 Dec

Ron Tschetter in Morocco and Jordan Date: November 18 2006 No: 1038 Ron Tschetter in Morocco and Jordan
On his first official trip since being confirmed as Peace Corps Director, Ron Tschetter (shown at left with PCV Tia Tucker) is on a ten day trip to Morocco and Jordan. Traveling with his wife (Both are RPCVs.), Tschetter met with volunteers in Morocco working in environment, youth development, health, and small business development. He began his trip to Jordan by meeting with His Majesty King Abdullah II and Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah and discussed expanding the program there in the near future.

Election 2006: Results of RPCV Races Date: November 8 2006 No: 1024 Election 2006: Results of RPCV Races
Chris Shays claims victory in closely watched race
Jim Walsh wins re-election to Congress in close race
Tom Petri unopposed for re-election to Congress
Sam Farr wins re-election to Congress
Mike Honda wins re-election to Congress
Jim Doyle wins re-election to Wisconsin Governorship
Kinky Friedman loses in long shot bid for Texas Governor
John Garamendi elected Lt. Governor of California

The Peace Corps Library Date: July 11 2006 No: 923 The Peace Corps Library
The Peace Corps Library is now available online with over 40,000 index entries in 500 categories. Looking for a Returned Volunteer? Check our RPCV Directory or leave a message on our Bulletin Board. New: Sign up to receive our free Monthly Magazine by email, research the History of the Peace Corps, or sign up for a daily news summary of Peace Corps stories. FAQ: Visit our FAQ for more information about PCOL.

Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace Corps Date: September 23 2006 No: 996 Chris Dodd's Vision for the Peace Corps
Senator Chris Dodd (RPCV Dominican Republic) spoke at the ceremony for this year's Shriver Award and elaborated on issues he raised at Ron Tschetter's hearings. Dodd plans to introduce legislation that may include: setting aside a portion of Peace Corps' budget as seed money for demonstration projects and third goal activities (after adjusting the annual budget upward to accommodate the added expense), more volunteer input into Peace Corps operations, removing medical, healthcare and tax impediments that discourage older volunteers, providing more transparency in the medical screening and appeals process, a more comprehensive health safety net for recently-returned volunteers, and authorizing volunteers to accept, under certain circumstances, private donations to support their development projects. He plans to circulate draft legislation for review to members of the Peace Corps community and welcomes RPCV comments.

He served with honor Date: September 12 2006 No: 983 He served with honor
One year ago, Staff Sgt. Robert J. Paul (RPCV Kenya) carried on an ongoing dialog on this website on the military and the peace corps and his role as a member of a Civil Affairs Team in Iraq and Afghanistan. We have just received a report that Sargeant Paul has been killed by a car bomb in Kabul. Words cannot express our feeling of loss for this tremendous injury to the entire RPCV community. Most of us didn't know him personally but we knew him from his words. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends. He was one of ours and he served with honor.

Meet Ron Tschetter - Our Next Director Date: September 6 2006 No: 978 Meet Ron Tschetter - Our Next Director
Read our story about Ron Tschetter's confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that was carried on C-Span. It was very different from the Vasquez hearings in 2001, very cut and dried with low attendance by the public. Among the highlights, Tschetter intends to make recruitment of baby boomers a priority, there are 20 countries under consideration for future programs, Senator Dodd intends to re-introduce his third goal Peace Corps legislation this session, Tschetter is a great admirer of Senator Coleman's quest for accountability, Dodd thinks management at PC may not put volunteers first, Dodd wants Tschetter to look into problems in medical selection, and Tschetter is not a blogger and knows little about the internet or guidelines for volunteer blogs. Read our recap of the hearings as well as Senator Coleman's statement and Tschetter's statement.

Peace Corps' Screening and Medical Clearance Date: August 19 2006 No: 964 Peace Corps' Screening and Medical Clearance
The purpose of Peace Corps' screening and medical clearance process is to ensure safe accommodation for applicants and minimize undue risk exposure for volunteers to allow PCVS to complete their service without compromising their entry health status. To further these goals, PCOL has obtained a copy of the Peace Corps Screening Guidelines Manual through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and has posted it in the "Peace Corps Library." Applicants and Medical Professionals (especially those who have already served as volunteers) are urged to review the guidelines and leave their comments and suggestions. Then read the story of one RPCV's journey through medical screening and his suggestions for changes to the process.

The Peace Corps is "fashionable" again Date: July 31 2006 No: 947 The Peace Corps is "fashionable" again
The LA Times says that "the Peace Corps is booming again and "It's hard to know exactly what's behind the resurgence." PCOL Comment: Since the founding of the Peace Corps 45 years ago, Americans have answered Kennedy's call: "Ask not what your country can do for you--ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man." Over 182,000 have served. Another 200,000 have applied and been unable to serve because of lack of Congressional funding. The Peace Corps has never gone out of fashion. It's Congress that hasn't been keeping pace.

PCOL readership increases 100% Date: April 3 2006 No: 853 PCOL readership increases 100%
Monthly readership on "Peace Corps Online" has increased in the past twelve months to 350,000 visitors - over eleven thousand every day - a 100% increase since this time last year. Thanks again, RPCVs and Friends of the Peace Corps, for making PCOL your source of information for the Peace Corps community. And thanks for supporting the Peace Corps Library and History of the Peace Corps. Stay tuned, the best is yet to come.

History of the Peace Corps Date: March 18 2006 No: 834 History of the Peace Corps
PCOL is proud to announce that Phase One of the "History of the Peace Corps" is now available online. This installment includes over 5,000 pages of primary source documents from the archives of the Peace Corps including every issue of "Peace Corps News," "Peace Corps Times," "Peace Corps Volunteer," "Action Update," and every annual report of the Peace Corps to Congress since 1961. "Ask Not" is an ongoing project. Read how you can help.


Read the stories and leave your comments.






Some postings on Peace Corps Online are provided to the individual members of this group without permission of the copyright owner for the non-profit purposes of criticism, comment, education, scholarship, and research under the "Fair Use" provisions of U.S. Government copyright laws and they may not be distributed further without permission of the copyright owner. Peace Corps Online does not vouch for the accuracy of the content of the postings, which is the sole responsibility of the copyright holder.

Story Source: San Antonio Express

This story has been posted in the following forums: : Headlines; Figures; Staff; Politics; City Government

PCOL36064
63


Add a Message


This is a public posting area. Enter your username and password if you have an account. Otherwise, enter your full name as your username and leave the password blank. Your e-mail address is optional.
Username:  
Password:
E-mail: