Mayor Gives State of the City Address

Moreno Valley is establishing itself as an Inland Empire leader, living up to its rank as the second largest city in Riverside County, said Mayor Tom Owings last Thursday. In the midst of protests last week staged outside the Moreno Valley City Hall and the recent resignation of Council Member Marcelo Co, Mayor Tom Owings led the State of the City, hosted by the Moreno Valley Chamber of Commerce, at the Moreno Valley Conference and Recreation Center last Thursday, Aug. 22. Captain Julius Murphy of the Salvation Army Moreno Valley Corps referenced the Bible, quoting from it, “… every city or house divided against itself shall not stand.” Outside the center, opponents of the proposed World Logistics Center (WLC) handed out pamphlets just across the way from a parked truck decorated in posters imploring residents not to sign recall petitions. Captain Murphy went on, “Moreno Valley is a blessed city, but it’s also a hurting city,” he said. “We ask that through the City government, local churches, community organizations and agencies that you [God] bring healing, comfort, restoration, resources, and most of all, hope.” The audience watched a film about the City before Mayor Owings addressed the crowd. He did not discuss the recent calls for City Council recall or various claims of political corruption but instead discussed the strides he feels the City has made. “Our progress is real,” he said, “and the state of our city is striking, sound and strong. Moreno Valley is claiming its leadership role as the second largest city in Riverside County.” Owings said the city’s objectives included a balanced budget without using reserves, an increase of economic development, enhanced essential services and to move the city’s 11.8 percent unemployment rate to 0 percent. To help with these objectives, the City offers tiered utility rates, and a proposed Walmart Supercenter north of the Home Depot near Perris Boulevard and a Stater Bros. market in the northwest part of the city are helping to bring both jobs and revenue into the community, Owings said. “Moreno Valley’s revenue growth depends on sales tax, not on property tax,” he said. “High-volume, high-grossing facilities are vital.” “We won’t be satisfied until every one of those 10,600 unemployed residents has a job,” Owings told the group of hundreds. Other forces of change to improve the city include public safety costs, critical infrastructure, an increase in general fund revenue, higher graduation rates and business incentives, said Mayor Owings.