Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson
SACRAMENTO, CA - A new arena, "green" development and education are the three areas Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson highlighted in his fourth State of the City to bring the capital city out of its still sagging economy.
The mayor said Sacramento must no longer rely on state government and real estate as the economic engines for the region.
Johnson wants the City of Trees to evolve into, what he calls, the "Emerald Valley." He would have Sacramento be at the forefront of incorporating energy efficiency in its buildings, schools and new development.
Johnson called for continued support for a sports and entertainment venue. He said building a new arena will create jobs as well as provide a much-needed boost to the economy.
"When we build this arena, it will create 4,100 new jobs," Johnson said. "It's about becoming a destination point. The new complex will attract over three million new visitors to downtown. Those visitors will ignite new economic development, increasing annual revenues for the region by $157 million and for local government agencies by $5.8 million."
INTERACTIVE: What words did Johnson use the most in his speech?
Johnson also wants to continue his 2011 State of the City initiative of focusing on improving reading proficiency among students, starting in the third grade.
But this year he introduced a new idea: grading schools themselves.
The idea is in its infancy, but he wants an independent committee to evaluate and grade individual schools, A through F.
Those reports cards would then go to parents.
"Once they get a report card and that letter grade tells them if their kid is going to a school that's a C or below, or a D or F, you're going to go to a new school," Johnson said. "They're going to either ask for drastic change at that school or they're going to walk and go to another school."
For what the mayor had to say, see his remarks here.
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