Mayor Scrima Delivers 2012 State of the City Message

Editor's Note: The following column was provided to Patch and written by

Things are getting brighter. During the last two years we have made significant progress.

• In 2010, Money Magazine ranked Waukesha 50th on its list of the 100 Best Places to Live in the United States.
• In 2010 and 2011, America’s Promise Alliance ranked Waukesha one of the 100 Best Communities for Young People in the United States.
• For 2011, our city tax levy increased by zero percent.
• In 2011, the National Recreation and Park Association granted Waukesha its Gold Medal Award.
• In 2011, the Wisconsin Library Association designated our Public Library the Wisconsin Library of the Year.
• In 2011 with city incentives, Waukesha Electric and Weldall Manufacturing expanded adding 325 new family supporting jobs to our community.
• In 2011, our Police Department Bilingual Citizens Police Academy received state recognition and our Fire Department was awarded a Flight for Life Scene Call of the Year award.
• In 2011, the League of Wisconsin Municipalities and Arts Wisconsin granted us its Arts in Community Award.
• For 2012, we came within $61,000 out of a $51 million city budget in meeting our zero percent increase goal.
• In 2012, Gibson Guitar Corporation designated Waukesha for its next nationally acclaimed GuitarTown arts project.
• In 2012 with city incentives, Woodman’s Food Market will break ground with store opening in 2013, which will add more than 200 jobs to our community.
• In 2012 the new Kendal Lofts, Third-Ward-style residences, will begin construction downtown on the river.
• In 2012, the city will continue to focus on new business and investment opportunities, including a potential convention center downtown.
• In 2012 our downtown will continue and expand family-friendly events including the Farmers Market, Friday Night Live Music, and Art Crawls.

Our goal is for Waukesha to become the No. 1 rated Best Small City in America by 2018.

This is a big dream for a small city. We can do it by focusing on our sense of community. On our neighborhoods. On our homes. On our families. On our values of empathy and responsibility. And for those things to come to light, we would be wise to focus on the good and look out for others so that others will look after us.

Things are getting brighter in Waukesha. Together our light will shine. Please join us!