Mayor Lauren McLean
When I began to set priorities that would guide our new administration's early days in City Hall, I did so not just with our community in mind, but with our community.
What none of us could possibly have known at the time is that we would be faced with a global pandemic that would threaten our families, jobs and entire community. These past few months have challenged our city, state and nation in ways we’ve never experienced. I’ve been incredibly proud in recent weeks to see Boiseans come together to respond to the tremendous challenges of the COVID-19 crisis.
Transition Reports
Today, as we move through the difficulties presented by the pandemic and forward to the future of recovery and resiliency, I’m releasing citizen-centered transition reports that focus on our collective vision of a “City for the Everyone.”
The reports include a series of recommendations to guide the short term, first year and first four years of my term as mayor. It’s important to note that the content of the reports is not altered because I believe it is important to share with the community the ideas from their neighbors as presented.
The path these recommendations paint is based on community needs, vision and a strong hope for the future in which everyone can find an affordable place to live, has a good job, where our commutes are short, and our air is clean. These transition recommendations for action will also help protect beloved open spaces just as quickly as sustainable development takes place. They offer strong suggestions on how to create a City Hall that is responsive to and represents all Boiseans, where all voices are heard.
I’m deeply grateful for the hard work of the community members that created these transition reports, completing their work prior to the public health crisis our city, state and world are currently experiencing. Their recommendations do not reflect our current crisis and the reality that we will have to prioritize.
Today I find many of their recommendations even more important, because we’ll need bold and urgent solutions. Many of the issues we discussed during the election campaign – increased economic opportunity; housing policy to meet the needs of our residents; transportation to connect us with jobs; and the innovation that climate change requires – will form the basis of our recovery.
Each committee aimed high and dreamed big. It’s a tall order and inspiring to read these reports; and now I’ll prioritize given the community health crisis we’re facing, its economic and social impacts and the steps we must take to ensure our community recovers and is more resilient than ever.
100-Day Report
I’m also presenting a report on the activities I’ve undertaken during my first 100 days in office as Boise’s Mayor. It's an honor to serve; daily I am focused on how best to meet the needs of our residents, guide our city toward the future, and make good on the promises of my election.
When swearing in their next mayor, Boiseans never imagined that our community, would be upended by a global pandemic. In response to the threat, we rapidly assembled an emergency team here at the City of Boise to prepare for and respond to the crisis, took decisive action in passing emergency orders to protect our public health, and worked daily with members of this community to ensure that we are supporting our residents during this difficult time.
While we’re working hard daily to mitigate impact of COVID-19, we, as a team at the City of Boise, are actively working toward the future. Throughout this, we maintained focus on the priorities that Boiseans, before the pandemic, made clear must be addressed because we believe they’re key to our community’s recovery and our residents’ prosperity.
I’ve focused my time based on my belief that we need collaborative and accessible leadership and innovative solutions to economic opportunity; affordable housing for all budgets so that our residents can live here; transportation to connect us with job opportunities; and urgency to address climate change and harness the opportunities it presents. These priorities will also be central to our recovery from COVID-19 and to delivering on the promise of a vibrant and engaged 21st century city for everyone.
I have assembled a team of leaders who are motivated, curious, willing to innovate and take risks, and share a commitment to helping build a city for everyone, grounded in community. And I’m incredibly proud of the City of Boise employees that demonstrate their call to serve their community daily; It’s a privilege to work together with them to ensure our community thrives.
It’s an honor to serve as Mayor of Boise. These last 100 days have presented so many challenges, and yet I'm inspired and motivated by the ways so many residents have rolled up their sleeves to help. I look forward to working together throughout my term as mayor, building on the steps I’ve taken, for the people of Boise, in my first 100 days in office.
I am committed to finding opportunity in the challenges we’re experiencing and to keeping that special spark of Boise alive, working together with each of you to help shape and protect this singular place for every generation that follows.
Here in Boise, Idaho, I believe it is possible to foster a 21st-century city for everyone,
I welcome your partnership. Let’s do this together, Boise.