Fernandez praises community in speech

Bloomington Mayor John Fernandez received a warm welcome Thursday evening as he delivered the State of the City address.\nFenandez preferred to keep the speech casual, conducting the address though a slide projection presentation and humoring the audience with numerous light remarks. \nThe meeting, which took place at the Buskirk-Chumley Theater, pertained to many city issues, including public safety.\nBloomington added a $1.5 million aerial fire truck to the city's fire protection arsenal. Along with increasing the number of active firefighters, Fernanadez said he's made sure Bloomington police protection is top notch.\n"Bloomington is one of the safest cities in Indiana to live and raise a family," Fernandez said.\nWith safety addressed, Fernandez turned his attention to community living and living standards as top concerns. Fernandez tackled the recent job-loss situation in the manufacturing sector delicately.\n"On one hand we have lost a significant number of jobs in manufacturing," Fernandez said. "But the whole key is to increase prosperity and create higher paying jobs."\nOne such instance of city support deals with CRANE, a naval surface warfare center that employs many southern Indiana engineers.\nCity Councilman David Sabbagh agrees with the mayor's interest in preserving CRANE jobs.\n"CRANE is tremendously important to the economy of Monroe county," Sabbagh said. "It would be an absolute economic disaster if CRANE closed."\nFernandez, an Indiana Secretary of State candidate, has pushed hard for renovations to Bloomington streets. The College Mall road repair was among the projects discussed.\n"When it's finished it's going to be an outstanding addition to that part of town," Fernandez said. "The key is, once we complete these repair investments, we need to maintain them."\nRestoration project discussion continued from roads to park improvements. \n"Our parks are one of the best systems anywhere," Fernandez said. "That's a tribute to the workers who maintain them and the patrons who visit them."\nFernandez also indulged the issue of public debate for betterment of the city.\n"I think one of the most important things we can do is participate in the discussion process," Fernandez said.\nThe mayor spoke about the importance of Bloomington continuing to come together as a community.\n"When Jill Behrman disappeared, the entire community supported her family in the fight to find their daughter," Fernandez said.\nThe conclusion of Fernandez's address brought the attendees to their feet in appreciation for a mayor, who in the opinion of House Majority Leader Mark Kruzan, has served his city well.\n"Passionate and focused," were Kruzan's words as he described the mayor's demeanor during the hour-long address.\n"John has always been a person who looks at politics and policy from a technical aspect as well as an emotional one," Kruzan said. "The speech reflects how he's served as mayor; he deals with the nuts and bolts of government but doesn't forget how important the role of people is in operating that government."\nFernandez's speech mainly focused on Bloomington, leaving little room for connections to IU. City Councilman Jason Banach represents district 2, which is 40 percent student based. The northwest neighborhood Matlock apartments and the residences on Jordan Avenue are among the student facilities he represents.\n"I think the mayor did a fine job but didn't talk about IU's relationship with the city," Banach said. "We didn't talk much about student issues."\nBanach would like to see improvements made regarding communication between city government and student residents.\n"The students have naturally progressed into the city," he said. "The residents want the students to realize what's expected of them when they are residents of a neighborhood."\nBanach said noise and trash are among the primary concerns of Bloomington residents living near students.\n"I don't fault the students for that," Banach said. "The city needs to better educate student renters on city code issues such as trash, noise and parking"