March 10, 2010

Search

Keith Wilkowski - Home > Turn Toledo Around

Turn Toledo Around

 

 Keith headshotTHE WILKOWSKI PLAN:
TURN TOLEDO AROUND

Turn Toledo Around Plan

Click image above to view full document

 Dear Citizens of Toledo and Northwest Ohio:It is my privilege to present to you the Wilkowski Plan to Turn Toledo Around.   When I ran for Mayor of Toledo in 2005, I observed that over the years, our great city has lost jobs, people, businesses, tax-base, wealth and confidence.  Many people have lost hope that we have the power to change conditions in our city.  Every day, people and businesses are making choices about where they want to make their future, and sadly, they are not choosing Toledo.  It is time to ‘Turn Toledo Around.’ 

In the four years since the last election, Toledo has continued to suffer; businesses and families have continued to leave, and the economy is still in decline. Today, more than 25,000 Toledoans are out of work, yet the City of Toledo has no economic development plan.  Our city budget is in crisis, and public safety is at risk, yet the Mayor and the Council squabble over issues great and small.  It is time for real leadership and bold new ideas.  In that spirit, I offer the Wilkowski Plan to Turn Toledo Around.  Together, I know that we can do it!

The Turnaround Plan is a comprehensive document which addresses the needs of Toledo in five key areas: (1) Jobs and the Economy, (2) Public Safety, (3) Reforming City Government, (4) Preserving and Rebuilding Toledo’s Great Neighborhoods, and (5) Education and Quality of Life.  All parts of the Wilkowski Turnaround Plan include three common themes: a Vision for “the Big Picture,” a commitment to Excellence, and energetic and responsible Leadership to make it happen.  

Vision for the Big Picture:

We must have a vision for the “Big Picture,” bringing together the many pieces that make up a successful city.  Our focus on jobs and the economy must include an emphasis on safety and security.  We need to have good roads with clean and inviting sidewalks if we want people and businesses to locate here.  We have to make sure our city offers first rate recreational and cultural opportunities with an accessible public transportation system.  We must realize that Toledo is affected by state and national laws, as well as global events and economic trends.  Understanding the “Big Picture” will allow us to take effective local action to rebuild our city.

A Commitment to Excellence:    

A Wilkowski administration will make an unshakeable commitment to excellence.  Too often, Toledoans have sold themselves short and settled for less than what we deserve.  My Turnaround Plan challenges all of us to reach higher, to do better and to strive for excellence in all that we do.  We must set high standards and hold ourselves to them.  We will not succeed in bringing jobs and people back to Toledo unless we offer the very best housing, business environment, entertainment, and cultural experiences.  In short, we can’t turn Toledo around with mediocre plans.  The Wilkowski Turnaround Plan is a commitment to excellence for our city and its people.

Energetic and Responsible Leadership to Make It Happen:

On important and controversial issues facing our City, the Mayor must lead in a responsible fashion, building consensus among different constituencies.  I am proud to have served in that tradition, leading the effort to create our region’s successful Joint Economic Development Zone agreements.  These agreements are examples of how we can achieve consensus among regional actors with new ideas that benefit all of Northwest Ohio.  Today, in these regional economic development zones, thousands of people are employed, and not incidentally, the City of Toledo is receiving over one million dollars a year in tax revenues.  As Mayor, I will lead in an energetic and responsible manner, bringing people together to move the community forward.  

 

Thank you for reading the Wilkowski Plan to Turn Toledo Around.  I welcome your comments and questions.  Please feel free to contact me at: Keith@KeithWilkowski.com .