JANUARY 13, 2012: Today, Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle announced a weeklong series of events designed to honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The celebration, titled “Honoring the Legacy: Take Action Now!- Leave Your Legacy ” kicks off with a press conference Saturday, January 14, at Big Mama’s Kitchen and Catering with a lunch featuring Dr. King’s favorite foods.
This year’s program will feature “Get on the Bus…Leave Your Legacy” a city bus that has been converted into a traveling Civil Rights museum. The bus will be traveling to several sites throughout the city, educating Omahans on the history of the Civil Rights movement.
“Honoring the Legacy: Take Action Now! – Leave Your Legacy” is a collective of city-wide celebrations honoring Dr, King’s life commitment to and passion for serving others,” said Mayor Suttle. “Dr. King once said, ‘Everybody can be great, because anybody can serve.’ It is our hope that Omaha will be inspired to continue his legacy by working time better the lives of others.”
The complete listing of events can be found below.
Saturday and Sunday, January 14 and 15, 2012 Dr. King’s Favorite Foods
presented by Big Mama’s Kitchen and Catering
3223 North 45th Street – Turning Point Campus
Contact: 402-455-MAMA (6262)
Saturday, January 14, 2012 2nd Annual MLK Teach-IN
presented by the IMA and the Heritage Seekers Study Group
9:00 a.m. Continental Breakfast & Registration
9:30 a.m. Teach-In program begins
Zion Baptist Church
For more information or reservations contact 402-345-1502 (more…)
January 4, 2012 – Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle is calling for lawmakers to support legislation that gives flexibility to Tax Increment Financing regulations so city’s can sustain economic growth without the need for increasing taxes; allows municipalities to make capital improvements without burdening taxpayers; and assists industrial businesses in offsetting costs connected with the federally mandated Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) project.
“Omaha is responsible for 52% of Nebraska’s economy and we take this responsibility seriously,” said Mayor Suttle. “Since I took office we’ve made 37 million dollars in spending cuts while keeping vital city services available to our citizens. We streamlined government operations, found smarter, faster ways of doing business using technology, and are now looking to expand economic development through enhanced Tax Increment Finance (TIF) legislation and tax exemptions on lease purchase bonds.”
The TIF amendment to Nebraska’s Redevelopment Act would allow Omaha to be more competitive with surrounding states in attracting new opportunities for economic development. This legislation, proposed by Senator Heath Mello, would help cities by extending the financing for community development projects from 15 to 20 years.
Mayor Suttle would like to see revisions in the Community Development Law and potential Land Bank legislation that would allow Omaha to tackle a growing problem with vacant and hazardous properties in the eastern part of the city. The revisions would include lifting current barriers for those acquiring condemned property. “We need to be able to free up blighted land for redevelopment,” said Mayor Suttle. “It will allow the city to make way for new businesses, broaden the availability of jobs in vulnerable areas of our community and improve neighborhoods.”
January 4, 2012: The Omaha Fire Department received a record number of applications for this year’s firefighting class. 2079 candidates applied for the open positions, up from 1,433 applicants in 2008, the last time the position was posted. Applications were accepted from November 18, 2011 through December 19, 2011.
Of the 2,079 applicants, 1,854 were accepted to test for the position, up from 1281 in 2008. Testing will begin with a multiple choice examination this week.
In addition to the overall spike in applications, the City also saw a 30 percent increase in minority candidates. This year’s applicant pool features 207 African-Americans, as compared to 111 in 2008, and 117 Latino applicants, more than doubling 2008’s total of 56.
“Our recruitment team worked hard to develop a recruitment strategy that would reach people from all backgrounds,” said City Human Resources Director Dick O’Gara. “Advertisements included radio, television, billboards, bus benches, periodicals, internet and flyers, as well as meeting with local businesses, schools and universities to spread the word.”
“Our firefighters are on the front line to serve the citizens of Omaha,” said Omaha Fire Chief Mike McDonnell. “I am thrilled to have such a large candidate pool that reflects the demographics and values of our community.”
Happy to see such a large, diverse group of applicants for this year’s firefighter class. bit.ly/ymZ73I
Dec. 28, 2011 – Mayor Jim Suttle will remain focused on financially responsible choices that serve the best interest of Omaha taxpayers entering into the New Year. “2011 has been a challenging year, but we made it through, together, stronger and more committed to finding solutions that will move our city forward,” said Mayor Suttle.
The citizens of Omaha weathered a 500 year flood, financial uncertainties, and political obstacles that threatened to divide the city. “We overcame those obstacles, fought back the flood waters, and gained financial strength through successful efficiency measures which enabled us to keep our AAA bond rating against all odds,” said Suttle. “We’ve cut spending and have worked to save money so we can strengthen our economy, rebuild our infrastructure, provide jobs for our citizens and plan for the future. It is important that we keep moving in this direction.”
Among the list of actions taken by the Suttle administration on behalf of the citizens of Omaha in 2011 include;
• Restoring the Stable Outlook status to the City’s AAA bond rating following downgrades by the Federal Government
• Bringing the community and city employees together to mitigate flood damage and protect the people of Omaha.
• Making Omaha safer by taking over 700 illegal guns off the street
• Providing greater public input on city operations with a year-round virtual town-hall website called EngageOmaha.com
• Establishing online business applications for filing taxes, building permits and inspections – improving the process for users and allowing for more efficient use of city resources
• Making smartphone applications available to the public for snow operations and road conditions
• Automating the city’s budget process to be web based, increasing transparency to Omaha residents
• Collecting outdated account receivables for the city
• Developing a five year revenue outlook for long term planning
• Approving 18 Tax Increment Financing projects with a total value of $150 million dollars – more than tripling last year’s amount
• Obtaining 6.5 million dollars in competitive grant funds, which would have otherwise gone to communities in other states, to reduce crime in Omaha, improve community and economic development and provide afterschool programs for youth in our city
In 2012 Mayor Suttle will be committed to keeping streets and neighborhoods safe, which includes removing illegal guns and gangs from Omaha streets. The Mayor will also continue working with the business community to strengthen the city’s economy and will work to rebuild streets and parks so the city can secure a strong foundation for future growth. “I have emphasized long range planning because it is what is best for the future of Omaha and its citizens,” said Mayor Suttle. “We have seen what decades of short term decision making has done – while it may sound good in a political debate, taxpayers suffer in the long run and we can’t afford to continue on that path.”
In 2012 Mayor Suttle will continue working with the Environmental Protection Agency, Congress and the U.S. Conference of Mayors to secure the rights of Omaha residents to clean water, without forcing them to pay an unreasonable price.
“Most importantly in the New Year we must continue doing whatever it takes to create jobs for our citizens,” said Mayor Suttle. “Providing jobs in this economy is not easy, but it is crucial to the health of our city on so many levels and should be a priority for all of us. Entering the New Year, we should continue working together to make Omaha the best place to live.”
The Parks and Recreation Department will be interviewing for Summer Employment in 2012 on Tuesday, December 27, 2011 and Wednesday, December 28, 2011. The following programs will be hiring: Swimming, Golf, Hummel Day Camp, Park Maintenance and Rec’s Kids Clubhouse. Please apply online for all positions prior to interview at www.cityofomaha.org/humanresources/employment.
Time and Location of Interviews Please bring a valid picture ID and social security card.
Tuesday, Dec. 27, 1pm-3pm
Christie Heights Community Center – 5105 S. 37th Street
(402) 444-6280
Tuesday, Dec. 27, 6pm-9pm
Mockingbird Hills Community Center – 10242 Mockingbird Drive
(402) 444-6103
Wednesday, Dec. 28, 1pm-3pm
Florence Community Center – 2920 Bondesson Street
(402) 444-5216
Wednesday, Dec. 28, 6pm-9pm
Camelot Community Center – 9270 Cady Avenue
(402) 444-5972
Dec. 13, 2011 –Omaha Mayor Jim Suttle joined community leaders today in calling for increased cooperation in Omaha’s fight against violence. Mayor Suttle praised efforts by Omaha Police Chief Alex Hayes, City Councilman Ben Gray, and community leaders, including Willie Barney, President of the Empowerment Network, for working together to protect our families, homes and neighborhoods.
The event focused on the need for greater community involvement with respect to crime prevention. “Community organizations such as the Empowerment Network, Impact One, churches and many of our Neighborhood Associations have been working with the Police Department on a regular basis,” said Mayor Suttle. “They need the help of each and every citizen who has information about acts of violence in order to create a safer environment for everyone.”
Mayor Suttle also called on increased participation from Omaha’s business community. “Studies have shown that employment is a major factor in deterring crime, so job creation should be our number one priority,” said Mayor Suttle. “It has not been easy in this economy, but I will continue to promote business opportunities in our city and would challenge the business community to work with me to make jobs available in neighborhoods that need them the most.”
Mayor Suttle also asked Omahans to participate in this Saturday’s “no questions asked” Gun Amnesty Day. Unwanted or illegal guns and ammunition can be dropped off at the east side foyer of Omaha’s Civic Auditorium Music Hall from 10 am – 2 pm.
