text of alex morse's inaugural address
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8/3/2019 Text of Alex Morse's Inaugural Address
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TEXT OF ALEX MORSE'S INAUGURAL ADDRESS
My fellow citizens of Holyoke:
I stand before you today grateful for the trust you have placed in me and humbled by the
scale of the task before us. I’d like to express my undying gratitude, also, to my familyand friends who have encouraged me every step of this journey.
Today marks a turning of the page on the old ways of doing politics in this city. It has
been many years since Holyoke has stood at the threshold of such transformation; and I,
as your mayor, am honored to help shape Holyoke’s future with you. The time for pettyobstructions to progress is over. The time for waiting is past; the time for renewing our
highest ideals and for remembering our better history is now. When I look at Holyoke
today, I see what our Holyoke forebears saw when they created the Paper City of theWorld: a city of limitless possibility.
We have all heard those who say that Holyoke’s best days are long past. We have heardthat Holyoke’s best bet is for us to just settle, and to resign ourselves to a future that is
beneath our highest aspirations. For far too long, this narrative has pervaded this city andthe morale of its people; too many have internalized these notions as true, as somehow
inescapable realities of the Holyoke experience. As a result, many of Holyoke’s citizens
have been disheartened and discouraged; too many have been overwhelmed by thefrustration of seeing their best efforts and hopes for Holyoke fail to result in real,
substantive progress.
Now, I understand the magnitude of the many challenges before us, and I am mindful of
my own limitations to remedy them. But I also understand that the days of resignation are
over. In November’s election, the citizens of Holyoke made their voices heard; and whatthose voices joined together to proclaim was that this election was – emphatically – about
the future of the city of Holyoke. The voters rejected the gridlock and stagnation of the past. Today, we rededicate ourselves to the betterment of this community. We will not
achieve every goal we desire in just one election or even one mayoral term. But I have no
doubt that we will meet these challenges – boldly, fearlessly, and with the proud, fighting
spirit that defines our people.
Throughout my time in this city, I have seen this spirit made manifest in the lives of
ordinary citizens every day – people who often go unnoticed, but who contribute to our
community in countless ways. And over the past year, as a candidate, seeing this spirit
has never ceased to move me.
I saw it in the countless folks who stopped by headquarters, offering their help in myriad,
small ways – people with their own busy lives who nonetheless sought to give support in
whatever ways they could.
I saw it in the elderly man I met in the Flats – a man who could not speak a word of English, but who registered to vote for the first time in his life.
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I saw it in the young kids – kids too young to even vote – who were enthused and
impassioned about the capacity of our political process.
I saw it in a conversation I had with a woman in Elmwood Towers, in which shereminisced fondly about her days growing up in Holyoke, and who felt hopeful about the
city’s future.
And I saw it in a young couple I met while door-knocking – a couple that had just moved
in and that, despite the prevailing stigmas about their new hometown, were overwhelmed by the sense of community and belonging they had already begun to feel.
My experience on the campaign reaffirmed my deeply held belief that Holyoke’s greatest
asset is, and has always been its people. And that Holyoke’s citizens reflect both diversity
and a shared destiny, an overarching sense of common purpose. As I stand before youtoday, I do not shrink from the tasks before us because I know these folks and each and
every one of you will be with me every step of the way.
Let us guarantee for our children the right to a sound education, one that will prepare
them to compete in a 21st century economy and to contribute meaningfully to our society. I stand before you today because of the education I received in the Holyoke
public schools. I am a product of Holyoke schools from pre-school through my
graduation at Holyoke High. My experience taught me that it truly takes a village to raisea child. And that, had it not been for the people who took responsibility for my education,
I would not be here today. It is time to restore that sense of responsibility. It is time for us
to remember the common stake we have in one another, and that we must be responsible
for all of Holyoke’s children, regardless of what they look like or what neighborhoodthey’re from. I know this is possible because I’ve lived it. And when I look at my parents
here today, I know that they never would have imagined that their child would one day betheir city’s mayor.
Next, let us lay the foundation for economic growth that can be sustained over the long-
term and that gives our youth good reason to stay and work in Holyoke. Because, let’s be
honest: what use will a good education be if our kids then find nowhere to work and
contribute? Just as our predecessors saw in Holyoke everything they needed for thecreation of the Paper City, I now see everything we need to become the Digital City, and
for an economy based on art, innovation, and technology. The high tech computing center
will be completed this year. And already, businesses are showing an interest in relocatingto our community. For art and innovation, we need look no further than the talented folks
already in this city, who need only be supported. Our people need a more conducive
environment to create and imagine new ideas. It is time to eradicate the myth that peopledon’t want to work, and instead, give them good reason to work, by providing sound
opportunities for the future.
Necessarily connected to fixing our education system and cultivating economic
development is the task of keeping our streets safe. We know that if kids have productivethings to do, and meaningful opportunities, we can prevent them from seeking their
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livelihoods in crime. Looking at community safety requires a holistic approach, and we
all know that if we foster a sense of community and reinforce the stake we all have in one
another’s lives, our city will be safer. But that requires time and the laying of firmfoundations. Right now, we must begin to restore the relationship between our
distinguished police officers and our communities. We must bolster neighborhood watch
programs, increase bike and foot patrol, and provide common folks with a voice in providing recommendations to the police department. I will work very closely with both
the fire department and the police department to make sure we come up with common
sense approaches to keeping our people safe. Through these steps, I hope to rebrandHolyoke’s image and to make our city an appealing place for businesses and visitors.
As we do these things – improve education, foster economic development, and ensure
public safety – let our guiding light be a love for this city. Let us remember that we all
want what’s best for our hometown. And that in no other city in this nation are the peoplemore considerate, generous, and compassionate. We hold values that are not subject to
the changing winds of time; they endure and continue to define us. Our resilience. Our
pride. Our concern for the plight of others. The belief that when hardship befalls one of us, it affects us all; that your child’s education matters just as much as somebody else’schild’s, or as much as my niece’s and nephew’s; that public safety in our downtown
matters as much to residents of Ward Seven as it does to residents of Ward One. As
Holyokers, we recognize that we cannot walk alone. I know there are many whose votes Ihave not yet earned; and that, despite our best efforts, we will not always agree with one
another. But I also know that we don’t need to see eye-to-eye to walk hand-in-hand; and
that we are never stronger than when we are united.
The work begins today. And we begin our work knowing that we are part of a processthat is larger than ourselves, and that will continue long after we’re gone. Before us is the
opportunity to shape this city’s future for generations to come. Let us seize this moment.Let this term be remembered as the time Holyoke began to make inroads in itslongstanding challenges, and paved the way for a safer, more just, and decent community
to unfold – one that is worthy of its proud citizens. Lest we forget, we are Holyoke. As
long as we remember that, there is no way we can fail.
Thank you, Holyoke.