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Friends,
On Thursday evening, I will deliver the annual State of the City address, and I hope you are able to join me as we celebrate Little Rock and share our vision for 2024 and beyond.
The program begins at 6 p.m. at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, 501 E. Ninth St. This newly reopened and reimagined museum is the perfect place to discuss our efforts to re-energize Little Rock. In my address, I will go into detail about how the City is making data-driven decisions to improve results and strengthen our community. We will reflect on 2023 -- a year of both tragedy and triumph -- and outline our goals and objectives for this year.
This is an opportunity for me as your Mayor to speak directly to residents about our progress and our potential. We will provide a comprehensive, unfiltered update to our residents without the sometimes-clouded lens of word-of-mouth, social media or news accounts.
If you want to know more about Little Rock government and you would like to help us earn better results for the state's capital city, be our guest Thursday for the 2024 State of the City address. You can RSVP at this link.
This year, for the first time at a State of the City, residents will be able to interact directly with city Departments at our first-ever Involvement Fair. Starting at 5 p.m. Thursday in the atrium of AMFA, multiple departments will have tables set up with materials and information. Department leaders and other team members will be on hand to answer resident questions.
I look forward to seeing you for the Involvement Fair and the State of the City address Thursday. However, if you are unable to be with us in person, be sure to watch the livestream on Facebook, YouTube, or on LRTV Channel 11.
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MLK Unity Service
Hundreds of Little Rock residents joined us Sunday evening for an uplifting and inspiring time as we kicked off Black History Month with our annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Unity Service.
During this annual event, we bring together faith leaders from across the community, the Board of Directors and other city officials and special guests to honor the legacy of Dr. King and re-center ourselves on his call to equity, peace and social justice.
My heartfelt appreciation goes out to this year's program participants: emcees Pulaski County Clerk Terri Hollingsworth and Former State Sen. Bill Walker; Dr. Phillip L. Pointer, Sr., senior pastor of Saint Mark Baptist; Rev. Cesar Ortega, pastor of CityServe Arkansas; Tiffany Pettus and Diana Shelton of the Arkansas MLK Commission; Rev. Ben Parkinson, teaching pastor at Fellowship Bible Church; Dr. Maurice Watson, senior pastor of Second Baptist Church; Rev. Wendell Griffen; senior pastor of New Millennium Church; Rev. Mark DeYmaz, pastor of Mosaic Church of Central Arkansas; Rev. Haley Jones of First United Methodist Church; Dr. Preston Clegg, pastor of Second Baptist-Downtown; Dr. Dwight D. Townsend, pastor of Longley Baptist Church; Pastor Danita Waller Paige, senior pastor of St. James United Methodist Church; and Rev. Brittany Stillwell, associate pastor of Second Baptist-Downtown.
We were blessed with music from the Philander Smith University Choir and from a unity choir made up of outstanding singers from Saint Mark Baptist, Second Baptist, Longley Baptist, First Baptist - North Little Rock, and New Hope Baptist churches.
This year's featured speaker was Dr. Gina Stewart, senior pastor of Christ Missionary Baptist Church in Memphis. She encouraged us to continue to be voices for the marginalized despite circumstances that may seem too dire. She reminded us, through the words of the prophet Isaiah, that we are promised better days. Dr. Stewart encouraged us to "imagine the possibilities, even with faced with the backdrop of a nightmarish reality."
As a barrier-breaking minister -- Dr. Stewart was recently the first woman ever to preach at the National Baptist Convention USA Inc. -- she personifies Dr. King's challenge to make the world more tolerant, inclusive and equitable for our future generations.
We would be remiss not to thank our hosts for this year's Unity Service, Saint Mark Baptist Church. Pastor Pointer and the Saint Mark's congregation always support our community and the work to make Little Rock a better place.
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Green Station is Open
This morning, we cut the ribbon on Little Rock's new Green Station, a welcome sight to residents as we emphasize sustainability through recycling and waste reduction.
The Little Rock Green Station is located at 2000 S. Thayer St. It is open Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on the final Saturday of each month from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents may dispose of old electronics, household hazardous waste, plastic grocery bags and empty glass bottles and jars. The Green Station is one of five in Pulaski County operated by the Regional Recycling and Waste Reduction District.
The previous Green Station in Little Rock had multiple limitations that ultimately prompted its closure in November 2022. The collection area at the old station on Kanis Road was unfenced, meaning many prohibited items were being left there during off-hours, making the location unsightly and unsafe.
The new Green Station on Thayer Street not only boasts expanded operating hours, but the site is fenced, with a design that allows for better traffic flow of vehicles and collection trucks.
With expanded hours of operation and a new location, I encourage all residents to utilize the Green Station as a way to both protect our environment and keep Little Rock beautiful! |
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U.S. DOT Visit
Last week, our City hosted officials with the U.S. Department of Transportation to discuss progress on transportation infrastructure projects and discussing key components of the Biden administration's Bipartisan Infrastructure Act.
Senior U.S. DOT leaders joined me and our Public Works Department team, as well as officials with Rock Region Metro, the Port of Little Rock and Clinton National Airport. Representatives of Arkansas's congressional delegation, state officials and Metroplan also participated in the daylong visit.
The federal team made stops at Rock Region's transit center in downtown Little Rock, the airport and the port, among other locations.
During the visit, we highlighted Little Rock's substantial progress in infrastructure development. We emphasized the importance of collaboration and cooperation to advance our transportation and infrastructure goals and to ensure a connected future for the state's capital city.
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Gun Violence Survivors Week
The last full week in January, we observed National Gun Violence Survivors Week. This was the sixth annual commemoration of the lasting and catastrophic impact of gun violence. In recognition of the week, we issued a Proclamation supporting survivors who demonstrated strength and resilience and grieving with those whose lives were radically changed as a result of gun violence.
As you know, curbing gun violence is a priority for my administration. We have implemented a holistic approach to crime prevention, and as a result, homicides last year declined substantially when compared to 2022. Still, there is so much more work to do.
We encourage residents to use gun locks on their weapons and never store them in their personal vehicles. Many guns used in crimes are stolen from private vehicles.
We can work together to prevent gun violence. As we do so, let's take time to find inspiration from the strength, courage and commitment of gun violence survivors.
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The Week Ahead
- The Little Rock Board of Directors will meet Tuesday, Feb. 6, at 6 p.m. at The Centre at University Park, 6401 W. 12th St. All board meetings are livestreamed on the City of Little Rock's Facebook and YouTube pages. To view the agenda, click here.
- The Public Works Department is hosting a public meeting this evening, Feb. 5, at 5:30 p.m. to discuss drainage projects in Ward 6. The meeting is at West Central Community Center, 8616 Colonel Glenn Road.
- Don't forget to join us on Thursday, Feb. 8, at the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, 501 W. Ninth St., for the annual State of the City address. The program starts at 6 p.m. A City of Little Rock involvement fair is set for 5 p.m.
- The Little Rock Planning Commission meets at 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 8, at the Centre at University Park.
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As always, stay up to date with what's happening in the City on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram via @citylittlerock. You can also email me at mayorscott@littlerock.gov or call my office at 501.371.4744.
I appreciate you!
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