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Last night, I delivered my sixth State of the County address to more than 600 people at the Berman Center for the Performing Arts in West Bloomfield.
It’s a time-honored tradition for elected officials to review and reflect, to cheer the accomplishments and preview future endeavors.
But this year’s speech also gave me a moment to consider the disruptive times we find ourselves in and how we plan to proceed in the midst of the turmoil being driven by the Trump administration.
We’re not unfamiliar with chaos and challenge. We lived through COVID and came out the other side more resilient and ready to adapt to a steady diet of uncertainty and changing rules and policies.
These challenges are one of the reasons why we created enduring programs like Oakland80 and Project DIAMOnD – to give our residents and businesses the education, training and equipment they need to recover, succeed and thrive.
It’s why we have expanded access to physical and mental health services because in times of doubt, we need to offer the programs and services that help keep our residents healthy.
It’s why we invested in our parks and sustainability, to ensure our residents have access to the green spaces that sustain and nurture them.
And it’s why we’re tackling such persistent problems like the lack of affordable housing and reliable public transportation in Oakland County. Because we have a choice: we can be a wealthy county where life is really good for the well-off among us. Or we can be a wealthy county that shares its prosperity to address the conditions of poverty and to make sure our communities are welcome for all.
I think you know that is a simple choice for me and my administration.
Oakland County is a place where challenges are met with innovation, not hyperbole. Where disruption leads to progress, not division and where we know our strength comes from unity. And , yes, where the diversity of our residents is seen as a strength. Where one person is not lifted above another person, but where all are welcome and provided an opportunity to create their own exceptional future in this special place that we call home.
We don’t need to make Oakland County great again, because we have always been great. And together, we can do even more good.
Since these are just some Cliff Notes from my State of the County address, I invite you to visit oakgov.com/SOTC, where you can read or watch a replay of my entire speech. I hope you enjoy it and will feel compelled to share the great story of Oakland County
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