Mayor's Welcome

Thank you for visiting the City of York’s official website. Hopefully, you will find our site helpful in informing you of various initiatives and projects that we have pursued with vigor and optimism. Most of these initiatives and projects can be divided into two major categories: the York City Life Movement and Spurring Economic Development.

York's City Life Movement

York's City Life Movement concentrates on improving numerous aspects of our citizens' quality of life: (1) encouraging community policing and a citizen-police culture of communication, trust, and respect; (2) eliminating hazards, nuisances, and eyesores; (3) demanding and inspiring responsible stewardship of all of our corners, blocks, buildings, and parks; (4) improving lighting throughout the City; and (5) increasing the number and percentage of owner-occupied homes in the City.

First, through our Police Department’s cultural training initiative and our Take 30 Program, in which officers are expected to get out of their cars and talk face-to-face to residents on their beat for at least 30 minutes each shift, we are encouraging a culture of open communication and mutual trust and respect. Such a cultural is a requirement for effective community policing.

Second, under the direction of Kim Brown (kbrown@yorkcity.org), Director of Community Development, we will continue to seize hundreds of abandoned vehicles while working diligently to raze several hazardous, abandoned buildings. Partnering with the Redevelopment Authority, urban developers, and Habitat for Humanity, we will continue to target entire city blocks to restore some neighborhoods to their rightful places of stability, order, and dignity.

Third, we will demand and inspire civic stewardship of our City corners, blocks, buildings, and parks. What can you do to make our York better? Become a member of YorkScape to clean, beautify, and light our inherently beautiful city. Join the Neighborhood Clean Team to clean targeted residential areas each month. Become an Angel of the Park to ensure that one of our numerous city parks is clean, inviting, and thriving throughout the year. Or, donate money for a trash can, bench, or public sculpture.

Fourth, we will continue to light as many of our historical murals and architectural marvels as possible while converting downtown streetlights from high pressure sodium to metal halide lights. In fact, you can adopt a mural through our Light the Night Initiative to light and beautify our public art, walls, and streets at night.

Fifth, working with our Homeownership Coalition, a private-public partnership of volunteers who meet each month, we will increase the percentage of owner-occupied homes in our city to 55% by 2007. Homeownership translates into respect for and pride in hearth, home, block, and neighborhood.

Spurring Economic Development

Our plan for spurring economic development has five parts: (1) practicing a pro-active business philosophy, (2) encouraging a walkable culture, (3) carving niche districts, (4) improving and adding high-profile attractions and special events, and (5) emphasizing heritage and cultural tourism.

First, under the direction of  Matt Jackson (mjackson@yorkcity.org), Director of Economic Development, we will continue to practice a pro-active business philosophy that understands the mindset of business-owners and property-owners and streamlines the business-creation and home-improvement processes.

Second, we encourage a walkable culture for residents, employees, and visitors where pedestrians are privileged and virtually everything a citizen needs or wants can be reached by reasonable walks or bicycle trips. A walkable culture is the link connecting homeownership and small-business creation. A host of small businesses that provide a full range of goods and services sustains walkable, residential life while helping to convince prospective homeowners to rediscover the unique qualities of City Life.

Third, carving niche districts or territories representing night-life culture (George Street), the arts (North Beaver and West Philadelphia Streets), antiques and home furnishings (200-400 blocks of West Market Street), and heritage tourism will spark new-found interest in the City from within and beyond York County.

Fourth, providing high-quality museums, tourist destinations, hotels and bed-and-breakfasts, research facilities, athletic events, and ritualistic celebrations (e.g., fairs, festivals, conventions, fireworks) is also important for convincing visitors and shoppers to rediscover the values and offerings of our York.

Fifth, we envision our York is a thriving social and tourist destination characterized by well-lighted murals, pathways, and architectural gems. Revolutionary York is a unique City in that it played significant roles in three American Revolutions - the American Revolution, the Civil War - the "second American Revolution," and the Industrial Revolution. Few places can boast of that, and we will search for innovative and compelling ways to tell our rich and deep history.

Conclusion

We have miles to go and daring chapters to write, and your participation is needed for envisioned progress to become reality. Therefore, we invite you to join us in our mission to make our York a better, cleaner, safer, and more beautiful place to work, live, learn, and play. To learn more, contact City Hall at (717) 845-3949. Thanks!

Sincerely Yours,

John S. Brenner
Mayor

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