Pete Buttigieg declares 'South Bend is back' in farewell speech

[brooklynite]

South Bend Tribune

SOUTH BEND — Pete Buttigieg stood before the Common Council Monday night for his final time as mayor, delivering a farewell address that served as a detailed defense of his record, especially in addressing the city’s toughest problems and struggling neighborhoods.

“South Bend’s trajectory has been transformed,” he declared at the beginning of speech. He later ended with another declaration, while noting many challenges remain: “South Bend is back.”

In spelling out the accomplishments during his eight years as mayor, Buttigieg called for his friend and successor, James Mueller, to build on work in the areas of public safety, economic development and housing.

Buttigieg also addressed his personal life in South Bend, saying he was not sure there was a place for him in his hometown after leaving for college.

[BeyondGeography]

1. Here's a pretty balanced assessment of all that

https://www.southbendtribune.com/news/local/pete-buttigieg-took-big-swings-and-declared-south-bend-is/article_2286b06e-20f4-11ea-8019-a74f23b4942f.html

[dalton99a]

2. A lot of construction money to benefit developers and gentrifiers while racial inequality got worse.

Another telling statistic: "In the year Buttigieg took office, 78 people were injured or killed in shootings. This year, through November, 98 people have been shot... A survey commissioned by Buttigieg’s administration in 2018 found that only 13 percent of respondents agreed the city was a safe community for everyone."

[BeyondGeography]

3. Reads like Bloomberg on the Bend

Data-driven reviews reveal “upside potential.” Adjust zoning accordingly and clear the decks.

[crazytown]

4. The number of black police officers in South Bend is 15, out of 230.

"The number of black police officers in South Bend has dropped nearly in half since Buttigieg took office". South Bend is 26% AA.