Quotes from Thomas Menino

Boston is the engine of the state's economy.

Boston is safe. And we're going to keep it safe.

2004 was a great year for Boston! The Patriots won the Super Bowl! Boston hosted its first national political convention! And - the Red Sox won the World Series!

One of our key strategies has been to restructure traditional high schools into small learning communities with personalized attention and a range of options.

The true privilege of being Mayor is that I have the opportunity to be everyone's neighbor.

Diversity gives our city a competitive edge.

Currently, Boston has only nine percent of the state's population - but we provide more than 16 percent of the jobs and 19 percent of the state's revenues.

The true value of sport is more than the skills that young people learn.

I am also committed to providing city employees with housing assistance.

This is a bad day for Boston, but I think if we pull together we'll get through it.

We were the first urban school system in the country to wire all of our schools for the Internet.

Children need continuity as they grow and learn.

For every $5 that Boston's economy sends up to Beacon Hill, the state gives only $1 back to us.

Tonight, I am pleased to announce that I have secured $1 million from the Convention Host Committee to fund the beautification of Boston's neighborhoods.

Here's what I see all across this great city - people working together to make Boston a better place to live and to raise children, to grow and pursue dreams.

I grew up with a Christmas tree, I'm going to stay with a Christmas tree.

And for the city's birthday, we will host events in every neighborhood of the city, inviting all of our residents to share in the celebration of Boston's great epic - the story of neighbors who support one another where it matters most.

Boston is known for its innovation.

I brought together experts from health care, business, academic institutions, and the community to develop a comprehensive blueprint for eliminating racial and ethnic disparities in health care in the City of Boston.

And it was from Boston that one in every six American families began their journey into the land of the free.

These are national problems that require national solutions.

And for the city's birthday, we will host events in every neighborhood of the city, inviting all of our residents to share in the celebration of Boston's great epic - the story of neighbors who support one another where it matters most.

One of our key strategies has been to restructure traditional high schools into small learning communities with personalized attention and a range of options.

Preparing our city to achieve its destiny will require strong leadership.