Mayor Andy Berke
Mayor Andy Berke, in his annual State of the City Address, on Monday announced the creation of the Netbridge Student Discount program. In the partnership with EPB, he said any family of a child eligible for Free and Reduced Lunch in schools can receive 100 megabits per second Internet at a cost of $26.99 per month."
Mayor Berke said, "Think about it. Our low income families will have a faster connection than Park Avenue millionaires at a fraction of the cost."
He said in the talk at the Chattanoogan hotel, "We must also make sure as many citizens as
possible have access to Chattanooga’s game-changing infrastructure: our high-speed broadband network. Chattanooga has the fastest, cheapest, most pervasive Internet in the Western Hemisphere, 600 square miles of fiber optic cable hooked up to every home and business in the area.
Also, the mayor said the city police and UTC are forming a compact to seek to deal with sexual assault on campus.
He said, "First, our police department will coordinate closer than ever before with campus police to bring offenders to justice.
"Second, our Family Justice Center will work with the university to provide more awareness, increased reporting, and stronger support for victims."
The mayor also announced the creation of the Mayor’s Council for Women. He said the inaugural Council will be City Council Chair Dr. Carol Berz and Rep. JoAnne Favors.
He said, "Using an economic lens, they will examine issues that adversely affect women in our community and make policy recommendations to the city. It is critical that we stand together as a community united to empower and embolden women of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities."
Mayor Berke said the Police Department and the Fire Department "have adopted more proactive, community focus than ever before."
He said police "slowly but surely get important tips and information" due to the closer ties with the community.
Mayor Berke said over the year that the Violence Reduction Initiative has been in place, "we have seen our shootings decrease. From October to March, our gang gun violence dropped 24 percent. We know there’s more to do. But with a relentless police department, and an even more engaged community, we will continue to face this tough problem head on."
He said dealing with domestic violence and sexual assault remain major challenges.
The speech can be viewed at http://www.chattanooga.gov/
Click
here to read his full speech.