Friend,
While this week didn't turn out like we had planned, I couldn't be prouder of everything we've accomplished over the last two years.
Thank you for everything you've done for our team. It's been a long campaign, but thanks to your support, Charlotte is a better place.
This was a team effort, and I'm proud to have a diverse team that came together to help us move this city forward. Your time, energy, and talents make our democracy work.
Everyone on our team can be proud that we stood on the right side of history; that we stood up for every person in Charlotte. Thank you for fighting with me to defend the values that make Charlotte great.
I want to thank Mayor Pro Tem Vi Lyles for her commitment to our city. On council, it has been an honor to work with Vi, and Charlotte is a better city thanks to her many years of hard work. I hope you will support her in November.
Thank you to all of the organizations that supported us; thank you to all of the individuals who endorsed us; thank you to all of our donors who made our campaign possible; and thank you to all of the staff, interns, and volunteers who gave tens of thousands of hours to our cause.
My family has stood with me for over a decade of campaigns. Thank you Manley, Montana, and Manley Jr. for giving me the strength and support I need to be my best.
Finally, thank you. Your support has enabled us to accomplish amazing things together.
With your support, we created a new afterschool connector to improve outcomes in our public schools. We expanded the Mayor's Youth Employment Program to make sure our city's most vulnerable youth had job training and career opportunities.
We worked to expand contracts for women- and minority-owned small businesses, and for the first time over 20% of city contracts went to these companies. We expanded access for young women and people of color to technology jobs - the jobs of the future.
We branded Charlotte as the next technology hub, and together we brought the jobs to the Queen City to make that a reality. Some of you even joined me on a successful trade mission to China.
We passed a historic non-discrimination ordinance that told the world that Charlotte was a welcoming place for everyone.
We took steps to treat the affordable housing crisis with a sense of urgency, and we raised wages for city employees. We won paid family leave to help us attract the best police officers, firefighters, and city employees. We even worked to close the pay gap between women and men in government center - something no mayor had ever done.
We committed Charlotte to a 100% Clean Energy future and the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement, and I hope my successor will keep that commitment.
We accomplished all of this together. I am so proud to be your mayor.
Forever thankful for your support,
Jennifer
