We must keep reminding ourselves that this is about an eight-year project that didn't actually get under way until early 2004.

Last year, I proposed to use the additional resources to fund an economic stimulus project, which included the reconstruction of 56th Street south to Watkins Avenue.

The plan is to purchase the land and use the passive water as part of a recreation area.

I hope to have this work completed so that recommendations can be considered by the 2007 budget process.

We thought that a not guilty verdict was the only fair decision.

I believe that the jury in this case did the right thing, and we are obviously very happy with the results. They seemed to have little difficulty coming to the decision they did, seeing it only took them about an hour to come up with a decision.