Text of James Hahn's speechGood evening! I was ten years old when I attended my first Democratic Convention in my hometown of Los Angeles, where a son of Massachusetts was nominated to run for president. That man was John F. Kennedy.
Tonight, I am proud to be a California delegate here to nominate another son of Massachusetts to be our next President -- John Kerry. I know that John Kerry understands one of the greatest challenges facing America's cities -- making our communities safe from crime. As Mayor of Los Angeles, I have made this my top priority. And here's why: I've talked with too many parents who have lost their children to gun violence. I've met too many mothers who make their children sleep in cast-iron bathtubs to protect them from stray bullets; too many young people who have simply given up hope. John Kerry worked with President Clinton to put thousands more police officers on our streets. Crime went down, and our economy improved. Our country's current leadership has shifted away from that commitment. And we need it now more than ever. Not only are cities struggling to fight crime, our local police and firefighters have become America's first responders. We're proud to be part of our homeland security efforts. But cities can't face this challenge alone. We need a president who will work with cities to prevent terrorism in our neighborhoods -- whether by foreign terrorists or local street gangs. We need a president who understands that small investments in after-school programs pay huge dividends. In Los Angeles, we stretched our budget to put more officers on the street and to give young people opportunities to make positive choices. It paid off: violent crime was down last year. We can't afford to lose that momentum. I'm proud to partner with the L.A.P.D. and a community that wants its neighborhoods back. I have been proud to partner with Senator Dianne Feinstein to ban assault weapons and with Senator Barbara Boxer to increase access to after-school programs. And, I'm looking forward to working with the Kerry White House. Earlier this year, I visited the F.D.R. Memorial where the words "Freedom from Fear" are etched in stone. Freedom from fear -- what a gift that would be to our country. I know that John Kerry and John Edwards will work with every city in America to meet that goal. We must fight like we've never fought before to put them in the White House. I know we'll do it, and I'm looking forward to a better America!
Thank you! |
