In her 16th and final State of the City address, Mayor Lorraine Morton said she would do it her own way.
“This is my last fling,” she said. “So you’re going to have to bear with me this time.”
Morton, who will leave office in May, delivered the speech Friday morning at the Hotel Orrington, 1710 Orrington Ave.
The 90-year-old mayor focused on some of the major events throughout her term before addressing current city issues.
She started by recounting her 1993 campaign for mayor.
“If you were among those who were there, I want to thank you for sending me on a journey that really has been a labor of love,” she said.
The mayor recapped the city’s accomplishments during her 16-year tenure, the longest of any Evanston mayor. The achievements ranged from transportation improvement to community-wide initiatives such as Bike the Ridge and the renovation of the Fountain Square Plaza.
She cited a New York Times article that called Evanston a “hotbed of organized planning ideas.”
“My belief is that Evanston deserves a municipal government as good, as kind and decent as are the people of Evanston,” she said.
Morton also discussed the current state of the city, applauding Evanston for avoiding a property tax increase.
“The city is not raising taxes,” she said, eliciting applause and laughter from the audience. “Did you all hear that? The city is not raising taxes.”
Despite a drop in the number of city employees in 2008, the staff has still received awards for their efforts, she said.
Various businesses, Evanston organizations and citizens attended the program in support of Morton.
Republican Party member Donna Sinopoli said she recently moved to the city and has been impressed with the mayor.
Current mayoral candidate Barnaby Dinges said Morton has put her “mark on the city.” However, he added that Evanston must continue to improve.
“With progress comes change, and I think we need to take new approaches,” Dinges said.
During the program, hosted by the Evanston Chamber of Commerce and presented by NorthShore University HealthSystem , Morton gave out the Mayor’s Award for the Arts.
The historical society Shorefront Journal was honored for providing the community with information, publications and exhibits of African-American history.
Margherita Andreotti, a former member of the Evanston Public Art Committee, was recognized for her work to document art in Evanston schools.
“I hope some of you will be inspired to join this effort to save this art so that future generations of students and citizens will be able to enjoy it, learn from it and take pride in it,” Andreotti said in her acceptance speech.
Morton closed her speech by referencing a quote that inspired her to run for mayor in 1993, after resisting several city officials’ attempts to recruit her for the position.
She finally decided to seek the office when former student Marvin Walker approached her with a saying she once used in class: “Do something for someone.”
“I shall miss the city and all of the citizens I have grown to know so well,” Morton said. “I hope I will be remembered as someone who got to do something for everyone and found joy.”
