Galveston Mayor Lewis Rosen spoke to a large crowd in the Davidson Ballroom for the Galveston Chamber of Commerce luncheon on Friday. 

Chamber of Commerce Chair Vic Pierson called on Vice President for Governmental Affairs Dr. Ben Raimer to introduce Rosen. Listen

“Vic asked me to have a vision,” Rosen said, beginning his remarks.  “My vision is to have an organized, well-run city that encourages folks that are working on the island and living off the island to move here and to live here.”

Rosen said that he and the city council are forming an ad hoc committee with members representing each of the city council districts to develop a list of infrastructure repair needs.

“Working with our city council through our city manager we are going to prioritize those needs and we are going to fund those needs and we are going to have a timeline when we are going to fix our city streets and sewers,” he said.

He said he will support the Port of Galveston in preparation for the completion of the Panama Canal expansion project.

He said he plans to work with the Texas General Land Office to resolve issues related to paid parking on the Seawall so that a revenue stream can begin.

Rosen was especially supportive of the Ike Dike proposed by Texas A&M Oceanographer Dr. William Merrell.

“I believe that the future of Galveston is going to be the dike that he is proposing,” Rosen said.  “There is a lot of scientific work that has to happen, it’s 73 miles long.   But if the cost is $5 billion - which sounds like a tremendous amount – when you consider one storm has caused $50 billion in damage, it’s a sound investment.”

Rosen said it will be necessary to work with Houston and the petrochemical industry in the Houston Ship Channel area to gather support for the concept.

He called for increased cooperation with the Houston-Galveston Area Council and said he intends to also participate in the Galveston County Mayors and Councilmembers’ Association.

He also pledged to work for equitable windstorm insurance rates and for synchronized lights on Broadway.

He would not discuss issues related to the Galveston Housing Authority’s negotiations with the Texas General Land Office, which are continuing.