Congratulations on achieving your dream job, although I really don't know why you wanted it. Frankly I don't know why anyone would want it considering the pathetic mess the current mayor has left behind. I've got to give you credit for your persistence. So now what?

It's a sad truth, but these days most people don't really expect politicians to keep their promises, so why not surprise everyone and keep yours? A smart guy once told me to start with the small things and the big stuff will follow.

The day after the election you repeated your promise that within six months we'll see a safer and cleaner city. Great. Do it. Let's see a more visible police presence. Roust the smelly, pushy, panhandling bums. Fix the streets. Get businesses and civic groups to sweep the sidewalks. Then move on to the big stuff, like the ghost town of Fifth and Forbes.

You say you're going to professionalize city government. I'm not sure what that means, but I hope it means you're going to fire the political hacks and stand up to the unions. I hope it means you're going to call on your business-world buddies to cook up some common sense ideas to rejuvenate this once great city.

On my show Wednesday morning, you predicted that in four years this city will be so much better -- more livable -- under Bob O'Connor's administration that people like me would want to leave the 'burbs and move into the city. That's a tall order, but not impossible. We may not be city residents now, but most of us do want you to succeed. Good luck!