Speaker 1
Hello, and welcome to ask the mayor on WFIU. I'm Joe Hren, this week we're in Columbus with Mayor Mary Ferdon, hello, welcome. Thanks for being on the show. Well, thanks
Unknown Speaker
for being here. Happy Happy December. Happy
Speaker 1
December, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, all at once. Today. That's right, still a little bit of snow out there. There.
Unknown Speaker
It's cold. It's called,
Unknown Speaker
did you have to send out any of the trucks?
Speaker 2
We did, yeah, out of four o'clock in the morning, and we had a few accidents on I 65 so I think it got a little bit slippery, and people are being very cautious. But yes, our our DPW, got out and used some salt. So well,
Speaker 1
we didn't get a November show because of the election, right? But glad to be here to catch up a little bit. Is our last show of the year in Columbus. So one year as Mayor of Columbus, can you believe a whole year has been busy. Are you happy with the progress that you've made in year one? I
Speaker 2
am. I've been really pleased. I had actually had a department head meeting earlier today, and we were, we were talking about the successes and the challenges that have happened this year. You know, one of our biggest it wasn't a challenge, I should say, is like we did, the transition from a class three city to a class two, and so there was a learning curve with that. We added two new council members, and so we needed to figure out how to kind of expand our processes to go going from seven to nine and two people do make a difference, right, making sure that we communicate with them and that we share what we'll share what we're doing and change some of our processes. So we also have a controller instead of a clerk treasurer. So our clerk had her responsibilities, and then our controller kind of grew her responsibility. So yeah, it's been a wild ride with that, but I think things are going really well.
Speaker 1
You know, I always like to look back at our very first show. And guess what our big talking point was, do you remember
Speaker 2
what probably transition? It was the eclipse. The Eclipse. Oh, that's right, we were starting,
Speaker 1
you know, and because, I think we missed January, because it was New Year's right? You always have the first week. So we think we met in February, and we were already talking about the Eclipse,
Speaker 2
that's right. But it was absolutely beautiful. We didn't have the number of people that was expected, but we had some great events here, and I think everybody agreed that it was just an amazing phenomenon to get to watch. So
Speaker 1
you were also wrapping up, or continuing to wrap up, Nexus Park, opening the entire campus. Where is that right now? Great
Speaker 2
question. We are really pleased with the progress there. We started the external campus late spring, early summer, which we had hoped to have basically wrapped up by the end of this year. But, you know, it never works out that way. So we've laid we've put in most of our walking trail. There's about a mile a trail around the Nexus Park, the The restroom is finished. The park, the sidewalks in the park are done. I don't know if we'll get to landscaping this year and but we're working on the asphalt and the parking so, yeah, by the first end of first quarter of 2025 hard to say that, hard to think with it, we're at 2025 but it should be pretty well done. So very exciting, and I think then we can start using the park. And we've, we've had, you know, with construction traffic, we've had parking issues here and there with some of our bigger events, but by next fall or next spring, that should be, should be done. Yeah,
Speaker 1
there were two things. One was, was the parking so is what's the plan? Is the plan for more parking, or is it just more of controlling the park, controlling
Speaker 2
the parking? And like I said, we've had so much construction over the past couple years, it's really hard. There's always a place where we've got construction traffic, we've got fences and so people haven't been able to park. So I think once we get rid of all of that, we'll have a better understanding of the parking that we're lacking. It's not all the time. It's just on with a few events we've actually every weekend is filled with events starting back in October through March or April of next year. So some are larger than others. We've added some more retail to within the within the facility, and as we continue to do that, so that brings people in to eat. So, yeah, parking is still we know that we'll we'll be lacking it at some points, and then, so we're looking at some alternatives.
Speaker 1
The other issue we talked about a few months ago too, was just the the the income, the fees, wasn't really matching the expenses. But also comes with that, as you mentioned in that show that more and more bookings are happening. And is that still on plan?
Speaker 2
It's still on plan, and we're adding more retail. We had some, still had some open areas, and so we're beginning to sign up more more retail and more restaurants. And so. So that should the again, the goal was to give us a couple of years, but I think we're going to meet that goal and be pretty much fully self sustaining. And not as not only with the field house, which is on the city side, but the facility as a whole.
Speaker 1
You know, we also that at the beginning of the year, we also talked about people experiencing homelessness, encampments, how the city is responding, especially since it's beyond just a one organization and time to be able to make progress. Do you feel like in one year, you're making progress in that area?
Speaker 2
We have now, not as much as as we want to obviously, when we when it gets cold, that's always a time when we wish that we we wish we're at a better place. But I do have to say we've moved forward. I don't know when we last talked if at that point in time we had, we were working with United Way, and so they've taken, we actually the city contracted with them to do kind of an initial review, analyze, kind of what we have, not only the number of homeless, but where they come from, what some of the causes and then the social services agencies that are providing services, and you know, are they connecting well and so United Way is head. I think we just had our third public meeting about two weeks ago, very well attended. I think we had 100 and 150 people, and they, they kind of came up with some options, and so they asked the attendees to go around learn about the options and kind of rate which makes more sense and which fits our community. And so we're going to continue to work with United Way on kind of implementing some of those. And then in November, our city council allocated some of our remaining ARP dollars to be used for affordable housing and kind of a homeless issue. So we have a little bit of funding that we can move forward with, and we've got some options. So I'm really pleased again. It's such a tough issue and but having a respected agency like our United Way working with us, we feel like we'll get there. I
Speaker 1
think one of the things that came up at that forum that you just mentioned was creating more supportive housing in Columbus. What does that look like?
Speaker 2
I'm not really sure, but there's been discussion about, you know, the model that works, and it's called housing first model, which is where, if you do have housing, excuse me, that people who live there don't live there without without some kind of social services supporting them, that there's somebody on site who's monitoring it, that they're getting daily, weekly visits, that you're helping not only identify what cause of the homelessness, but what help they need, helping find jobs, making sure that if they have some mental illnesses or addiction problems, excuse me, that that gets addressed to. So that's kind of the, I think the model first housing, and I think that's what we're we're most interested in at this point in time. We don't have, you know, we haven't made a decision, but that's where some communities have seen some success.
Speaker 1
You know, we also talked about reimagining the entire downtown, the riverfront project, the Conference Center, purchasing some major downtown buildings. All this is stuff also that we know we've talked about with former Mayor Jim REDD for years as well. This is not stuff that just happens in a month or two or years, right? But it's still something that's on your on your desk, right?
Speaker 2
It is very, very pleased that this year that we started what we're calling Columbus downtown, 2030 which is that this the study that looks at really the heart of the downtown, which is probably 10 or 11 blocks. We are Columbus redevelopment commission agreed to fund the study. We when we set out the RFP, we were thrilled. We had over 18 responses, really high, highly qualified firms from all over the country. We landed on a firm called Sasaki out of Boston, and then we paired it, or they paired themselves, with a firm out of Chicago called FB Ferguson, which is really looking at the analytics, the dollars, the economics, and that's what we think will make a huge difference. And then they've got a there's a firm called storyboard out of Indianapolis that helps us kind of make sure that we get the stakeholders from the community engaged. So they've been at it for about two months. Have really hit the ground running, and so we hope to start meeting with the public next, I think, after the first of the year, and get more local public stakeholder input. But the firm's been great, and we're very excited. So I
Speaker 1
just, I should have mentioned this a little bit earlier, but I've heard the term Rubicon, I believe, is a company out of Bloomington. But they're looking at building a multi use building here in Columbus, right? And that, I believe, has been passed, but not without some controversy.
Speaker 2
So Rubicon, the name of the developer, is interested in building 120 unit apartment complex with with parking on in Columbus, the downtown area. It's on 11th in Washington. There was, there's, was some controversy. Part of it is that it's a more dense housing structure than typically we've seen in downtown Columbus. And so they've, they've been to our plan commission a number of times, and a couple of weeks ago, the Columbus redevelopment commission, Pat passed some a resolution which will use some TIF funding to help them. So actually that will go to our city council tonight, hopefully get approved so we can move forward. Because with our housing study, we it was identified that we need 3000 over 3000 units of housing by 2035 so we've got to find a way to start getting that housing approved. And so not only in our downtown, throughout the city, but we know that the flourishing downtown needs people who live there so
Speaker 1
and how is the use of the it's only just what a block from here or to that big the
Speaker 2
tailor at the Taylor, Taylor, right? That was flirty and Collins, that is something that is, I think, 90 to 95% full. Wow. So very quickly filled up, and it's added some some energy to our downtown. So that's what we're looking for with the Rubicon development too. Has the urban grocer been it has not been identified yet, still working on that. And we, we hope that that, we hope that more information and a potential tenant comes out of our 2030 study. We're just not the right size so, but we're still looking. Yeah, we know that that's important.
Speaker 1
Speaking of downtown Festival of Lights scheduled December 7, that's this coming weekend,
Speaker 2
right? That's right, it is. I'm hoping it's gonna be about 60 degrees, yeah, so that is that's been an annual event here in Columbus for years. It took a hiatus, of course, during COVID, and a new group picked it up, called Red arch. So last year was their first year, and it was very, very successful. We estimated 10 to 15,000 people. So yeah, scheduled for this Saturday. There's a lot of events happening throughout the day. Downtown, Santa is going to be here holiday food. And I think there might be a reindeer at some point in time. Nobody will tell me which one, but I think there might be a reindeer anyway. And then the Festival of Lights parade at six o'clock. So they have over 100 entrants. It's very, very popular. So we're excited to be able to host that again this year again. I'm hoping that it turned 60 degrees by Saturday, but I'm not sure that's going to happen. Well,
Speaker 1
Bloomington just had a football game with IU Purdue that was 22 degrees and snow and it was packed. People will still come.
Speaker 2
They will Well, well, with I use winning football team, which they haven't seen for a while, yet,
Speaker 1
true. That's true. You know, I also wanted to plug our live Noon Edition is here in Columbus, Friday, 11:30am we're gonna be live at viewpoints books chapter two, host Bob zoltzberg will be joined by New York Times Best Selling Author Michael Corita. And then there's Beth Stroh, the owner, Lindsay Bailey, a librarian here. So we're talking about books, trends, gifts, advice. It's free, open to the public, and I hope people in Columbus will come and join us.
Speaker 2
What a wonderful event and viewpoint, bookstores is a success story here. It's always been a locally owned bookstore, and Beth Stroh and her husband own it. They actually have two. They've got two along Washington Street. They have their main store, and then they have what you called it chapter two, which is a little bit further up Washington. They're wonderful entrepreneurs and booksellers in the community. Give away a lot of free books. It's a great place for kids and adults to find books that you wouldn't find any place else. So I'm thrilled that you're going to be able to do that now. Remind that. Now, remind me what day that is this Friday, at noon. At
Speaker 1
noon? Yeah, we have. We want people to get there, be seated by 1130 so that you don't disturb the broadcast going on. Kind of give the audience a little briefing of what's going to happen, and then we're live, so we can't stop we go, wonderful. So it should be a fun time. And you were just saying before the show, how I you know, we talked about, we're always on our phones, but people still, books are still a thing. You still want to cuddle up with a good book, particularly
Speaker 2
in the in the winter and on a beach, right? It's really difficult to read on a phone. And I think that that that that's one of the things we're really excited about, that we still have an independent bookseller in Columbus. Before we
Speaker 1
go, I just want to ask a quick, kind of a combined question. One is, you know, you're most what you're most happy about this past year, that you're really proud of, that you were able to kind of, it doesn't have to be something you completed, but something that you're really happy about. And then just a message, how. Day message, because this is our last show until 2025
Speaker 2
That's right. Well, thank you for giving me the opportunity. I would have to say there's really two things I'm really proud of. One is the continued, continued work on Nexus Park. And you know, you said we don't have to have it finished. It won't be by the end of this year, but I think by 2025 it will be, and that's been a huge project and partnership with the city in Columbus and Columbus Regional Hospital for, you know, the past five years, and we've already seen that it's really had an impact in the city. So if you haven't had a chance to visit Nexus Park, please do that. The second thing is, probably the I feel like the best achievement I've had this year is it's not me, it's just just understanding I have this great staff. We have 450 full time employees. I've got wonderful department heads who are really community leaders, and they spend their entire days and oftentimes their nights and weekends, just making sure that Columbus works and it works for the people who live here and work here and have businesses here, and as we see around the country, that doesn't always work. So I'm very proud of the work that they do and that we do, and just very grateful that they've chosen to work here. And My holiday wish is that you just have a happy, peaceful holiday, however you celebrate it, religious or otherwise, and just understand that being with family and friends is really important, and then, because then we'll take on 2025
Unknown Speaker
I hope to see you then in January, thank
Speaker 2
you so much. Thanks. I appreciate it. Joe.
Hello, and welcome to ask the mayor on WFIU. I'm Joe Hren, this week we're in Columbus with Mayor Mary Ferdon, hello, welcome. Thanks for being on the show. Well, thanks
Unknown Speaker
for being here. Happy Happy December. Happy
Speaker 1
December, Happy Thanksgiving, Merry Christmas, all at once. Today. That's right, still a little bit of snow out there. There.
Unknown Speaker
It's cold. It's called,
Unknown Speaker
did you have to send out any of the trucks?
Speaker 2
We did, yeah, out of four o'clock in the morning, and we had a few accidents on I 65 so I think it got a little bit slippery, and people are being very cautious. But yes, our our DPW, got out and used some salt. So well,
Speaker 1
we didn't get a November show because of the election, right? But glad to be here to catch up a little bit. Is our last show of the year in Columbus. So one year as Mayor of Columbus, can you believe a whole year has been busy. Are you happy with the progress that you've made in year one? I
Speaker 2
am. I've been really pleased. I had actually had a department head meeting earlier today, and we were, we were talking about the successes and the challenges that have happened this year. You know, one of our biggest it wasn't a challenge, I should say, is like we did, the transition from a class three city to a class two, and so there was a learning curve with that. We added two new council members, and so we needed to figure out how to kind of expand our processes to go going from seven to nine and two people do make a difference, right, making sure that we communicate with them and that we share what we'll share what we're doing and change some of our processes. So we also have a controller instead of a clerk treasurer. So our clerk had her responsibilities, and then our controller kind of grew her responsibility. So yeah, it's been a wild ride with that, but I think things are going really well.
Speaker 1
You know, I always like to look back at our very first show. And guess what our big talking point was, do you remember
Speaker 2
what probably transition? It was the eclipse. The Eclipse. Oh, that's right, we were starting,
Speaker 1
you know, and because, I think we missed January, because it was New Year's right? You always have the first week. So we think we met in February, and we were already talking about the Eclipse,
Speaker 2
that's right. But it was absolutely beautiful. We didn't have the number of people that was expected, but we had some great events here, and I think everybody agreed that it was just an amazing phenomenon to get to watch. So
Speaker 1
you were also wrapping up, or continuing to wrap up, Nexus Park, opening the entire campus. Where is that right now? Great
Speaker 2
question. We are really pleased with the progress there. We started the external campus late spring, early summer, which we had hoped to have basically wrapped up by the end of this year. But, you know, it never works out that way. So we've laid we've put in most of our walking trail. There's about a mile a trail around the Nexus Park, the The restroom is finished. The park, the sidewalks in the park are done. I don't know if we'll get to landscaping this year and but we're working on the asphalt and the parking so, yeah, by the first end of first quarter of 2025 hard to say that, hard to think with it, we're at 2025 but it should be pretty well done. So very exciting, and I think then we can start using the park. And we've, we've had, you know, with construction traffic, we've had parking issues here and there with some of our bigger events, but by next fall or next spring, that should be, should be done. Yeah,
Speaker 1
there were two things. One was, was the parking so is what's the plan? Is the plan for more parking, or is it just more of controlling the park, controlling
Speaker 2
the parking? And like I said, we've had so much construction over the past couple years, it's really hard. There's always a place where we've got construction traffic, we've got fences and so people haven't been able to park. So I think once we get rid of all of that, we'll have a better understanding of the parking that we're lacking. It's not all the time. It's just on with a few events we've actually every weekend is filled with events starting back in October through March or April of next year. So some are larger than others. We've added some more retail to within the within the facility, and as we continue to do that, so that brings people in to eat. So, yeah, parking is still we know that we'll we'll be lacking it at some points, and then, so we're looking at some alternatives.
Speaker 1
The other issue we talked about a few months ago too, was just the the the income, the fees, wasn't really matching the expenses. But also comes with that, as you mentioned in that show that more and more bookings are happening. And is that still on plan?
Speaker 2
It's still on plan, and we're adding more retail. We had some, still had some open areas, and so we're beginning to sign up more more retail and more restaurants. And so. So that should the again, the goal was to give us a couple of years, but I think we're going to meet that goal and be pretty much fully self sustaining. And not as not only with the field house, which is on the city side, but the facility as a whole.
Speaker 1
You know, we also that at the beginning of the year, we also talked about people experiencing homelessness, encampments, how the city is responding, especially since it's beyond just a one organization and time to be able to make progress. Do you feel like in one year, you're making progress in that area?
Speaker 2
We have now, not as much as as we want to obviously, when we when it gets cold, that's always a time when we wish that we we wish we're at a better place. But I do have to say we've moved forward. I don't know when we last talked if at that point in time we had, we were working with United Way, and so they've taken, we actually the city contracted with them to do kind of an initial review, analyze, kind of what we have, not only the number of homeless, but where they come from, what some of the causes and then the social services agencies that are providing services, and you know, are they connecting well and so United Way is head. I think we just had our third public meeting about two weeks ago, very well attended. I think we had 100 and 150 people, and they, they kind of came up with some options, and so they asked the attendees to go around learn about the options and kind of rate which makes more sense and which fits our community. And so we're going to continue to work with United Way on kind of implementing some of those. And then in November, our city council allocated some of our remaining ARP dollars to be used for affordable housing and kind of a homeless issue. So we have a little bit of funding that we can move forward with, and we've got some options. So I'm really pleased again. It's such a tough issue and but having a respected agency like our United Way working with us, we feel like we'll get there. I
Speaker 1
think one of the things that came up at that forum that you just mentioned was creating more supportive housing in Columbus. What does that look like?
Speaker 2
I'm not really sure, but there's been discussion about, you know, the model that works, and it's called housing first model, which is where, if you do have housing, excuse me, that people who live there don't live there without without some kind of social services supporting them, that there's somebody on site who's monitoring it, that they're getting daily, weekly visits, that you're helping not only identify what cause of the homelessness, but what help they need, helping find jobs, making sure that if they have some mental illnesses or addiction problems, excuse me, that that gets addressed to. So that's kind of the, I think the model first housing, and I think that's what we're we're most interested in at this point in time. We don't have, you know, we haven't made a decision, but that's where some communities have seen some success.
Speaker 1
You know, we also talked about reimagining the entire downtown, the riverfront project, the Conference Center, purchasing some major downtown buildings. All this is stuff also that we know we've talked about with former Mayor Jim REDD for years as well. This is not stuff that just happens in a month or two or years, right? But it's still something that's on your on your desk, right?
Speaker 2
It is very, very pleased that this year that we started what we're calling Columbus downtown, 2030 which is that this the study that looks at really the heart of the downtown, which is probably 10 or 11 blocks. We are Columbus redevelopment commission agreed to fund the study. We when we set out the RFP, we were thrilled. We had over 18 responses, really high, highly qualified firms from all over the country. We landed on a firm called Sasaki out of Boston, and then we paired it, or they paired themselves, with a firm out of Chicago called FB Ferguson, which is really looking at the analytics, the dollars, the economics, and that's what we think will make a huge difference. And then they've got a there's a firm called storyboard out of Indianapolis that helps us kind of make sure that we get the stakeholders from the community engaged. So they've been at it for about two months. Have really hit the ground running, and so we hope to start meeting with the public next, I think, after the first of the year, and get more local public stakeholder input. But the firm's been great, and we're very excited. So I
Speaker 1
just, I should have mentioned this a little bit earlier, but I've heard the term Rubicon, I believe, is a company out of Bloomington. But they're looking at building a multi use building here in Columbus, right? And that, I believe, has been passed, but not without some controversy.
Speaker 2
So Rubicon, the name of the developer, is interested in building 120 unit apartment complex with with parking on in Columbus, the downtown area. It's on 11th in Washington. There was, there's, was some controversy. Part of it is that it's a more dense housing structure than typically we've seen in downtown Columbus. And so they've, they've been to our plan commission a number of times, and a couple of weeks ago, the Columbus redevelopment commission, Pat passed some a resolution which will use some TIF funding to help them. So actually that will go to our city council tonight, hopefully get approved so we can move forward. Because with our housing study, we it was identified that we need 3000 over 3000 units of housing by 2035 so we've got to find a way to start getting that housing approved. And so not only in our downtown, throughout the city, but we know that the flourishing downtown needs people who live there so
Speaker 1
and how is the use of the it's only just what a block from here or to that big the
Speaker 2
tailor at the Taylor, Taylor, right? That was flirty and Collins, that is something that is, I think, 90 to 95% full. Wow. So very quickly filled up, and it's added some some energy to our downtown. So that's what we're looking for with the Rubicon development too. Has the urban grocer been it has not been identified yet, still working on that. And we, we hope that that, we hope that more information and a potential tenant comes out of our 2030 study. We're just not the right size so, but we're still looking. Yeah, we know that that's important.
Speaker 1
Speaking of downtown Festival of Lights scheduled December 7, that's this coming weekend,
Speaker 2
right? That's right, it is. I'm hoping it's gonna be about 60 degrees, yeah, so that is that's been an annual event here in Columbus for years. It took a hiatus, of course, during COVID, and a new group picked it up, called Red arch. So last year was their first year, and it was very, very successful. We estimated 10 to 15,000 people. So yeah, scheduled for this Saturday. There's a lot of events happening throughout the day. Downtown, Santa is going to be here holiday food. And I think there might be a reindeer at some point in time. Nobody will tell me which one, but I think there might be a reindeer anyway. And then the Festival of Lights parade at six o'clock. So they have over 100 entrants. It's very, very popular. So we're excited to be able to host that again this year again. I'm hoping that it turned 60 degrees by Saturday, but I'm not sure that's going to happen. Well,
Speaker 1
Bloomington just had a football game with IU Purdue that was 22 degrees and snow and it was packed. People will still come.
Speaker 2
They will Well, well, with I use winning football team, which they haven't seen for a while, yet,
Speaker 1
true. That's true. You know, I also wanted to plug our live Noon Edition is here in Columbus, Friday, 11:30am we're gonna be live at viewpoints books chapter two, host Bob zoltzberg will be joined by New York Times Best Selling Author Michael Corita. And then there's Beth Stroh, the owner, Lindsay Bailey, a librarian here. So we're talking about books, trends, gifts, advice. It's free, open to the public, and I hope people in Columbus will come and join us.
Speaker 2
What a wonderful event and viewpoint, bookstores is a success story here. It's always been a locally owned bookstore, and Beth Stroh and her husband own it. They actually have two. They've got two along Washington Street. They have their main store, and then they have what you called it chapter two, which is a little bit further up Washington. They're wonderful entrepreneurs and booksellers in the community. Give away a lot of free books. It's a great place for kids and adults to find books that you wouldn't find any place else. So I'm thrilled that you're going to be able to do that now. Remind that. Now, remind me what day that is this Friday, at noon. At
Speaker 1
noon? Yeah, we have. We want people to get there, be seated by 1130 so that you don't disturb the broadcast going on. Kind of give the audience a little briefing of what's going to happen, and then we're live, so we can't stop we go, wonderful. So it should be a fun time. And you were just saying before the show, how I you know, we talked about, we're always on our phones, but people still, books are still a thing. You still want to cuddle up with a good book, particularly
Speaker 2
in the in the winter and on a beach, right? It's really difficult to read on a phone. And I think that that that that's one of the things we're really excited about, that we still have an independent bookseller in Columbus. Before we
Speaker 1
go, I just want to ask a quick, kind of a combined question. One is, you know, you're most what you're most happy about this past year, that you're really proud of, that you were able to kind of, it doesn't have to be something you completed, but something that you're really happy about. And then just a message, how. Day message, because this is our last show until 2025
Speaker 2
That's right. Well, thank you for giving me the opportunity. I would have to say there's really two things I'm really proud of. One is the continued, continued work on Nexus Park. And you know, you said we don't have to have it finished. It won't be by the end of this year, but I think by 2025 it will be, and that's been a huge project and partnership with the city in Columbus and Columbus Regional Hospital for, you know, the past five years, and we've already seen that it's really had an impact in the city. So if you haven't had a chance to visit Nexus Park, please do that. The second thing is, probably the I feel like the best achievement I've had this year is it's not me, it's just just understanding I have this great staff. We have 450 full time employees. I've got wonderful department heads who are really community leaders, and they spend their entire days and oftentimes their nights and weekends, just making sure that Columbus works and it works for the people who live here and work here and have businesses here, and as we see around the country, that doesn't always work. So I'm very proud of the work that they do and that we do, and just very grateful that they've chosen to work here. And My holiday wish is that you just have a happy, peaceful holiday, however you celebrate it, religious or otherwise, and just understand that being with family and friends is really important, and then, because then we'll take on 2025
Unknown Speaker
I hope to see you then in January, thank
Speaker 2
you so much. Thanks. I appreciate it. Joe.
