COMMENTARY: Congratulations on making Green Bay the best place to live

Greetings, everyone, and thank you for watching.

This week, U.S. News & World Report announced that they selected Green Bay as the overall no. 1 best place to live in America. To make the top list, the city needed to have good value, be a desirable place to live, have a strong job market and high quality of life. And Green Bay topped the list! This is great news and something that so many should be proud of. It has been decades in the making.

One of the key elements associated with this selection is the activities associated with the Fox River. I literally grew up on the Fox River. Many of my childhood friends lived on the river and we used to hang out there all the time. I am in awe of the dramatic change that has occurred since the Fox River cleanup project took place. When I was a kid, you never saw a boat on the river, much less anyone kayaking or fishing on it. It was unheard of. Now the boaters, fishermen, kayakers and development on the river is surging, and that is a game-changer for this area. The river and bay now provide a quality of life that did not exist just 10 years ago.

But there is much more. Cost of living, education, healthcare, manufacturing and other entertainment options have added to the high quality of life in and around Green Bay. I salute our law enforcement agencies and officers. Fire and rescue as well. Green Bay still feels like a safe place to live and raise a family. That matters in a big way.

And I will not leave out one other aspect that I know is happening in Green Bay. There are many praying over it. Over 100 people were in the courthouse atrium two weeks ago on the National Day of Prayer, and over 200 people joined me at Heritage Hill for prayer for the city as well. There are non-profits and thousands of others who serve and seek God's blessing over Green Bay. All of this is making a huge difference.

Announcements like this bring regional and national attention. It draws people to the area. That is great news.

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But our work is not done. There still exist serious issues that need attention. Drug use, trafficking, prostitution, suicide, and mental health issues have increased. In Green Bay and across the region. But not dwelling on that here. We need to celebrate this great achievement. It is a milestone decades in the making and is great news for all of Northeast Wisconsin. So kudos to all of you! You all have made a difference here.

And let's all remember one more thing. One of the biggest attributes of any community is how people feel when visiting or being together. And how can we all help create that special feeling? Look around, see a need and show kindness to another. That is contagious and changes everything.