Newly elected Stamford Mayor David Martin at his first State of the City address fleshed out his take of the economy, outlining ways to keep the city”™s engine humming.
About 300 people attended the TD Bank-sponsored event that the Stamford Chamber of Commerce hosts annually. It was held at the Stamford Marriott Hotel and Spa.
In his opening remarks, Martin said Stamford is one of the safest cities in New England, pointing to a chart showing the decline in the city”™s crime rate over the past decade. Last year, the crime rate in Stamford was less than half that of any other city in Connecticut with a population of 100,000 or more, he said to loud cheers.
Within the past five to six years, Stamford has been developing its south end and introducing several economic development projects in residential areas. Several housing projects that have been established or are underway include 300 units at Park Square West on Summer Street, 220 units at The Summer House on Summer Street, 120 units on the corner of Washington Boulevard and Main Street, 58 units at The Verano on Summer Street, and 125 units at the Residence Inn Marriott on Atlantic Street.
Martin attributed the growth of these housing projects to the simultaneously improving education system and emergence of job opportunities through big and small businesses in the downtown. He touted the city”™s diverse population, pointing out the increasing need for a “demanding education delivery system” that meets the needs of all students.
In 2013, he said the number of students who took Advanced Placement classes was 46 percent, up from 38 percent who took AP classes in 2009.
The mayor said he has met with the board of education to talk about the achievement gap and remains “dedicated to strengthening our district and making sure every child receives a quality education.”
With companies such as Novatech Systems and Deloitte L.L.P. opening offices in Stamford to join major companies including Pitney Bowes Inc. and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., job opportunities will continue to expand. A total of four Fortune 500 and nine Fortune 1,000 companies are either in the city”™s downtown or headed there soon, making Stamford the “envy of other cities in Connecticut and the tristate region,” Martin said.
“Our local economy is recovering at a faster rate than most other cities in Connecticut,” Martin said. “Our financial integrity is strong. We”™re the third largest in the state with a growing population, the highest payroll and largest financial district outside of New York City.”
Small businesses have also contributed to the growth of the downtown. Martin said he plans to be part of the Startup Weekend sponsored by the Stamford Innovation Center April 11-13.
City Hall itself is on Martin”™s radar, as well. “My goal is to make city hall more effective in serving the business community and citizens,” he said. “We”™ve unlocked the doors in government centers so people can more freely transverse through them.”
Related to the winter snowstorms and potholes, the city has received $3 million for its pavement program. This spring, the city will use an additional $2 million to increase the finances for the program by more than 60 percent compared with last year, Martin said.
The tedious and often complicated local court of appeals process could see change, too, providing more information on what”™s involved and how those involved can win court cases, Martin said.
Framing the 4.9 percent tax hike Martin proposed to fund $515.4 million in operating expenses the next fiscal year, he said this could be the “greatest commitment to fund the unfunded liabilities.” He said the budget would help handle employee health and retirement benefit costs as a huge baby booming population transitions out of the workforce. The increased budget needed for these benefits is estimated to be $3.92 million.
New city government jobs have been created to plan for the city”™s future, including a transportation manager, parks supervisor, land use inspector and social services coordinator, among others.
According to these housing figures , that equals 803 new housing units. The City is so focused on Business and Development that it is missing what makes a city great. When there is nothing to do in town, people will live elsewhere. Where is the Budget for Cultural Enrichment? There are study after study that Art makes us smarter, more capable at creative problem solving, and it IS Big Business because of the tourist dollars brought in.