04/01/09 - Going Forward Together, Mayor gives his second City address
Questions:
Angelo Roefaro, Public Relations
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Mayor David R. Roefaro gave his State of the City Address yesterday, titled, "Going Forward Together," at Mohawk Valley Community College. The text of his address is below.
Going Forward Together // March 31, 2009
It has been said, "The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step." You elected me in November of 2007 to start us on a journey of progress, to start us on a journey of rediscovering who we really are. Well, for those of you who know me, you know, being candid is likely my strongest attribute, speaking the truth for the sake of no other reason but the truth itself. So, think of this address tonight not as a speech, because a speech is crafted and angled. Tonight, I'm simply speaking and thinking out loud in front of you, my friends, my fellow Uticans. However, before I begin, I want to read each of you a letter to the editor, which although never making it to print, was carbon copied to my office. It's important because as I think out loud, I want each of you to think to yourselves about where we live, what we appreciate, what we take for granted, and what we desire. Then, we can talk about our journey. Then, we can talk about those steps, and then, we can continue to walk a thousand miles, together.
Erin wrote:
"I wanted to take a moment to compliment your great city. I was recently traveling home to Boston from Syracuse, when I chose to stop in Utica, NY. I was pleasantly surprised to discover a city that truly makes one feel welcomed. I enjoyed a delicious lunch at Grimaldi's (back home, the closest to "authentic" Italian food we have is an Olive Garden), had the great opportunity to meet the Mayor and his wife, and spent a short period of time exploring Utica. Compared to where I live in Massachusetts, I would be hard-pressed to find a nearby city as warm and inviting as I found Utica to be. I found Utica to be both old-fashioned and modern - the perfect blend of old and new. As an outsider, I wanted to be able to tell the residents of Utica that they are truly lucky to live here."
-Erin Elias-
As Erin's visit demonstrates, Utica is a place that makes one feel welcomed. This community is warm and inviting, both old-fashioned and yet modern, all attributes that took a visitor from afar just a short time to notice. Her opinions about our city tell a story we must use to market Utica and all of Central New York. A story we ourselves should tell others.
Like that story, our journey is still evolving, marked with new steps each and every day. But does the average citizen see the progress? Do they feel part of the journey? Or do they ask the simple question of the classic cynic- "What's he really done?"
Americans are known for their impatience. Everybody wants everything done yesterday. Well, just as you can't instantly find your way home lost in the woods, I can't turn around and rebuild a city like Utica overnight. It takes time, and it takes truth. The truth being- Yes, we were lost in the woods, our journey had no map, and we were all beginning to believe the naysayers, who told us there'd never be a renaissance in Utica, New York.
Well, the renaissance is real again, because I won't let us verge from its path. Our city is poised to reclaim its positive spotlight through a journey marked by promises made and promises kept.
Last year at this time, I made some promises in my city address. The biggest being formulating, and for the first time in over 50 years, following a master plan, our map on the road to the renaissance. Tonight, I begin by reporting that the start of this initiative has gotten us out of the woods, out of the stagnant days of decades past.
THE MASTER PLAN
Our master plan will provide a conceptual vision for the growth and development of the community. It will include the goals we wish to achieve and the actions we will take to achieve them. The Utica Master Plan will provide the framework and policy direction we will use to begin our new journey. It will look closely at our needs and opportunities related to:
· Economic development
· Environmental protection
· Infrastructure and transportation systems
· Demographic composition
· Cultural resources and historic preservation
· Housing
· Parks
· Neighborhood areas
A key feature of the plan's development process will include extensive collaboration with a broad base of community members. Businesses, residents, community organizations, neighborhood associations, representatives of essential services, arts, culture, and educators, all will have the opportunity to contribute ideas and provide direction to the consultant team guiding our plan along the way. I've even asked the Utica City School District to be a partner.
The first step of the project involves the establishment of a Steering Committee that will include members representing diverse neighborhoods across the city as well as other business, government, and non-governmental organization stakeholders.
The plan will utilize citizen focus groups and an interactive web site, which will allow residents to critique the plan, present ideas online, and stay connected with our progress. We want people engaged. We want them interested and invested in their community again.
Yes, the Master Plan is part of a bigger picture, and certainly a broader plan, but it is also nothing new. Through adept foresight, our city was prospering from its first master plan, but that follow through slowly diminished, and was slowly forgotten. This cannot happen again.
In his inaugural speech, President Obama ambitiously stated, "Starting today, me must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America." Remaking America- Yes, it is a challenge, but a challenge we must succeed in, and like America, Utica, NY must also dust its self off, and begin again, focusing on what will reinvigorate our local economy, and define us for the next decades.
That is what the master plan must accomplish. It must remake the fabric of Utica, not for me, or for my administration, but for our future. You see, the caveat of a master plan, perhaps the reason our first one wasn't exactly followed, is that it inherently embodies the ideas of a collective vision, not one single mayor's. It is imprinted with a communal fingerprint, and steered on a communal path to be followed for the greater good. I am here tonight to affirm to each of you that I will follow this plan, but we, yes we, will develop it, all of us.
CIVIC INFRASTRUCTURE
Infrastructure is a buzzing subject today. It never used to be. We'll talk about our civil infrastructure in just one moment, but first:
What about our civic infrastructure?
Each day, our city department of public works hits the streets to pick up pounds and pounds of litter. Each day, a child's path home from school is laid out by which snacks they consumed on the way home. Take a drive, stop at a red light; you will be lucky if you don't see a driver flicking their cigarette butt onto the road. Take a stroll down Genesee Street, you will notice the new garbage receptacles I had to securely attach to the street light poles. Why? Because people were stealing anything that wasn't nailed down.
What's happening to us? What can you do?
I'll tell you what I have done. Last summer, I petitioned to change our city's litter law, hitting violators where it hurts- their pockets. Together, with the common council, we sent a clear message to offenders, and in some cases, our police have reported littering stops that lead to drug charges.
But I need your help. I need every citizen to watch their neighborhoods, report offenders, and rebuild our city's civic infrastructure. Do not be afraid to question someone who has just littered, defaced a street sign, or worse, let their property, their very own home, become the neighborhood dump.
Last summer, I along with my city codes commissioner, Goran Smiljic, spent a week in every part of the city, knocking door to door on the homes residents asked me to do something about.
I was swore at, threatened, and questioned by many Uticans who told me, the mayor, to get out of "their neighborhoods." Well, I didn't. In fact, I went back the next day, to those same houses, and when the garbage and the disgrace was still there. I sent all of those offenders to court with the help of my Corporation Counsel, Linda Fatata and Joan Harris . Now, I wasn't just spending my time in the stereotypical 'bad' sections of the city. I was everywhere. I was in North, South, East, and West Utica, taking your complaints to my office onto the streets, and I want to tell all of the good citizens, the caring people, one thing: Not on my watch.
This May, we will work as one to take back parts of the city that have fallen victim to litter, graffiti, and codes violations, in what I am calling project "May I", an initiative only possible because of the upgrades Codes Commissioner Goran Smiljic has made to the city's entire codes department. From computer tablets to training, Utica City Codes is the new benchmark for municipalities in New York State, quite a difference from what we used to be regarded as.
Project "May I" asks Uticans one simple question: May I help you? From now, until May 1, 2009, call me, write me, or email me at mayor@cityofutica.com and help me to compile the list of the properties or streets you want to make green again, and during the month of May, we will address every problem and every concern you have before the summer even begins. This summer will be clean, green, and seen as an example for rebuilding our civic infrastructure, one wrapper at a time.
POT HOLES: They're Okay to Kill
Getting back to civil infrastructure certainly brings one word to mind: Pot Holes. I think some of us can actually feel our car say 'ouch' when we hit them. How did our roads get so bad, so fast?
Roads, bridges, sewers- these were never the talking points of political speeches, and certainly not the subjects of statewide press conferences, but today our crumbling infrastructure is back to the forefront of debate, and regarded as a problem we can no longer ignore. A problem I will continue to lobby to fix in Albany.
Regardless, this country, to no one persons fault, let the backbone of its success crumble. For Utica, Pot Holes were killing us. That's why we've turned the tables. Now, we're doing the killing.
We have rented a machine known as the "Pot Hole Killer." It helps, because to pave all the streets with pot holes would bankrupt us. I, along with my public works commissioner Richard Conte did a lot of research into the success of the company's claims. We found their facts to be true and their price fair. Regardless of what you may read or hear, for the first time since Utica was put on a map, we're not filling pot holes like cavemen, we're saving time and money with this new machine. Tomorrow, look for it, because I am sending it out in full force, ready for battle.
Tomorrow will also mark the first day of another new city initiative called: "Hit the Road". Through this initiative, I faithfully pledge to fill more pot holes, and pave more streets than any other administration before. We've already filled more than 800 pot holes since I took office, and paved more than 10 miles of road, but those numbers won't count. In this initiative, I pledge to fill 3,000 pot holes (a very large goal) by September 23, 20011, the first day of fall for that year. I will track each pot hole we fill, and present the list of accomplishment to the public.
PUBLIC SAFETY
I promised Uticans they could be safer when I ran for mayor, and told them their city was losing a battle against crime. Well, crime in the City of Utica is down over 4%, the city's first decrease in six years, and as you heard from the video just playing, I've kept a lot of other promises, but I was able to because of the great team I work with. A mayor is only as good as the team he works with. Today, over one year into being your mayor, I can confidently tell each of you that there is no better team than our Utica Police and Fire Departments. Under the leadership of Public Safety Commisioner and Acting Police Chief Dan Labella and Fire Chief Russell Brooks, this city is not only safer, but it's staying safe.
Our Fire Department is amongst one of the best in this state, and every man and woman on the force is a hero. These brave men and women risk everything to protect our city, and I have seen them in action. Only a few weeks ago, we lost a special citizen in the common council chambers of City Hall to a heart attack, but I want to commend the firemen and firewoman who tried to save his life: Lieutenant Greg Baranowski, Firefighter Jessica Caulkins, Firefighter Brendan Kain, and Firefighter Mello Testa, and of course Chief Brooks. You were the firemen and firewoman that made a difference that night. Our firefighters make a difference every day and night, and they do it for us. Whether it's the call to assist a child with an asthma attack, or perform CPR to save the life of an elderly woman, the Utica Fire Department has saved lives, and they will continue to do so, because they are our first responders. They are the heroes who pull you from the flames, and then become your paramedic, multitasking is an understatement. They are our multi-heroes.
Our Police Department has likely seen the greatest change, both in who has retired, and who has emerged as the mentors of tomorrow. Both Assistant Police Chief Mark Williams and Michael Bailey are new to their post, but not to police work. These men, along with Chief LaBella have transformed the morale, and the mission of the Utica Police Department. The newest mission being: Building community, through the engagement of our residents. We have and will continue to accomplish this through our citizen's police academy, where participants have said they left with a new appreciation for Utica public safety. We will accomplish it through the continued efforts of Rob Palmeri, and his work with nuisance abatement, efforts that have closed down more crime houses than ever before. We will also accomplish this mission through the success of the public safety centers we are opening up throughout the city. These centers are not meant to be extension of a jail, or a punishment. These public safety centers will build our neighborhoods by catalyzing community policing. These centers will change the fabric and the perception of everything you've ever doubted. Our James Street Public Safety Center will open soon, Varick Street's will open again this summer, also doubling as a medical facility, and we will continue to utilize cameras in high crime areas to deter criminals. The cameras are for the criminals, the safety centers are for you- our law abiding citizens.
Public safety has certainly emerged as one of this city's greatest strengths, but I'm not done yet. You see, I have a real problem with the cowardly criminals who use guns. I especially have a problem when those criminals put those guns into the hands of children. Just last week, we arrested a 15 year old who was shooting at another teenager. Last month, a teenager killed another, in a senseless, thoughtless killing over nothing. Why? Well, we may never be able to answer why, but we can certainly answer how these young people are committing these crimes. A February 18th's Observer Dispatch article said it best when it quoted a local defense attorney as saying, "Somehow weapons are prevalent in our society, especially among young people. Eliminate the guns, eliminate the deaths."
Since taking office, I can proudly report that we have taken one illegal gun off the streets every week, that's more than the year before, and less than what I envision for next year. You see, I too believe that if we eliminate the guns, we eliminate the deaths. That is why I am working with several New York State Congress members and over 300 mayors nationwide, to remove federal gun restrictions known as Tiahrt amendments, these amendments prevent cities like Utica from accessing and studying the patterns of illegal guns, and even inhibit the success of National Criminal Background Checks. However, there's one thing those restrictions aren't going to do- Stop me from defeating illegal guns in Utica, NY.
Illegal guns are a gateway to drugs, and a recipe for murder. That is why, tonight, I am telling every resident of this city that I am going to stop them. New York is a great state because it allows its cities to get creative, to circumvent the bureaucracy of Washington. That's what I plan to do- Institute the most innovative crime law in the country, and put our city in the national spotlight as a city that will re-route the iron pipeline right out of Utica, right out of New York.
So, if you leave with anything tonight, let it be a sigh of relief. To the criminals who think business and fortune come from pushing drugs and guns in Utica, we tell you now- Get out, because we've had enough!
NEW UTICANS
In order to restore the life and prosperity of yesteryear to Utica and all of Upstate, New York, we must embrace our refugee population. The diversity in this city is something I'm embracing and encouraging. Not only is it key for my administration to work with all people, but it's rewarding in a sense to gain the trust of people whose first impressions of America are Utica, NY.
The recent interest by the Bosnian, Burmese, and Muslim community in constructing places of worship tells me that my team is doing its job. It tells us that these new residents feel comfortable and committed to calling Utica home. As they begin their new lives here, we are working with them. It's important to note that above all, they want to be listened to. They appreciate respect more than anything else. I truly cherish the relationships I've fostered with so many new "Uticans", and when I step into any new place of worship, I step into a new element that I'm excited to learn about, excited to be a part of, and mostly, honored to feel welcomed by.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Economic development is no stranger to Utica. Perhaps there are some facts you haven't heard about. In the past few months here's what our city's economic climate has looked like: 120 new jobs at APAC Downtown, 80 new jobs at ACS on Bleecker Street, 80 new jobs at AAA's Downtown call center, the announcement of a Burlington Coat Factory in North Utica, and news that Riverside would be reborn, Countless Downtown Startups, including one from Syracuse called DataCom Systems managed by a Utican named Mike Galime, who wanted to come back home. A new night club called O2, operated by a Bosnian Entrepreneur, Zaim Dedic, even the announcement that Kennedy Plaza Apartments was going under new management, providing Utica with over $700,000 in un-paid property taxes. The list goes on. Economic Development is happening, and it will continue to do so, especially Downtown.
City Economic Development Commissioner Robert Sullivan is also keeping the focus on Downtown, and he's doing a great job. His Downtown café program has everyone pointing as they travel Uptown to Downtown. If you didn't know it, those beautiful outdoor cafés at the Balkan and at Ancora were the brainchild program of Mr. Sullivan, who has said the café program will continue this summer with grants being awarded soon.
There's also a less obvious economic development driver we should talk about- rail. I am currently advocating and examining the possibility of a rail trans-load facility, right here in the City of Utica. The facility would be accessible by area businesses that have to travel far away to utilize the rail they need for business.
NEIGHBORHOOD REVITALIZATION EFFORTS AND HOUSING PARTNERSHIPS
I would also like to share with you the accomplishments of our community revitalization efforts. As you are aware, because we have reconnected our partnership with the Municipal Housing Authority of the City of Utica, our assessed valuation has increased by $6 million and continues to rise. In fact, while the entire country was setting new records with all time lows in housing values, the City of Utica was one of the only cities in the country this year to report a 7% increase in its housing values, and was reported by Business Week as one of the top ten most affordable places to live in America.
We all know that when housing market trends are on the upswing, so is the economy. Likewise, with downward trends in the housing market there is an adverse impact on the economy. In our City, the same exists. And, so without our partnership with the Housing Authority, there would be a dramatic void in the availability of affordable housing for Utica families.
Working in partnership with Executive Director Dr. Taras Herbowy, the Housing Authority has been designated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development as a high performing housing authority.
In 2009 this shall continue. We aim to become a leader in reducing residential energy consumption and encouraging the development of environmentally friendly property management and construction practices. We will accomplish this in many ways. One way is through our community gardens. So much interest was sparked by the success of the raised bed, organic community garden on Linwood Place last year, that this Spring, For The Good, Inc. under the leadership of Cassandra Harris Lockwood, will develop additional urban gardens.
Last year, the community garden fed and enriched the diets of over 100 people. People who became garden members got fresh fruit and vegetables in exchange for their work in the garden. Programs like this combine housing, citizens, and energy saving ideas, to make our neighborhoods sustainable.
With my support, along with Commissioner of Urban and Economic Development, Robert Sullivan's, the City of Utica will partner with For The Good by providing two separate sites for these community gardens. Three vacant lots on Jay Street between Mohawk and Hubbel, and five vacant lots between Schuyler and Lenox Avenue are soon to be transformed, manicured beautiful, productive urban gardens capable of feeding hundreds. That's an economic stimulus!
MORE ON MHA
Speaking of economic stimulus, I am pleased to report that as a result of economic stimulus funding, the Housing Authority was recently funded with over $2.5 million dollars for capital improvements to upgrade its existing housing inventory. We are most thankful to the leadership of Congressman Mike Arcuri and Senator Chuck Schumer for their leadership in securing these important funds to preserve our investment in public housing.
Oh no! I said Public Housing. Do you know what I'm really saying?
Affordable housing is more than low-income housing. The vast majority of residents who live in these new developments are working people who cannot afford the cost of living in expensive market rate housing, or just need assistance in purchasing their first home. These families often have two wage earners and are your co-workers and neighbors, the people in the seats next to you. Many of them would leave our community if affordable housing was not available, and local employers rely upon affordable housing to recruit and maintain their employees.
New affordable housing development makes economic sense. It creates living wage jobs for Utica residents, supports local contractors and businesses, generates property tax revenue, and spurs other investment by home owners. Our housing partnership has served as an engine for economic development in our community. More than $25,000,000 in construction contracts to date.
In a continued partnership with my administration, the Housing Authority will be embarking on an aggressive strategy to create new affordable housing and economic development opportunities for 2009. We are working to create new homeownership housing in West Utica, on the site of the former Lincoln School, as well as develop the vacant land on Lincoln Avenue into single family row houses which will complement our efforts to make the area adjoining Munson Williams Proctor Institute into a nationally recognized arts district.
And like a never ending infomercial, that's not all. I am pleased to announce that the City of Utica and the Housing Authority have joined in a partnership to seriously determine the viability of preserving the former Roosevelt School and converting it into a viable neighborhood asset. This building has sat vacant and abandoned since the early 90's, ignored by numerous administrations, out of sight and out of mind. Well, not if you live there. I've walked that neighborhood and those people deserve better. Tonight, I am promising them better. I'm here to tell you that we will not ignore problems like this any longer. We will be securing funding from federal and state sources to examine the costs and potential new uses of this important structure. Imagine what Roosevelt School could look like if demo costs surpass rehab costs.
I am also pleased to report that we have reconnected with housing visions. With a $300,000 dollar HOME investment, this company is poised to bring almost $9 million dollars into the Kemble Street area. This project, known as Kembleton will provide close to 40 new units of affordable housing in buildings that will architecturally complement the neighborhood and provide our city with clean, safe, housing stock.
RESTORE NEW YORK
As Mayor, I feel it is important for me to visit other cities and reflect on their development successes, in order to translate them into achievements for our own city. You all do that too, when you come home from a visit to downtown Syracuse and say, "Why can't Utica be this busy?" Think about it- What makes Syracuse so exciting?
The answer- Syracuse's commitment to its Downtown. I'm here to reaffirm our commitment to our Downtown. In the annual report of the City of Syracuse's Downtown committee, one of their major goals was to develop new Downtown living opportunities, this publication was quoted as saying, "It is only through a hip mix of students, young professionals, and empty nesters living downtown that we can hope to reclaim the vibrancy and sense of aliveness that we all remember." To that end, I would like to announce that the city of Utica, through its Urban and Economic Development Department will apply for close to $7 million dollars in Restore NY funding to help redevelop 11 downtown buildings into mixed use housing, office, and commercial spaces, an application I'll be handing a copy of to the Governor personally, during my lobbying efforts.
I have seen the dramatic difference this type of investment has made afar and as close by as Syracuse. Knowing this, we stand committed to assisting private developers in attaining their dreams of upper floor living and retail development business models. I firmly believe that a strong, vibrant, economically viable and culturally diverse downtown will contribute to the viability of our region as a whole. We will foster the renaissance of Downtown Utica by restoring it.
THE HARBOR
One year ago, in my address I had fervently hoped that I could talk about the Harbor Point cleanup and its future impact on the economic development of our city. Well this year, I'm happy to report that I can. The cleanup of Harbor Point, after 40 years of talking about it, is now a reality. Because of a close cooperative effort between myself, Assembly Woman RoAnn Destito, State Senator Joe Griffo, and the Governor's Office, we were able to secure an agreement from the canal corporation to let the City of Utica be the lead developer of this site. The cooperation of the DEC was also instrumental in helping us fast-track the cleanup so that this site can be returned to the community as a commercial, residential, and recreational opportunity site.
GATEWAY
Since last year's state of the city, one of my main priorities has been redefining the Gateway District. As you know, with the assistance of Senator Griffo, we were able to reallocate federal infrastructure money to help us complete the close to $4 million dollars in streets, sidewalks, curbs, and other necessary improvements to give Gateway the enhancements it needs to attract national attention.
Some of this money has been used to build a recreational trail that will eventually connect to the 840 Rayhill trail. We believe that the Gateway area holds much promise for mixed use development and we are confident that this site will bring the city new prosperity.
THE PARKING GARAGE
Working together with Assembly Woman RoAnn Destito and Congressman Michael Arcuri, we have made considerable progress toward the construction of a new parking garage for our Downtown. Utica almost lost the $10.5 million dollars of federal and state funding because it sat stagnant for the previous 3 years before I took office. Today, we've retained all that funding.
Just last month, the Federal Transit Administration formally issued the findings of their review process, which encompassed many months of evaluating various impacts from the project including noise, vibration and traffic.
With this environmental review process successfully completed, we are now moving forward expeditiously with the next phases of the project. A Request for Proposals is being finalized now to procure a consulting firm for the architectural design and engineering of the project. Additionally, acquisition of the necessary land for the project will begin over the next several months.
This project continues to be a priority of my administration and critical for the economic development of our city's Downtown. I am confident that progress on this project will be more visible in the coming year as demolition and site preparation work begins. Ground will be broken soon.
GOING FORWARD, TOGETHER
I've talked about a lot of things tonight, things I accomplished working as a team with my department heads, our community organizations like the Chamber, EDGE, Genesis, and of course our other area elected officials.
I've talked a lot about the success of projects that for years, have been lying dormant on the list of 'we'll get to that'. Well, there's a very simple reason for the progress I mentioned tonight, and it stems from the belief of: We're in this together.
Yes, as citizens, I want each of you to know that all of your elected officials are working together hand and hand to solve our areas woes, while propelling our great strengths. One person I work with on a weekly basis, whether discussing consolidation or the stresses of balancing a budget is County Executive Anthony Picente. Tony is a great asset to our county and an adept public servant. He's always trying to find the common ground, and that's the new mantra in Oneida County. We're working for the common good of our residents, regardless of the symbols next to our names.
In fact, you may remember, this past holiday season, for the first time in history, the Mayor of Utica and the Mayor of Rome, aired a commercial. Mayor Brown and I wished listeners happy holidays, together.
You see, the City of Utica is where I hang my heart, but if there's a business that wants to locate here, or I'm presented with any opportunity to benefit this city that can't work out, I want my neighbors to have it. I want to share our success. This is the only way we can turn the pages of a new story, a new journey.
As long as I'm Mayor, I will keep working across not only isles, but ideologies for Uticans. I will keep traveling to Albany, lobbying, and sharing our successes with state leaders. I will continue to include all the areas college students, brag about the work of Professors like Michelle Boucher, the Utica College Professor doing national research on plastics, right here in Utica. I will continue to push for high speed rail, preach the successes of programs like Deb Richardson's Culinary Classes through Gro-West, and I will also be there if you need something, even if it seems trivial, please call me.
I ran for Mayor to make a difference, to make a change, and no matter what you read, what the daily rumor is, or what the naysayers are ranting about, I'm here for you. I'm here to make a difference in a city that has made a difference for me. My business is here, my family is here, and like so many of you, my hope is here.
We have taken our first steps, but there are many more. Our journey won't be easy, but there's one thing we can't forget: There's no place like Utica.
Please join me in walking a thousand miles, together.
