MAYOR PEREZ ASKS GOVERNOR

 TO RECONSIDER POSITION ON PATHWAYS

 

The following is a copy of the letter that Mayor Perez has sent to Governor Rell regarding the Pathways School construction project:

 

 

January 31, 2007

 

Hon. M. Jodi Rell

Governor

State of Connecticut

State Capitol Building

Hartford, CT 06103

 

RE: Pathways to Technology Magnet School

 

Dear Governor Rell:

 

I was shocked to learn of your effort to derail the construction of the Pathways to Technology Magnet School in this morning’s paper. This is an abrupt change of direction for an administration that has, up to now, not openly fought its court-mandated obligations under Sheff v. O’Neil. This change of heart raises serious doubts about your commitment to desegregating Hartford’s schools and the state’s willingness to adhere to a court order.

 

As you may know, for more than two years the Pathway’s to Technology School has been slated for construction at the vacant city owned sited on the corner of Broad Street and Farmington Ave. The State Department of Education, The Hartford City Council, the Hartford School Building Committee, and The State Traffic Commission have issued approvals for the design and funding of the school on the Broad Street site. The General Assembly has approved funding for the school design and program. At no point has either the General Assembly or the Executive Branch stated that the project couldn’t be built on that site.  At every step of the way the city and state have agreed that school is appropriately designed and sited and the appropriate approvals and permits have been granted. Your claim to the contrary, does not withstand even a basic review of the facts.

 

Your concern that the state deed restriction limiting the use of the vacant land by the city to “economic development” among other things prevents construction of the school is puzzling. There is no question that under our school building program this development project will generate construction jobs for city residents and business opportunities for small minority owned companies pumping millions of dollars into the economy of one of the poorest communities in the nation. Additionally, the educational program for the school, approved by the Stated Department of Education and reviewed by the General Assembly clearly states that the school’s mission, training students to join our future IT workforce, is aligned with the mission of the Governor’s Office on Workforce Competitiveness. The school’s industry advisory task force, which helps students, obtain real world IT experience and training has representatives from some of Hartford’s and Connecticut’s largest employers. This development creates jobs for Hartford residents, trains Hartford and suburban students to become productive members of the IT economy and makes our state workforce more competitive. Under any rational measure this is economic development that benefits those who need it the most, Hartford residents. Blocking this project harms the economic future of Hartford students and residents.

 

Even if you ignore the real evidence that this school development constitutes economic development. I question why you would take any affirmative action to take the property back for state use and block construction of a school when you have no other stated use for the site. The city is facilitating the state’s compliance with a court order in Sheff that requires this magnet school to be built and paid for by the state. This furthers the appearance that you intend to purposely block implementation of the Sheff order.

 

As has been widely reported in the press, I had urban planner Ken Greenberg conduct a thorough review of the intersections around the Pathway’s site above and beyond the required traffic studies for construction of the school. His work has continued through the Hartford 2010 process and I have convened a task force of stakeholders to provide input on design of the area with the goal of improving traffic flow and increasing the pedestrian friendliness of the various intersections. I have committed $2.5 million in city funding to make appropriate improvements in the streetscape. If traffic around the school truly is your concern, I would be willing to include a representative from your office in any planning sessions and I would appreciate your commitment of state support to help expand the scope of improvements we could implement.

 

I urge you to rethink your position in opposition to this court mandated school and partner with me not only in making the Pathways to Technology School a success, but also in enhancing an important part of our city’s streetscape.

 

Sincerely,

 

Eddie A. Perez

Mayor.