MAYOR PEREZ TELLS HARTFORD:  “SI SE PUEDE! YES WE CAN!” 

---NEWS RELEASE---

Mayor Eddie A. Perez once again inspired Hartford residents to work together with him to build a stronger community as he delivered his State of the City Address before a packed City Council Chambers. 

Mayor Perez says he is writing a new headline for the City:  “The time of decline is over.”  Then he unveiled his vision for future that includes a strong new public safety initiative:

1.        80 more police officers

2.        Bringing back the Mounted Horse Division

3.        Proposing an ordinance requiring Hartford residents to report lost or stolen guns within 72 hours.  It would also enable Corporation Counsel to sue anyone, anywhere who failed to report a lost or stolen firearm that is used in a felony in the Capital City.

Mayor Perez says, “The people of Hartford spend millions of dollars fighting gun crime and 93 percent of these weapons come from out of town.  It is time that the people who buy these guns are held accountable.”

Mayor Perez is also a strong believer in investing in our youth.  That is why last year he created the Office for Youth Services.  In the next budget, the Mayor wants to invest almost $2 million towards:

1.        Academic and enrichment and after school activities

2.        A community effort to address youth violence

3.        And provide 1600 summer and year-round jobs for Hartford teens.

Another bold plan is the Mayor’s strong neighborhood agenda.  Mayor Perez wants to clean up our streets and neighborhoods by getting rid of blighted buildings in our city.  Mayor Perez pointed out that there’s already been a 55% reduction in boarded up buildings since he took office.  However, as he stated throughout the evening, “Hartford, we can do and will do better.”

Mayor Perez officially announced the Hartford Neighborhood Investment Fund.  He says, “This fund will target the development of moderate and affordable housing in areas of the city where progress has eluded us to date.”

With Council’s support, Mayor Perez is proposing that $50 million dollars in capital funds be provided to establish the fund.  Then over the next five years, that money will be used to leverage at least another $100 million in public and private investment.  The fund will:

1.        Create new homeowners

2.        Provide quality rental units

3.        And develop neighborhood retail where today we have blight.