Eddie A. Perez
Mayor
MAYOR PEREZ AGREES WITH NEW REPORT:
---NEWS RELEASE---
(December 1, 2006)--- Strong cities are vital to regional growth. That’s a main focus of a new report by the Connecticut Economic Resource Center (CERC) called “Benchmarking Connecticut 2006.” Mayor Eddie A. Perez supports this notion and says that the City of Hartford is making positive strides to key areas including transportation, entrepreneurship opportunities, education and housing to help ensure a “stronger economic tomorrow.”
Mayor Perez has always been a strong supporter of investing in more public transportation that connects Hartford with other cities. He says, “For years, I along with several of my fellow mayors, have touted connecting Springfield, Hartford, Meriden, and New Haven by rail. I also believe that the planned Busway project. Both will enable more people to get to the jobs in Hartford without getting stuck in traffic.”
Hartford is the largest employment area in the state with thousands of jobs in insurance, government, education, medicine, and the arts. Mayor Perez is working closely with insurance, banking, and financial executives to maintain and grow these types of high paying jobs.
Another important area when it comes to employment is entrepreneurship opportunities. For two years in a row, Mayor Perez has proposed State Legislation that gives tax breaks to small businesses that employ neighborhood residents. The Mayor says, “Let’s get certified HUB Zones (Historically Underutilized Business Zone) so that Hartford’s small businesses can get federal and state contracts. A great success story is Thomas W. Raftery, Inc. Thanks to these tax breaks, this drapery company in the City’s Frog Hollow neighborhood is able to employ 35% of its workers from the immediate area.”
Mayor Perez, both in his capacity as CEO of the City and Chairman of the Board of Education, believes the cornerstone to growth is education. He says, “Education equals empowerment. It is essential that we continue to raise the bar of educational expectations so that youngsters go on to graduate with a four-year degree and then reinvest those skills back into the community. By bringing in nationally recognized educators like Dr. Steven Adamowski as our new Superintendent, it is a new era for education in Hartford--- one that will grow and develop our future workforce.”
Part of that growth and development has to do with providing more access to information. Mayor Perez believes “Wireless Hartford” will help provide that opportunity. The Blue Hills and Downtown neighborhood are part of a pilot project that gives residents Internet access and computer training as well as the chance to purchase a low-cost computer. The Mayor believes that closing the “digital divide” means increasing access to government, jobs, healthcare, and other essential information that is taken for granted by suburban residents. 75% of suburban homes have access to a computer and the Internet while only about 25% of Hartford residents fall into that category. Mayor Perez would like to see “Wireless Hartford” expand citywide within three years.
While getting computers into homes is important, so is increasing the number of Hartford residents who own their own homes. Mayor Perez says, “Not only is Hartford increasing its homeownership rate (there are more than 1100 new homeowners in the Capital City since 2002), it is increasing the availability and variety of homes that are available. It is important that people of all economic backgrounds have the education and access to make the transition from renting to homeownership.”
So, while CERC has established “benchmarks” in order for the state’s economy to grow, Mayor Perez is pleased to see that CERC agrees that cities like Hartford will play an important role. He’s even more pleased that Hartford is meeting its own benchmarks so that the residents of this city can benefit from this growth.