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March 10, 2020

Bronin touts new housing projects, tech jobs in state of the city address

Photo | HBJ File Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin.
By Joe Cooper and Greg Bordonaro

In his fifth state of the city address, Mayor Luke Bronin on Monday touted a city that is building momentum beyond its historic fiscal woes in years past.

Bronin, a Democrat who was re-elected to a second four-year term as mayor last November, cited several economic development victories in the last year, including the reopening of historic Dillon Stadium, Weaver High School and the launches of Stanley Black & Decker’s “Manufactory 4.0” innovation hub and Hartford HealthCare’s digital health accelerator.

“Tonight, I can report that the state of our city is stronger than it has been in decades, and getting stronger,” the mayor said to city council members in a speech that lasted about 27 minutes at City Hall. “And if we are willing to stay disciplined and be bold, it will get stronger still.”
 
[Watch Fox 61’s broadcast of Mayor Bronin's state of the city address here]

Bronin reiterated many of those positive developments Tuesday morning during a talk with members of the MetroHartford Alliance where he praised the city’s financial stability. 

He told business leaders that four years ago his state of the city speech was about Hartford’s dire fiscal position. Since then, lawmakers agreed to pay off the city’s estimated $550 million debt over the next two decades to avert a budget crisis. 

The city has also cut costs, reduced borrowing and has not increased its highest-in-the-state 74.29 mill rate over the last four years.

The mayor said the city has “confronted insolvency honestly and boldly” and is making progress in putting the city on a steady fiscal path.

“Our credit rating was raised and then was raised again, citing our careful controls,” Bronin said. “We began rebuilding our city’s fund balance, continued to invest in infrastructure without borrowing, and put resources aside for future capital investment.”

One area Bronin panned is the lack of regionalism in the state, which is needed not only to save the city money, but all municipalities. 

“We have made zero progress on regionalism,” Bronin told the MetroHartford Alliance crowd.

Planning ahead

Bronin’s speech also touted the city’s new master plan.

A draft of it was published last week and it lays out an ambitious plan to promote equity, renewable energy and economic growth in the region ahead of the city’s 400th birthday in 2035.

The city’s Planning and Zoning Commission developed the 71-page plan relying on feedback from about 2,000 people that participated in public meetings and surveys tailored to asking residents how they view Hartford today and how they want the city to evolve over the next 15 years.

A number of recommendations were identified in the plan offering a blueprint on building 5,000 new housing units, expanding bus and rail service throughout the region, and increasing investments for arts districts and to spur entrepreneurship and 10 real estate developments.

One of the major goals of the plan, Bronin said Tuesday, is to try to better connect the city’s neighborhoods. 

Clean slate

Bronin also emphasized his strong support for clean slate legislation at the state Capitol. Lawmakers are currently debating a bill that would automatically expunge criminal records for individuals convicted of misdemeanors if they don’t repeat offend for seven years after their conviction.

Bronin told business leaders the policy is not only about fairness but giving people second chances and better access to housing and jobs. 

Given the talent shortage in the state and nationwide, employers should be looking at all options, including giving people with criminal convictions a chance at employment. 

It may not work out all the time, he said, but when it does “you can find some very loyal workers.”

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