>>Valley Patriot>> |
Today, we as a city stand at a crossroads. We need to decide in which direction we are going to go as a city. Today, I am formally beginning my campaign to help make our city a better city – to build One City, One Vision. As your at-large City Councilor, people ask me: “Why can’t things be better?” My reply: “One answer - no leadership from the Mayor.” In three important areas, we are not better off today than we were four years ago. In education, in economic development and in our quality of life, this Mayor has taken us backwards. We only expect those things for which we work hard and pay taxes – clean streets, good schools, quiet and safe neighborhoods, jobs, and economic opportunity. I will provide that leadership that our citizens demand. The first part of my vision is to have a sustainable economic development plan. The Mayor has little credibility on economic development today. We have vacant buildings. We have vacant lots. We have vacant jobs programs. Frankly, we have vacant leadership at City Hall. We have an unemployment rate that is three times the state rate and is the highest of all the cities in Massachusetts. Under this Mayor, our unemployment rate has rocketed up a whopping 20%. The Mayor cannot even take the time to make critical city appointments. For more than ten months, our city has been without a permanent Director for Planning and Development. It is criminal that we lost nearly two years of opportunities and four million dollars frozen by HUD that should have been put to work because the Mayor did not hire qualified personnel. Furthermore, under this Mayor we have fallen behind and lack any measurable progress. As a result, the federal government may remove us from the Renewal Community Initiative Program. You deserve better. We need to put together a master plan by which development can be directed down-town and in each corner of our city. As part of our economic revival, I want to commit my resources as Mayor to developing a performing arts and cultural center that will boost our image and economic prospects. We need fully-qualified personnel to help us realize our potential. Without these things, Lawrence will never see the revival that others talk about. Part two of my vision is a real and workable plan to improve education in our city. As an engineer, small businessman, parent, and teacher, I know the struggle and value of education. Our school system today is not acceptable. We rank at or near the bottom in every key category that the Department of Education uses to measure the performance of our schools and children. Soon we will be opening a new high school, but new buildings are no substitute for quality education. Leadership in our school system starts at the top with the Mayor. The Mayor is supposed to be the Chairman of the School Committee and be directly responsible for education -but not this Mayor. He takes the title, takes the pay, but ignores the responsibility. As your Mayor, I will create a plan with the School Committee, our teachers, and administrators that helps develop our children into productive and skilled members of society. The third leg of my vision for our City is to improve our quality of life. Walk from your home to City Hall and take a look for yourself. Or just walk down one end of Essex Street to the other. Do you like what you see – the burnt out buildings, all the litter, the ruined streets? I do not know how the mayor can see these problems day after day and not be stirred to action. We need to change this mindset. If the CEO of the City does not care how we look, how can we expect our citizens to care? My priority will be to have the equipment and personnel to clean the city up - and to develop the pride to keep it from getting dirty. We can attack eyesores and blight with a simple yet comprehensive beautification program instituted neighborhood by neighborhood that includes small improvements such as planting trees. We need a city that is not only safe but is considered safe. The Mayor four years ago in his inaugural address made it a priority to have a new police station. Well, here we are four years later - where is it, Mr. Mayor? Our police deserve a new headquarters that can effectively help them do the job they need to do everyday. I will build that police station. Under the three legs of the Devers’ Plan, we will attract businesses to help build and sustain prosperity to move us forward. Without one of the three legs, a stool cannot stand, so all are vital for success. With your help, we
can and will create a revitalized Lawrence. *Send your questions
comments to ValleyPatriot@aol.com |
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My
name is Marcos Devers, and I want to be your next Mayor.