Renewing Our Cities
The road to economic recovery runs through our cities. Connecticut was at its best when we had vibrant urban centers. New Haven was a hotbed of innovation. Bridgeport was the arsenal of democracy. Hartford was the insurance capital of the world. Our cities brought prosperity and jobs to the whole state, and they will do so again.
Connecticut’s future must start with our cities. They must be centers of entrepreneurship, where the best and brightest can innovate, start businesses, and create jobs. With livable, walkable downtowns, our cities can keep young people in Connecticut. As governor, I will lead the revival of our urban areas.
Nothing is more important to the future of our cities than the quality of our schools. I will pull together teachers and administrators, students and parents, and transform urban education from cradle to career. With some of Connecticut’s youngest populations, our cities are raising the 21st century workforce. Our future depends on their success.
I will also stand up for local manufacturers—centered on our cities, they employ 170,000 and return millions to our urban communities. I will tackle high energy and health care costs and reach out to manufacturers to ensure my government is dialed into business needs now—and threats and opportunities in the future.
I will center the state’s transportation strategy on our urban train and bus hubs—revitalizing our downtowns, liberating commuters from rush hour traffic, and creating thousands of jobs in the process.
As more people ride buses and trains, the areas near our transit hubs will become desirable places to live and work, just as neighborhoods near subway stops are in New York. I will capitalize on this by focusing state investments near transit and encouraging private investors to do the same.
So our cities can take advantage of these opportunities, I will make sure the state doesn’t shortchange our urban centers. I will make full reimbursement of our cities’ tax-exempt property a priority and provide ample funding to redevelop old industrial sites and turn blight into business.
Revitalizing our cities doesn’t just mean bringing in new residents and outside investment, though: it also means creating growth from within. I will help parents in our cities get good jobs, build savings, and give their children the tools to succeed.
