Page 12 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, MARCH 04, 2022 CITY | FROM Page 1 When we challenge conventional thinking about what’s possible, we can deliver the highquality services that our residents deserve. Indeed, Revere has changed and grown dramatically since we began our work together in 2016. Change and growth: two words that carry a lot of weight in this city. Change can be scary. Growth does not often come without some pain. When you elected me as your mayor, you chose vision and growth over stagnation. You embraced change to move past the status quo. You put your trust in me. That I would ensure, in Revere, change means a better life for our residents. And that growth is met in equal measure with a commitment to the fundamentals. Today, we are emerging from some of the darkest times in our modern history poised to accomplish for our residents things we haven’t been able to do in decades. We do not fi nd ourselves here by accident. For the past six years we have worked intentionally, collaboratively, diligently. To achieve the strongest fi - nancial position in our city’s history. To control our own destiny as we develop. And to build a modern, effi cient and honest city government that, put simply, improves lives. We will continue to aggressively pursue economic opportunities that help us deliver on these promises. The redevelopment of Suff olk Downs will put Revere on the map as the region’s next frontier for the life sciences and biotech industries. $130 million in private investment will be the catalyst for state and federal funding to transform underutilized Riverfront land into open space, a community boating center and a revitalized Gibson Park – all designed in alignment with our climate resiliency work. As Amazon readies its second Revere facility for operations, we will explore opportunities for smarter land use along Squire Road. A roadway long regarded as uninviting and inaccessible will combine housing, transit and infrastructure improvements to form a vibrant, mixeduse corridor. Here on the beach and across the city, a strong return of the restaurant and hospitality industry has generated millions in tax revenue and will only continue to fl ourish. We are no longer a pass through but a city of destinations. This spring, we will launch Next Stop Revere, by Land, Sea or T. It will be the city’s fi rst intentional initiative to capture millions more in revenue from visitors to Revere Beach. The offi ce will promote all of the characteristics that make our city great, and act as a connector to support our businesses in reaping the benefi ts. Year-round event programming – from ice skating to kite surfi ng, and holiday markets to lighting installations – will make Revere the place to be, no matter the season. All of our growth has laid the groundwork for more. We have done it the right way. And it has given us the ability to invest in our greatest asset – our people – and their quality of life. First and foremost, we will invest so that families that have called Revere home for generations can aff ord to stay, while at the same time welcoming new residents who want to put down roots. It’s a challenge facing every growing city, and our work is well underway. In August, in partnership with our city councilors, we established our fi rst ever Aff ordable Housing Trust Fund, seeded with $100,000 and an annual commitment of 10% of our free cash. This year these funds will begin providing residents with mortgage relief, home buyer assistance and support in completing critical home improvements. We will again ask the Council for its support this spring, in approving our fi rst ever inclusionary zoning bylaws, and requiring developers to join our efforts in creating and maintaining aff ordability. And we will develop our fi rst ever Housing Production Plan, to help us fully understand the community need, and smartly identify properties for aff ordable housing development. At the same time, we will continue to fi nd new ways to put money back into the pockets of homeowners. For the fi rst time in 50 years, we are sharpening our pencils on commercial property assessments to lessen residential tax burden. By summer, every owner-occupied property in the city will receive $250 to help support housing costs. And our senior tax exemption program will continue. Since its establishment in 2019, we’ve returned more than $500 each year to hundreds of homeowners over the age of 65. Our growth will also power investment in world-class public facilities and services befi tting a city with a future as bright as ours. It starts with a responsive government, one that has resolved more than 33,000 service requests from residents since we launched Revere311 fi ve years ago. Over the next three years we will invest more than $50 million in our public infrastructure. Upgrades to our roads, sidewalks, and drainage systems will keep pace with our growth. And in the spring we will break ground on a new Public Works facility to support a revitalized department that has never worked harder for our residents. Construction of the longawaited Point of Pines fi re station will also begin this summer. And for the fi rst time in three decades our fi re department, led by Chief Chris Bright, will be fully funded to staff every position. The Revere Police department will continue its legacy of pioneering modern policing strategies. For the fi rst time, behavioral health specialists will provide our offi cers with crisis response support as needed, reducing unnecessary involvement with the criminal justice system and helping residents in need of mental health or substance use services. Thank you Chief Callahan for your leadership in this area. Finally, an additional $7 million in annual funding through the Student Opportunity Act will help us better engage our Revere Public Schools families, close achievement gaps, and provide more holistic services to our students. Dr. Kelly, you have CITY | SEE Page 13
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