In his first speech since being sworn in, Mayor Luke Bronin said city and non-city residents must aid Hartford’s revival by being actively involved in the community and spending more time and money there.
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In his first public speech since being sworn into office, Mayor Luke Bronin said city and non-city residents must aid Hartford's revival by being actively involved in the community and spending more time and money in the Capital City.
Bronin's plea, of course, is spot on as new city leadership alone, no matter how heralded or revered by voters, can't change the course of history without buy-in from residents, non-residents and the business community, all of which build the true fabric of a vibrant city.
Pleas alone, however, won't engage greater civic participation or investment in Hartford. Bronin's main task will be to re-install trust and faith in city government, something that has been lacking for some time. Whether it was the corruption scandal that engulfed Eddie Perez or the incompetent management that clouded the Segarra administration, residents and businesses rightly have little faith in city government to get things right.
It's hard to stir civic engagement or attract private investment under those conditions.
Bronin ran on a platform of transparency and sound management. He's got two major tests waiting for him: the minor-league ballpark fiasco and the scandal-plagued Dillon Stadium development.
Both issues require careful attention but the delays and cost overruns of Dunkin' Donuts Park require immediate attention since it's causing Hartford national embarrassment. Last week, Joe McEacharn, president of the Eastern League, where the Hartford Yard Goats will play this season, publicly admonished the city and stadium developers, saying he was lied to about the stadium's progress and completion date.
It now seems unlikely the stadium will be ready by opening day April 7. As city leaders, developer Centerplan Cos., the team and league search for a solution, they must take a long-term view of the project. Taking shortcuts to build a half-baked stadium ready for opening day will create long-term problems and prove more costly to taxpayers.
Playing extra road games or at an alternative home stadium to begin the season, while admittedly embarrassing to the league, city and team, won't be the end of the world. This stadium needs to be built the right way to preserve its long-term structural and financial integrity.
The childish finger-pointing going on is also unhelpful. There's plenty of blame to go around for the construction delays and cost overruns, but continuing to retreat from responsibility won't solve the problems. It will also give project naysayers, and the general public, more ammo to badmouth the stadium, further undercutting support for the team before it even takes the field.
Bronin must bring all parties together to develop solutions that will help make this project a success, while also protecting the interest of taxpayers.
If Bronin succeeds, and the stadium eventually brings the economic development boost it promised, it will go a long way in restoring trust in the city's ability to handle its business.
If the project falters, developers and investors will continue to re-think putting their capital at risk in a city that can't seem to get its act together. If Bronin was expecting a honeymoon period, he chose the wrong job. Instead, he must play the role of relationship counselor and mediator, and restore the public's relationship with city hall.
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