Arunan Arulampalam is the mayor of Hartford. A former nonprofit executive and attorney, he was elected after serving as CEO of the Hartford Land Bank, where he helped launch a program training city residents to become local developers to rehabilitate vacant and blighted properties.
Before leading the Land Bank, Arulampalam served as deputy commissioner at the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection in the Lamont administration, focusing on consumer protection and enforcement actions affecting tenants and small businesses.
Earlier in his career, he practiced law at Updike, Kelly & Spellacy. He has also served on the boards of the Hartford Public Library, House of Bread and the Hartford Redevelopment Authority.
Over the past year, Arulampalam said the city reported declines in crime, expanded housing initiatives aimed at redeveloping vacant lots and increasing homeownership opportunities, and launched a neighborhood-focused small business program. He also cited expanded youth programming, including the city’s Night Gyms initiative, which he said served more than 1,300 children during the summer.
Looking ahead, Arulampalam said Hartford is prioritizing housing affordability and addressing downtown office vacancies through adaptive reuse strategies that convert underutilized office buildings into residential units, with the goal of strengthening the city’s tax base and supporting a more active downtown.
What qualities are most essential for effective leadership today?
Having a mindset for growth, adapting to rapidly changing realities, fostering leadership and growth among staff and taking the time to listen to the perspective of all voices, not just the powerful ones.
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What do you value most about living or doing business in Connecticut?
The values we all share to build a stronger and more inclusive community that works for everyone.
What is one change that would make Connecticut more competitive economically?
Mobilizing to address the housing crisis with the urgency it deserves, and tying new housing opportunities to local and regional transit systems to encourage economic development, growth and improve quality of life for residents.
Book recommendations: “Team of Rivals” by Doris Kearns Goodwin; “Range” by David Epstein
Podcast: “The Intelligence” from The Economist; “Start of the Week” BBC Audio
Go-to news media outlet: The Hartford Business Journal
Hobby or leisure activity: My wife and I are raising five kids, which leaves little time for leisure. But when I can, I enjoy watching our UConn men and women play basketball or catching a Yard Goats game.