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March 12, 2019

In state of the city address, Bronin touts a balanced budget, new investments

HBJ File Photo Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin.
By Joe Cooper

Mayor Luke Bronin didn’t waste time delivering the good news Monday evening at his fourth state of the city address: Hartford will save money this fiscal year and new investors continue to place bets on the city's future.

Bronin, who is vying for his second term in November’s election vs. a crowded mayoral field, addressed city council members for about 30 minutes Monday at City Hall, announcing the city is on pace this year to be under budget, with money leftover for capital improvements and “rebuilding” its reserves.

The mayor gave his speech last year just days before announcing the state offered to pay off the city’s estimated $550 million debt over the next two decades to avert a budget crisis. He didn’t directly reference the state’s funding commitments in this year’s speech, but signaled to the city’s fiscal progress.

“It’s easy to forget just how dangerous that crisis was,” Bronin said. “It was not clear then that there was any path other than bankruptcy that would allow our city to avoid a catastrophic collapse of services.”

The 39-year-old said the city’s economic development efforts are also gaining momentum, touting the recent arrival of Infosys, a new wave of apartments and a growing network of incubators and accelerators downtown.

Bronin also named several aging buildings and sites being redeveloped, including Dillon Stadium, the Colty Armory, numerous schools, a new Boys & Girls Club in the former Alfred E. Burr Elementary School, Parkville Market and other-transit oriented development in the South End.

“Today, we’re seeing interest from investors who not too long ago would never have invested in Hartford,” he said. “Anyone who says that neighborhood economic development hasn’t been a priority just isn’t paying attention, or isn’t telling the truth.”

But despite certain gains, Bronin said the city must “tackle” a number of other issues, pointing to a “chronically absent” student population, derelict housing, violence and homelessness.

“As much as we’ve focused on getting buildings built and renovated, the strength of our neighborhoods depends just as much on basic, everyday quality of life,” the mayor said. “And here, the truth is that our record is mixed. In some areas, we’ve made real progress. In others, we have to do much better.”

Bronin is expected to deliver another speech Tuesday morning at a MetroHartford Alliance event at the Hartford Marriott Downtown, 200 Columbus Blvd. The event begins at 8 a.m.

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