Contract for a Better New Bedford

This proposed contract lays out both my commitment to this City and measurable objectives for my tenure as Councilor-at-Large. I feel strongly that by working together city wide these objectives are both reasonable and achievable. Why? Because these are not my objectives alone. These are the same objectives we all share together: to improve our homes and our lives; to support and grow our business community; to make New Bedford the jeweled landmark of the SouthCoast.

My Commitment to You

Our votes are valuable, possibly our most valuable possession in a democratic society. Before you cast your vote, let my commitment to you be absolutely clear:

* I will work faithfully to represent every citizen of this City.
* I will continue my ongoing efforts to promote and to improve the business community in all parts of this City.
* I will insist upon and practice full due diligence in every decision confronting the City.
* I will maintain the personal and unwavering standards of honesty, ethics, and excellence which are a byword of my commitment to this City.

Our Deliverables

Just like you, I live and work in this City. I know, as you do, that New Bedford is rich in history and architecture. We have a widely recognized and growing artistic community. We have an active port and a waterfront that caters to business and resident alike. We have museums and galleries and theaters. We even have a National Park! What we need to create is the warm and welcoming environment that invites people to visit, to see what we have to offer, to tell their friends that New Bedford is the place to be.

To create this welcoming environment, I propose a series of deliverables with specific time frames. But let me be clear - while I am committing myself to work tirelessly on your behalf, these are not just my goals. They are instead ours to share. Only by working together will we succeed. Only together will we create a genuinely new New Bedford.

3-6 Month Deliverables

These deliverables will attract vehicle traffic on local highways and increase foot traffic throughout our historic downtown. Growth in tourism will create new and additional opportunities for local businesses.

* Pedestrian Signage: Create historically significant walking trails to move people through the retail center and around the entire historic district. Color coded trails and an attractive, whaling theme for the look of the signage.

* Signage for 195: Alert westbound travelers to New Bedford and local events, using messaging signage similar to the Paul Revere Landmark sign currently visible only to eastbound traffic.

6-12 Month Deliverables

Just as we create programs to aid business, we also need programs to provide incentives to our residents and our neighborhoods to improve. We need to become the best we possibly can – we need to rebuild pride in our home of New Bedford.

* Take Pride City Wide: Campaign for a cleaner, greener New Bedford. This program will create and nurture an environment of incentive driven home and neighborhood improvement. Possible incentives include an on-line poll for most attractive home, yard, and neighborhood with accompanying neighborhood and city-wide recognition.

* Ordinance Officers: Work together with the Executive Branch to procure funding for dedicated ordinance officers assigned to retail districts across the City. Their areas of responsibility will include litter law enforcement, trash storage, public lighting, vagrancy, pan-handling, loitering, and possible hours of operation enforcement. .

12-18 Month Deliverables

Just as we look at our business and neighborhood communities, we also need to address the level of service provided by our City. Our municipal employees are among our most valuable assets. They are the face of our local government. But no one can progress by standing still. We need to create an environment of continuing self-improvement.

* Tax Payer as the Consumer: Convene workshops for city contractors and employees stressing customer service and follow up skills. Make use of existing opportunities for professional development offered to city employees to improve tax payer experiences.

18-24 Month Deliverables

We know we live in a rare and wonderful place. But we need to protect and conserve our history and our assets. We have opportunities and resources that make other cities envious. But we cannot use those assets unless we know and understand them.

* City Assets: Complete a survey of current city assets, exploring ways in which they may be better utilized. Create development plans to increase revenue and better leverage those assets for economic development, including alternative options such as tourism, real-estate operations, or sale where appropriate.