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Harry J. Tutunjian
Mayor of Troy, NY |
CONTACT US:
1776 Sixth Ave
Troy, New York 12180
Telephone #: (518) 279-7130
Fax #: (518) 270-4609
Email: MayorsOffice@Troyny.gov
Connect with the Mayor on: twitter | facebook |
February 1, 2011
The year 2010 is behind us with virtually all of 2011 to look forward to. It’s the time of year when we all resolve to improve our lives or the lives of others in some way shape or form. Progress was made last year but there’s still more to accomplish and I will do my part to ensure that progress continues.
Progress begets more progress; that’s called momentum. We were able to realize the $140 million public private-institutional partnership of the Lower Congress Ferry Development take a significant step forward with the opening of new Sixth Avenue and now the ground breaking is scheduled to happen shortly with 400 new units of student housing slated to be constructed by this autumn.
All progress is initially met with skepticism. Taxpayers, who are tired of politicians and their promises, are reluctant to believe that anything tangible will ever occur. People need to feel confident that when a plan is announced it’s not talked to death or endlessly discussed in some obscure committee. You can do a lot of talking or you can do a lot of “doing”.
My administration has been one of “doing” – plan, progress, follow through, and finish. You can see the results all throughout the city from the Madison Street Fishing Pier and Menands Bridge Gateway to the aforementioned Lower Congress-Ferry Street project.
My hope is that the City Council will join me as active partners in progress this year. This year, as always, they are welcome to meet with me to discuss substantively the city’s issues, instead of negotiating through the media or via email.
Sometimes progress is addition by subtraction and that’s why we started a small redevelopment project on River Street by beginning the demolition of One Monument Square. The goal is to get this site “shovel ready” by this summer in order to make the most attractive site possible for developers. I have received overwhelming positive feedback on the decision to move forward.
This project has been talked about and pored over since September of 2007 when the City Council authorized me to apply for the demolition money. It was no secret or surprise this was going to happen. The only surprise was to those individuals who don’t believe that government will follow through on promises.
This follow through has a ripple effect across the city that encouraged Fahim and Zakia Khater to confidently open Mustang Smoked Barbeque on the corner of 5th Ave and 112th Street in Lansingburgh. Similarly, Tom Chenaille of Ryan’s Dogs “saw a void” in Lansingburgh and decided to open his new hotdog stand on the corner of 5th Ave and 122nd Street.
All of this is a refreshing change from “politics as usual”, which leads me to my final note. The Troy Downtown Collaborative is in the running for a $250,000 Pepsi “Refresh Everything” Grant. They intend to use this money to engage the local student population and grow our downtown business landscape.
Please visit http://refr.es/troy to learn more about their plan to invest in downtown and to vote for them and their partners. You can also text 105518 to PEPSI (73774) to help support their plan to engage the local college students while helping small, local businesses open or expand.
Happy New Year to you and your family.
If you have any questions, comments,
concerns, or complaints, please do not hesitate to call
me (518) 270-4401 or e-mail the Mayor’s
Office.
Harry J. Tutunjian
Mayor of Troy
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