Eddie A. Perez, Mayor

fall 2005

550 Main Street • Hartford, CT 06103 • Tel. (860) 543-8500 • Fax (860) 722-6606www.hartford.gov

The Mayor’s UPDATEEDUCATION = EMPOWERMENT.

It is a simple equation that can improve thequality of life for all of Hartford’s residents. Thecycle of learning now begins at birth thanks to our new Office for YoungChildren, and the benefits are intended to last a lifetime.

$800 million is being invested in Hartford schools over the next ten years.Seven schools are under construction or being renovated right now in severalHartford neighborhoods. Already, thousands of students in the Blue Hills,South End, West End, and Asylum Hill neighborhoods have returned to newclassrooms, new cafeterias, and new entrances.

The new bricks and mortar are a symbol of the firm educational foundationour students will receive. We are increasing the opportunities for our childrento achieve excellence. Whether by raising the bar and strengthening thecurriculum in public schools, having our 24,000 students exposed to collegeat an early age (including thousands visiting a college campus), or by privateschools working to attract Hartford students– the goal is to get more of ourlocal talent achieving a four-year college degree and then reinvesting theirskills in Hartford.

I want students– as young as elementary school– to prepare for college.Hartford is on its way to increasing the number of four-year college graduatesby 25 percent! Statistics show that people with a Bachelor’s degree have

The Mayor’s UPDATE www.hartford.gov

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THE MAYOR’S UPDATE (continued )

the potential to earn a million dollars more in their lifetime. How about thatinvestment!

The cycle of empowerment that begins with education, leads to higher payingjobs. There are about 120,000 jobs in the Capital City and almost half requirea Bachelor’s degree or higher. This standard will only increase in the comingyears. We must prepare our youngsters for the 21st century job market.

High quality jobs encourage a higher homeownership rate. When morepeople own homes, this increases the level of community pride, which inturn helps build a more caring and safer neighborhood.

Safety continues the circle – making areas more attractive to economicdevelopment. A competitive region filled with families, schools, andbusinesses is good for everyone.

The cycle of empowerment is seamless and the only snowball effect is success.Remember, education = empowerment – embrace it!

Sincerely,

Eddie A. PerezMayor

fall 2005

The Mayor’s UPDATE www.hartford.gov

MAYOR PEREZ TELLS STUDENTS:“The First Day of School is the First

Day of the Rest of Your Life!”

Mayor Perez believes the first day of school sets the tone for the rest of the schoolyear. That tone is “awesome” at Dr. James H. Naylor School, thanks to $31 millionin renovations and new construction. The Mayor enjoyed breakfast with youngstersin the brand new cafeteria. Students can also enjoy learning in new classroomsand arriving to school through the new entrance.

The Mayor’s UPDATE www.hartford.gov

fall 2005

MAYOR PEREZ SAYSHartford is Prepared to Respond to Major Hurricane

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina,Mayor Perez toured the Flood ControlSystem that protects Hartford andsurrounding communities from anypotential catastrophic flooding of theConnecticut River.

The Mayor is proud to say that the 7.4miles of dike and six pump stations arewell maintained and fully functional.However, to preserve the integrity of thesystem, about $30 million will be neededfrom the State over the next five yearsto protect the residents of Hartford aswell as key regional assets, such as theMDC Sewage Treatment Plant, the StateArmory, State Capitol, and the manydowntown businesses that employ morethan 120,000 people.

Being mindful of history, Mayor Perezsays we cannot forget the great floodsof 1936 and 1938 that devastatedHartford. That is what prompted theArmy Corps of Engineers to spend $1billion to build this Flood Control System.It is designed to withstand the kind ofstorm that could hit once every 500years.

However, Mother Nature’s fury wasunleashed along the nation’s Gulf Coast. The savage winds and rain of HurricanesKatrina and Rita are gone, but the clean-up and recovery efforts are far from over.Mayor Perez continues to thank Hartfordresidents, employees, and corporationsfor their generous support and donationsmade on behalf of the evacuees.

The Mayor encourages folks to continueto give to organizations, like theAmerican Red Cross, the Salvation Army,and AmeriCares that are set up to directlyhelp in the relief effort. If there are anyquestions concerning the comfort andsupport of storm victims, call the 2-1-1Infoline.

In the case of New Orleans, in particular,many people have lost their homes andlivelihoods. But Hartford was foundedon the premise of providing hope andopportunity. So we will keep that hopealive in continuing to help our fellowAmericans in need.

Mayor Perez says, “If the tragedy ofHurricane Katrina has taught usanything, it is that we can ill afford toneglect this invaluable infrastructure.”

Mayor Perez tours Hartford’s Flood Control System that engineers say is designed towithstand the kind of storms that could happen “once every 500 years.”

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Report Card:NEIGHBORHOOD POLICING PLANMAKING POSITIVE STRIDESMayor Eddie Perez continues his strongstance against violent crime in everyHartford neighborhood. Thanks to theflexibility of the new NeighborhoodPolicing Plan, the Hartford PoliceDepartment was able to redouble itsefforts in communities by providing ahighly visible presence with itsConditions Units, which includeadditional foot and bike patrols andmore traffic enforcement.

Overall violent crime is down doubledigits throughout the Capital City.Whether it is city, state, and federalauthorities working together to roundup suspected drug dealers, orcommunity organizations taking the leadby sponsoring programs to protect andeducate our youth– Mayor Perez believessafe neighborhoods are essential for our

families and our businesses.Making arrests and prosecutingcriminals is one way to combat crime.Another way is through the Quality ofLife Task Force. Cleaning up streets,eliminating debris, towing abandonedcars, and sprucing up the presentationof businesses all have a positive effecton everyone who lives and works here.Dramatic results can be seen in both theNorth and Sound End.

The Quality of Life Task Force report isout. Recommendations have been madeby City Council. Mayor Perez is lookingto do even more by finding ways toempower inspectors to issue citationsfor quality of life infractions.

We’ll keep you updated on the progress!

MAYOR PEREZ COMING TO YOURNEIGHBORHOOD ON CHANNEL 21

Mayor Perez is featuring every Hartford neighborhood on his three government cable accessshows. Whether he’s talking about safe communities, economic development, homeownership, or

education, Mayor Perez wants you to know all thepositive things that are happening on your streets.He’s already been in several neighborhoods fromBehind the Rocks to Downtown to Clay Arsenal.Just watch and see where he’ll be next!

Mayor Perez creates a buzz in every Hartfordneighborhood when he tapes his shows forHartford Government Cable Access Channel 21

The Mayor’s UPDATE www.hartford.gov

REMINDER:Leaf Collection Startsaround October 24th!

Quality of Life Questions Just a Click Away!GO TO www.hartford.gov

FALL 2005

TWO TOP NAME HOTELSOpen in Hartford in less than Six Months

History Made in Hartford!Mayor Perez congratulates Captain Edward Casares, Jr., Hartford’s first Hispanic DeputyFire Marshall. Fire Chief Charles Teale Sr., Chaplain Rabbi Shlomo Yaffee, and CityCouncil President HernanLaFontaine applaud.

Mayor Eddie Perez, who madehistory becoming Hartford’sfirst Latino Mayor, was onhand for another first in theCapital City. Edward Casares,Jr., is the first Hispanic to bepromoted to Deputy FireMarshal, with the rank ofCaptain, in the FireDepartment’s 216-year history.Captain Casares is a 25-yearveteran of the department.

First it was the new and improved Hilton Hartford. Now, the Marriott HartfordDowntown is open for business. That means in less than six months, two majorhotels have opened their doors to guests visiting New England’s Rising Star!

Mayor Perez is proud of the positive impact this means for the local economy. Morethan 200 jobs were created for Hartford residents with the new Marriott alone. Anddon’t forget--- more than 120 local jobs at the Hilton were saved, thanks to MayorPerez! Whether these positions are in construction or essential service positions,it is important that Hartford residents have the opportunity to obtain skills that canlast a lifetime and health and financial benefits that solidify their family’s security.

The Mayor’s UPDATE www.hartford.gov

Ribbon cutting ceremony at the Marriot Hartford Downtown