Progress on Main Street is visible, but does it constitute sufficient growth to sustain our economy and tax rate?
Size of the Challenge
It would take $28 million in economic growth annually to offset Cassetti’s $4.2 million in spending increases. Growth under Cassetti is $2 million per year, and this trajectory will require some combination of spending cuts and tax increases, a recipe for disaster. We must literally do 10 times better if we want a financially sustainable community. We must compete and win with cities around the world to be drivers of innovation.
Big cities are capturing an increasing share of economic growth, companies like GE and Aetna are moving out of CT, and they’re not moving to low cost destinations, they’re moving to Boston and NYC… where it’s more expensive! They want access to the talent and innovation cultivated in these hubs. Can a small city like Ansonia be a driver of innovation and entrepreneurship? I believe we can.
Recognizing our Strengths
I see Ansonia’s assets as follows, in order of importance:
Our People
Rail line
Walkable/ Densely populated
History and Historic Architecture
Access to Nature
Investing in and marketing our assets will establish our own thriving creative entrepreneurial economy.
Green as a Way Forward
To win over the next generation of residents and entrepreneurs, we need to make headlines for something truly unique and positive. Ansonia is well positioned to go after the title of “Greenest City” in Connecticut. Ansonia is ranked 10th in the state in population density, we can use this to our advantage. We’re walkable, we have trains, we have a hydropower plant, and because we’re a small city, small investments in “green” infrastructure through grants will help us capture the green title and create local jobs.
These investments will improve our health, improve transportation, reduce costs to businesses, and reduce household expenses. We can be a leader in environmental sustainability, we’ll save money, and attract people from all over in doing so.
Tourism
64 miles north of NYC on the Hudson River is Beacon, NY with roughly 14,000 people and rail line access. On a weekend morning you’ll see more than 60 day-trippers disembark the train from NYC. They visit the Dia art museum residing in an old factory, they hike the nearby trails, and patronize the historic Main St shops.
Ansonia is 72 miles from NYC with rail access, and similar recreation opportunities to Beacon…but no day trippers.
Some marketing and investment to expand entertainment will help. Let’s partner to revamp Ansonia’s old opera house to create a community arts center. Let’s create a museum dedicated to the rich history of our city. Let’s build a kayak boat launch to access the Naugatuck River. Let’s improve trails at Quillinan State Forest. Let’s create an amphitheater downtown for large outdoor concerts.
Tourism not only helps businesses, it gives visitors a chance to test drive life in our community.
Together we can grow tourism and re-invent our economy, we can do it with grants, volunteers, and visionary leadership. The millions David Cassetti spent from the reserve fund could’ve paid for all of this … what did we get?
Time waits for no one, and other cities are getting smart, let’s not miss this train, we can lead the future.
The writer is running for mayor in Ansonia on the Democratic line.
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