News, Blogs & Misc.
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Mayor Walsh Outlines Vision for a
Global Boston
In first address to
Boston Municipal Research Bureau, Mayor announces commitments around
economic development, culture, and fiscal responsibility.
(BOSTON- March 7, 2014) In his first address to the Boston Municipal
Research Bureau, Mayor Martin J. Walsh today unveiled a series of
commitments to make Boston a world-class, international city. The
Mayor spoke of efforts underway to recruit and retain both local and
international businesses, enhance Boston’s cultural offerings, and
embrace efficiency, data and innovation to spark progress.
"We’re going out into the neighborhoods, around the country, and
across the globe to promote Boston as a place to do business,” Mayor
Walsh said. “We’re going to bring new economic opportunity to our
city.”
Next week, as part of efforts to recruit businesses internationally,
Mayor Walsh will meet with the consuls general stationed in Boston
and pitch Boston’s 21st century workforce, thriving ecosystem of
creative work spaces, and rich concentration of medical, scientific
and cultural innovators. “My message to the Consular Corps will be
this,” Mayor Walsh said in his remarks. “Boston wants to be your
nation’s number one business partner.”
In addition to ongoing international efforts, Mayor Walsh announced
a number of initiatives underway that will make doing business in
the city of Boston more predictable and transparent..
The City’s Inspectional Services Department has been directed to
meet aggressive new benchmarks, including responding to all
questions within one business day and approving 75 percent of
as-of-right permits in fewer than 20 days. A "hackathon" will tap
Boston’s innovation community to create a more user-friendly
permitting experience.
In an effort to open up more of the development process to the
public, the Boston Redevelopment Authority will soon make documents
under discussion at its board meetings visible in real time on the
web.
The Mayor also outlined a number of efforts to enhance the city’s
cosmopolitan culture, including the creation of a late night task
force to examine how the city can foster a safe and vibrant
late-night culture. Forward-thinking efforts around transportation
in the city of Boston will take shape under the Boston Mobility
Action Plan, a public process to guide and envision the City’s
transportation future, cutting travel times and aligning with the
City’s environmental goals.
"In a global economy, retaining talent is just as important as
recruiting employers," Mayor Walsh said. "For that reason, an
international business hub needs a truly cosmopolitan culture.
Diversity is already a strength of ours. And Logan Airport now
connects us to more cities around the world than ever before. But
again, we have to be proactive."
In his address, Mayor Walsh urged the Legislature to expand Boston’s
access to the Commonwealth’s Infrastructure Investment Incentive
Program, or I-Cubed, to finance new public infrastructure
improvements necessary to support major new private development.
Mayor Walsh also announced that, for the first time in the city’s
history, Boston has received perfect Triple-A ratings from both
Moody’s and Standard & Poor’s. He committed to presenting a balanced
and smart budget this spring: "Embracing efficiency, we can be lean
and provide the same level of service. Embracing innovation, we can
take our services to another level."
Mayor Walsh also discussed building positive relationships with the
City’s workforce to pave the way for firm fiscal footing.
Negotiations with employee labor unions have thus far resulted in:
branch libraries opening on Saturdays and the central library
opening on Sundays; transferring the City’s Code Enforcement
division from Inspectional Services to Public Works; police and
firefighters carrying and administering the lifesaving overdose
medicine Narcan; as well as constructive talks underway to reach new
contracts for firefighters, superior officers, and detectives.
Source: Mayor's Office
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