"Ringing in" the New Year's Changes and Optimisms

It has been a privilege and honor serving the City of Hartford over the past eight years on Hartford's City Council, and as I conclude my second term I wish the incoming Council and Mayor the very best in continuing to address critical issues and policies that successfully impact the City's well-being, safety and quality of life. Indeed I have learned firsthand of the significant amount of personal sacrifice that public service involves working with the Mayor, Council, and many of the City's Commissions and Task Forces, while also having the honor to work with Hartford's hard working State Legislators, Board of Education, Federally-Elected Officials and various regional authorities.

In the past several years of public service and activism I have experienced firsthand the complexity of issues that confront the city's ability and capacity to enable residents, businesses and other city institutions to thrive to the heights and standards that so many aspire. While progress and success in a number of ways can be accounted for -- too often the larger economic realities and trends, coupled with local/state/regional government historical structural deficiencies create barriers and undertows that prevent many initiatives to gain greater results.

As the New Year embarks I remain optimistic that greater progress and results are possible and wish our public leaders the very best in further mobilizing the community, policy and resources to achieve our collective goals. In regards to my immediate future, I will be continuing to be pro-active and supportive on various initiatives, and further concentrating on my core work of strengthening workforce development and training opportunities for individuals and businesses needing assistance. I also welcome some further reflective opportunity to review and assess what degree of public/private legislative policy reform and local community organizing/development can best contribute to what continues to inspire so many of us to achieve as described by Martin Luther King: 'the beloved community,' where all families and individuals have the equal opportunity to realize their fullest human potential.

My very best to our public servants and community leadership in the New Year ahead that we may further make strides in Hartford and other communities to make the progress needed to reach this vision.

Comments

[Richard Frieder]

Jim,

Thanks for your great work on behalf of Hartford. It's been a pleasure working with you - and there's much more to come!