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-- Programs and Services -- Contact Information Let's "clean up" Pittsfield's image
By Mayor James M. Ruberto
As Pittsfield's new mayor, I have many areas of focus that are of great importance
to the senior residents in our community. I appreciate the input I have received from
so many seniors, and I invite you to contact my office with input and to attend
the many public meetings that I will hold across Pittsfield. Like many of you,
I have fond memories of a time when our community seemed closer-knit, safer
and cleaner. I want to make Pittsfield just as safe and clean as it was in my youth,
and even more vibrant.During my campaign, I heard from a great many senior residents who voiced their
concerns about the unkempt condition of our city streets and vacant lots throughout
the city. I am absolutely dedicated to making sure that this issue is addressed
and have already begun to take the necessary steps with each of the relevant
department heads to ensure that the image of our city will become as we remember
it being years ago.In addition to restoring a cleaner image to Pittsfield, I am also actively
encouraging and pursuing the creation of many new entertainment venues that will
bring much more activity and nightlife to Pittsfield's downtown district. I am in
complete support of a movie theater returning to North Street and I feel that the
completion of this project will add a piece of the `best of old Pittsfield'
which will complement some of the new exciting projects that are currently
underway in the Downtown area. I am also in full support of the restoration of the
Colonial Theatre to its former grandeur. I truly believe that this restored gem
will greatly enhance our economic development efforts.With the Colonial and a new movie theater anchoring revitalization at the southern
gateway to downtown, I am pleased to report progress in the revitalization of our
northern gateway as well, in the form of a new approach to Wahconah Park.
I am excited to tell you that we have come to an agreement with the Bouton Group
to return baseball to Wahconah Park for the summer of 2005. Pittsfield is in the
process of having this wonderful ballpark placed on the National Registrar
of Historical Places and I intend to fully support this continuing endeavor to
safeguard this beautiful landmark in our city's landscape.As our city moves forward throughout my administration I also believe that
it is very important to keep our senior residents, as well as the rest of the
City of Pittsfield well informed of what is taking place within my office. I have already
made it a priority to hold regular press conferences and to communicate constantly
with the media to ensure that the public is well informed of the activities in my office.
I also look forward to having periodic meetings with the senior members of our
community to not only keep them informed in a more informal manner, but also allow
them to voice their concerns so that I may use them to make informed decisions
that will influence our whole community.