Ruberto Details Plans for Success

Mayor James M. Ruberto is sworn in by Register of Deeds Andrea Nuciforo as City Councilors Matthew Kerwood and Michael Ward look on at Monday's inaugural ceremony.

"Here we are today - Jan. 7, 2008 - in the dead of winter, with some tough economic times upon us and a lot of uncertainty upon the world," said Ruberto, who is embarking on a third consecutive term as mayor. "Some people in Pittsfield might think this is a pretty good time to hunker down, weather the storm, and delay the progressive agenda we have begun until we reach a more secure future. My friends, I say to you, we must continue our commitment to securing our own future."

Now is not the time to back down. Now is the time to dream big."

 (Read the whole inauguration speech here.)

After taking the oath of office, administered by Middle Berkshire Register of Deeds Andrea F. Nuciforo Jr., Ruberto explained that part of that dream is working to make Pittsfield "the finest small city in the Northeast" and "the envy of the entire region" through a collaborative effort that engages all citizens. Outlining plans that included a new high school, a continued emphasis on the revitalization of the downtown and a commitment to diversity, Ruberto said the path to progress is clear.

"Four years ago, it was much more difficult to see our way to a better Pittsfield. But my friends, we have traveled far, and from here, we can see a much clearer picture of our community," he said.

<L2>Specifically, Ruberto expects to see construction begin on his much-celebrated $12.9 million Beacon Cinema on North Street, more General Electric Economic Development funds funneled to the Berkshire Museum for future renovations and a reshaping of the Park Square area. In his third term, Ruberto wants to see Pittsfield's streets safer and stronger, a goal he wants to achieve by encouraging renters to become homeowners.

"For far too long, we have been far too patient, waiting for bold ideas from various Boston bureaucracies to help us reinvent the West Side and Morningside sections of our City," he said. "As we improve our neighborhoods and invest in the City, we will also provide shelter for those who need it. We must call for special legislation to expand tax abatements for the elderly. We must also strengthen safety net services, and continue to focus on improving handicap access throughout the City. We must promote health and safety."

The key to success for the city is a strong connection between government and business, said Ruberto, who named attracting new businesses to the area as a priority.

"We have to attract new employers, create new jobs and open up opportunities for our citizens," he said.

Ruberto's biggest undertaking in the new year, though, may be the promise to create a new high school that addresses all the needs of the modern student.

"At the center of our dream for a better Pittsfield, we must have and will have a plan in place for a new state-of-the-art high school. I have seen the talent of our kids and they have inspired me. Our students deserve nothing less than the best, most flexible, most technologically-advanced learning environment in the country. And that's what we are going to build," he said. "This will not be cheap. It will not be easy but some things are just simply worth fighting for."

"This high school will be a monument of Pittsfield's renaissance, representing the best of our commitment to the next generation," he continued.

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