Guest Column: Looking Forward in 2015
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Pittsfield Mayor Daniel Bianchi shares his thoughts for the New Year.
This is the time of year for thoughtful reflection. One year ends and a new one begins. Many individuals will consider the past 12 months with great seriousness, regretting certain things, cringing at particular actions or statements made, wishing they had a specific day they could do over again. Life doesn't work that way.
I am not wise enough or vain enough to think that I could suggest how someone else should lead their lives. Perhaps the best that any of us can do is to hope that we do enough good things that serve as positive examples to others, whether they be our contemporaries or members of a generation of people in a position to effect the distant future.
For me, I will take inventory of the past year. I'll make a New Year's resolution to do better or be wiser in the future. I will also attempt to look at the positive things that I have initiated, participated in, or influenced. My goal will be to do more of that in the future.
I have learned that much of the work that a leader does will benefit people he or she will never know, people of future generations. I have thought a great deal about this concept as we face a variety of decisions in 2015. Do we bother to invest in the future or hold the line for folks right now? Perhaps we do a combination of both.
A commitment was made to pursue a very forward looking initiative, an innovation center on the William Stanley Business Park. When completed, that center will give our small- and medium-sized businesses engaged in the applied materials, life sciences and plastics sectors access to advanced research and technology. This will enable them to grow their businesses, employing additional people from not only the next generation, but from this one as well.
Investing in a new high school may not seem prudent given a stagnant regional economy and the recent population trends for Berkshire County. A new comprehensive school is, however, an economic development initiative as well as an educational initiative. With rigorous academics, and well-developed programing, a new high school will provide businesses with the employees of the future. It will be incumbent that a closer partnership be developed with our regional higher educational institutions, BCC and MCLA. Courses in advanced manufacturing and custom sciences at these institutions will further satisfy the need for more advanced training for the work force of tomorrow, while providing reasonably priced higher education for Berkshire families. These advanced capabilities will allow businesses to development more sophisticated materials, cutting-edge applications and advanced products.
In 2015, our energies will be committed to the final stages of the downtown streetscape, a new beginning for the Common, a promising planning phase for the Morningside neighborhood, the roll-out of a comprehensive highway management program, a new public parking system and the continued grass-roots public safety efforts from the Shannon initiatives, the ambassador program, and the neighborhood watch programming.
I am committed to providing educational and employment options for our citizens and for transforming Pittsfield into a 21st century manufacturing center as well as a vibrant cultural hub. All of these initiative and others will be pursued with a renewed sense of public good and public service.
In 2015, please join the dedicated public staff and core of volunteers committed to creating a promising future in Pittsfield and Berkshire County. Happy New Year.
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