Building Bloomfield for Our Future: A Vision for Growth and Community

Published January 7, 2022, Bloomfield Messenger

As we welcome the New Year, Bloomfield stands at a pivotal moment. With aspirations for a prosperous and vibrant future, the message from our new Mayor resonates with hope and determination. This article reflects on the Mayor's vision for Bloomfield, emphasizing the importance of community involvement and the revival of our beloved town.

New Year's is traditionally a time for reflection and rejuvenation. It encourages us to pause, look back on our achievements, and assess the challenges that lie ahead. For the residents of Bloomfield, this moment of introspection is particularly significant as we consider the town’s trajectory and the opportunities for revitalization.

The Mayor's heartfelt wishes for prosperity, good health, and joy set a positive tone for the upcoming year. They remind us that our community is not just a place on a map but a collective of individuals bound by shared experiences, dreams, and aspirations.

Envisioning a Premier Community

The Mayor’s vision for Bloomfield aims to restore the town to its former glory, making it a premier destination in Connecticut for living, working, playing, raising families, and enjoying retirement in comfort and dignity. This ambitious goal is rooted in the Mayor’s personal connection to the town and his desire to foster a thriving community where every resident feels valued and included.

Community Engagement and Collaboration

To achieve this vision, community engagement is paramount. The Mayor emphasizes the importance of collaboration among residents, local businesses, and government officials. By working together, we can harness the collective strength of our community to tackle issues such as economic development, education, public safety, and infrastructure improvement.

Residents are encouraged to participate in town meetings, voice their opinions, and contribute ideas that can lead to actionable plans for Bloomfield's future. It is through this grassroots involvement that we can cultivate a sense of ownership and pride in our town, ensuring that everyone's voice is heard and considered.

Revitalizing Bloomfield’s Charm

The Mayor's reflections also highlight the unique charm of Bloomfield—a characteristic that has drawn many to call this town home. To revitalize this charm, the focus will be on enhancing public spaces, supporting local businesses, and promoting cultural and recreational activities. Initiatives aimed at beautifying our parks, improving community centers, and organizing events will foster a stronger sense of belonging and community spirit.

Economic Development and Opportunities

Creating a thriving economy is essential for Bloomfield’s future. The Mayor's vision includes attracting new businesses and supporting existing ones, which can provide job opportunities and stimulate local growth. By investing in economic development strategies, Bloomfield can position itself as an attractive location for both residents and entrepreneurs.

Furthermore, prioritizing education and workforce development will ensure that our residents are equipped with the skills needed for the jobs of the future. Collaborating with local schools and educational institutions will foster a culture of learning that benefits everyone in the community.

As we look to the future, it is vital to embrace change with optimism. The Mayor’s commitment to leading Bloomfield into a new era reflects a broader belief in the power of community. Together, we can overcome challenges, seize opportunities, and build a future that honors our past while paving the way for progress.

In conclusion, the New Year brings renewed hope and possibilities for Bloomfield. The Mayor’s vision encourages us all to participate actively in shaping our town’s destiny. By coming together as a community, we can build a brighter future for ourselves and generations to come.

Happy New Year, Bloomfield! Let’s work together to create the thriving community we envision.

Original article:

BUILDING BLOOMFIELD FOR OUR FUTUREPublished January 7, 2022, Bloomfield Messenger Happy New Year Bloomfield! Wishing all of Bloomfield prosperity, good health and joy. This is a time of reflection, rejuvenation, rebirth, and restoration. So, as your new Mayor, I’d like to share some of my reflections on the future of our town and how we can build that future together. My vision is to lead the beautiful town of Bloomfield to, once again, being a premier community in Connecticut to live, work, play, raise a family and retire in comfort with dignity.The Bloomfield I Grew Up In. Growing up in Bloomfield, I remember a vibrant Town and a period of growth. As a little girl I enjoyed ice-cream sundaes at AC Petersons, watched beautiful churches erect on the corners, and witnessed lively Halloween weekends as kids filled the streets. As a teenager, I remember movies at AMC theater and, afterwards, walking over to Park Ave Pizza to grab a bite to eat with friends. I loved growing up here.The Bloomfield I See for My Kids. As a Mayor and a mother, I owe it to my daughters and every child in Bloomfield to work towards improving our quality of life. With an international airport minutes away, access to high quality medical facilities, close proximity to prestigious institutions, and rich cultural diversity-- all surrounded by beautiful preserved open space and parks-- Bloomfield has all the ingredients to be a destination hub, we just need the right recipe. The Recipe. So how do we get there? As your Mayor, it is my role to lead our Town Council in establishing policies, determining priorities, investing in major projects for community growth, and creating a fiscally responsible budget. By enacting programs and policies that retain and attract families, young professionals, private developers as well as by removing barriers for community engagement, we can take Bloomfield to another level. Back to the Basics. We must evaluate our civic infrastructure. We start with an honest assessment of where we are, our strengths and challenges, and how they connect and define our community. Let’s focus in on the basics and ensure our roads, neighborhoods, existing community spaces and social programs are well maintained, well-funded, and well connected to each other. We look forward in breaking ground for our new library spaces, upgrading Filley Park, Rockwell Ave Park and expanding the Greenway Trail while enhancing overall connectivity and public safety. When we provide a strong foundation, we create a desirable environment that draws in businesses like trendy tech companies and stylish restaurants for the community to enjoy. Economic Development, Housing, Workforce Development, and Open Space Preservation. Long-term strategic planning and disciplined execution on such plans will be critical to making our vision a reality. Our plan should inspire and support entrepreneurs to implement their business dreams within our town while leveraging municipal resources and preserving our open spaces. This means rolling up our sleeves, retooling our economic development approach and utilizing our new redevelopment tools for the Town center and neighborhood retail areas. For example, last year, we enacted a new policy to establish Tax Increment Financing districts, a tool to incentive private investment for redevelopment in priority areas for the Town. It’s time to aggressively market these districts with developers. We need a priority focus “all hands-on deck” approach to revitalize our town center. Stay tuned for more on this in the coming months. We also recognize there is a gap in housing options for our working families, young professionals and seniors. Our Town must facilitate an increase in middle income and fixed income living solutions. Such housing is vital in attracting our teachers, police officers, nurses, social workers, retail workers, retirees and others. This requires creative partnerships with the private sector and with other governmental partners such as the Town Planning and Zoning Commission and Board of Education. These bodies have critical roles in creating a Bloomfield that attracts and retains residents while improving our quality of life. We must launch new initiatives for workforce development and education innovation. Everyone isn’t college bound and the pandemic has reshaped how we learn and earn. By reimagining education-to-employment transitions and jumpstarting a pipeline of programs that lead directly to opportunity and placement in STEM careers, the trades, agriculture and manufacturing, we provide our community with unique career trajectories. As with most successful endeavors, collaboration is key. So, we must partner with state agencies, the business community and local infrastructure, like our library system, to ramp up these services. Stay tuned. This Town can be a premier community in Connecticut. Let’s continue to reflect on what was, rejuvenate what we have and build a vision for our community to thrive. – Mayor Danielle C. Wong This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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