Caroline Simmons, Stamford’s new mayor, wants any businesses interested in the city to email her at [email protected].
Just four months into the job, Mayor Simmons has become the city’s number one promoter. She joined “The Municipal Voice,” a co-production of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities and WNHH FM, to talk about what drew her to local government, what she was able to accomplish in her first 100 days and what she has her eyes on for the future.
With Class A office space, a 30 percent commercial vacancy rate, and a charge of only $44 per square foot, Simmons argued that companies should be following the people who left New York City for Connecticut during the pandemic.
Already Connecticut’s second biggest city after Bridgeport, many of the Stamford’s projects revolve around growth in the region.
“It’s really important to coordinate with our surrounding towns, so we’re looking at everything from making improvements on Metro North to making our city more bike and walk friendly,” she said, noting the possibility of implementing a walking trail and/or bike path throughout Fairfield County.
But there are pieces that need to be put in place to sustain that growth. For one, the city is short a on affordable renting units – a problem that has plagued many cities in Connecticut – as well as affordable senior housing.
Like so many other cities, Stamford is looking to take advantage of their public transit options by bringing in transit-oriented development, which is increasingly popular with individuals just starting out in their careers.
Stamford is also looking at programs to help transition individuals into home ownership — but those just starting out in their careers are crucial to Stamford’s future.
“I think it’s important that we have young people at the table because millennials now make the largest voting bloc,” the mayor said.
She also spoke to Stamford’s diversity as a selling point.
She wants people to get involved in local politics like she has: Simmons started in the federal government and worked her way to state representative, eventually landing as mayor.
“When we’re in a representative democracy, our governments are supposed to look like the people they serve,” she said, stating that she started with her cabinet and mayor’s office to make sure they were properly reflective of Stamford’s culture.
To that end, she placed a call for anyone interested in serving on a board or commission to email her at her mayor’s office email.
There’s much to be optimistic about Stamford – with so much growth and potential, one gets the idea that there’s almost too much to concentrate on. Fortunately, Mayor Simmons realizes that the position can directly touch people’s lives.
“And the key is to really seize this moment and making sure that we’re building a more equitable, inclusive, vibrant city for everyone,” Mayor Simmons said.
“That includes making sure everyone has access to a good paying job, making sure everyone has access to quality infrastructure, making sure that people have the opportunity to pursue their dreams here, raise a family here.”
