Mayoral accomplishments highlight Lynn state of city address

LYNN – Mayor Edward J. Clancy Jr. included a list of mayoral accomplishments in his annual State-of-the-City address at the Porthole Pub Friday, giving it the flavor of a campaign speech.The mayor emphasized that the city is not a business and therefore cannot be run like one. “I have often reminded people that while a municipality such as Lynn shares many of the characteristics of a large private corporation, there is a key distinction: We are not in business to make a profit for shareholders. Government exists to provide services for its constituents. We must constantly exercise fiscal responsibility while providing services in a professional, cost-effective manner.”Clancy said as mayor he is often forced to make difficult choices for the common good of all Lynn residents. “But in the end, in each instance, I acted in the best interests of all citizens and the results speak for themselves,” he said.Making clear his intention to lead Lynn into the next four years, Clancy listed his major accomplishments. Most recently, both the municipal and school budgets were passed on time, he said, adding that the Police Department and Fire Department will enter the new fiscal year with no layoffs, while the School Department closed the Ford Annex but was able to absorb the students into other schools with no loss of service.During his tenure as mayor, Clancy has overseen construction of a new police station and Manning Field, renovation of the City Hall Veterans’ Memorial auditorium, the reopening of Federal Street to motor vehicle traffic, the expansion of after-school programs, the rolling back of bar hours from 2 a.m. to 1 a.m., the introduction of gender equality in several municipal departments and the reconstruction of Classical High School to fix major contractor flaws.Clancy said the project of relocating electrical transmission lines from the Lynnway to make way for development of the city’s waterfront is on schedule. With good weather work could begin in the fall, presuming all state permits are in hand. “The project will spur economic development and create jobs,” he said.Clancy painted a picture of the city as stable and solid, or as he put it, on terra firma. “Our downtown continues to evolve, with 200 new residential units that have added almost $500,000 to the tax base. It was encouraging to read the other day that single-family home sales in Lynn were up 25 percent this May over last year. Our city remains an attractive destination for home buyers,” he said.The mayor noted the city signed new agreements with the Lynn Shelter Association and My Brother’s Table soup kitchen, showing that the city is tolerant of those in need and those willing “to do God’s work” by helping them. However, the agreements allow police to enter the shelter without cause and mandate that both facilities enforce a zero-tolerance policy for alcohol and substance abuse.”I believe it was imperative that we balanced the needs of those frequenting the shelter and soup kitchen with the well-being and quality of life of those who work and live in the downtown. The new leases have achieved that balance,” he said.Clancy also touched on the city’s gang problem, vowing to eradicate it through increased police presence and an unrelenting anti-gang unit that makes aggressive surveillance a key strategy.”This aggressive surveillance tends to have a chilling effect on those even considering criminal acts or behavior,” he said, adding that gangs are a regional problem requiring a regional solution.The mayor also talked briefly about a proposal that would give a real estate tax abatement to senior citizens living in the city who have owned and occupied their current property for at least 10 years.”Other communities offer abatements to seniors in exchange for a determined number of hours working community service. Lynn’s senior abatement may adopt this model or be made in recognition of their commitment and continuity to our great community,” he said.Clancy, who fa