DANVERS — Mayors of the North Shore sounded off on everything from water transportation to the opioid epidemic at Wednesday morning’s State of the Region Address.
In a packed ballroom at the Danversport Yacht Club, Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll, Peabody Mayor Edward A Bettencourt, Jr., Newburyport Mayor Donna Holaday, Gloucester Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken, Danvers Town Manager Steve Bartha, and Beverly Mayor Michael Cahill each spent their five-minute time allotment updating more than 300 local business owners on developments in their communities.
Lynn Mayor Judith Flanagan Kennedy, who was listed as a speaker, was not present.
John Krol, Kennedy’s chief of staff, said the mayor never committed to the event, and he didn’t know why the North Shore Chamber of Commerce listed her as a speaker. Krol said that when the office received an email about it last week, he told Stephen Crowder, vice president of the chamber, that Kennedy had a prior commitment and would not be there.
“We said we could send someone from EDIC — they said ‘no, this is a mayoral event,'” said Krol.
Crowder confirmed that Kennedy canceled prior to the start of the breakfast, but said he believes it was with only one or two days notice.
“She canceled last minute,” said Crowder, who added that she didn’t provide a reason as she “usually doesn’t.”
In an interview Wednesday afternoon, Kennedy said that if she had been able to attend, she would have reported that a lot of businesses and real estate developments are coming to Lynn, including Gateway North and The Vault.
“Kettle Cuisine brought in 100 jobs when they first came to Lynn and have hired 100 more (people) over the last several years and, most recently had a job fair where they were looking to hire 56 more,” she said. “Home values have gone up and Lynn was named by Sunday Globe Magazine as one of the most up-and-coming cities.”
Kennedy trailed Sen. Thomas McGee in Tuesday night’s primary election with 1,632 votes compared to his 4,219. The primaries drew only 11.53 percent of registered voters to the polls.
McGee attended the address as a spectator. He said in an interview after the event that if he had the opportunity to speak, he would have highlighted the economic development opportunities that exist in Lynn, the ferry service, and how the city needs to start to focus on its natural resources.
“I’ve gone to these mayors’ events over the last several years,” said McGee. “They give both the North Shore Chamber and over 300 business leaders from the North Shore a good chance to hear what’s going on in other communities. We really have so many things in common, whether it be transportation or tourism, that we can work together to build stronger economic success.
“I was happy to be there,” he said. “It is an opportunity to build those kind of relationships with other community leaders.”
McGee said he hopes Lynn can learn from Salem’s experience with water transportation. Driscoll reported in her address that the city is hoping to add a second ferry between the witch city and the Boston’s Long Wharf, and explore water taxi services.
Salem, Gloucester, Newburyport, and Beverly mayors each discussed development and sustainability of their city’s waterfront districts.
Bettencourt discussed the recent $6 million revitalization investment in Peabody’s downtown, which is passed by more than 30,000 vehicles each day, and the success of several pop-up events that drew crowds and money into the city, joking that his next campaign fundraiser would be a pop-up.
