LYNN — Lynn Mayor-elect Thomas McGee met with Latino residents Friday night to talk about his plans for the community and hear out citizens’ concerns at the North Shore Adult Day Health Care Center in Lynn.
The event, which was Spanish-speaker friendly, drew a crowd of over 30 Lynn residents, including Lynn firefighter Joel Machado.
“I wanted to come here and meet the mayor and hear his plans first hand,” Machado said.
McGee was introduced by School Committee member Maria Carrasco, who thanked the mayor for having an event like this that she said no other mayor has done.
“The most exciting part of the campaign was getting to know the people in this community,” McGee said.
The mayor-elect also stressed that he and his office cannot succeed without what he calls an open-door policy with the community, a big reason for events like this.
Jose Encarnacion opened up the questions, asking McGee what his plans are to help the city’s Latino community.
McGee cited job creation as a huge goal in his plans and also talked about getting community members educated about the civil service exam and other programs to create job opportunities.
Another guest, Philip Alvarado, talked about starting a community crime watch system in Lynn.
“We want to turn the attitude of the community into a positive one towards police,” Alvarado said.
McGee said it’s a great idea and something that the city could work to do with a stretched out and busy police force.
He also addressed expanding diversity inside public schools and City Hall itself.
“We have to create better opportunities for everyone in City Hall and better communicate when jobs are available,” he said.
McGee also plans to bring on bilingual staff members into his office.
“We have to make people more comfortable coming into City Hall,” he said. “This is the people’s building.”
The challenges the city faces going forward were also a talking point, citing the city’s $7 million deficit and the need for new schools to give children a proper education.
“In challenging times there is great opportunity,” McGee said.
