LYNN – Councilor at large Hong Net, a Cambodian American, attributes his achievements as a city official to his ability to listen to residents, be flexible, prioritize what needs to be done first, and vote for outcomes that would benefit the city as a whole.
“Making a policy, you have to look at all angles,” he said. “Everyone gets a piece of pie, not just certain people. It’s compromise; compromise is the key.”
Net first ran for office and was elected as councilor at large in 2011. His community persuaded him to represent them, he said, adding that at that time only a couple hundred Asian residents voted in Lynn. He said he did a lot of outreach, registered more people to vote, and educated Asian voters about local and federal government.
“I love people, knocking on doors, and listening,” Net said. “I learn so much from them.”
Net believes that Asian-American Lynners now feel a lot more comfortable and proud to talk to the city’s officials.
“Even me, I was afraid to go to the City Hall,” Net said. “I feel privileged and proud to encourage others to be comfortable with local officials.”
He believes that Lynn residents, too, are now more open to put in office various candidates who will be beneficial for everyone, regardless of their race.
Net said he has been working on improving diversity among the city’s workforce for the last eight to nine months. Net would like to see qualified hires of color gradually fill opening jobs and eventually constitute 20-25 percent of each department.
Net outlined three areas that he believes are of high priority for Lynn: safety, education, and economic development.
Net wants Lynn residents to feel safe, which is why he is advocating for better equipment and more resources for the fire and police departments. Net thinks that the fire department needs a central headquarters separate from the fire house. He said he would work with his colleagues, the mayor, and the state delegation to come up with a specific plan to appropriate the money for this project.
Net, who believes that education is the key to success, added that Lynn has very limited resources for its approximately 15,000 students.
He agrees with many in the community that the city needs a new school and his goal is to assist the School Committee and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Patrick Tutwiler to improve Lynn’s educational system.
He also wants to work with his colleagues on getting funding and helping businesses build themselves up again. Net thinks that the city needs to encourage developers and business owners to come to Lynn by cutting some red tape and easing regulation.
“We need to provide tools for our small businesses to help them grow because the pandemic has really hit them hard,” said Net. “Businesses are the lifeline of our city.
“At the same time, we need to make sure they serve our community,” he added, noting that he does believe there is a limit to how much incentivizing the city should do.
He would like to see more small businesses grow in the city and bring life to the downtown area again. Net himself was able to bring to Lynn a doctor’s office and a few restaurants before COVID.
“Lynn has come a long (way) in the last 10 years,” said Net. “We have brought the Market Basket, built a new school ― Marshall (Middle) School ― and brought a new YMCA when I was the chair of the Public Property Committee.”
He said he feels very fortunate and proud to have seen Lynn grow and overcome a budget deficit during his time on the council.
“My dream is to see a four- or five-star hotel in Lynn,” said Net.
Net has been also working on a proposal to help lift seniors and veterans out of poverty that he would like to push harder for next term, with the help of both the new mayor and state delegation. He would also like the city to reduce rents if these residents live on city property or put a certain amount of money aside for this type of financial aid.
“They worked hard and still can’t afford housing,” said Net.
Net is 53 years old. He was born in Cambodia and spent his childhood in a labor camp during the rule of the Khmer Communist Party. In 1979 he fled to Thailand when Vietnamese forces took over Cambodia. After about three years in Thailand in a refugee camp, he was sponsored by an American family to come to the U.S.
While living in South Hadley in western Massachusetts, Net attended a Catholic high school and went on to study political science at the University of Massachusetts – Amherst. After college, he went back to Cambodia to help rebuild his homeland, working for various divisions of the United Nations.
When he came back to the U.S. and got a job in Boston, he found out that he would be working at a satellite office in Lynn. Net married his wife in Lynn, purchased his first home in the city in 2004, and raised his two children here.
He has been working for the Department of Revenue as a child-support enforcement specialist for 20 years. He also co-owns an adult daycare on the Lynnway, and he believes that his experience there with Asian and Haitian seniors gives him a good perspective on the new senior center that Lynn seniors have been waiting for since 2019.
Net has also been involved in many Lynn organizations such as Youth Employment and Success at the Marshall Middle School, the Riverwalk Credit Union, North Shore Labor Council, YMCA of Metro North, the Khmer Cultural Planning Committee (now called Kakrona), and others.
During the onset of the pandemic, Net said, he spent a lot of time at Lynn TV helping communicate with residents and bringing in professionals to talk to the public. He initiated a mask-wearing campaign by posting signs around the city, and facilitated getting $300,000 through Essex Community Development Foundation to help 500 families affected by COVID, with rent, food, child care, and transportation expenses.
“I feel I have been an asset to the city. I am very passionate about getting things done,” said Net.
Net said that he doesn’t believe in people staying in office forever, but he feels that he still has the ability and energy to work on the City Council and that there are more things to be done before he steps aside.
Alena Kuzub can be reached at [email protected].
