Fall River Mayor Paul Coogan delivered his sixth State of the City Address last evening before a joint meeting of the city council and school committee, proclaiming the city “stands just as strong today, if not stronger, than it did last year.”
During his 32-minute address, the mayor focused on his administration’s progress. At the top of the list are steps being made to stabilize the city’s finances.
As tension persists within the school committee regarding the future of Superintendent Dr. Tracy Curley, the mayor credited her for advances in the city’s public schools.
The mayor credited the Fall River Addiction Support and Treatment (FAST) Team for its continued support of the homeless, particularly during the winter. He also praised the work done in the Flint Neighborhood and across the city to create much-needed new housing.
On public safety, Mayor Coogan praised Police Chief Kelly Furtado for providing consistent leadership that has brought results.
The mayor recognized the fire department for its bravery and dedication in battling last summer’s Gabriel House Assisted Living Facility fire, where ten residents lost their lives. He said since then, more firefighters have been added to the city’s complement.
The mayor highlighted the city’s economic development initiatives and the expansion of local businesses, which resulted in dozens of new jobs.
He pointed to increased investment in infrastructure projects, including street and sidewalk renovations.
At the end of his remarks, the mayor recognized Matt Medeiros, the city resident who created the FRPlowwed.cc webpage, where people could alert the city to which streets were plowed or not during last month’s blizzard.
