Mayor Alves’ State of the City Speech

Mayor Alves delivered his State of the City message to the Chamber of Commerce, but the reaction from the business audience spoke volumes, subdued applause and little enthusiasm.
Once again, the Mayor leaned on the narrative that he “inherited a mess” from previous administrations. After two years in office, that refrain no longer resonates. Leadership requires ownership, not excuses.
Key Points from the Address:
• Borrowed accomplishments: Most of the projects highlighted were initiated by Eversource, the State of Connecticut DOT, or inherited from prior administrations.
• Digitization claim: The Mayor presented digitizing city files as new, but this has been ongoing for years. The Town Clerk receives annual funding for this work.
• Economic development: He praised his efforts but pointed only to ShopRite taking over the old Stop & Shop on Old Newtown Road. Again taking credit for what was a private sector initiative. No major new developments were announced.
• Promises repeated: He repeated claims from the Danbury High School debate about working with a major company to bring 100 jobs and a 100,000-square-foot building, but offered no specifics.
• Fire House planning: He spoke of negotiating for land for a new Fire House, but all planning should have been completed before asking voters for approval a year ago.

The Bottom Line:
This State of the City message offered nothing new or exciting for the people of Danbury or the business community. After two years, residents deserve more than recycled talking points and borrowed accomplishments. We need leadership that delivers measurable progress and inspires confidence in our city’s future.