5 Things You Need to Know About the 'State of the City' Address
Mayor Gary Christenson gave his second 'state of the city' address Thursday morning. Couldn't make it? Here are some highlights.
Mayor Gary Christenson delivered his second state of the city address Thursday morning, but if you couldn't make the Chamber of Commerce-sponsored breakfast, don't worry – we'll slip you the cliffs notes.
Here are 5 things you need to know about the mayor's speech.
1. Nearly a quarter billion in new real estate investments: Christenson told those in attendance that the key to a healthy business climate “takes a lot of ingredients.”
“But number one,” he said: “we want people to move here.”
Christenson listed a number of new real estate developments in the city, including a $40 million project to build a mixed use apartment building with 140 units at the former Superfitness site.
In total, the mayor identified around $240 million in new real estate developments for the city, not including a proposed $50 million minor league baseball park.
2. Revamping downtown: The mayor mentioned that a federally-funded project to improve Malden Center will wrap up this year.
“New roadways, trees, period lights and other amenities will be completed this summer,” Christenson said.
His office is also working with local businesses to improve downtown facades and encourage other private investments into the neighborhood. Christenson cited the Malden Teen Center as an example of such a downtown “facelift.” The city also added 60 new downtown parking spots last year.
Christenson briefly noted the departure of Arbor Counseling's Malden Center offices in his remarks about improving the Pleasant St. strip.
“I know their presence has been a source of debate for many years, ...but they have moved out,” he said.
3. Crime prevention: “Let me assure you, this is a top priority for all of us,” Christenson said.
Pending the graduation of some new hires the city's ranks will grow from 74 to 84 in the coming months, Christenson said.
The administration has also invested in new equipment, including two new police cruisers, and are exploring ways to allow private surveillance cameras to wirelessly connect to a police department network.
The mayor also mentioned “CopLogic,” a soon-to-come program that will allow residents to report minor crimes over the internet, so officers can spend less time filing reports and more time patrolling their beats.
4. “Pay as you throw”: Christenson said the city's controversial blue bag trash system is “one of the most common questions I receive.”
Christenson said a citizen's advisory committee exploring alternatives holds weekly meetings, and are “now in the final stages of their report” to the mayor.
5. New app: Malden is one of six cities to participate in a pilot expansion of Commonwealth Connect, a smartphone app that allows residents to report potholes, graffiti and other quality of life issues with the push of a button.
chuck t
8:54 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
NOTE TO MAYOR: MALDEN DOES NOT NEED ANY MORE RENTAL APARTMENT UNITS!!! THE CITY CANNOT CONTROL THE CURRENT RESIDENTS SO WHY ARE YOU LOOKING TO ADD MORE PEOPLE. LET'S IMPROVE WHAT HE HAVE FIRST, AND LOOK AT QUALITY OVER QUANTITY. WHY IS THIS SO HARD TO UNDERSTAND!! I am getting very frustrated.
AppleBottom02148
9:01 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
I agree adding more housing of any sort if an awful decision.
jirkyrick
9:05 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
the last thing we need is for the owner not to be able to fill the apartments and it ends up turning into the Granada Highlands full of govmint subsidized units, I am ok with it if they have some some sort of control that the apts have to be rented out at market rates, already bad enough that there are plans to build "transition" apartments down at the end of my street. Just what Malden needed, more subsidzed housing units right near the square, do we really need to be the center of the low rent universe
david mokal
9:25 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
I grew up there Rick as a matter of fact Kennedy Drive went through our property. They trashed it allready.
Frank Mulligan
7:30 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013
We need more subsidzed housing in Malden. Not condo's respect our seniors. It takes time and patient.
Scott Saia
9:17 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
The Superfitness site is owned by Combined Properties, there's no risk of subsidized housing ending up there...at 140 Units it will appear like 160 Pleasant...higher cost units for higher income residents. No one complained years ago when the rental housing unit bust turned into a Section 8 boom in Malden...we've paid the price on that for years...funny, why didn't anyone complain then?
david mokal
9:20 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
On the camera issues all you need is cams at all the square areeas like Malden,Maplewood,Broadway,Oak Grove,Judson,Bellrock etc., coming and going visual to # plates. Then the parks. The cams should be priorities for the people. They do not only deter crime but they can be used as a safe spot. Someone is being followed you will be able to be in front of a cam where the Police is watching as well.
Anon
12:51 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
I'm guessing they never taught Orwell at your school?
whatsup
9:26 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
..... he said: “we want people to move here.”
WHY? - I seriously don't get this.
Aren't we overcrowded anyways?
david mokal
1:50 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
@ What's like decent working people is what I meant. Is it Aron or Anus? Must be Anus if that's all you got to do is correct me.
david mokal
9:27 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
I think the Mayor is on the right track. I just hope he puts the crime a priority.
Alethia B.
12:30 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
I am a fan of Mayor Christenson because I think that he means well and sincerely wants to bring change to Malden and make it a better place.
However you are correct, crime needs to be #1. People are looking to leave Malden not necessarily move here.
Chris Caesar
2:10 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
But if that's true Alethia, why is there so much new investment coming to the city?
Alethia B.
5:45 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
Sorry Chris, I must have missed that news flash!
Please enlighten me, because I am starting to see many empty buildings that have the potential to add life to the community.
Hopefully these “investments” of which you speak will overall the trash program and fire JRM once and for all, transform the old D’Angelo space, the soon to be empty Blockbuster and the old Boston Market
After all these location are at the heart of the city and gives off the appearance of a city that lacks vibrancy.
How about a little bakery, a Trader Joe’s and an Edible Arrangements? We lack variety in this city!
I would love to see Malden thrive, I love that they painted the building with the Teen Center it looks beautiful and gives me hope!
Chris Caesar
5:47 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
I'm referring to #1 in the list above.
Mike G.
6:00 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
Oooh, guess you did miss that news flash.
Arthur
10:44 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
We don't have adequate city services for our current population. Adding more apartments only helps Combined Properties, not Malden. I applaud what the Mayor is trying to accomplish I just think even more people moving in is not the solution. Clean up the problems we have now so you can attract those who will care about their community. We have enough who just want to take and not give back.
Lee
11:02 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
It is a lie that Arbour Counseling Services has moved out; they are still there and operating. It is a shame that the Mayor is lying to the town of Malden and that he would rather sweep the drug problem under the rug than address it for the beautification of Malden square.
Mike G.
11:22 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
What's your proof that it's still operating?
Chris Caesar
11:50 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
The drug counseling is out, and the administrative services are leaving in June. It's not a lie, I've heard this for a while and the mayor just happened to mention it.
david mokal
1:59 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
They are still there. They do drug rehab there still. They don't treat with Meth but another type of meds. They moved down the hall. Took a freind there just last night not for drugs but counciling cause she cant deal with divorce. They treat other probs like children and family counciling too. The Mayor didnt lie they are all in the process boxes packed and are leaving. No one knows where. There were many children with there MoMs with not being able to deal with not getting a Valentine.
Mike G.
2:02 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
Psych/family counseling is not the same as drug counseling.
Candy Kane
3:29 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013
I go to Arbour Counseling for my drug problem and to get my drugs. I see Dr. P. there and he gives me my Suboxzone and my johnies. I go to a drug group for relapse prevention. I have been going there for a long time and all the drug services are the same they just moved down the hall. My counselir tells me the mayer is going to evict them but I hope not. Where will I get my Suboxzone. The mayor should leav them alone.
Mike G.
11:26 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
exploring ways to allow private surveillance cameras to wirelessly connect to a police department network.
-----------------
Please, for the love of all that's holy, hire a competent network security consultant to make sure there's adequate security on that network, if it happens.
The last thing this city would need is the embarrassment of having someone exploit a police network.
david mokal
5:27 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013
Does that mean the public will not be able to access ?
Mike G.
5:34 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013
I would hope the public would not be able to access the network...
Marco
11:49 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
It's been a year and really nothing has been accomplished. The City of Malden needs a lot of work done to it. Mainly internally. I know you can't complete every task right away. That's impossible and a lot of people don't understand that process. It takes time and money. But before you worry about other people moving into your city, you need to fix your city. Lowering crime should be the #1 priority.
Chris Caesar
12:16 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
Marco what did you expect to happen in a year? $250 million in new investments and increasing the police force by 12% seems like something has been accomplished doesn't it?
jirkyrick
12:46 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
you do realize the there was a huge mess let by Howard
Lee
11:54 am on Friday, February 22, 2013
"Regular" counseling is still operating there, so he should be more specific in his address.
david mokal
2:04 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
Yes thats true I go there myself to get rid of my PATCHITUS. After reading all this stuff it messes my brain up. HAAAAAAAAAAAAA ! I used to be normal once but since I came here I turned into a basket case. Their comming to take me away HA HA !
Chris Caesar
2:11 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
Lee: That's a fair point.
David: Hahaha. Have a few bowls of ice cream and call me in the morning...
Elio
1:44 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
Who moved out of Malden Sq?? Still looks like a dump with carriage pushing bottle scavengers.
Max Payne
1:46 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
Chris : Ask the mayor how many guys are retiring by the end of the year. Ask what the numbers will be after retirements and promotions. His statement at breakfast is a bit misleading.
Chris Caesar
2:39 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
Max Payne (great name): I asked the mayor about your question and he wrote:
"I stand by my statement which is on January 2, 2012, we were at 74 patrol officers and after all is said and done on where we will be after promotions, retirements, graduations from the police academy, etc. (there) will be 84 patrol officers....I have been working closely with Human Resources and the Police Department on making sure we arrive at a figure that resembles our commitment to bolster the number of patrol officers."
david mokal
2:14 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
@ Alethia see if you can go back in the archives in the Malden Observer "Wickett Malden" About 1980 thats when crap was just starting. Before that it was just streakers running around was about the worse thing.
paul surette
3:22 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
My memories of Malden during the 80's....I lived on Forest St. The cemetery residents were pretty quiet, if you know what I mean. There were mostly drunks in Malden Sq. at night, and the projects on Newland St. had the usual fights and drug busts. Things are quite different now.
david mokal
5:31 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013
Yes Its become a city of brotherly love don't ya think? lol
CALB70
5:01 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
The current mayor was my Ward 1 councilor and he did a great job then - very responsive and active, got a newsletter going, connected people, actively listened and made a difference. He's doing the same thing now as mayor and he's got the right agenda for the city moving forward under some very tough circumstances - crime, the economy and inheriting a lot of clean-up. I'm not a Howard hater, he did a lot of good things for the city as others have rightly noted. I opposed Howard for taking park lands for the 5 new schools and I've said I was totally wrong and Howard was right.But Howard was also the most remote, odd elected official I ever met. He did not like being with the public and did everything he could to shut the people out of government. My son played on several of the sports teams his son did and he would never mingle with the other team parents or the crowd, he always stayed at the far end of the playing field, seldom speaking to anyone. Love him or hate him, Mayor Christenson is the polar opposite. E-mail him and he will respond often in minutes. Grab him in the street and he will listen to what you have to say and act on your concerns. And he thankfully modernized city hall tossing out the typewriters for computers. It takes a lot to turn a ship around but Mayor C seems to have something I missed during the Howard years - energy, vision, openness - and for that he has my support and confidence. Good state-of-city address and good plan moving forward.
Leonardo DaVinci
6:45 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
Mayor Christenson sure is a different type of personality than Mayor Howard and seems well liked by many is this city and in my opinion is doing a great job. Mayor Howard was introverted in public for sure, but spoke very well, when called on to do so in his job as Major.
I hope our new Mayor, continues to be the kind of person he seems to be and has my support, but even he gets undeserved flack from people, even though he just completed one year in office and has done as well as he can under still shaky economic times. Often those who do the slaming, do so with little verifiable proof of their blanket accusations.
My sticking up for Mayor Howard was no reflection or attempt to compare him with our new Mayor. I just happen to believe he did quite a bit more for the city than many
want to give him credit for. Often detractors try to accuse him of things he had nothing to do with like the guy who just tried to blame him for an increase in subsidized housing, which he has no control over. The same guy wants to blame him for the business demise of Malden Square but most of us blame and believe that the closing off Pleasant St. years ago when they built, the then new City Hall, caused the downturn in business, not Mayor Howard.
I doubt that a city of Winchester's caliber would hire Ex Mayor Howard because they thought he would be a lousy Town Manager, and Mayor Christianson is off to a great start and looking good as the old saying goes.
Mike G.
6:51 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
Honestly, Howard will probably be pretty good for Winchester. That's probably the right type of environment for him, and he's the right guy for them.
jirkyrick
7:01 pm on Friday, February 22, 2013
Ooooo am I the guy....
david mokal
5:44 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013
Yes he was my Ward One Councilor too. Did great here as a councillor. Very good Mayor and right on. At least he will listen to the people and not ignor them.
david mokal
5:40 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013
@ Leonardo,I think your correct about Howard. He was awesome the first few years but I believe it was the people he hired that brought him down. The closing of Pleasent Street was the downfall as well. he had nothing to do with that.
Leonardo DaVinci
9:41 am on Sunday, February 24, 2013
I believe that David. He took a lot of flak for being a quiet introverted type in public, but there are a number of people like that, but when your the Mayor, people want you to be more outgoing, but is that a fault? If he goes to see his son play baseball, maybe he really wants to watch the game and not miss anything, knowing if he talks to everyone he's going to miss what he came to see. I heard him speak in public a few times and I was impressed by what a good speaker he was. Very professional with a high degree of knowledge and confidence. I can't find fault with a man for not trying to be political every chance he gets. We forget many celebrities have a difficult time in public because they don't get the privacy and downtime that they need and seek. I don't pretend to know everything about him, but I think he gets a bad rap, which I think is undeserved, and not given enough credit for the things he accomplished.
Frank Mulligan
7:38 pm on Saturday, February 23, 2013
Folks, I moved from Medford to Malden. What a differance in Malden. Please be patient, things don't happen overnight. Malden is much better. 2 woeds in life. Time and Patient.
Leonardo DaVinci
9:29 am on Sunday, February 24, 2013
I'm taking a Mulligan on this favorite line of mine, "Rome wasn't built in a day".
Joe Mattick
1:17 pm on Tuesday, February 26, 2013
I doubt it is only five things. I think it is more than five and I think we deserve to know how much more and who isn't telling us. We don't need to know the why because we all know the why, to keep out blinders on and let the chaos continue for longer.