MAKING HIS PITCH
Kim outlines priorities, accomplishments in State of City address
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> Mayor Ron Kim delivered his second State of the City address, reflecting on the past year’s accomplishments and looking ahead to the future.
The evening began with brief opening remarks from City of Saratoga Springs Supervisor Tara Gaston, who noted this was her last opportunity to participate in a State of the City as she will not be seeking re-election next year. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited and a performance was given by the city’s poet laureate Joseph Bruchac III.
Before Kim’s speech, U.S. Rep. Paul Tonko (D-Amsterdam), who represents the 20th Congressional District which includes all of Saratoga County, spoke about the state of the city and county from his perspective.
“This has been an interesting time in government,” Tonko remarked, noting that the pandemic created many challenges for those in office.
Tonko spoke about the work he had done in the last year, continuing to secure funding to keep businesses open and communities afloat. Acquired funding includes $7.7 million to the city as part of the Rescue Plan for COVID-related community aid, the Restaurant Restoration program, and the Shuttered Vendors program. Each aid package delivered valuable funding to prevent local businesses, artists, and community organizations from having to close their doors.
Tonko stated that during this time, he was working closely with the city to ensure needs were being met, stating, “It has been a treasure to work in partnership with Mayor Kim.”
Now in his second year as mayor, Kim, the city’s first Asian-American
to hold the office, began his address by sharing how he had recently celebrated Lunar New Year. Kim explained that 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit and has been labeled as “a year of hope.”
“As I begin my second year in office and look back at what we’ve accomplished, I believe the community can look forward to a year of hope,” Kim stated.
In his address, Kim talked about City Council meeting the goals he had set last year to create a community focused on transparency, accountability, and infrastructure. He described budget plans and project proposals that were easily available to the public, noting how every City Commissioner was on board with his goals.
“Each department has stood united in my goal of transparency and accountability,” Kim said.
Kim used the Nov. 20 police-involved shooting on Broadway as a key example of accountability. He pointed out the speed with which the City Council responded to the flood of speculation and rumor on social media by releasing body cam footage to provide hard evidence of what had really happened.
Kim praised other cities for doing the same thing in subsequent similar incidents, stating that such actions show that a city has nothing to hide.
Kim spent the second half of the address talking about the city’s infrastructure progress. He began by announcing that a longtime city goal was about to be met — thanks in part to federal funding secured by Tonko, and in part to a hard push by Commissioner of Safety James Montagnino, construction of a third fire station is underway.
“If Commissioner Montagnino hadn’t been elected, that station wouldn’t be being constructed right now, I guarantee you that,” Kim remarked.
Other infrastructure progress and goals for the coming year include applying for water and sewer grants, the Missing Sidewalks Initiative which Commissioner of Finance Minita Sanghvi has already set aside a $1 million budget, a destination playground in Veterans Memorial Park, rehabilitation of the Waterfront Park, and beautification of the city’s outdoor dining areas.
Kim was quick to point out that so much progress would not be possible without public support, thanking city residents for helping the City Council to identify what projects to prioritize.
“None of this is possible without the participation of the public,” Kim said.
Related to Kim’s infrastructure goals are his initiatives for affordable housing in the city, which have two primary goals — make it possible for people to live where they work, and addressing homelessness in Saratoga Springs.
Kim announced that an affordable housing project will be built on Tate Lane across from the library.
When completed it will have about 200 housing units. He also called for the formation of a task force for homelessness, with the ultimate goal of the construction of a long-term homeless shelter.
Kim praised local restauranteur Steve Sullivan for being a major advocate for affordable housing in the city.
“It’s going to be expensive, it’s going to be hard, but this city should not shirk its responsibility,” Kim said. “The public has asked us to lift up our eyes and take notice.”
The final topic Kim discussed was the long-term goal for Saratoga Springs to become a carbon-neutral city. He mentioned that the mayor’s office had just obtained a Carbon Smart grant that will be used to evaluate the city’s carbon footprint as it moves towards ways to eliminate carbon emissions.
Kim called out Rayna Caldwell, chair of the city’s Climate Smart Task Force, as a driving force behind the initiatives to research and implement green technologies. He also noted that “Commissioners Sanghvi and Golub are leading the way with these technologies.”
Kim concluded his address by commenting, “The city has much to hope for and much to look forward to. We will have our challenges, but we can overcome them if we have the spirit and the passion to be like Steve Sullivan, like Rayna Caldwell, like all the people who continue to fight for the city.”