Board of Aldermen — State-of-the-City-Address Page 4
February 16, 2016
downtown. | know that by working closely together with these institutions that we can accomplish a lot by
working together.
In Nashua education has always been an effort on the part of all community members and I’m proud to support
all of the people who make our school system and our higher education system successful. | hope that we
continue to recognize the outstanding achievements of our educational professionals and volunteers. We have
an extraordinary educational community in this city, and we should never take them for granted.
Finally, another critical component of our economic development efforts is our downtown. Fortunately we have
many inspiring people who are devoted to Nashua’s downtown. Paul Shea of Great American Downtown,
James Vayo, another imaginative young member of our community, Marylou Blaisdell of DesignWorks, the
Ruddock family of Riverwalk, Jessisa DePontbriand of JaJabelle’s, Billy and Chris Fokas of Martha’s, and
many more people. These downtown leaders are shaping a culture that will bring newcomers downtown to live
and engage. If we want to attract young people and empty-nesters to move into downtown, we must offer a
mix of market rate and affordable housing opportunities. Fortunately, many of these developments are already
occurring. The Apartments at Cotton Mill Square opened in 2014. The Brady-Sullivan conversion of the
Franklin Street mill and the Renaissance Downtowns project on Bridge Street will bring a wide variety of
people into downtown to live. | am committed to working with developers to bring additional residential
opportunities into the heart of our city. Our downtown will also be strengthened through a dynamic culture of
the visual and performing arts. Organizations such as City Arts Nashua, Symphony NH, Peacock Players,
Great American Downtown, the Riverwalk Cafe, Friends of the Library and many others have played a role in
expanding the presence of arts and culture in downtown Nashua. We must also support our performing arts
organizations by improving the performance space options in our city. The Nashua Arts Commission hired
consultant Duncan Webb to do a feasibility study for a new performing arts center in downtown Nashua. The
results of this study will provide a roadmap for the best process for sizing, funding, and establishing a city
performing arts center. We are looking forward to the results of the study. The addition of a performing arts
center and more housing together will revitalize downtown and lead to future economic development
opportunities.
We cannot talk about the state of our city without mentioning our fire and police departments. Our fire
department is saving lives every day. Firefighters administered 169 doses of Narcan in the last two-thirds of
last year and they are continuing with this life-saving work this year. Our fire department responds so quickly
and effectively to fire calls that most fires never get going. Chief Andrew Lavoie at the police department is
doing a great job in making sure that the department is building a relationship of trust and understanding with
our minority communities. The police department is also on the front lines of the fight against the heroin trade
in Nashua. Our narcotics unit and the POP unit track down and arrest heroin dealers and all officers work to
stop drug-related crime. | truly believe we have the best fire and police departments in the State of New
Hampshire, something of which | am very proud.
In the coming years we must focus on our public parks and rivers. Mine Falls Park and Greeley Park need to
be pristine and our smaller parks the same. The city now has Dr. Madeline Mineau as a river specialist. | have
asked her to focus on making new uses of our river waterfront and even the canal which has been unused for
too long.
In talking about the state of our city we need to talk about some of our challenges, the most striking of which is
our public health crisis surrounding the use of heroin and opioid addiction. Families across Nashua have been
impacted by this terrible epidemic. Our EMS and Fire Rescue teams are responding to overdose calls on a
daily basis. There were thirty-nine ODs including two deaths in Nashua in January. Our treatment centers are
full to their capacity and their waiting lists are growing. There is high demand for a strong recovery community
here in Nashua, where those who have struggled with substance abuse can unite in hope. There is also a
demand for stronger prevention efforts to educate parents and kids regarding the dangers and signs of
substance abuse. Last month, | established a task force of individuals and organizations whose experience
and expertise can help streamline city efforts to deal with the crisis of heroin. We can increase the
effectiveness of our efforts by working together and communicating regularly. The Mayor’s Opioid Task Force
