Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua hit a number of positive notes in his inaugural address Monday night. Now, it's up to the mayor to turn those fine words into reality.
Taking office as the state's first elected Latino mayor, Lantigua said that was merely a coincidence. At the end of his term in office, he'd rather be known as the best mayor the city ever had.
Lantigua faces some formidable challenges to earn that title. Lawrence is a fiscal disaster, facing a $17 million budget shortfall this year and perhaps as much again in the coming year. Gov. Deval Patrick has proposed allowing Lawrence to borrow up to $35 million to get its financial house in order.
But the money comes with a catch — a state overseer in City Hall and the threat of a state takeover if the budget is not balanced by 2011.
Avoiding that fate is Lantigua's first responsibility.
Lantigua frankly acknowledged the city's many problems beyond the budget deficit — the highest unemployment rate in Massachusetts, rising home foreclosures, a spike in crime and a poorly performing school system.
Lantigua said his success in battling them depends on all Lawrence residents.
He said that if 70 percent of the city is Latino, 70 percent of the city's trash is "our trash."
"And we need to clean it up," he said.
Lantigua called on all residents to take action to improve the city, whether by sweeping up in front of their homes and businesses or helping an elderly person next door.
But the biggest problem facing Lawrence, Lantigua said, is a lack of confidence and trust in government.
Restoring that trust may be Lantigua's toughest challenge yet. The new mayor has begun with a clean sweep of City Hall, replacing many of former Mayor Michael Sullivan's department heads with his own people.
But it remains to be seen if these new appointments have the skills and competence necessary to provide the city with the leadership it needs. And will the mayor be willing to abandon a political ally if he or she proves not up to the job?
He'll have to be if he's serious about providing the change Lawrence so desperately needs.
