Mayor Lisa Wong inherited a big job when she won Fitchburg’s mayoral election last year. An old mill town with closed factories, a crime problem and a record number of foreclosures are just some of her worries.
The 28-year old Wong has a plan and Radio Boston heads to Fitchburg to find out what it is.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zdavF62bmvY[/youtube]
Listen to the full show:
Plus, in our web specials:Read studies about revitalizing old mill cities, see videos from Fitchburg and Lowell.
Radio Boston: Fitchburg Rising?
Airdate: February 8, 2008
- Guests:
Fitcbhurg Mayor Lisa Wong,recently elected to her office, she’s promising to turn things around. She hosted our webchat, you can read its transcript here.
Robert Forrant, Professor of Social and Economic Development at UMASS-Lowell
Somerville Mayor Joseph Curtatone, He’s also President of the Massachusetts Mayors Association.
Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzerella
To find out more about efforts to revive old mill cities across the state check out these two studies:
Mass Inc.’s - Reconnecting Massachusetts Gateway Cities
MIT’s - Voices from Forgotten Cities
Lowell, Massachusetts: After the Renaissance
Once held as the national model for urban revitalization, Lowell, Massachusetts is entering a new phase. Old mill buildings have been revamped, the downtown is thriving, but the job base is thin. The overall economy is still fragile.
Radio Boston’s Meghna Chakrabarti spoke with Lowell City Manager Bernard Lynch about the city’s next steps.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jPIlaCrJcMI[/youtube]
