Daniel Bianchi was sworn in Monday morning as the city's 35th mayor.
The crowd in the City Council Chambers spilled into the hallway for the inauguration.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new mayor has taken office.
Daniel Bianchi became the 35th mayor to be sworn into office during a Monday morning ceremony. The City Council, with five new members, all took their oaths and elected Kevin Sherman as City Council president. Jonathan Lothrop will be the vice president.
A crowd that overflowed into the hallway outside of the City Council Chambers and included many local government officials — such as U.S. Rep. John Olver, state Sen. Benjamin Downing, D-Pittsfield, and state Reps. Paul Mark, D-Peru, and Tricia Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield, — watched as the city welcomed its first new mayor in eight years.
Bianchi takes over for James Ruberto, who did not run for re-election, after edging out Peter Marchetti in the November election.
Bianchi used his inaugural address to pledge his support for his "plan for Pittsfield" that includes reviewing the city charter, fighting crime, supporting education and supporting small businesses. Bianchi said by creating a government that includes more involved residents and by working with neighboring municipalities, the city will thrive under his administration.
"I believe in aggressive economic development. I believe in the highest educational standards for our children and not one weakened by crime," Bianchi said. "Today, I am asking everyone in our community to roll up our sleeve and give me call and help out to achieve these goals and move the city forward."
Bianchi said he collected phone numbers and business cards of hundreds of residents who are willing to help out by join committees or taking on other city roles. As for crime, Bianchi said people should be "outraged" that they have to "share the streets with violent drug dealers." Citizens need to use that outrage as fuel to "take it to them."
Kevin Sherman was elected as City Council president.
Economic development needs to be taken on a countywide approach, he said. Bianchi said he recently met with North Adams Mayor Richard Alcombright, who told him that a manufacturer recently decided not to move its business to North Adams and instead go out of state. By sharing services and working together, those businesses will want to move to the county, whether it be Pittsfield, North Adams or Lenox, he said.
One of the first things to expect from Bianchi is his own appointment to the Pittsfield Economic Development Authority. PEDA is quasi-public organization attempting to fill large parcels of rehabilitated brownsfield lands left behind by General Electric. Those central Pittsfield parcels should be the homes of jobs the city wants for its future, he said.
In what could be perceived as a warning shot to PEDA, Bianchi said he will invest the energy and time toward filling those parcels with "jobs of the future" like life sciences, medical research, green technology and other "high-tech" industries. PEDA recently announced a deal for a shopping center.
"We shouldn't settle for second best or 'well, we can't do any better. There is no other choice.' We shouldn't settle for that," Bianchi said. "If it takes more time, more work, more research then we should commit the time and the resources to get to where we have to go."
However, Bianchi said he does not want to forget about the businesses are currently operating in the city. He wants to work with the major employers and set aside money from the GE fund to help smaller businesses, which he said are the "backbone" of the city.
On hand for the ceremony included state Reps. Paul Mark, D-Peru, Tricia Farley-Bouvier, D-Pittsfield, state Sen. Benjamin Downing, D-Pittsfield and U.S. Rep. John Olver, D-Amherst.
All of these plans, he said, will have to happen in a way that will not burden the taxpayers.
Bianchi concluded by citing Shakespeare in saying "action is eloquence" and the city's "eloquent actions" will help ensure the vitality of the city for generations to come.
"I feel privileged to be your mayor and to play a role in helping the city take its next sure steps into the future. Please join me in building this community," Bianchi said.
Newcomers Churchill Cotton, Barry Clairmont, Christopher Connell, Kevin J. Morandi, Anthony J. Simonelli join the City Council with incumbents Melissa Mazzeo, Paul J. Capitanio, John Krol, Christine Yon, Sherman and Lothrop.
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Good luck to the new Mayor. I can only hope that Dan continues to move the City of Pittsfield forward, while embracing the downtown arts and cultural endeavors that were the hallmark of Mayor Ruberto! Pittsfield has turned the corner and we need to keep things moving forward, not backwards!
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