Q: How have you adjusted to this career change?
A: Serving as Mayor has been an honor. Everyday brings a new challenge and an opportunity to learn and grow. I have enjoyed getting to know our employees and the hard work that they do for our community. I made it a point to meet with each department and understand exactly how they operate and focus on how we can be constantly improving our services.
Q: How are things progressing with the Master Plan?
A: Brooklyn is in the midst of a revitalization. We have seen the completion of our City Center and have invested in updates to our parks and infrastructure. Our rebranding allows for us to put Brooklyn on the map with new city signage and a fresh look. Maintaining the integrity of our neighborhoods is also something we take pride in as we offer home grant programs for our residents. I am excited about the upcoming projects such as the new Brooklyn Public Library, hiring of additional personnel for our senior center and the continuous updating of our parks that will benefit the community.
Q: What do see as a Challenge for the City?
A: Maintaining the safety of our community is always important. As many cities see fewer applicants for their safety forces, we have been proactive in hiring police officers and firefighters and performing staffing assessments. We recently hired three police officers with plans to add four additional officers. We also added three firefighters to our fire department in May. Moving forward, we will continue seeking ways to enhance our safety forces.
Q: How is the City attracting new businesses to town?
A: Visiting with our business community has been inspiring. From homegrown small businesses to company world headquarters, we have a wonderful mix of businesses that support our city. Brooklyn is truly an ideal location to call home. Our business park at One American Road is just one example and is filled with new companies. By investing in our businesses, we invest in our community.
Q: On a personal level, how has your family adjusted to your new role?
A: My wife Christina and our two boys, Tanner and Judah love Brooklyn and are proud to call it our home. When this opportunity presented itself, I was grateful for my family’s support. I was fortunate to have a smooth transition into the role.
