New London leaders tout school and infrastructure investments in inaugural remarks

During inaugural remarks at the organizational meeting, council and city leaders reviewed recent capital investments and priorities for the coming term.

Council President John Satti listed several school projects and dollar figures as examples of recent investments and urged earlier, more frequent budget task force meetings and transparency from the Board of Education. "If your math is good, this equates to over a quarter billion dollars invested in our children and their future," he said in a summary of projects and totals quoted from the meeting.

Mayor Michael E. Pasro spoke next and framed the administration's goals around regaining financial stability, increasing housing and sustaining city services. The mayor described progress in bond rating improvements, expanded housing and transit-oriented development and said the administration aims to maintain services without raising property taxes.

Both speakers emphasized education funding, public safety staffing and continued downtown economic development as priorities for the new council term.