Mayor’s Desk: The Best is Yet To Be

Decisions made as Mayor are not just for today; they shape the future for years to come. While there is often a temptation in politics to prioritize what’s politically expedient or cater to individual interests, I strive to avoid that. As I said in my 2nd Inaugural Address, “what is right isn’t always popular, and what’s politically expedient isn’t often right.” Much like the sentiment in Grow Old With Me, my commitment is to serve the whole city of Gloucester, making decisions that prioritize the most good for the most people over the long term, with hope and optimism that, as the song says, "the best is yet to be."

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Letter: Why Verga is voting “yes” on 3A

This law was passed in 2021 and, shortly after taking office in 2022, I shared my concerns in a letter to Michael Kennealy, then Secretary of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, emphasizing the importance of aligning multi-family districts with a community’s long-term planning goals. I also noted that a community’s unique features should be considered when determining what is "reasonable" for each community, because I felt the draft guidelines did not provide the proper tools for communities to do so.

With the substantial input and involvement of Gloucester’s citizens, our Planning Board worked to develop zoning changes that addressed these concerns. Last October, the City Council approved these changes with a 7-0 vote.

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Mayor's race off to an early start

“Our record speaks for itself, but my work isn’t done,” Verga said. “With the team we now have in place: our managers and our frontline employees across every department — schools, public safety, public works, all of them— I’m successful because they’re talented and committed, and they know what they’re doing.” - Mayor Greg Verga