[RunD1987]

Originally Posted by Siberiaboy

What is the car property tax cap? I didn’t know those were capped

What about doing more stuff on the Connecticut River? Canoe and kayak and water taxis and Uber water taxis to free for all with a tax to the state for rentals?

Mill Rate is 35 on cars...So if in a City with a 65 Mill Rate don't pay the 65 Mill Rate.

It is probably impossible. Would be awesome if they can clean up and open the Naugatuck River through Waterbury.

[Hollytree]

Originally Posted by Stylo

Crime isn’t caused by racial diversity. It’s caused by economic conditions, e.g. urban poverty. Which Portland lacks.

I've been to Portland many times and have seen many many homeless, drug addicted/down and out types hanging around the perimeter of the touristy downtown area. It has crime and urban poverty! Anyone who thinks it's not there is in for a bit of a shock.

I'm not saying this to criticize Portland, any medium to large city has poverty and crime. Show me one that doesn't.

[BPt111]

Originally Posted by RunD1987

Mill Rate is 35 on cars...So if in a City with a 65 Mill Rate don't pay the 65 Mill Rate.

It is probably impossible. Would be awesome if they can clean up and open the Naugatuck River through Waterbury.

CT should get rid of car taxes increase sales tax to 6.85%, lower state income tax, tolls be used only for state transportation funding there should be lockbox and someone track the funds, 0.50% tax rate on for cities across the state on certain items to offset some cost.

[RunD1987]

Originally Posted by BPt111

CT should get rid of car taxes increase sales tax to 6.85%, lower state income tax, tolls be used only for state transportation funding there should be lockbox and someone track the funds, 0.50% tax rate on for cities across the state on certain items to offset some cost.

More of
Car taxes in 10 years should shift to the State. Money collected is then distributed to Cities/Towns based off percentage of CT residents residing in the City or Town
Income tax in 2 years dropped to a: $0-$1,000 made in a year is tax exempt; $1,000-$10,000 taxed at 2% in a year; $10,000-$60,000 4%; $60,000 - + 8%. In 12 years: $0-$1,000 made in a year is tax exempt; $1,000-$60,000 taxed at 2%; $60,000 - + 4%.
Lower sales tax in 2 years to 4%. In 8 years 2%. In 12 years do away with sales tax.
Raise gas tax to 65 to 70 cents. 12 years lower to 20 cents. 16 years to 15 cents.
Create 5 bridge tolls in the State that operate Monday through Friday 6AM to 6PM charge $1.

[JayCT]

Please return to the topic of the OP which is attractive areas of Connecticut cities. JayCT, Moderator

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by Siberiaboy

Connecticut should focus on what it ranks in (its New England style towns) and forget fixing its cities. It’s fooling nobody the money going to fix Hartford is an absolute waste. For CT cities just do the bare minimum and NOBODY will notice the difference

That is not true at all. The cities are very important to the state, especially as employees and employers prefer to work/live in cities more and more nowadays. We can't fully rely on NYC.

Stamford, Norwalk, and New Haven in particular have potential for a lot of growth and should be nurtured. Hartford is no slouch economically, but has a lot of improvement needed ahead to attract new employers and keep current ones. To turn a back to them in favor of suburbs would be crazy. They generate a lot of the jobs that keep people in suburbs employed.

Even Bridgeport is showing signs of getting better, with many of the blown-out industrial buildings visible from 95 being rehabbed.

[Siberiaboy]

Originally Posted by RunD1987

Mill Rate is 35 on cars...So if in a City with a 65 Mill Rate don't pay the 65 Mill Rate.

It is probably impossible. Would be awesome if they can clean up and open the Naugatuck River through Waterbury.

What is the main use of the Connecticut River besides the view of it?

[BPt111]

Originally Posted by Stylo

That is not true at all. The cities are very important to the state, especially as employees and employers prefer to work/live in cities more and more nowadays. We can't fully rely on NYC.

Stamford, Norwalk, and New Haven in particular have potential for a lot of growth and should be nurtured. Hartford is no slouch economically, but has a lot of improvement needed ahead to attract new employers and keep current ones. To turn a back to them in favor of suburbs would be crazy. They generate a lot of the jobs that keep people in suburbs employed.

Even Bridgeport is showing signs of getting better, with many of the blown-out industrial buildings visible from 95 being rehabbed.

Stamford is only attractive city with positive growth New Haven is improving it Downtown core, East Rock, Wooster Square are good too. Every time you pass Stamford or drive around the city it seem there new cranes everywhere.

[RunD1987]

Originally Posted by Siberiaboy

What is the main use of the Connecticut River besides the view of it?

IDK. Richmond did it. The River runs underneath parts of Waterbury. Actually right next to the YMCA. It be pretty impossible and probably waste of money LOL.

Be cool to see Waterbury have this City with a open clean river to kayak through the City with a bike/running path to Torrington to Derby. All the blight and empty buildings in Waterbury raised. Replaced with parks or commercial/income restricted residential property.

Then by the Old GE building.
Rebuild the train station. Connect it to the Old GE Building which would be an outdoor outlet mall that leads to a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods. Then high end apartments that leads into a MLS Soccer Stadium.

Redo the mall make the two plazas connect. Not sure if the Brass Factory is operational can turn those into apartments or not.

Homeless Housing from St. Mary's Hospital to the Morris Foundation.

Close the Green to public traffic only buses. Encourage restaurants and shops to set up there. Create a community police booth. Update the bus station as well.

Improve the Library.

[Stylo]

Originally Posted by RunD1987

IDK. Richmond did it. The River runs underneath parts of Waterbury. Actually right next to the YMCA. It be pretty impossible and probably waste of money LOL.

Be cool to see Waterbury have this City with a open clean river to kayak through the City with a bike/running path to Torrington to Derby. All the blight and empty buildings in Waterbury raised. Replaced with parks or commercial/income restricted residential property.

Then by the Old GE building.
Rebuild the train station. Connect it to the Old GE Building which would be an outdoor outlet mall that leads to a Trader Joe's or Whole Foods. Then high end apartments that leads into a MLS Soccer Stadium.

Redo the mall make the two plazas connect. Not sure if the Brass Factory is operational can turn those into apartments or not.

Homeless Housing from St. Mary's Hospital to the Morris Foundation.

Close the Green to public traffic only buses. Encourage restaurants and shops to set up there. Create a community police booth. Update the bus station as well.

Improve the Library.

Why would any of that happen though? There's no economic vitality or momentum in the city. The taxes are already extremely high, so who would pay for it? The state? With what payback?

Yes, I could see making that investment in cities we have with promise like Stamford or New Haven, but not Waterbury.