One Year of the Nicholson Administration

January 3rd marks the one-year anniversary of my inauguration as the City of Lynn's 59th Mayor.

In 2022, we took bold steps together and achieved significant accomplishments and milestones, as well as meeting several of our goals for the year. From the beginning, I have been committed to providing forward-thinking leadership and inclusive growth for all Lynners. In working towards these goals, we set a path for advancing equitable solutions and community sustainability for the City.

This progress would not be possible without our amazing team in the Mayor’s Office and throughout the City, our close collaboration with the City Council, School Committee, state and federal delegation, and our partnership with community and business leaders.

It is an honor to serve as your Mayor and I am excited to enter 2023 with an ambitious agenda to continue to drive the City forward. All that we have accomplished would not have been possible without the support of our community. Thank you to all who helped make this year so special!

Here's some of our accomplishments.

Economic Development

Awarded “platinum” readiness designation by MassBIO, its highest level of readiness to host biotech companies

Development Team has seen projects worth almost $500 million in investment, at varying stages in the development process. An example includes the 811 Lynnway, which contributed $3M to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund for 218 units.

Conducted a successful Life Sciences developer tour in the summer

Passed a zoning amendment to encourage industrial growth

Awarded $3 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding for small business grants

Attracted manufacturer, Soliyarn, proposing to create 100 jobs, and established a local hiring preference and workforce development partnership with LVTI

Housing

Passed an inclusionary zoning proposal

Increased tax relief programs for seniors

Created an Affordable Housing Trust Fund and financially seeded it as part of a major investment in housing through the City’s ARPA funds

Implemented rental registration, with more than 80% of units registered. The purpose is to ensure landlords maintain appropriate and livable conditions for tenants.

Deeply affordable housing projects in the pipeline including the former Marshall Middle School site, School Street lot, and others through public-private partnerships

Education

Selected Magnolia Park as the site for the new Pickering Middle School

Opened a new high school through Early College Partnership at North Shore Community College

Kicked off elementary school facilities master plan process

Launched a Superintendent Search Committee and selected a permanent Superintendent for the upcoming school year

Added several modular classrooms throughout the City to address class sizes

Historic investment in social-emotional needs in schools, hiring dozens of social workers and clinicians , and achieved a recommended student ratio of 1:250

Reached successful contracts with educators including general wage increases of 33% for all paraprofessionals and increases of 13.5% for teachers and therapists. Contract also updated the teacher assignment process with the goal of improving continuity of student experience.

Infrastructure

Opened a brand new Senior Center, implemented meal service, and acquired a van for transportation

Targeted litter with new investments in infrastructure and personnel

Completed reconstruction of Lower Washington Street and currently overseeing more than $100M in roadway reconstruction in state and federal money

Collaborating on a plan to address King’s Beach with the King's Beach Steering Committee

Advocated for train service/mitigation with the MBTA during station reconstruction and for ferry service from Lynn to Boston

Came to agreement with several stakeholders to build and fund the Harbor Park, a 33-acre park on the waterfront over a capped landfill

Planning & Access

Completed assessment of current conditions for the comprehensive planning process, Vision Lynn, and hosted community festival: Lynnside Out, to connect the community with City Hall

Rolled out an interpretation team at City Hall (Arabic, Khmer, and Spanish interpreters available), installed bilingual signs on all floors of City Hall, purchased a hundred simultaneous interpretation devices, and offered a Spanish language class for City Hall staff

Launched a workforce development strategic plan with Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC) with education, business, and labor representation

Selected consultant to redesign the City and Lynn Public Schools websites

Launched efforts with new consultants and a broad range of stakeholders for an unarmed crisis response team

Finances

Achieved a balanced budget with a path forward for the City in challenging financial times.

Ran open, transparent process for two rounds of ARPA allocations and made more than $60 million of investments in priorities such as parks, roads, housing, healthcare, small business, early education, public safety, workforce development, and food security

City's bond rating improved from neutral to a positive outlook