Junior lawmaker gives upbeat assessment of Lynn economy

By Thor Jourgensen -- The Daily Item
Friday, June 13, 2003
 

State Rep. Stephen Walsh, D-Lynn, waxed optimistic about the city's economic state after he was asked to fill in as keynote speaker for state Senate President Robert Travaglini, D-Boston, at the Chamber's annual spring outing.

Travaglini was presiding over the Senate budget debate on Beacon Hill and could not keep his speaking engagement.

Walsh, a first-term West Lynn and Nahant legislator who has spent barely six months on Beacon Hill, said he will push for a "modest" state income tax hike this year to ease cuts in the state budget.

But Walsh said Massachusetts' and Lynn's economic well-being depends on its ability to attract business.

He praised Chamber leaders and the city's economic development team for attracting new businesses, including the North Shore Spirit baseball team and the Mayo Group development company.

"Lynn is one of the few places that is still growing. People have put their money where their mouth is downtown."

His praise echoed similar words Chamber President Maura Lynch shared with her members. Lynch said the former Hotel Edison and manufacturing buildings on Willow and Mount Vernon Streets have undergone renovations or are slated for development thanks to local developers.

"This bucks the trend across the region and shows that Lynn is on the way back," Lynch said.

Lynch and Walsh both said that bringing Blue Line rapid transit service to Lynn will help the city match the downtown revival undertaken in Somerville.

In other business Thursday, the Chamber elected Alfred Goldstein, president of U.S. Plastics; North Shore Spirit representative Kevin Kelly; North Shore Community College President Wayne Burton and U First Day Spa owner Brenda Joy to its board of directors.

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