On Feb. 12, Robert Corradino, the mayor of the City of Oswego, gave his first state of the city address. He began with a recap of the county’s accomplishments in 2023, including the grand opening of the new $10 million William S. Cahill Pier, purchasing and installing a new state-of-the art-drone system, the creation of a new Advisory Committee with the Port Authority and establishing new businesses, notably Texas Roadhouse and Hobby Lobby.
Once Corradino finished naming the county’s accomplishments, he listed his four main priorities for 2024, centered on the pillars of infrastructure, economic development, public safety and tourism.
Corradino’s focus on infrastructure includes evaluating the current state of roads, bridges, sidewalks, water and sewer systems and public facilities. Corradino wants to maintain and upgrade these city components and there have already been steps taken to do so. In January, the city began a $25.6 million Energy Performance contract with Siemens that will reduce energy costs, increase revenues, energy upgrades to city owned buildings, replace city street lights with LED fixtures and improve the local High Dam facility.
Corradino also plans to replace the current police station with the Shapiro Automotive property on West First Street, as he believes that the current building is too small and inadequate for law enforcement and first responders.
Lastly, with the $2.5 million grant from the state of New York, Corradino plans to remove the asphalt, add new drainage pipes, and install new vehicle and pedestrian crossing signals and lights at West Utica Street and Erie Street.
Economic development is the county’s ability to attract and retain businesses, create jobs, increase the tax base and secure grants. Corradino also wishes to create a loan program to help new businesses or current businesses expand into the county. These established businesses would create new job opportunities as well as a means for younger residents to spend their money locally. The Assessment Equity Update Project is on the horizon of being finished, which would be beneficial to the community as getting a more detailed assessment of property values would act as a catalyst toward attracting more people and businesses to Oswego County.
For Corradino, public safety is about protecting and serving the city’s residents, reducing and preventing crime and enhancing the quality of life. The city has and will continue to invest in the police and fire department by hiring new police officers and firefighters, as well as by purchasing updated equipment and vehicles.
Corradino also explained the benefits of the new DJI Docks drone program established by former Mayor Billy Barlow in 2023. These drones will help firefighters more quickly and safely put out fires while simultaneously assisting police officers patrol the riverfront and locate suspects during an arrest.
Tourism is also at the forefront of Corradino’s future objectives. Corradino revealed that the Common Counsel approved $100,000 for TV ads in 2024 to promote the county to prospective visitors. Another way of promoting the county and extending its reach is through the reactivation of the county’s Facebook page, which will be used to promote upcoming events, including the Eclipse block party on April 7, the Tiki Boat Sunset Tours that open on April 15 and the Lake Ontario Waterfront Festival. Corradino ultimately wants to show the population outside of the county that Oswego has a lot to offer.
Corradino ended his address by expressing his gratitude to the people of Oswego. He thanked them for giving him the opportunity to serve them as well as putting their trust and support in him as mayor.
“Let us all continue to make Oswego a great place to live, work and have fun,” Corradino said.
Photo via: City of Oswego
