Senator Chris Murphy took a tour of two New London areas this afternoon, promising to be an advocate for the city during his time in Congress.
Murphy said in a press release that he is meeting with city and town officials across the state to learn how best to advocate for them in the Senate. He said the New London area has a strong concentration of federal priorities between the Coast Guard, Navy, and Electric Boat facilities on the Thames River.
"There are very few cities in the Northeast that matter more to the federal government than New London," said Murphy.
Murphy met with Mayor Daryl Finizio before visiting Fort Trumbull State Park and Belden Street with officials from the Office of Planning and Development and Renaissance City Development Association.
"We're very confident we have a partner for our city in the Senate and for southeastern Connecticut," said Finizio.
The visit to Fort Trumbull included an update on several ideas and grant applications the city is pursuing for Environmental Protection Agency cleanups and assessments as well as renovation of downtown buildings, the startup of a water taxi service, and the establishment of a Thames Maritime Heritage Park which could later be managed by the National Park Service.
The Belden Street visit toured a neighborhood where houses have been upgraded through the joint efforts of Eastern Connecticut Housing Opportunities, H.O.P.E., and House New London. This stop also discussed initiatives through the Department of Housing and Urban Development in areas such as lead abatement and neighborhood stabilization grants.
