THIS, MICHAEL. IT DOES MEAN SO WE ARE HERE ON SECOND STREET IN DOWNTOWN HARRISBURG, AND I WANT YOU TO TAKE A LOOK. TELL ME, WHAT DO YOU SEE? WHO DO YOU SEE? WELL, YOU SEE NOBODY BECAUSE NOBODY IS DOWN HERE. NOW, GRANTED, IT IS A TUESDAY NIGHT. HOWEVER, MARIJUANA WILLIAMS WANTS TO CHANGE THAT. SHE WANTS TO BRING PEOPLE BACK, REVITALIZE NOT ONLY THE DOWNTOWN, BUT MODERNIZE THE CITY AS A WHOLE. WE WANT TO PAVE AS MANY STREETS AS WE CAN. STARTING IN MARCH, THE NEWLY REELECTED MAYOR OF HARRISBURG IS MAKING IT HER MISSION TO REVITALIZE THE CAPITAL CITY. WE HAVE A VAST ECONOMIC GROWTH BY PARTNERING WITH SMALL BUSINESS, CLEARING BLIGHT, SUPPORTING MAJOR REDEVELOPMENT EFFORTS, AND ATTRACTING NEW INVESTMENT THAT REFLECTS THE NEEDS OF OUR RESIDENTS, WILLIAMS SAYS. THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, THE ADMINISTRATION WILL PRIORITIZE PROJECTS INVOLVING INFRASTRUCTURE SUCH AS FIXING ROADS, BRIDGES AND STREETS, AS WELL AS UPDATING PARKS. WE MUST REPAIR, REINFORCE AND MODERNIZE THE SYSTEMS THAT SUPPORT EVERYTHING ELSE. WE HOPE TO ACHIEVE ITS SLOW DOWN HERE. IT’S A IT’S A LITTLE TOO SLOW. A BIG PART OF THAT PLAN IS TACKLING THE REVITALIZATION OF SECOND STREET. WE NEED SOME MORE PEOPLE DOWN HERE. WE NEED TO BRING THE BUSINESSES BACK. MORE PEOPLE, MORE BUSINESS, MORE MONEY. KAYLA CABRERA, MANAGER OF THE POPULAR PIZZA SHOP NICO, SAYS SHE’S ALL FOR NEW AND FRESH IDEAS, BUT HAS SOME THOUGHTS OF HER OWN. BRING SOME STATE WORKERS BACK IN. LUNCHTIME IS GREAT FOR ALL BUSINESSES DOWN HERE, YOU KNOW, IN AND OUT, BACK TO THEIR SPOT. GIVES BUSINESSES MORE REVENUE AND THE PARKING, PLEASE. THE PARKING. MAYBE MAKE IT CHEAPER. MAKE IT SOONER. I DON’T KNOW, BUT THE PARKING IS VERY SERIOUS. SO ALSO, OUR PHOTOGRAPHER JALEN TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE TWO PEOPLE BEHIND ME IN THAT INTRO. SO THEY CAME WALKING DOWN. BUT THE POINT OF WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO SAY IS THAT THERE’S VERY LITTLE PEOPLE DOWN HERE. AND AGAIN, THEY WANT TO BRING MORE PEOPLE DOWN. AND THE MAYOR SAYS SHE HOPES TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT WITH HER ADMINISTRATION IN THIS NEXT TERM. SHE HOPES TO START AGAIN REPAVING SOME OF THESE ROADS BY MARCH, AND SHE HOPES THE CITY WILL BE PATIENT AS THEY WALK THROUGH THAT PROCESS. REPORTING LIVE HERE I
Harrisburg mayor plans downtown revitalization to boost business
Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams is committed to revitalizing the city by modernizing infrastructure and attracting more people to the downtown area, starting with efforts to reclaim streets in March.Administration commitment “We want to reclaim as many streets as we can starting in March,” said Mayor Wanda Williams, who was recently re-elected.She emphasized her administration’s commitment to advancing economic growth by partnering with small businesses, reducing crime, supporting pantry development efforts, and attracting new investments that meet residents’ needs.Williams outlined her administration’s priorities for the next four years, which include infrastructure projects such as repairing roads, bridges, and streets, as well as updating parks.”We must repair, reinforce, and modernize the systems that support everything we hope to achieve,” she said.Vendor support and suggestions Kayla Cabrera, manager of Niko’s Pizza, expressed her support for the mayor’s plans, noting the current slow pace of business on Second Street.”It’s slow down here, it’s a little too slow,” she said. Cabrera believes that bringing more people downtown will benefit businesses. “We need some more people down here, we need to bring the businesses back, more people, more business, more money,” she said.Cabrera also suggested that bringing state workers back during lunchtime could boost revenue for local businesses.”Bring some state workers back in lunchtime, that’s great for all businesses down here—they’re in and out back to their spot, give some businesses more revenue,” she said.Additionally, she highlighted the need for improved parking solutions. “And the parking, please, the parking make it cheaper, make it sooner, I don’t know, but the parking is very serious down here,” Cabrera said.Mayor Williams acknowledged that the revitalization process will take time and urged residents to be patient.
Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams is committed to revitalizing the city by modernizing infrastructure and attracting more people to the downtown area, starting with efforts to reclaim streets in March.
Administration commitment
“We want to reclaim as many streets as we can starting in March,” said Mayor Wanda Williams, who was recently re-elected.
She emphasized her administration’s commitment to advancing economic growth by partnering with small businesses, reducing crime, supporting pantry development efforts, and attracting new investments that meet residents’ needs.
Williams outlined her administration’s priorities for the next four years, which include infrastructure projects such as repairing roads, bridges, and streets, as well as updating parks.
“We must repair, reinforce, and modernize the systems that support everything we hope to achieve,” she said.
Vendor support and suggestions
Kayla Cabrera, manager of Niko’s Pizza, expressed her support for the mayor’s plans, noting the current slow pace of business on Second Street.
“It’s slow down here, it’s a little too slow,” she said. Cabrera believes that bringing more people downtown will benefit businesses. “We need some more people down here, we need to bring the businesses back, more people, more business, more money,” she said.
Cabrera also suggested that bringing state workers back during lunchtime could boost revenue for local businesses.
“Bring some state workers back in lunchtime, that’s great for all businesses down here—they’re in and out back to their spot, give some businesses more revenue,” she said.
Additionally, she highlighted the need for improved parking solutions. “And the parking, please, the parking make it cheaper, make it sooner, I don’t know, but the parking is very serious down here,” Cabrera said.
Mayor Williams acknowledged that the revitalization process will take time and urged residents to be patient.