Mayor addresses campus concerns
Stephanie Phillips
Issue date: 2/3/10 Section: News
Portsmouth Mayor Jane Murray has taken it upon herself to shake up the city and make changes that will possibly rejuvenate the area. But where does SSU fit in? Will Portsmouth ever be a college town or continue to be just a town with a college in it?
"The issue on working together on what the city needs to become is kind of the envisioning process that the city needs to go through," Murray said. "At major universities this is always the discussion... how does the university relate to the city or the town relates to the university? Being so close to downtown, Shawnee plays a very vital role in our revitalization and growth."
With more dorms built and more students attending Shawnee, the university faces more and more problems including congestion around the Third Street area.
"I discussed Shawnee's request to have that street be closed and we're going to be reviewing what we can do about that," Mayor Murray said. "We have to look at what the university's needs are and what the community's needs are. There has to be a balance."
The Police Department directs the flow of traffic when there is an event at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts to prevent collisions and confusion. Murray plans to evade this process and ultimately void traffic through Third Street by the route of Gay Street.
Murray also plans to work with students who have plans of entrepreneurship in the Portsmouth area.
"We are looking at the opportunity to help our student entrepreneurs; they're the life blood of any community, they are the lifeblood of any business across the country," she said.
With the economy fumbling in recession it is hard to find the medium to build a brand or business. Murray plans to provide more technical assistance to small business owners.
"We're looking at developing an operating line of credit through our small business revolving loan fund, an operating line of credit really provides that cash flow," Murray said. "The operating line of credit is set up for loans for businesses that are higher risk. It will also provide students with the impenitence to create their own business."
"The issue on working together on what the city needs to become is kind of the envisioning process that the city needs to go through," Murray said. "At major universities this is always the discussion... how does the university relate to the city or the town relates to the university? Being so close to downtown, Shawnee plays a very vital role in our revitalization and growth."
With more dorms built and more students attending Shawnee, the university faces more and more problems including congestion around the Third Street area.
"I discussed Shawnee's request to have that street be closed and we're going to be reviewing what we can do about that," Mayor Murray said. "We have to look at what the university's needs are and what the community's needs are. There has to be a balance."
The Police Department directs the flow of traffic when there is an event at the Vern Riffe Center for the Arts to prevent collisions and confusion. Murray plans to evade this process and ultimately void traffic through Third Street by the route of Gay Street.
Murray also plans to work with students who have plans of entrepreneurship in the Portsmouth area.
"We are looking at the opportunity to help our student entrepreneurs; they're the life blood of any community, they are the lifeblood of any business across the country," she said.
With the economy fumbling in recession it is hard to find the medium to build a brand or business. Murray plans to provide more technical assistance to small business owners.
"We're looking at developing an operating line of credit through our small business revolving loan fund, an operating line of credit really provides that cash flow," Murray said. "The operating line of credit is set up for loans for businesses that are higher risk. It will also provide students with the impenitence to create their own business."
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