Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/1162395
NORTHSHOREMAG.COM 128 SEPTEMBER 2019 YOU GREW UP IN BEVERLY. HOW HAS THE CITY CHANGED OVER THE YEARS? While the population is similar, demographically there are more seniors and less children. Beverly's landscape has also changed a lot. When I was a kid there were lots of open spaces, and with the housing boom a lot of them were lost. We now work hard to protect these spaces. During my childhood, there was a shoe machine company with 10,000 employees that created many of Beverly's jobs. When they closed down, fortunately someone invested in that property. It's now a vibrant commercial center with almost 5,000 jobs. Some things that haven't changed are the love that people have for the community, the distinct neighborhoods, and how Beverly is a great community to make a life in. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE CHALLENGES FACING BEVERLY TODAY? One of the big challenges is how to maintain what people love about the community while continuing to embrace growth and change. Our biggest challenges are housing costs and lack of available housing, and providing those housing growth opportunities while keeping the character of the community. We also have obligations in regard to climate change and becoming more environmentally sustainable. YOU HAVE BEEN MAYOR SINCE 2014; WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS FOR THE CITY? The overarching value is the long- term livability of the community. Some of the key things we're looking for are to be sustainable environmentally; we spend time and energy on that. We've made a commitment to complete a climate action plan by the end of next year, and we are making strides on reducing our municipal uses of energy. I am also always looking to improve our school system—I was a teacher for ten years myself— and provide our kids with the best opportunities we can. WHO ARE SOME OF THE PEOPLE SHAPING THE COMMUNITY TODAY? The neighborhood organizations have always had a strong influence on the community, as well as the school community and many dedicated people who volunteer on different city boards. We have a lot of people who have taken the plunge into trying to build businesses in Beverly, and we try to be incredibly respectful and supportive of that. PHOTOGRAPH BY DOUG LEVY SEPT 2019 C O M M U N I T Y Q & A GETTING TO KNOW THE NORTH SHORE MICHAEL P. CAHILL Beverly Mayor INTERVIEW BY LAUREN GRUBER