If you have met Mayor Lou Rosamilia, you know that he is committed to the city of Troy and the Rensselaer community. Whether it be welcoming the incoming class at Welcome Fest each August or speaking with students on campus and in the community, Mayor Rosamilia has been accessible and approachable while he has worked to move Troy forward.
As Mayor Rosamilia winds down his term in office, Director of Community and State Relations Chris Nolin had a chance to speak with him and reflect on his four years as mayor.
What are some of your most memorable accomplishments as mayor of Troy?
Since taking office in January 2012, I’ve had the privilege of overseeing a number of efforts that had a positive impact on our city and our communities. My administration has been committed to empowering our residents and neighborhoods by establishing several community improvement initiatives, including the Complete Streets initiative, composting, the street tree committee, historic preservation, and others. These resident-driven programs were investments in our communities that remain critical to reinvigorating our neighborhoods. In addition, funds available through the Community Development Block Grant program have been effective in improving parts of our city that have experienced stagnation and high vacancy rates.
Economic development has been a major priority of my administration during my four years at City Hall. Recently, Troy has been experiencing an economic renaissance. We’ve seen nearly 100 new businesses open their doors in the Collar City. Our historic downtown district continues to thrive and grow, while our burgeoning North Central neighborhood is undergoing a rebirth of its own.
Earlier this year, the city of Troy participated in the Mayor’s Challenge to End Veteran Homelessness, an initiative launched by the White House and First Lady Michelle Obama. I am incredibly proud to say that within one year, Troy and our community partners were able to identify all homeless veterans in our city, and worked to transition them all into temporary and permanent supportive housing.
Rensselaer is a part of the fabric of the city of Troy. What do you like most about having a university in your back yard?
Troy, in many ways, is a college town and I believe we have much to offer the students who chose to make Troy their home. Over the last four years, we have seen an influx of students exploring our downtown and waterfront, eating at our many incredible restaurants, shopping at our unique small businesses, and enjoying Troy. The students and young people who make Troy their home add life and vibrancy to the city, and I love seeing their presence here every day.
Rensselaer students are much more than just visitors. They are an intellectual asset that we want to retain in Troy. We must encourage their involvement in our community, to put down roots and work toward improving our city from the ground up.
You have been a Trojan for a long time. What should students see before they graduate?
There is an incredible amount of history in Troy, evident in our architecture and the people who made the Collar City their home, including author Herman Melville and “Uncle Sam” Wilson. I would encourage students to explore the historic structures in our downtown and along our vibrant waterfront corridor. During the Industrial Revolution, the city of Troy was one of the richest cities in the country. It was during this time we earned our nickname “The Collar City” from our distinction as home to the nation’s premiere shirt collar manufacturers. Many of these once-vacant buildings are now home to companies with dozens of employees living and working in Troy. Our industrial past is the key to our revitalized future, and seeing this economic growth firsthand illustrates what is ahead for our city.
Are you a sports fan, and what is your favorite sports team at Rensselaer?
Athletic competition was a big part of my life growing up in Troy. I played four years of football at Catholic Central High School and eventually went on to coach at LaSalle Institute. However, since becoming mayor, my interest in hockey has been rekindled as the result of the annual Mayor’s Cup. I look forward to the matchup each January and enjoy cheering on the Engineers when they hit the ice.
What is the best advice you received or can offer to the students at Rensselaer?
During a recent conversation with Troy City Councilman Gary Galuski, longtime representative for South Troy, he outlined three key points that have guided his life: honesty, hard work, and humility. His words resonated with me as a strong formula for success. If students can apply these three principles to their own aspirations, I strongly believe that any challenge can be overcome.
Resiliency is not allowing setbacks to control your life. Like a boxer, if you get knocked down, you have to get back up. That’s the political world in a nutshell. I have faced many challenges during my time as mayor of Troy. You are tasked with making tough choices, many on a daily basis. Your job is to keep the best interests of the residents in mind and work tirelessly to improve and strengthen the city as a whole.
How can students have a positive impact on their community?
I would strongly encourage students to get involved in their neighborhoods. Organize a local improvement project, participate in community activities, or even run for public office. Whether you are here in Troy for four years, six years, or a lifetime, the only way to improve our city and our community is to be a part of the vibrant patchwork of residents that make up the Collar City.
What does it mean to you to be “resilient”? How has acting with resilience in your leadership helped you achieve goals and guide others?
Resiliency is not allowing setbacks to control your life. Like a boxer, if you get knocked down, you have to get back up. That’s the political world in a nutshell. I have faced many challenges during my time as mayor of Troy. You are tasked with making tough choices, many on a daily basis. Your job is to keep the best interests of the residents in mind and work tirelessly to improve and strengthen the city as a whole.
Compromise is also part of defining resilience. As mayor, I have met political resistance to programs and initiatives proposed by my administration. During these moments of adversity, I have always met the challenge by pursuing common ground in order to accomplish great things.