It is no surprise that the New England Real Estate Journal has chosen to recognize the city of Cambridge. As a lifelong resident and long-time elected official, Cambridge has been and always will be an integral part of my personal and professional life. I have experienced first-hand the great benefits of growing up, attending public schools, working, and raising a family in this wonderfully vibrant and diverse city.

Cambridge enjoys one of the strongest financial positions of any city in the United States, a particular point of pride in these trying economic times. Thanks to the effective and efficient leadership of City Manager Robert Healy and Deputy City Manager Richard Rossi, as well as our elected leaders of the city, the favorable financial condition of the city serves as a model to neighboring communities and affords residents with programs and opportunities not available elsewhere. Working with the City Council and state legislators, city leadership has placed Cambridge in the desirable position of receiving the much-coveted Triple-A bond rating, and allowing a substantial number of major projects to be fully funded, such as a new police station, a new library, a new youth center and a recently-completed water works, to name a few.

Such financial stability is only one element of what makes this great city tick. It has been my privilege to represent the people of Cambridge for the last 15 years, in my roles as City Councilor, Mayor, and now as a State Senator. Cambridge is and continues to be both an immigrant and university city that changes and evolves on a daily basis. I have watched the city develop and change, thanks to a richly diverse population, a broad base of commercial and retail opportunities, and our residents' ongoing and ever-growing dedication to the integrity of our neighborhoods.

I look forward to more exciting times ahead for my hometown.

Sincerely,

Senator Anthony D. Galluccio