Suffolk welcomed its mayor and city councilpersons to the helm of the city yesterday. Amongst fanfare, and an eloquent speaker, theses leaders took hold of a great responsibility — leading our city forward.

These individuals are charged with the task of leading our city through what is undoubtedly going to be a tough economic period. No longer, can Suffolk rely on property taxes alone to keep the city in the black. Going forward, difficult decisions will need to be made about the fiscal year and the years in the future.

The CenterPoint development and rezoning is sure to be the first test for Suffolk’s leadership, where its elected leaders must make decisions based on the whole of the city and not just a select few. Budget, taxes and staffing all will play a role in how the city fares throughout this tumultuous time.

Needless to say, this year will go down as an important one. The choices rendered by our leaders and the effects those choices have on how Suffolk shall progress will set the stage for the city’s future.

The voters of Suffolk are responsible for putting each and every person on the council and in the mayor’s seat. However, it’s up to those elected to hold true to their promises and continue operating Suffolk in a manner that results in Suffolk’s financial vitality.