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Hartford Mayor Eddie Perez gave his state of the city address Monday night.  WNPR’s Jeff Cohen reports.

While Perez highlighted the city's advances in education, public safety, economic development, and funding for the arts, he began his speech with the unavoidable – the city’s projected $40 million deficit.

“Hartford is at a crossroads.  Like every urban community across our state and across our great country, Hartford continues to be financially challenged.”

Throughout the speech, Perez returned several times to the same refrain:

“We have come far, we have far to go.”

But if the city is at a crossroads, so, too, is its mayor.  Perez was arrested twice last year.  He faces charges that he traded his influence for discounted renovations at his home and that he tried to extort a city developer.  Jury selection for his trial is scheduled to begin in April.

“Assuming they go forward with the trial, the mayor will be knee-deep in the middle of a trial as we’re going through the budget process.”

That’s Democratic Councilman Kenneth Kennedy.  He is a critic of the mayor and said Monday that he thinks Perez should temporarily step aside during the trial.

“Because, quite frankly, one is you’re fighting for your life, you’re fighting for your life and your reputation, and that’s an all-encompassing matter for anyone. Understandably so.  With a $40 million budget gap, we’re going to need the mayor’s full attention here.  I don’t think he can give full attention to both.”

But Perez  said this year’s budget challenge doesn’t come as a surprise, and that the city has spent all year preparing to deal with it. So, as to Kennedy’s suggestion that he step aside, Perez said this:

“The American experience is not an easy experience.  This will be another experience in the city’s chapter.

Q: “Will you be here full time during the trial?”

A: “I plan to be mayor.  Yes.”

The city’s budget must be approved by the end of May.

For WNPR, I’m Jeff Cohen.