Regarding the Aug. 5 editorial “Hartford needs help”: Long-time Hartford resident Mark Twain was well-known for his literary wit. While I embrace his homage to Hartford, I find myself thinking also of his thoughts on San Francisco: The coldest winter he ever spent was a summer there.

Indeed, the nationally reported attacks on two city citizens have left us all feeling the chill. However, just as San Francisco has not been judged solely by Twain’s summertime impression, Hartford should not be characterized by a few incidents.

We are a city facing challenges on several fronts. We are not Boston, New York City, or even Bridgeport or New Haven. We are a city struggling to move beyond the confines of prior bad acts. We are Hartford — far from perfect, but far from hopeless.

I grew up in this city, attended school here, and made my best friends, my career and my home here. My parents still live here, as my fiancée and I will. I ran for public office because I believe in this city and its potential.

I have taken a few steps I believe will help move Hartford forward. I introduced a resolution creating a young-professionals task force to develop strategies for attracting young people. Like many cities, Hartford has an increasingly aging population and a dwindling professional workforce. As a 26-year-old, I know our viability as an urban center depends on reversing that trend. As chairman of the city council’s economic-development and legislative committees, I seek a productive relationship with state leaders to sustain our infrastructure, and a proactive strategy to recruit and retain business.

Hartford was at one time the nation’s richest city. This is not that time. I am confident that Hartford will once again be the envy of the region. Let us not become so overwhelmed with our troubles that we refuse the possibility of solutions. Or in Twain’s words, let us “be careful to get out of an experience only the wisdom that is in it — and stop there.”

The wisdom of these experiences lies in our ability to overcome them, and our commitment to be strengthened by them.

MATTHEW D. RITTER

Hartford

The writer is a Hartford city councilman.