Never say never when it comes to politics. When I saw that state lawmakers did not pass a $2.86 billion economic development bill at the end of its formal session in late July, which would have allowed for construction of a new 25,000 seat soccer stadium for the New England Revolution in the City of Everett, I did not believe the game was over.

I’m now encouraged by the recent public comments by Governor Healey who said that she wants a special reconvening of the formal session in an effort to get this done. A passage of the economic development bill would remove a 43-acre site along the Mystic River from its classification as a designated port area that only allows for marine industrial use.

The law that gives that parcel that designation was intended to preserve waterfront access for maritime-based industries. Times have changed, though, and so have the needs of our community. Everett needs and deserves the same opportunity to continue to grow and prosper. We need the ability to attract opportunities that will provide people with the chance to enjoy the waterfront area with open green space and that will create job opportunities for Everett residents. Most importantly, we need private funds to clean up that site.

I think the potential for a professional soccer stadium is a positive option to replace critical tax revenue for our city. Other communities in Massachusetts have successfully managed to have venues for professional teams, so I know that Everett can make it happen in a positive way.

Over the past few years, Everett residents have watched as the Boston skyline has changed with awe-inspiring skyscrapers in the Seaport and exciting new greenspaces, while we have been left with unsightly oil tanks and a now unused power plant with ugly smoke stacks.

This legislation isn’t about one project. It’s about the future of our city. I am angry that the focus hasn’t been on the fact that Everett is an Environmental Justice community losing millions of dollars in tax revenue and instead is being forced to continue to tolerate a dirty industrial site when we could be starting the formal process to use private funds to clean up the site and start collecting important tax revenue.

A soccer stadium would also be a perfect complement to the Encore Casino, which is helping to slowly transform our small city of a little over three square miles into a world class destination. But we’re not done yet. I look forward to working with Governor Healey and state legislators to get this new soccer stadium over the goal line this fall.

Carlo DeMaria is the mayor of Everett