WEST SPRINGFIELD—It was the first election Michael Finn had lost in a 13 year political career. After an upstart candidate zoomed past him in the September mayoral preliminary, Finn, a three-term state representative and former Town Council president, vowed not to go down without a
Holyoke is at a crossroads. Intractable problems of poverty, disparity and want remain as it has in ilk cities for some time. Yet of late, there is a spark of life among the citizenry and in the earth of the Paper City. People are engaged
Before the casino referendum vote in July of 2013, we urged Springfield residents to vote with their whole heart, their whole soul and their whole mind. It was crucial that they rise and register their opinion that day. Tuesday’s mayoral election in Springfield, may not
UPDATED 11/2/15 1:07PM: To add additional details to paragraph 2 under the Ward 6 endorsement. The future of the city of Holyoke is about more than just the lives of its residents. Like our home base of Springfield, the restoration and revitalization of Holyoke is
WEST SPRINGFIELD—When William Reichelt, the town attorney, placed first in the mayoral preliminary two months ago that eliminated former mayor Gregory Neffinger and left State Representative Michael Finn in second, he had turned the election narrative here on its head. Facing Finn one-on-one, however, Reichelt
In Pioneer Valley cities this municipal election year are a number of questions submitted to the voters. Some are binding and some are not, but all could have an impact on how Holyoke and Springfield and how they each govern themselves.
UPDATED 11/1/15 10:25AM: For clarity. SPRINGFIELD—Seeking to quell the biggest public relations catastrophe since helicoptering into the city three years ago, MGM Resorts International bigwigs stood shoulder to shoulder with Mayor Domenic Sarno and reaffirmed their commitment to the city and the multimillion dollar casino
HOLYOKE—A two-story retail building along Northampton Street’s commercial strip, wedged next to a gas station, normally would not normally get much attention. But from there, Alex Morse has based his campaigns for mayor, from his out-of-nowhere upset of Elaine Pluta in 2011 to this year’s
…And the World: We begin today in Poland, which tossed out its center-right government today despite eight solid years of economic growth, in exchange for a right-wing populist one. Civic Platform, a pro-Europe, but somewhat moderate conservative party, has ruled since 2007, but suffered from
CHICOPEE—At the top of ballot, a raging, repeat battle for mayor is absorbing much of the attention here. Yet, at-large city councilors and those from Wards 1, 5, 6, 7 and 9 all have opponents this year. What makes Ward 5 stand out, however, how