SPRINGFIELD—An early wave of enthusiasm has greeted the start of only the second mayor-less election cycle in the region’s largest city. A sizable clutch of candidates for City Council and School Committee took out papers Tuesday, the first day they were available for the 2017
The fate of Holyoke’s Community Preservation Committee (CPC) was thrown into doubt earlier this week when a veto-proof majority that exist only a few weeks ago melted away Tuesday. The Council could repeat the 11-2 vote from earlier this month after Mayor Alex Morse vetoed the
SPRINGFIELD—During her visit here Monday, US Senator Elizabeth Warren received a warm introduction from State Senator Eric Lesser. It was hardly their first interaction. Warren campaigned for Lesser in each of his runs for the 1st Hampden & Hampshire district. But the event also offered
SPRINGFIELD—United States Senator Elizabeth Warren and her annual office hours returned Monday. For the first such event in the Trump era, organizers moved the event from the lobby of her Springfield office to City Stage next door. But the amphitheater setting complemented the town hall-style
Discontent over winter storm cleanups are nothing new in Springfield. It’s hard to compare to the long past, but post-Control Board, inevitably, there are bad cleanups and good ones. The one follow this past Tuesday’s storm was not among the city’s best. It was only
On Monday afternoon the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority proposed ending weekend commuter rail service and certain services for disabled riders. Ostensibly, the “saved” money would be put toward maintenance, which the system desperately needs. However, such a dramatic step would cripple attempts to build out mass
SPRINGFIELD—Responding to a wave of threats and vandalism targeting Jewish institutions and facilities that had lapped into the Pioneer Valley, an interfaith crowd of hundreds representing multiple faiths rallied in solidarity with the local Jewish community and against hatred and bigotry of all kinds. Dozens
Longmeadow Daze is an occasional series reporting on and analyzing Longmeadow government and politics. LONGMEADOW—In 2013 the School Committee outflanked the Select Board and secured a budget transfer to avoid cuts to the schools. It was a resounding victory which belied the organizing needed to
SPRINGFIELD—A short agenda sailed through the City Council’s Tuesday meeting here without any banality or vainglorious interrogatories. In addition to the usual financial housekeeping and grant acceptances, the meeting’s focused on a new library and new labor pacts set to last into 2020. The early
Further UPDATED 3/8/17 12:13PM: Holyoke Councilors approved the CPA ordinance Tuesday night, but an amended now requires a 2/3 vote to remove CPC members before their term is up. UPDATED 11:48AM: Holyoke Mayor Morse says he will veto the CPA ordinance if the Council passes it with