Browse By

No Thumbnail

On Residency, Where’s the Beef?…

UPDATED 12/13/12 3:32PM: An earlier version of this post identified the Patrolmen Union Lawyer as Kevin Boyle. His name is Kevin Coyle. SPRINGFIELD—Since the city’s convoluted residency ordinance has come into vogue at the City Council, the emotions of councilors and labor leaders alike have

No Thumbnail

Manic Monday Markup 12/10/12…

…And the World: We begin today in Italy where over the weekend it was announced that Prime Minister Mario Monti will resign shortly after the country’s budget is passed.  The announcement came only hours after former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced he will seek the

No Thumbnail

Briefings: A Day of Departures…

UPDATED 7:47PM: For clarity and accuracy. Two significant, but very different departures hit Springfield today. New North Citizens Council Director Michael Denney, 63, died of a heart attack, according to the Republican.  Among the city’s preeminent neighborhood groups, the NNCC also doubled as one of

He Who Would Be Council President…

UPDATED 12/5/12 2:47PM: For clarification of John Lysak’s political affiliation and grammar. Campaigns for the City Council Presidency in Springfield are quite unlike many of the city’s big political fights.  While several important issues go by unnoticed at 36 Court Street, where there is a

No Thumbnail

Take My Council, Please: What Lies Beneath?…

SPRINGFIELD—A quiet quick meeting for the Springfield City Council dispensed with numerous housekeeping measures.  However some items sent to committee portend either broader conflicts or a healthy helping of grandstanding. Still recuperating from injuries sustained in August, Ward 3 Councilor Melvin Edwards was absent from

No Thumbnail

Sarno’s Communications Director Resigns…

UPDATED: 9:20 PM: To reflect details obtained from the Republican. UPDATED 9:40 PM: To show comments from Councilors. UPDATED 12/4/12 1:22PM: With Tweet from WMassP&I’s twitter account and new reporting. SPRINGFIELD—After five years of a relative calm among the mayor’s inner circle of advisers and

No Thumbnail

Manic Monday Markup 12/3/12…

…And the World:   We begin in Great Britain where  last week, the long-awating Leveson Inquiry into the phone-hacking scandal that touched the press, politicians and the police was released.  Prime Minister David Cameron, opposed to the proposal and his party, the Conservatives, have been

Rating the City’s Values…

SPRINGFIELD—On Thursday night, the annual ritual of setting the city‘s property tax rates made its last road stop in East Forest Park.  Members of the City Council’s tax-setting subcommittee and Board of Assessors Chair Richard Allen presented the city’s tax rates for the next year

No Thumbnail

Analysis: A Tough Fight, Only Morse-so…

The recent political explosion in Holyoke over Mayor Alex Morse’s reversal on casinos may have been one of the few news stories that was able to actually muscle the gas explosion in Springfield out of the headlines for a bit. Fighting two fronts between each

No Thumbnail

Manic Monday Markup 11/26/12…

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story identified “George Pappas” as the developer questioning stalled activity at the old visitors center in Springfield.  Peter Pappas is the developer, not George Pappas, who is a member of Springfield Forward. …And the World: Hourly after brokering a