SPRINGFIELD—As the dust settles on the mayoral preliminary here, the enormity of the challenge before Salvatore Circosta has begun to come into focus. Although Circosta received enough votes to continue his campaign into November, incumbent mayor Domenic Sarno scored 75% of the pitifully few votes
Despite a spirited race for mayor, voters simply whiffed on Tuesday’s preliminary. Sweltering heat and a moved election date contributed to an abysmal 7.1% turnout. But this is a tragedy, one that goes right to heart of what is wrong in the Land of Springfield. This is
UPDATED 10:16am: For grammar. This post is the third in a series on Springfield mayoral candidates ahead of the September 8 preliminary. SPRINGFIELD—With less than two days before the polls open, Ivelisse Gonzalez appeared pragmatic about her first bid for public office. Though hopeful about her
This post is the second in a series on Springfield mayoral candidates ahead of the September 8 preliminary. SPRINGFIELD—The building at the corner of Chestnut and Pearl Streets seems a metaphor for Springfield. Its historic air and good bones are weighed down by its aged appearance,
This post is the first in a series on Springfield mayoral candidates ahead of the September 8 preliminary. SPRINGFIELD—Salvatore Circosta and the man he seeks to replace as mayor, Domenic Sarno, have a lot in common. Both are Italian, the same generation of each’s family
SPRINGFIELD—Gathering Thursday night in the main hall of Classical Condominiums, once the former high school’s auditorium, voters met, questioned and listened to six of the contenders in the city’s mayoral preliminary. Save only the incumbent, Domenic Sarno, the entire field for the September 8 preliminary
By default, almost any NIMBYism should be approached with suspicion. There will always be facilities, services and outlets that are not desirable neighbors. The best we can do is try to place them as equitably as possible to serve the intended population. Nevertheless, the opposition of
UPDATED 7/26/15 1:11AM: For grammar. SPRINGFIELD—What looked like a dull election season now seems primed to be a more spirited affair as additional challengers pile onto the race for mayor and City Council. As of 3pm Thursday, the second to last day to pick up nomination
On Wednesday, the commonwealth and its 351 municipalities began anew, as localities closed the books on fiscal year 2015 and began FY2016. The state itself has not delivered a full-year spending plan. Others squeezed it in at the last minute. Springfield did not get its
SPRINGFIELD—For the second year in a row, Mayor Domenic Sarno’s municipal budget achieved passage without any modification from the City Council. The $594.9 million spending plan was touted for needing no reserves or layoffs to bridge deficits. However, councilors did express reservations about the city’s