UPDATED 2/13/20 8:33AM: To identify one of the speakers based on another media report. SPRINGFIELD—On Wednesday night, supporters of added rail service between Western and Eastern Massachusetts packed a room at the UMass Center in downtown for the Massachusetts Department of Transportation first public hearing
On the one hand, Tuesday’s hearing on Beacon Hill for Senator Eric Lesser’s rail study bill is a familiar ritual for the Longmeadow Democrat. The legislature’s Joint Transportation Committee has favorably reported it before. The Massachusetts Senate has included it in the budget more than
If a misinformed Cantabrigian librarian had not done enough to catapult Springfield into the national spotlight, surely the eye-rolling imbroglio at the Dr. Seuss museum has launched the city further into controversy. Like clockwork, Mayor Domenic Sarno jumped feet first into the situation, prolonging the
The budget for the commonwealth emerged from its conference committee cocoon early Friday morning missing the fiscal year’s start last week. While the spending plan did preserve many key programs in the face of declining revenues, more than $400 million was sliced from the House
UPDATED 9:04PM: The Massachusetts Senate adopted Sen. Lesser’s amendment. The rail study will go to the House-Senate conference committee. State Senator Eric Lesser’s East-West rail study appeared ready to leave the station last year. It survived House-Senate negotiations and passed both chambers. But then, in
SPRINGFIELD—This is not like previous elections. As Senator Eric Lesser launches his reelection bid Thursday night, it will be a unique experience. Historically, when officials he helped elect sought reelection, he had moved on to other things. In 2014 during his first bid for office,
This week Masslive reported bus line magnate Peter Picknelly had emailed Governor Charlie Baker shortly before the governor effectively vetoed a study on developing and implementing reliable rail service between Boston and Springfield. The study’s fate, a priority of Longmeadow Senator Eric Lesser, remains in
Governor Charlie Baker has been on a Western Massachusetts kick of late, visiting the region and Springfield in particular quite a bit. He will be back in the city tomorrow for a fundraiser at the Student Prince hosted by busing magnate Peter Picknelly, restaurateur Andy
UPDATED 12/30/14 12:44 AM: For clarity as to the length of US Rep Richard Neal’s political career. A Planned City is a new series on planning and development in Springfield and its impact on the fabric of and life in the city. Last weekend, The Republican
After months of sniping and one-upsmanship, MGM, the Las Vegas-based casino developer, beat out Penn National to forge a community host agreement with the City of Springfield. Mayor Domenic Sarno, in an at times mushy and naïve announcement, said that the South End proposal would