PALMER—Nearly a year ago, it was wine and roses as the Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) formally began studying restoration of train service here. Hopes have been growing ever since East-West rail transitioned from Western Mass political shibboleth to inevitability. However, a new obstacle has
Tragedy and the march of time itself undermined two ordinances before the City Council on Monday. Before the body was a proposal to automate electeds’ raises and another to double the time new hires have to move into the city. A majority of councilors present
The Springfield City Council is wading once more into the fraught waters of their own salaries. A bill appearing on Monday’s agenda would raise the annual salary for councilors, the mayor and members of the School Committee. However, the increase would not be immediate.
Ninety-one miles away from Springfield Union Station, officials celebrated a milestone that, on the surface, has little to do with the 413. On November 25, Governor Maura Healey, Newton Congressman Jake Auchincloss, the city’s present and future legislative delegation and Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority’s General Manager Phil Eng celebrated planned upgrades at the Newtonville station.
Grandees in Western Massachusetts have long seen the arts as key to bolstering the region’s economy. One endeavor, the restoration of the Victory Theater in Holyoke, seemingly scored big. It received a $2 million American Rescue Plan Act grant from the city. When Holyoke had to claw back the grant this month, it dealt a blow to efforts to build out downtown as an arts hub.
A week before the Springfield City Council was to consider tax rates for residential and commercial properties, members briefly clashed over funding to close deficits from prior years. There was another mayor-Council flashpoint last week, albeit one that took the guise of old school political territorialism. The removal of the historic Stearns Square bench had reached the Council. However, the body punted on a resolve at the request of one councilor.
UPDATED 11/20/24 8:23AM: To include comment from McCarthy. On Monday in Chicopee, history did not repeat. Two dozen years ago, a joint session of the City Council and School Committee could not agree on who should fill a vacant at-large Committee seat. Voters had to
United States Senator Elizabeth Warren achieved what may be the most on-brand milestone of her career in Congress. On Wednesday, Warren formally ascended to her party’s top spot on the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. Still, the plum post is bittersweet as it
In contrast to Hillary Clinton, Kamala Harris’ biggest mistake may have been that she was the candidate of the incumbent party. It is clear a mix of nostalgia, disgruntlement over prices, and religious fervor delivered this result. It is difficult to fathom that Harris could have overcome that.
Last week, Congressman Richard Neal and officials from the state announced nearly $37 million for the Springfield Area Track Reconfiguration Project (SATRP). It was not the first batch of money for the project, which will rework the tracks and junctions just west of Union Station in Springfield.