SOUTH HADLEY—Western Mass joined Saturday’s nationwide protests panning the dismantling of government, the Constitution and now the economy under Donald Trump and his ostensible vizier Elon Musk. Layoffs at federal agencies, including at Social Security, has raised public anger, provoking one of the largest rounds of demonstrations since Inauguration Day.
HOLYOKE—The LightHouse, an event space that used to be Gateway City Arts, was full. Mayor Joshua Garcia’s late February reelection kickoff attracted a crowd that included luminaries and grandees from not just throughout the region, but across the state. Nearly a month later, Garcia remains the only candidate for mayor of the Paper City.
One year ago this month, the New England Joint Board of UNITE HERE won the right to represent dealers at MGM Springfield. As of today, however, the NEJB and MGM are not any closer to an agreement for a simple reason. MGM declines to recognize the election the National Labor Relations Board held, certified and has upheld through its regional office twice.
SPRINGFIELD—Relatively routine school matters occupied a substantial amount of councilors’ attention at its recent Monday meeting. Generally, school matters are not within the Council’s wheelhouse, per state law. However, there are notable exceptions and a few quirky items.
The Democratic party’s new chairman, Ken Martin, gave the day-to-day job of running the party to Roger Lau. The longtime political hand has worn many hats for Massachusetts Democrats, including Senator Elizabeth Warren.
Hampden Superior Court Judge James Manitsas largely rejected a motion the City of Springfield and Mayor Domenic Sarno had filed to dismiss the discrimination suit former mayoral aide Darryl Moss had brought against them. While the courts have whittled it down, the meat of Moss’s suit could now advance to a jury.
The midterm municipal election in Springfield is off to a brisk start. Several races are developing only days after ballot papers became available. Challenges to some incumbents have been incubating for some time either publicly or quietly. Since the Election Commission opened the petitioning window on Friday, it appears even more officials could face opponents.
Against the backdrop of its own challenges and a broader wave of upheaval in Valley media, New England Public Media has named Elizabeth Román as its next executive editor for news. Román will take over the news operations of the region’s principal public media at a time of flux.
SPRINGFIELD—Lawyers for former Springfield mayoral aide, Darryl Moss, and his old employer, Mayor Domenic Sarno were in court last month to argue over whether Moss’s discrimination lawsuit can proceed. The parties, which include the city itself as a defendant, had not been in open court for months.
Payton North, the now-former managing editor for The Reminder, a weekly newspaper, took over as director of communications for the Hampden DA’s office this month. North had led the hyperlocal publication’s news operations as executive editor since late 2022.