SPRINGFIELD—Tracye Whitfield started her fifth term as an at-large City Council by taking a second office: City Council President. In doing so Monday, she became the first woman of color to lead the municipal legislature here. Although historic, a fact that inarguably filled the city’s biennial inaugural exercises, it was hardly the only takeaway Whitfield intended people to have.
SPRINGFIELD—There was no arithmetic grinch to upend at-large Councilor Tracye Whitfield’s march to the council presidency Monday night. Indeed, despite the doubt heading into the evening, the informal election of the body’s leader for 2026 occurred quickly and with little fanfare. As a result, Whitfield is on track to become the first woman of color to serve as City Council President here.
The substance of 2025’s last meeting, however, had its twists and turns.
Since the Springfield City Council initiated the city’s adoption of the Community Preservation Act (CPA), the body has been widely supportive of it and the Community Preservation Committee created to identify projects to fund. By no means have councilors turned their back on the CPA or CPC, but the tension over an allocation at the December 1 meeting was notable.
Returning after the somewhat stunning election results, the Springfield City Council waded through a short agenda on November 17. To the extent there were any long colloquies, they were about a cybersecurity contract for the schools, the fate of Focus Springfield and revisions to the city’s food truck regulations.
SPRINGFIELD—Of the many races for ward seats on the City Council here, Ward 7 stands out a bit. The current occupant of the seat, Timothy Allen, was part of the original class of ward councilors elected in 2009. He has faced few opponents over the years and he has been in office ever since. Yet, the seat may also be the one where national agitation for generational change is most apparent.
For a moment in August, it seemed like the race for Springfield’s Ward 1 Council seat was over. The incumbent, Maria Perez, had just filed a suit against her now-former employer, the New North Citizens Council (NNCC), and her election opponent, Joesiah Gonzalez. Yet before the month was out, he was campaigning again and marched in Springfield’s Puerto Rican parade.
SPRINGFIELD—The City Council digested a light agenda Monday, although one land use approval did stand out. Councilors’ approval was necessary to allow a large redevelopment of buildings at the corner of State and Main streets. McCaffery Interests, Inc., a developer based in Chicago, has plans to convert the group of buildings from commercial use to residential units.
After appearances at several meetings, the GoNetSpeed requests are out the door. On Monday, the Springfield City Council approved 17 applications GoNetSpeed, an internet service provider, had filed for work that would affect city streets throughout the city. Fearing the company would only wire wealthier areas, the Council had delayed approval at least twice.
The Springfield City Council again put off approval of a bevy of permits for GoNetSpeed, an Internet Service Provider, fearing the company will not deliver on promises to wire the whole city. The issue has bubbled up at full Council and subcommittee meetings. In July, councilors continued the permits.
UPDATED 1:21PM
The incumbents, Ward 4 Councilor Malo Brown, Ward 6 Councilor Victor Davila and District Committee member Christopher Collins—whose district represents Wards 6 and 7—all placed first in the Springfield preliminary. They will face Willie Naylor, Mary Johnson and Rosa Valentin, respectively, in November.