Western Mass Politics & Insight

September 2024
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Avengers, er, Team Matthews-Kane, Assemble! (WMP&I)

Matthews-Kane Launches Rep Bid Vowing to Bring Home the Policy…and the Bacon…

WESTFIELD—While introducing Bridget Matthews-Kane Tuesday evening at the Shortstop Bar & Grill, former Springfield Mayor, one-time Governor’s Councilor and retired judge Mary Hurley touted the candidate’s biography. She explained how the three-term city councilor and State House hopeful has deep family roots here and across Hampden County.

Upon taking the mic to speak for herself at her kickoff, Matthews-Kane shifted to her granular work on the Council.

Take My Council, Please: Make Springfield Aggregate Again…

SPRINGFIELD—Eons ago on Monday, before the meltdown with the outgoing school superintendent, the City Council held a relatively uneventful meeting. What occupied the most attention was the Community Choice Power Supply Aggregation (CCPSA) Plan. The city entered the program on the initiative of former Councilor Jesse Lederman and is now lumbering toward realizing its goals.

Putnam Graduation School Committee Springfield

Warwick Bows out Early As Outrage over Disparagement of Monroe Naylor Crests…

A deeply controversial selection process for his successor had not totally poisoned the well of good-will Daniel Warwick had accumulated over decades in city schools. He was about three weeks from the close of his career. Then it all came crashing down in less than 48 hours.

Springfield Schools’ Warwick on Tape Denigrating Board Member Weeks Before Exit…

An audio recording has surfaced in which the outgoing superintendent trashed a School Committee member. Superintendent Daniel Warwick calls relatives of at-large member LaTonia Monroe Naylor “scumbags” and “crazy.”

In the recording, Warwick was ostensibly speaking with Chief Schools Officer Kim Wells, a finalist for superintendent.

Springfield Councilors Pass FY25 Budget, but Tax Implications Linger…

SPRINGFIELD—Despite a lengthy debate and reasonable fears about how the city’s principal revenue stream affects residents, the City Council approved the fiscal year 2025 budget. It passed last week with no modifications and no dissent. This was also the first annual spending document presented under the new Chief Administrative & Financial Officer, Cathy Buono.

Briefings: 2024 Legislative Races Appear Set with Few Real Surprises…

When the office of Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin completes the primary ballot for September, there should be few surprises in the 413. Despite some noises here and there, there were few if any last-minute entries that could upend the region’s delegation to Boston.

Analysis: A Year after Feud, Sarno Needs Amtrak As Other Economic Feats Lose Steam…

Amid the stream of mayoral photos on the misnamed City of Springfield Office of Communications Facebook page was a curious post. It was a meeting that would have been unimaginable 11 months ago. Mayor Domenic Sarno and members of his cabinet had met with government affairs staff from Amtrak. Last June, Sarno was at war with the railroad.

Briefings: Vacant Get No Satisfaction with Holyoke At-large School Committee Exit…

For several terms now, Holyoke has had at least one vacancy in some office that the City Council—sometimes with another body—must fill. For the term that began this past January, that time has come.

Erin Brunelle, an at-large School Committee member and the body’s vice-chair, announced Tuesday she had resigned.

With a Show of Force, Gomez Begins Reelection Campaign Underscoring Community…

SPRINGFIELD—Facing his first electoral challenge since defeating an incumbent himself, Senator Adam Gomez kicked off his bid for a third term a few doors down from where his opponent had launched weeks before. Filling the lower level of Dewey’s Lounge, a downtown jazz bar, the senator underscored community.

Take My Council, Please: As the Tree Fund Turns, er, Revolves…

SPRINGFIELD—The City Council sped through a thin agenda Monday that included a final realization of the new tree ordinance. Earlier this year, the Council approved a revamped arboreal code including fines and fees for removing public trees. However, the creation of the fund to use

Springfield…and the World…

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