Sheehan Says His Passion & Contacts Are What Holyoke Needs in Its Mayor…
HOLYOKE—Devin Sheehan wants to take his experience and leverage his relationship here and across the state as mayor.
Lagging on Vaccinations, Springfield to Again Mask…
Springfield instituted an indoor mask mandate Thursday, effective September 13, amid high case rates and hospitalizations.
Analysis: Galvin Says the Quiet Part Out Loud on the 413 & Its Economy…
Bill Galvin has many titles: secretary of the commonwealth; election administrator; former state rep; prince of darkness. But during a trip to the 413 two weeks ago, he added another: soothsayer. Speaking at Court Square, Galvin praised Mayor Domenic Sarno, City Clerk Gladys Oyola and
The 413’s Umbrella Labor Group Speaks on 2021 Municipal Races…
Overwhelmed first by hot vax summer and then the coronavirus encore, municipal elections in the region have not exactly take center stage. Into this relative quiet, the Western Mass Area Labor Federation, the umbrella group for labor in the Pioneer Valley, has announced its preferences in some of the most important contests.
Census Bureau Renders Its Judgment upon Western Mass…
Springfield bucked a local trend as its population grew a clip faster than much of the region. The Census Bureau released community-level data Thursday confirming the commonwealth’s growth principally happened in its east. Yet, the information still included some surprises. These both benefited and hurt Bay State localities reflecting both longer-term trends and how the coronavirus possibly warped results.
DOJ U-Turn Puts Trump Taxes Nearly within Neal’s Grasp…
About two years after first filing suit to obtain Donald Trump’s taxes, the House Committee on Ways & Means may finally get them. Late last month, the US Department of Justice released a memo authorizing the Treasury Department to disclose six years of Trump returns to the Committee. This was a reversal from the prior administration, which, obviously, had no interest in having the records make a trip to Capitol Hill.
A Mayor Called Sue(d): Springfield Police Commission in Mass High Court’s Hands…
The highest court in the land—of Massachusetts at least—will hear and likely resolve one of the most vexing controversies in the City of Homes. On Wednesday, the Supreme Judicial Court accepted direct review of Hampden Superior Court Judge Francis Flannery’s ruling that Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno must appoint the Police Commission.
Take My Council, Please: Supersize That Permit Review!…
SPRINGFIELD—This week the City Council revisited a troubled revision to a drive-through special permit that had hit the skids earlier this year amid an abutter’s complaints. The item has still not achieved passage amid a sluggish review. Frustratingly, the once-complaining neighbor has been MIA, leaving councilors to straighten things out alone with the applicant.
District School Committee Clash in Springfield Formally Begins…
SPRINGFIELD—The only contested School Committee district race here began in earnest Wednesday night with Ayanna Crawford formally launching her bid. She seeks the seat that covers Wards 2 and 8, but in doing so she is challenging incumbent Peter Murphy who has weathered many a challenger emerging victorious each time.
Analysis: Prejudice, a Familiar Demon in Holyoke, Casts Pall over Election…
As Holyoke assembles perhaps its most diverse field of mayoral candidates ever, there have been reminders of how much progress the city must make. Over the holiday weekend, signs for mayoral candidate Joshua Garcia and city council candidate Israel Rivera were defaced with an anti-Hispanic screed. More than that, the author assigned specific blame to Latinos for the city’s decline.