The Springfield City Council brought fury to a procedural debate and waxed meticulous on the details of a food truck ordinance this week. During a rare Tuesday meeting, the body confronted a relatively simple agenda. Yet, it was debate over a motion that led to shouting, threats of expulsion and accusations of censorship.
The Massachusetts Ethics Commission served former Holyoke City Councilor David Bartley with an order to show cause, leveling no fewer than five charges against him for violating state ethics laws. Four of the alleged violations stem from his legal practice. Bartley had represented clients with
HOLYOKE—On the precipice of the municipal election, the Facebook page Keep Holyoke Affordable took out the knives. It posted a darkened screengrab from a virtual Planning Board meeting centered on at-large Council candidate Mimi Panitch. The Facebook post included text that blasted her record on the Board and noted the menacing, eight-armed undulating cephalopod in her background.
After eight heated municipal election cycles—three quarters of which featured mayoral races—the ballot will be cooler this year in Holyoke. Mayor Joshua Garcia will face no opposition on the ballot as he seeks another four-year term. There will be races down ballot, but even accounting for the lack of energy a mayoral race would draw, the Paper City may have its quietest November in nearly 20 years.
A Fifth of Hampden is a series of profiles of candidates for Holyoke’s Next Rep HOLYOKE—In the recent past, before State Rep Aaron Vega announced his retirement from the state House of Representatives, David Bartley, a city councilor here, had also expected to retire. After
A Fifth of Hampden is a series of profiles of candidates for Holyoke’s Next Rep HOLYOKE—Growing up in a military family, Patricia Duffy had lived in a lot of places. Born in Los Angeles and educated in metro Boston, she found her way to Western
A Fifth of Hampden is a series of profiles of candidates for Holyoke’s Next Rep HOLYOKE—Patrick Beaudry almost ran for office last year. A longish time at-large city councilor was bailing. Beaudry, home for three years after a career in state politics, had the cred
by Michael Lachenmeyer Correspondent-Intern In June and July, candidates competing in three races spanning Hampden County fought to win over voters while also doing their best to boost their fundraising numbers. While the novel coronavirus has upended many normal aspects of campaigning, the money race
HOLYOKE—Whether intentionally or not, political power and attention here follows the city’s geology. Rising from the Flats—a term unrelated to terrain—to the foot of Mount Tom is Cherry Hill, where the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home stands. Despite its perch overlooking everything but the mountains, the wave
UPDATED 6/12/20 11:32PM: To clarify when and how Dan Allie joined the 4th Hampden Race. While some campaign activities remain on ice. One thing that marches forward unabated is the ballot itself. Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin has released his office’s list of candidates