SPRINGFIELD—After weeks and months of fits and starts, the City Council passed its ban on the free distribution of plastic bags. However, passage came at the expense of the fee on non-plastic bags provided at retail, intended to discourage consumer use of single-use bags regardless
SPRINGFIELD—Facing a rising tide of scandal flowing from the Springfield Police Department, the City Council’s Public Safety Committee reviewed legislation on Thursday that aims to contain the latest runoff. The ordinance, would essentially reverse efforts to revive the Police Commission and codify the mayor’s police
SPRINGFIELD—In a sign that environmental policy has become an issue for the City Council, the first major bill to emerge from the new Sustainability Committee has inched toward passage. The bill, shorthanded simplistically as a plastic bag ban, is not entirely new. However, it may
Less than a week after missing his self-imposed decision deadline, Springfield Ward 8 Councilor Orlando Ramos announced he would not run for mayor. Last month, the three-term councilor said he was “seriously considering” challenging Domenic Sarno this year. However, in a statement released early Tuesday
UPDATED 3/2/19 2:15PM: To reflect Ramos’ announcement he was delaying a decision on a mayoral run. SPRINGFIELD—It took three tries for Orlando Ramos to join the City Council. But in 2013, he defeated the incumbent, John Lysak, Ward 8 two-term councilor. Rather than shunting him
UPDATED 2/22/2019 10:00AM: To reflect a correction. A prior version of this post incorrectly located Bigda’s infamous interrogation in Wilbraham. It was, in fact, in Palmer. In a dramatic turn of events, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno announced Thursday in a hastily scheduled press conference that
UPDATED 2/21/19 4:08PM: To reflect a clarification that Ramos left Sen. Welch’s employ last month, not the same day Ramos’ mayoral interest became public. At last, a name. By no means is Orlando Ramos the only person who could take on Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno
In a late-morning ceremony Monday, at-large City Councilor Justin Hurst took the oath of office as President of the Springfield City Council. Five years after joining the body, the significance goes beyond the office itself. It grants him a more prominent platform after a high-profile
In Springfield 2018 may go down as a key year for the city. The Council, Springfield’s congressman, and even activism itself had a good year. But even if there was some small-d and large-D democratic developments, this year also ushered in some noteworthy signs on
SPRINGFIELD—It is possible 2018 may go down as one of the most legislatively active years for the City Council in recent memory. Though not all efforts succeeded, the body aggressively moved multiple bills Some passed. Some did so over the mayor’s veto. Others did not