HOLYOKE—Two years after making history as the Paper City’s first Latino mayor, Josh Garcia has won reelection and upended city politics again. It was one of many surprises that ripped through the 413 Tuesday night, matching some of the energy, enthusiasm and, above all, change voters are demanding from this Commonwealth to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
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.
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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.
UPDATED 9/10/25 1:03AM: In the prelim, Davila and Johnson advanced to the general election. SPRINGFIELD—Since the return of ward representation on the City Council here in 2009, one ward has seen four people serve as its councilor. There are many reasons slightly more people have
Springfield City Council and School Committee hopefuls plied their political wares last week during an outdoor forum. Focus Springfield and White Lion Brewing organized and staged the event in the “Pridelands” beer garden, across Main Street from the brewer’s taproom in Tower Square. It may
Returning for July before it summer semi-recess, the Springfield City Council blasted through a pile of grants, funding acceptances and other financial orders on July 14. Relatively noncontroversial financial items were not the only things to move with speed last Monday. The body granted first step to an ordinance that purports to control out-of-town landlords, provide transparency and address housing prices, if indirectly.
Last Monday, the Springfield City Councilors chewed over an unusual batch of appointments to the Water & Sewer Commission: all of them. Before the body at its regular meeting were confirmations for all three members of the body.
The midterm municipal election in Springfield is off to a brisk start. Several races are developing only days after ballot papers became available. Challenges to some incumbents have been incubating for some time either publicly or quietly. Since the Election Commission opened the petitioning window on Friday, it appears even more officials could face opponents.
SPRINGFIELD—There is plenty of precedent for police officers to fill the City Council chamber. Usually, it is to oppose or support some substantive policy. This past Monday the room was full, if not packed with cops. Ostensibly, they were there to support Superintendent Lawrence Akers’s body camera financial package.