Malcolm X Day Celebrated in Holyoke
From the petition of Holyoke resident Tyrone Bowie, through the hands of Ward 4 City Councilor Kocayne Givner and to the desk of Mayor Joshua García, May 19 is now […]
Government Affairs May 1, 2023: People and Public Service
Among the items that drew the most discussion at the City Council meeting last week: The reappointment of longtime community advocate Ms. Theresa Cooper-Gordon, Kuji, as a Commissioner of the [...]
Government Affairs Week of April 24: A New Middle School, Again
This week City Councilors held three different committee meetings. Perhaps most importantly, given the impact it will have on all property owners’ tax bills, Major Joshua García announced [...]
Government Affairs April 16, 2023: A Police Commission t Last?
A proposal to establish a police commission, now in its third try over a decade, was addressed by the Public Safety Committee. • Item 4: 4-4-23 RIVERA_I, GIVNER, MALDONADO VELEZ, […]
Holyoke to Replace Leaky Gas Pipes
Thanks to $22M in grants from the US Department of Transportation, Wakefield, Westfield and Holyoke each received funds to replace leaky gas pipes. The Biden Administration has been working with [...]
Government Affairs Week of April 4, 2023: Women Call Out Councilors’ Disrespect
The Holyoke City Council of this week may be best remembered for residents calling out City Councilors Kevin Jourdain and David Bartley for disrespectful behavior at the last City Council meeting [...]
Government Affairs Week of 3-27-2023: Restore Holyoke
The Community Preservation Act Committee presented to the Finance Committee six recommendations its members believe should be funded. A summary of the recommendations follows. To view the [...]
Government Affairs: The Rights of Former Felons
Councilor Israel Rivera spoke up for former felons, like himself, to spotlight that this group of people face challenges and are sometimes treated as if they were the same person who broke the [...]
Government Affairs: Deep Dive into Police Department, Councilor McGee Announces He’s Stepping Down
Last week City Councilors addressed exceptionally major issues, including an audit by the consulting firm Municipal Resources Inc. on the functioning of the Police Department and the announcement [...]
This Week in Government Affairs: Feb. 27, 2023 Speeding drivers and lowering taxes
At the Finance Committee, a member of the Community Preservation Act Committee presented facts and figures about the purpose of the preservation committee. It was established to [...]