Opportunities

I will focus on Local Rapid Recovery Planning to develop a short-term and mid-term, project-based recovery plan. Together, we will develop a plan tailored to address the unique economic challenges and COVID-19 related impacts to Holyoke businesses.

Rebuilding and maintaining our infrastructure and keeping up with our capital needs is critical to Holyoke’s economy and quality of life. Nevertheless, infrastructure maintenance and new investments are the most widespread fiscal stressors for any local government.

I will prioritize working toward gaining local control. To do this, I plan to work with the receiver to understand our benchmarks we need to achieve for local control. I also want to make sure we continue the district’s progress on equity and inclusion by making available the dual-immersion program in every school in the district.

Issues around the police, fire, building department, abandoned buildings, and the quality of our parks are the priorities I look forward to addressing on the topic of public safety so that we are providing the best possible services expected and minimizing liability.

We need to do better at empowering our neighborhoods to take control of decisions that are theirs. That is why as Mayor I will be sure to support the creation of neighborhood associations as identified in the 1999 Master Plan.

With new growth development pressures taking place in our City by the new marijuana industry (which I fully embrace), we need to be ready to proactively manage our growth so that we are protecting our natural resources, the desires of our neighborhoods, and keeping up with infrastructure needs.