NSNA went for a walk today and documented the numerous potholes that have sprung up on North Street, from Bates Street all the way down to Market Street. These pictures have been submitted to the Department of Public Works with a request for repair. North Street is slated for reconstruction but it is not yet […]
Video: Mayor Speaks to Ward 4 about Fiscal Situation
Here is a 57-minute YouTube video excerpt from the March 8 meeting of the Ward4Northampton neighborhood association. Mayor Clare Higgins discusses the city’s fiscal situation and other matters, including watershed protection, snow clearing and traffic calming. This video was recorded by Mary Likins.The mayor distributed this handout: Northampton Budget Issues 08 March 2011 Joel Feldman of […]
Video and Slides: Solid Waste Forum of March 7, 2011
Below is a complete blip.tv video of the 3/7/11 public forum held by Northampton’s Solid Waste Reduction and Management Task Force. The public was invited to express opinions about how the city will manage its waste once the municipal landfill closes in 2012. The Task Force will hold a second and similar forum on March […]
Charter Review Committee Member Marc Warner Issues Minority Report
Shortly after the Charter Review Committee issued its final report to the City Council yesterday, committee member Marc Warner issued a dissenting minority report. Here is an excerpt followed by Mr. Warner’s full report: The nature of the dissent is not about the worthiness of revising the current charter. It does need revisions. Rather, it […]
Charter Review Committee Submits Final Report to City Council
Northampton’s Charter Review Committee held its last meeting on March 2 and submitted its final report today to the City Council (see below). The Committee believes that patching the current charter is inadequate to correct its flaws, and that a new, more modern charter is needed: …the Charter Review Committee recommends a new charter, and a […]
March 14-16: Main and King Street Transportation Charrette
Northampton’s Office of Planning and Development announces a Main and King Street Transportation Charrette. As you can see from the articles we include below the announcement, we’re concerned that increasing urban density beyond a certain point could result in unpleasant increases in total downtown Northampton traffic, even if vehicle miles per capita decrease somewhat. We have, of course, expressed other […]
Press Conference Video: Clare Higgins Will Not Seek Reelection as Mayor
Here is a complete YouTube HD video of today’s press conference held by Mayor Clare Higgins. This video is 29 minutes long and was recorded by Adam Cohen. The mayor discusses highlights of her tenure (such as preserving and expanding affordable housing) and a regret – how the debate over landfill expansion unfolded.See also:MassLive: “Northampton Mayor […]
March 31 Public Forum: “What we can do to close the budget gap”
Gazette: “Michael Bardsley to run for Northampton mayor again; opponent unknown”
The Gazette’s website reports: Former City Council President Michael R. Bardsley plans to run again for mayor of Northampton this year, believing he can rebuild the support that took him within 344 votes of victory in 2009…“I think the council has increasingly become one that will go along with the recommendation of the mayor rather […]
Video: Tacy, LaBarge Criticize Narkewicz/Budgar Email
In this YouTube HD excerpt from the announcement period of tonight’s City Council meeting, Ward 7 City Councilor Eugene Tacy and Ward 6 City Councilor Marianne LaBarge express their dismay at an email exchange between City Council President David Narkewicz and Ward 3 Neighborhood Association President Gerald Budgar. Tacy calls for a special election for the position […]