NORTHAMPTON — Few people participate in local government, and Northampton officials and Pioneer Valley Planning Commission staff want to know why.
Those groups are hosting a citywide public meeting on Monday, Nov. 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Senior Center to hear from residents about what is causing the lack of interest in municipal matters while making a pitch that local government is good and worthy work.
“A lot of focus has been put on our national elections this year, but nothing makes a more fundamental impact on a citizen’s quality of life quite as much as local government,” said Mayor David Narkewicz in a statement. “I look forward to seeing the final recommendations on how to further enhance resident participation in our local municipal matters here in Northampton.”
The meeting is a piece of a larger Re-Energize Democracy campaign in town that has also included outreach to traditionally marginalized groups like low-income public housing residents as well as young professionals.
A final report of recommendations on how to increase participation in local government will be created by Casa Latina, the Human Rights Commission, Northampton Housing Authority and Verdant Multicultural Media.