This fall, I am working for a change in the balance of power and representation in Northampton city government. I am not discounting the genuine accomplishments of Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra and our current City Council, but I believe the issues facing our city are urgent and the time is ripe for change. To that end, I am supporting candidates who, I believe, will fight for fully funding public schools, for redressing staffing shortages in the Department of Public Works, and for prioritizing the funding of essential services over saving reserve cash for capital improvement projects (such as Picture Main Street and the Resilience Hub).
I want a council that will “opt in” to the school budget process and strive to ensure the needs of all students are met, most especially those with special needs. I crave city leadership that will hold developers accountable to the values and ecology of this city we love, and who will support rent stabilization and other measures that ensure low-income renters and homeowners can keep living here.
As a Ward 3 resident, I will be voting for Jillian Duclos for mayor, Margaret “Meg” Robbins and Deborah Henson for councilors at large, and Quaverly Rothenberg for ward councilor. These are not cookie-cutter candidates who will always agree on every issue, but I do believe that, if elected, they will listen to us and will strive to work for the things we value.
I urge everyone to study the issues for themselves, get involved, make their voices heard, and if you share the values I have mentioned, vote on Nov. 4 for the candidates who will support change in City Hall.
J. Scott Jackson
Northampton