Hello, my fellow neighbors in Northampton: I’m Garrick Perry, one of your current at-Large city councilors, and I’d like to get down to business.
The secret to Northampton is the people who populate this little pocket of awesome. We work the shops, we hike the trails, we raise our kids, we create and purchase great art, we work city jobs, we celebrate our uniqueness, and we all support making sure this city thrives.
Let me repeat that last part, we all support making sure this city thrives.
I believe there is nothing our city can’t accomplish if we work together. Sure, we have and we will occasionally make mistakes, but we will hold ourselves accountable in productive ways, learn, grow and continue to be an example for other cities and towns. I have had the joy of traveling around the commonwealth as an artist and a councilor, and it continues to be heartwarming to hear how fondly folks speak of our gem in western Massachusetts!
I must admit, these last few years haven’t been kind. The tension is palpable. In a landscape where we face unprecedented stress on top of the daily dilemma of just trying to live, I can understand why folks might lash out at those closest. Sometimes we unintentionally hurt our neighbors next door, those working in the service industry, our elected officials, and sometimes even our family.
Just because I understand does not mean I have to accept.
So, let’s get back to work Northampton!
Now, in addition to being a working-class renter deeply involved in performing in and building our musical community, and raising two daughters who attend our public schools, here are a few other things you should know about me. One, I will always work as hard as I can to make sure Northampton not only thrives but continues to rise. Two, I will always aim to be a reliable steward of our resources. Three, I will never offer you false promises or misinformation. Four, I will always admit my limitations, mistakes, and flaws. Five- I will always listen.
During my two terms on City Council I have served on the Select Committee to Study Barriers to Service, the Northampton Reparations Study Commission, the Northampton Vibrancy Project, the Public Service Advisory Committee for the Community Development Block Grant funding cycle, to name a few.
I have remained committed to reimagining policing by serving as the council liaison for police recruit interviews and promotion panels as well as serving on the police chief search committee.
I have served as chair of Community Resources, the vice-chair of Legislative Matters and the Ordinance Review Committee. I have been able to collaborate with the majority of my colleagues, our departments, and city hall to accomplish many goals and I’m especially proud of those moments where I worked with my colleagues to broker an agreement last spring on the supplemental appropriation for our schools.
During my next term I will use my decades of management experience to help bring together our City Council and School Committee. I look forward to the opportunity to not only help lead but also to learn from my colleagues new and old. We are entering a new era in Northampton and I will use my knowledge, skills, passion, and vision to help guide our city through this time.
If you can’t tell by now, I truly love Northampton and everyone who lives, works, and visits this city. I wouldn’t keep pushing myself so hard if I didn’t care.
I reject the “us vs. them” mentality, and have faith that we can get back to working together. When we fight amongst each other, we forget the bonds that unite us and ultimately we just continue a cycle of harm. However, please don’t think this means I don’t fight for you all. Advocating for our community doesn’t have to be antagonistic. I will continue building bridges, advancing equity, and championing honesty.
Anywho, I’m so thankful for all the things this area has given me. I wouldn’t be the person I am today without Northampton and I’m honored for every opportunity to give back. I’m always down to show my work, and I humbly ask for one of your two votes for at-large city councilor.
Garrick Perry is a Northampton city councilor at-large and seeking reelection.