NORTHAMPTON — Two of the three candidates for Ward 1 on the City Council agreed on many issues facing the city at a candidate forum Monday night, though they differed on what to do about defense contractor L3Harris.
Gwenevra Nabad and Nikolas Letendre-Cahillane, the two candidates who attended the forum, and a third contender, Michele Ronco, who was absent, are competing to replace current councilor Stanley Moulton. Voters at a Sept. 16 preliminary election will narrow the field to two candidates for the municipal election on Nov. 4.
Letendre-Cahillane introduced himself as a democratic socialist, and voiced his belief in the value of public resources, including the need for more Department of Public Works employees to the counteract the deterioration of public resources. He also highlighted the importance of public education, and the need to make housing more affordable in the city.
“I think that we can really build a city that works for working people, and I think that working people need to really have a voice in city government, and I’m here to really try and bring the voices of workers into the government,” he said.
Nabad laid out her plan to close inequality gaps within the city, with priority given to affordable housing and the ability to make more creative decisions concerning education since the MCAS is no longer a state requirement.
“I see the struggles that the city faces in terms of being affordable for people in Northampton,” said Nabad, who is part of the Northampton Housing Partnership. “And so I would say that is the basis of my campaign in supporting equity in the city.”
Picture Main Street
One of the biggest issues in the city is Picture Main Street, a $29 million project set to begin next year that calls for a complete overhaul of Main Street and replacement of critical downtown infrastructure.
Moderators asked the candidates whether they would be open to the city installing a trial run for the project before construction begins. Both said they are open to the idea.
Letendre-Cahillane answered, “I don’t know if that means chalking out and putting up a bunch of cones on the street and sort of seeing how it works, that seems totally doable.
“Picture Main Street is a very divisive issue,” he continued. “I like some of the infrastructure upgrades, but I think it’s pretty clear the process became kind of opaque, and unfortunately, there’s a lot of bitterness … I hope to bring a level of transparency and sort of openness to city government so that we can have a conversation out in the open.”
Nabad said, “It seems like we are doing a trial run right now. In terms of what is being done on Strong Avenue, with the whole area being cut off and just being all restaurants, and then when you come through the bridge, it is just down to two lanes.”
She continued: “And I know that we did do some trial runs a few years back, and so I wouldn’t discourage it.”
School funding
Both candidates said they support more funding for not only for schools but for other vital public resources as well.
Nabad said, “I support funding for schools, and I have three children who required early education plans, and I know that it’s a struggle, and it’s really painful when you feel that your child isn’t getting what they need.”
She then noted that the city spends the largest fraction of its budget on education and said “it’s (the funding) definitely an increase from what we saw when the last mayor was serving.”
But she said other departments, including the Department of Public Works, are also vital to fund with additional money.
“And so I do support funding the school fully, however, I think that we have to figure out how that could be done without ruining our credit,” Nabad said.
Letendre-Cahillane said, “Our children are the future of the city, and when public services are cut, the wealthiest can send their kids to private school or hire private tutors.”
He called for a participatory budget similar to what Boston uses that allows residents into the process of compiling their city’s budget.
Letendre-Cahillane said Northampton has an urgent need to expand its tax base, which he said can be accomplished by lowering commercial and residential vacancy rates. To accomplish this, he supports pushing the state to allow municipalities the ability to implement vacancy taxes, “so we can put further pressure on our landlords, like Eric Suher, who are holding our city hostage,” he said, referring to one of the city’s largest downtown property owners.
Resilience Hub
Both candidates support the ongoing creation of a Resilience Hub in the First Baptist Church downtown, although Letendre-Cahillane said the debates that surround the project are emblematic of a lack of transparency by the city.
But ultimately, he said, “I do support funding additional services to help the homeless.”
Nabad said the hub has already been funded through a variety of sources, including money from the American Rescue Plan Act, Community Development Block Grants and cannabis impact fees.
“It took no money away from the city budget in response to homelessness and the needs of the community,” she said. “I think it could become a really fantastic plan for people that are in need in the community.’
She added that grants will be needed to keep the hub operational going forward.
Housing development
Moderators asked each candidate what they would do to maximize new housing units, both market rate and affordable. Both stressed the need for new housing, with Nabad highlighting the need for housing diversity and Letendre-Cahillane arguing why cheap housing is a necessity.
As someone passionate about the issue of housing, Nabad laid out a plan that would remove minimum-sized lots as a requirement. This would help to bring families into the city by providing affordable housing for the middle class, and increasing the number and diversity of housing options overall.
“And there’s so much more we could do for the houseless,” she said.
Letendre-Cahillane doubled-down on his stance of the importance for a vacancy tax, saying landlords should not be able to let properties “sit and rot.” He laid out the importance of new housing developments in the city.
“Northampton has always been this city for the arts and everything,” he said. “But if artists can’t afford to move in here, live for cheap while they make their art, or if they have three jobs they have no time to make their art — it’s just not going to work out.”
Housing he said needs to be “actually affordable, not just market rate affordable,” and said the city should ensure that projects are getting done with union labor to give employment to the community.
L3Harris disagreement
Candidates were asked whether L3Harris, the defense contractor, should be allowed to operate in the city.
Letendre-Cahillane said he supports a ban, while Nabad said that although she is opposed to the Israel-Hamas war, she notes that the business generates tax revenue and employs residents.
Nabad said, “This is a private business and it pays taxes” and employs residents. She also noted L3Harris no longer receives tax breaks.
“However, I do not support war and I am against genocide,” Nabad concluded.
Letendre-Cahillane added that in addition to supporting a ban, “I think the city should really look into more divestment from war, genocide…and invest in greener things that are kinder than blowing up innocent women and children overseas.”
Closing arguments
In closing, Letendre-Cahillane dreamed about “a paradise we can afford.”
Nabad expressed her passion for issues regarding the climate, schooling, housing and her desire to be a voice for the most vulnerable.
A couple members of the audience from Ward 1 expressed their opinions in an interview before and after the debate.
Kaye Carroll, a member of Gen Z, was unsure of the candidates on the ballot in her ward before the debate. However, she was sold on Letendre-Cahillane. “It sounds like he had more specific ideas,” she said.
Sara Elkins came in as a supporter for Nabad, especially her ability to formulate her views on the climate and affordable housing.
“I think she did really well, especially when she was talking about affordable housing and also climate, and the importance of kids with IEP’s being able to get the services that they are legally entitled,” Elkins said.
