I had the pleasure of attending Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra’s re-election campaign kickoff at the Iron Horse. The energy in the packed room was palpable — supportive, energized, and hopeful about Northampton’s future. There’s no denying that Northampton is currently in an extraordinarily difficult financial reality. Among other challenges, and similar to many other communities, we are dealing with the long-term impacts of municipal funding challenges brought by Proposition 2½, the broken state level school funding formula that leaves communities like Northampton behind, and the millions of dollars we pay in sending tuition to charter schools each year.

Yet, there is also much to look forward to. Sound long-term financial planning means the schools have seen steady and significant budget increases and the establishment of a special education stabilization fund. The redesign of Main Street will make our downtown safer and more welcoming for all. The Division of Community Care is ready to act in service to our city’s most vulnerable residents, and plans to make the Resilience Hub a reality are moving forward. We are responding to the urgency of climate change. We are supporting the development of affordable housing, and multiple city neighborhoods can look forward to welcoming new neighbors in the near future.Having served alongside Mayor Sciarra for five years, I have seen firsthand her commitment to our community. I trust her to lead Northampton through what is likely to be some difficult years ahead, and I am deeply grateful to her for stepping forward to serve for another term.

Karen Foster Cannon

Northampton