Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 7/6/2021
NORTHAMPTON – Ahead of her small-scale campaign events beginning in July, Northampton resident Michelle Serra announced she will be running for one of the two upcoming City Council at-large vacancies.
Serra said she wanted to run for City Council because she is a longtime resident of the city and cares about it and its people.
“I have lived in Northampton for a long time, I care deeply about Northampton and the people of our city. I am excited to be running a positive campaign focusing on issues that affect all of us,” she said.
Serra said she currently works as a Massachusetts chapter leader for Progressive Democrats for America (PDA).
“I feel that issues we are discussing on the local level connect to broader national issues that I have experienced working on as a Massachusetts Chapter leader for a national political action committee, Progressive Democrats for America,” she said.
Along with working for PDA, Serra said her experience working with Habitat for Humanity will translate well to a position on City Council.
“I worked in the past with Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity. That work was wonderful and energizing, between the strategic planning, board retreats, being together with people and brainstorming our work to find fresh ideas. I found those conversations so productive,” she said.
One of the issues Serra said is important to her is advancing the city’s climate and sustainability goals.
“Sustainability and climate are very important to me and to our community, that is definitely an area I would like to see us work as hard as we can to advance our sustainability goals. I am proud of our city and the work we have done, but a lot has changed, and the bar is much higher now,” she said.
Serra said she has had an interest in climate change and sustainability since she was a child.
“I spent weeks convincing my parents to let me attend the first Earth Day event when I was in third grade. I walked to City Hall with my best friend, a second grader,” she said.
Along with sustainability, Serra said one of her other goals is properly funding the city’s new Department of Community Care and removing the concern residents may have of police responding to certain calls.
“My concern is that we may be underestimating the demand for such services and I feel that once we remove the stigma of people having to make such a call in distress and have a police cruiser coming up. I feel women, people of color and the trans community would be more willing to call out for help if you remove that concern,” she said.
While the City Council voted to increase the police budget due to salaries and other increases, Serra said she would have voted against it.
“I would not have voted to increase the police budget. I feel this is a time of national reckoning and it feels out of step in my opinion,” she said.
Even if she is not elected to City Council, Serra said she is excited to get out and campaign.
“I am looking forward to campaigning, talking in the community and I would be honored to work with the council if that were to come to be, but the campaigning is a great experience and I am happy to be in it,” she said.
Rather than hosting a large kickoff event, Serra said she will be hosting smaller, outdoor parties at her home throughout her campaign.
"I am going to have a series of yard parties with people gathering outside and I am having the first one on July 11. It will be our first event and I am looking forward to meeting with people and celebrating,” she said.
She added that she will be sharing more information on her website, michelleserra.com.
A fun fact Serra shared about herself is that she loves to garden.
“I love to garden; I have a large two-family home in Florence with a big yard and garden is something that I certainly enjoy,” she said.