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Date: 9/7/2021
NORTHAMPTON – With the election just under two months away, candidates for the Northampton City Council Ward seats answered questions about their goals, reasons for running, and why they think they would fit on the council. Questions were split up between new candidates running in contested races and incumbents currently running unopposed.
Among the contested Ward races, Emily “Lemy” Coffin and Stanley Moulton are competing for Ward 1, David Kris is running against incumbent Jim Nash in Ward 3, and newcomers Jesse Hassinger and Garrick Perry are running against each other in Ward 4.
Reminder Publishing (RP): What made you want to run for City Council?
Emily “Lemy” Coffin: I am running because I have a fresh and informed perspective to offer this city. I believe with hard work and forward-thinking ideas; I have a lot of skills to offer to help put our progressive ideals into practice. I am a grassroots organizer with a background in government and social work. Along with the Northampton Police Review Commission, I contributed a lot to the creation of Northampton's progressive Department of Care and am constantly thinking of pragmatic and innovative ways we can improve our town. Running for Ward 1 city councilor was the logical next step in serving my community.
Stanley Moulton: Two years ago, I listened to high school students and non-citizens passionately advocate for their voting rights in municipal elections. I was proud in 2019 to chair the Charter Review Committee that approved far-ranging recommendations to expand the electorate in Northampton. The City Council last year unanimously endorsed those reforms to lower the municipal voting age, extend voting rights to non-citizens, adopt ranked-choice voting, and make early mail-in voting permanent. That is not business as usual – rather that is working collaboratively to effect real change.
My roots in Northampton are deep, my knowledge of municipal government is broad, and I have a commitment to public service and proven leadership skills.
I'm eager to bring my experience and leadership in public service to the City Council, where I look forward to working collaboratively on bold solutions during these challenging times.
David Kris: Seeing the current City Council’s attitude of indifference toward its constituents made me want to run. I routinely attended and spoke at City Council meetings throughout the past two years in regard to the need for divestment from the Northampton Police Department (NPD) and investment in our community, including the Department of Community Care. I heard hundreds of residents of Northampton voice their concerns, tell heart wrenching stories of experiences with the NPD, and name their needs. In response, the city council offered platitudes. Our city government is in desperate need of city councilors with truly progressive politics that represent the interests of Northampton and the world at large. I want to be the counselor that not only listens, but acts in accordance with the needs of our city.
Jesse Hassinger: Since moving here in 2015 with a goal to open a business with my life partner, Aimee Francaes, we knew that one of the guiding forces that would propel our business was going to be engaging with and building community. On a personal level this is what we do and we knew that we wouldn’t be able to run a business that has different values than we did. Which is why, when we opened Belly of the Beast, we vowed that our little eatery would become a place where people could engage in finding those connections so that small groups can turn into larger communities.
We went out to visit area farms to begin those vital connections; we reached out to area businesses with open arms as the new kids in town asking them to share their experiences and deep knowledge of the area; we engaged and continue to engage with organizations who help the historically neglected communities to support their work; we became involved with social and municipal issues that affected this city; we speak out against justice deferred and justice denied everywhere; we use our platform that we have grown over the past four years to fight for the communities in our town and across the globe whose voices traditionally fall are ignored; and through this all, we hold the heart of our personal community – our staff – in highest respect.
We know from being embedded ourselves through the years, that the service industry is one of the most difficult sectors to work in. When we decided to open a business in this industry we knew that we had to throw away some of the traditional approaches to staffing. From the outset we wanted to build transparency and equality into our structure, so we set a goal of becoming a profit-sharing business within our first five years and to ensure that we didn’t flake on that, we would have an open book policy for any of our employees – and we went one step further to actively share our daily financial records as well as quarterly reports with all of our employees. We also decided to make every employee that we hire have equal responsibilities when it comes to job descriptions. Anyone who has ever worked in the food industry can attest that the most important employee that you have is the dishwasher. Traditionally that job is looked down upon and treated as less-than. Everyone on our staff has shifts at dish. Similarly we did away with the traditional kitchen hierarchy across the board, and eliminated front-of-house/back-of-house designations. We also hire everyone at rates above minimum-wage.
I don’t want this to sound like an advertisement for our restaurant, but I want you to know how I approach leadership because that is universal for me. My role as a leader is to provide access to knowledge and training and then step back and ensure a safe environment is maintained; to listen to my staff when they have recommendations or ideas for changes and to implement those changes if the staff agrees.
My approach to municipal government is going to be the same as I have had at the restaurant: a focus on building community and lasting relationships that empowers all of the people in our city.
Garrick Perry: I decided to run for City Council because I believe Northampton is at a unique crossroads and is in need of diverse and passionate leadership to help guide us through these times. Ultimately I want to make sure Northampton continues to be a vibrant and inviting city where I am proud to raise my children, and future generations will feel the same.
RP: What are some of the issues you are hoping to tackle if you are elected?
Coffin: We have so many issues to tackle in such trying times – from COVID recovery, to racial justice, to the climate crisis. All of these issues are interconnected, and I believe we need a local government that proactively supports our community to pull together and face these issues head on. To tackle these issues, Northampton city government must be a resource as much as it is an oversight body so we can truly support members of our community. Making local government a resource that residents can truly rely on to take care of their needs will be my top priority in City Council.
Moulton: I will bring a progressive agenda and compassionate leadership to the City Council. These are among my immediate priorities.
Pandemic recovery: Work with my colleagues and other municipal experts to develop a pandemic recovery plan focusing on people of color, lower-income residents, school children and small businesses disproportionately affected by COVID-19.
Public safety: Work with the next mayor to ensure that the new Department of Community Care receives sufficient resources. Develop an action plan to promote the safety of houseless people, including simplifying access to existing services and integrating the planned Community Resilience Hub.
Climate change: Ensure that municipal projects meet the goals listed in the “Northampton Climate Resilience & Regeneration Plan” amended through January 2021, particularly increasing energy efficiency and transitioning to renewable sources; and assist businesses in implementing the “Plastic Reduction & Sustainability” Ordinance in 2022.
Housing barriers: Work with the Northampton Housing Partnership to identify immediate action items among solutions listed in the 2019 “Unlocking Opportunity: An Assessment of Barriers to Fair Housing Report,” particularly improved assistance in navigating the affordable housing system and education about fair housing laws and resources.
Engagement of underserved communities: Create a special committee to address barriers to participation in municipal government that were identified by the city in the 2016 “Re-Energizing Democracy” report, including lack of information, and the need for translation services, childcare and transportation.
Main Street: Ensure that all downtown constituencies are heard during the redesign of Main Street. I am particularly concerned about increasing safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, as well as people who use wheelchairs or are visually impaired, and improving the flow of motorized traffic.
Kris: If elected, I will work to ensure democracy and working-class representation in city government, improve housing access and renter’s rights, tackle climate change and environmental justice, and reimagine and reinvest in new forms of public safety. I plan to tackle the issues that hit close to home for marginalized folks in our community, including myself. I know firsthand we have a housing crisis in Northampton. To tackle this, we need changes to zoning laws, to allow for a greater variety of housing and to increase the available options of housing, to decommodify housing, invest in vibrant social housing, create ironclad protections and rights for tenants, and use every tool at our disposal to stabilize rent in the city. I will also work to reduce the size and scope of policing in Northampton, as called for by the recommendations of the Policing Review Commission, and to address the root causes of addiction and crime by offering extensive resources, and working to improve the material and social conditions of those in need. I will also work to make council meetings more accessible to everyone in our community and to get the community involved in the budget process, that way our residents’ priorities can be expressed in dollar terms in our budget.
Hassinger: I have been personally disappointed in how the city government has been functioning and how it seems to be standard practice to ignore public concerns. As I have been walking around and speaking with many of the Ward Four residents it has further become apparent to me that this obfuscation isn’t just around hot-button topics, but seems to be par for the course. I have spoken with residents on Burts Pit Road about the light pollution emanating from the Hampshire County Jail. They have told me of the many requests that they have lobbied asking for that to be looked at and they have received no replies. I have spoken with residents on Olive Street who have told me about the seemingly endless entreaties that they have made to have their street’s speed limit investigated because people drive up and down that road well over the city speed limit, one resident using crutches to walk in front of her home was even clipped by a car without it even stopping. Whether or not these requests made it past the ears of their councilor and where upon the ladder of power they stalled is unknown, but this is not how we help our communities. Even if the answer is a negative one, even if it is one that ignores the complaint completely, I will be transparent in where things stand, what and who I hear from, and how we, as a team, can make change happen together. None of us should be isolated and left to fend for ourselves; not around city roads, not around reversing climate change; not around support for finding jobs and affordable housing, and not around emergency situations when what is needed is a compassionate caregiver and we are greeted by an officer in full body armor with lethal weapons.
Perry: There are many issues that I am looking forward to working on but here are a few of my priorities.
First, revitalizing downtown Northampton is very important to me. I have worked throughout downtown Northampton most of my adult life and I believe the success of our downtown is a key to a successful community. I hope to breathe new life into our artistic scene and once again make Northampton a destination for creatives and those who love the arts.
I also hope to deal with reimagining law enforcement in our city. As an African-American male who grew up in the D.C. area, I am well versed in the need for serious reform in America's law enforcement but I believe true social change requires a measured and nuanced approach. I want to work hand in hand with both our Police Department and the soon to be formed Department of Community Care to create a new model of law enforcement that fits our unique city.
I also believe that when one individual struggles our whole community struggles and I want to begin seriously tackling the issue of houselessness in our city. I believe that the establishment of a resiliency hub is a step in the right direction and I want to ensure that the proper resources are provided to help those in need.
At the end of the day however I look forward to addressing any issues that my fellow neighbors have. Listening to and dealing with the wants and needs of my constituents will always be my top priority.
RP: Why do you think you would be a good fit to serve on the council?
Coffin: My entire life I have been a nerd for politics, and every moment of the nine years I have lived in Northampton I have been working to better our community. In my paid work, I am a family therapist that works with families that are facing very difficult issues in their lives – often navigating complex healthcare systems, school systems, and state systems all while trying to cope with a lot of difficulty at home. I spent many years on the treasury team for Showing Up for Racial Justice, as well as doing public education on topics of racial justice and racial inequality. I have worked closely as a resident participant in the City Council in the last two budget cycles, as well as worked closely with the Northampton Police Review Commission. I have spent so much of the last 18 months deeply researching our city’s charter and various state and municipal policies to imagine new ways to support members of our community. I have seen firsthand some of the difficulties city councilors face in Northampton, and oftentimes supported the City Council in overcoming administrative hurdles. I am exceptionally qualified for Ward 1 city councilor due to my deep understanding of so many sides of our community; I work with families, residential facilities, schools, hospitals, grassroots organizations, and local government every day.
Moulton: I'm ready to be the next city councilor from Ward 1, where I've owned my home at 34 Perkins Ave. for 42 years.
After 44 years as a journalist, I have a deep knowledge of how the government works in Northampton. I combine a common-sense approach to good government with a commitment to effective communication, collaboration and creativity. I will be an accessible listener for my constituents in Ward 1 and work to ensure that all points of view are heard and respected.
My record of public service includes current membership on the board of Northampton Open Media. I previously was on the board of the Citizens Scholarship Foundation of Northampton, including a decade as chair. In 2018, I was one of 20 voters statewide who participated in the Massachusetts Citizens’ Review of Question 1, an intensive four-day examination of that ballot measure. Last year, I worked part-time for the U.S. Census as an enumerator and many of my cases were in Ward 1.
I have the knowledge, leadership skills and commitment to working together that will make a positive contribution to the City Council.
Kris: I will be a good fit to serve on the council because I will offer truly progressive politics and action for my constituents. I will offer a voice to renters and the working class, and to every other marginalized person in Northampton. I will tirelessly work to address the needs of my community and will never turn my cheek to my constituents as has been done in the past. I will offer what our city government has been lacking for far too long: someone who’s not willing to accept the status quo, and who is willing to enact bold change when it’s called for by the community.
Hassinger: As we look ahead toward an uncertain future, the only way that we can confront whatever is over the horizon is as a unified community working together. Part of this co-working model means that us white people have a lot of work to do – a lot of introspection and reflection on how we interact with the world on a daily basis. We must recognize the damage that has been caused by our ancestors as colonizer-settlers and ourselves as supporting a colonizer-settler government. If we ever want to be able to say that equality exists, we must first do the heavy lifting of recognizing our own place in the white supremacist structure in which we interact every day. Only then can we begin to say that we will be able to start working together to build a better future for everyone.
I am on the Northampton Arts Council and have been actively involved in exploring the ways in which government bodies and the arts need to change to begin to be inclusive. In participating in this work with that council it is clear that we have a long road to go before we can even think to say that we are inclusive; and if the road is long for a council that is already involved in this work, it is beyond evident to me that this introspection needs to spread to all sectors of public and private life if we are ever going to begin to address institutional racism. Personally, and on a regular basis I actively explore this process and attempt to make space whenever and wherever possible for the voices of historically ignored communities to be heard and be active in discussions. I frequently step aside to allow for conversations to be led by marginalized communities and always try to follow their lead.
The reason why I am running for City Council and not stepping aside in this race, is because I do not see this type of leadership significantly enough represented in our city government. There are some people who will look at the candidates and only see what is on the surface – who will only see my white skin and cisgendered body and make their decision based on the inherent bias that that brings to mind. I ask you to look beyond identity politics and see my track record as someone who has been actively involved with community support as a business owner and outspoken during City Council meetings for what I believe to be the most compassionate path forward for our city. I ask you to understand that from the moment I chose to settle here in Northampton, I have engaged with all of the wonderful communities that surround us and actively try to dismantle the walls surrounding the insular factions in our midst. I ask you to hear that when I speak about wanting to build a better foundation, it is with an eye to how it can help every single one of us, no matter our economic, social, racial, or physical stature.
I believe in the values of sustainability, diversity, and inclusion, in true community care, and in staying responsive to voices from all walks of life, including those among the most marginalized of us. I believe it is only with the support of our entire community that we can enhance all our lives.
Perry: I believe I would be a great fit to serve on the council because I bring a unique perspective to the table and because I truly love this little city of ours. I have rented and lived in Ward 4 for over 15 years, I have worked in downtown for 20 years, I have played countless shows and benefits for our community with the Alchemystics, and both of my children were born and are being raised in Northampton. Northampton has shaped the majority of my adult life and I feel it is only right that I give back to the community that has given so much to me and my family.
Incumbent Ward 2 Councilor Karen Foster, incumbent Ward 5 Councilor Alex Jarrett and incumbent Ward 7 Councilor Rachel Maiore, who are all running opposed, also answered questions about the race and the upcoming term. Their responses will be published in the Sept. 16 edition of The Reminder.