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Date: 8/31/2022
CHICOPEE/WEST SPRINGFIELD – State Rep. Michael Finn undertook new challenges while advocating for issues in the communities he oversees during the last legislative session.
Finn, a former West Springfield city councilor who assumed the 6th Hampden District state representative position in 2011, welcomed the responsibilities of chairing a committee for the second time this year with the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities. Finn said his new committee possesses a greater “policy focus” than his former chair position on the Global Warming and Climate Change committee.
Finn shared that he and the committee served an oversight role in the case behind Fall River resident David Almond’s death. Almond was a 14-year-old with autism who died from starvation and parental neglect.
“We got involved with the tragic death of David Almond and we had a very significant oversight function as it related to that case. … The committee and myself worked on making sure that the administration followed through with the implementation of all the recommendations,” said Finn in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
Finn and the committee implemented over 100 recommendations from the state’s Office of the Child Advocate. The harrowing case spotlighted the importance of working to improve the childcare system.
“I spent a large portion of this session, if not the entirety of it, on improving the child welfare system,” said Finn.
The extensive work became a rewarding responsibility for Finn.
“I found it to be the most exciting work in my time in the Legislature, policy-wise. … From a direct impact on people’s lives, this has been the best work I have been involved in,” said Finn. In March, a statewide advocacy organization, The Arc of Massachusetts, awarded Finn with their legislator of the year award for his efforts in enhancing the lives of people and families dealing with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
Outside of his chairperson responsibilities, Finn also worked to secure funding for local projects like the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England, which is in West Springfield. The state representative said the project has garnered his interest over the years as the town-owned building required renovations, including ensuring handicap accessibility.
“We needed to make sure that that building had handicap accessibility to all of the floors,” said Finn. Along with advocacy from state Sen. Adam Gomez and state Sen. John Velis, Finn helped secure $200,000 in funding to help construct a new fourth-floor space.
Finn said it was essential to support the community structure.
“Our hope is that the elevator will be going in shortly and the building will be handicap accessible so everyone can go in and enjoy the renovations. … It’s really been something we’ve been focused on to make it successful,” said Finn.
Additionally, Finn shared that his office served a local role in aiding people during the ongoing difficulties of the coronavirus pandemic over the last legislative session. Some of those duties include connecting people with health insurance and unemployment benefits.
Finn also noted that developments are “in flux” with the state House as the 2022 election cycle approaches. With Chicopee state Rep. Joseph Wagner’s retirement impending after over 30 years of leadership, Finn shared his aspirations to help fill the void of Wagner’s leadership.
“Joe has been a very strong and effective voice for Western Mass. for a really long time. I’m hoping to step forward and be one of the folks that try to fill Joe’s shoes when he is gone,” said Finn.
Finn said he is now spending significant time reconnecting with the communities he serves.
“I am making sure I am aware of what the leadership of each municipality that I represent needs. I want to be in tune with what Mayor [John] Vieau might be looking for with his city moving forward,” said Finn.
The state representative is also connecting with Agawam and Westfield municipal officials after being assigned sections of those communities during last year’s redistricting process.
Readers can learn more about state Rep. Finn and his work at http://www.repfinn.com/.