Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 7/19/2023
CHICOPEE — The Chicopee mayoral race is officially contested after incumbent Mayor John Vieau announced that he is seeking reelection.
On July 11, Vieau shared that he turned in over 400 signatures of the required 250 to ensure that his name will be on the Nov. 7 ballot, which was confirmed with the Registrar of Voters. His opponent, Ward 3 City Councilor Delmarina López, also submitted the required number of signatures to secure her spot on the ballot.
With “so much going on” in the city of Chicopee, Vieau said he is not ready to leave the position yet.
Vieau first took office in January 2020, and like his 2019 campaign, he noted that his priorities and focus areas relatively remain the same.
“Public safety is paramount and probably — in my opinion — most important,” he said.
Vieau shared, “Keeping our community safe means investing by enhancing our police and fire complements, expanding community policing and implementing additional impact shifts for the ambulance services.”
Vieau noted that with the success of the C3 policing unit in Chicopee Center, it has expanded to Willimansett.
“The increased police presence, community engagement and walking and bike patrols have proven effective. With support from the City Council, under the leadership of the police and fire chiefs, we have ensured that our first responders have the tools and training they need to keep themselves and our community safe,” Vieau said. “With every emergency call, the goal is to have well-trained, professional first responders there to help and serve you with respect and dignity.”
Vieau went on to say, “We want to make sure that people feel safe and if you don’t feel safe when you put your head down on your pillow and go to bed at night, then you’re not [going to] want to live in Chicopee … No matter how great the schools are, the services or whatever it may be — our great electric bill — you’re not [going to] want to live here.”
Another area that Vieau has and will continue to focus on are the Chicopee Public Schools.
“[We are] excited about building a new [Anna E.] Barry Elementary [School],” he shared, as it is the “worst” elementary school in the city, with asbestos and a gymnasium on the fourth floor with no elevator. The Massachusetts School Building Authority toured the school and approved new construction.
Vieau said it is important that all Chicopee students have a “great” and “safe” learning environment.
As someone who was born and raised in Chicopee, Vieau shared that Chicopee Public Schools gave him all the tools he needed to go on and be successful. Whether students decide to go to college, trade school or move away to another state, he is hopeful that they return to Chicopee.
“I want them to have a great experience,” he said.
Vieau shared that outreach in the schools is also important. Currently, Chicopee’s Clean City Initiative is underway, which was designed by St. Joan of Arc School and Litwin Elementary School. With this initiative, students across the city pledged not to litter, except for one second grade student who told Vieau he could not control himself.
The purpose of the initiative, among other programs and more, is “about bringing Chicopee pride back,” Vieau said. “A message I often share is pride … I have a lot of pride — most importantly Chicopee pride.”
He added, “I’m a less fortunate kid from Willimansett and I never thought I’d be sitting in this office. [There is] potential to follow dreams.”
Vieau went on to say that caring for seniors is a priority. “We will be expanding services at the Council on Aging,” he said. Vieau noted that the goal is to reduce lunch prices from $3.50 to around $2 — making it more affordable for all. The American Recovery Plan Act funds will be used for this, as the ARPA Committee recently voted in favor of it, he explained.
Veterans are also a top priority as Chicopee is home to a large veteran population and the Westover Air Reserve Base. In September — hopefully on 9/11 — Vieau said there will be a ribbon cutting for a seven-acre K-9 park that honors fallen dogs in the line of duty.
“I’ll always focus on economic development,” Vieau said. Some of the future happenings in Chicopee include Hot Oven Cookies coming to a mixed-use building that will have eight renovated apartments, Singing Bridge LLC constructing roughly 100 affordable housing units, potentially creating off-campus dorms for Elms College, Phase 2 of the canal walk and the City Hall renovation project. “We will maximize every square foot of what we have and modernize [City Hall],” Vieau said. He opined that City Hall employees deserve a more accessible and service-oriented space.
One of the most important things to Vieau is to keep Chicopee affordable, he shared. This includes fighting for grants to alleviate the burden on taxpayers.
“We have a great financial team,” he added. “The city is in excellent fiscal, financial shape with a robust stabilization account of $27 million and one of the highest bond ratings in Western [Massachusetts].” According to the Division of Local Services Massachusetts Department of Revenue, in 2020 — the state’s last listed bond rate for the city — Chicopee was at Aa3. In comparison to cities of similar size, Holyoke has been rated an A1 since 2010, but in 2023, dropped down to A2. In Westfield, the bond rating as of 2020 was A1, which has been the same since rising from an A3 in 2010.
Vieau continued, “With the recently approved, responsible budget supporting all the services we expect, I am proud to say that we applied $3 million in tax relief for the new fiscal year and our budget remains well under the levy limit established under Proposition 2½.”
Vieau noted that he would like to retain residency, with the city’s current population being around 55,000 people.
“I think our services are exceptional,” he said. For example, there is no trash fee for the weekly pickup.
“It is a blessing and honor to serve,” he said. “We are making a lot of progress and Chicopee is heading in the right direction … [but] there is a lot more to do.”
He continued, “Collectively our success depends on all of us.”
Vieau noted that his first two years as mayor — during the coronavirus pandemic — were focused on saving lives. Now, Vieau said he would like to see his ideas and visions for the city come to life, with several important projects coming to the forefront.
One of many goals as mentioned by Vieau includes boosting morale for employees — allowing them to enjoy Monday mornings just as much as Fridays.
He shared that Chicopee is inclusive and welcoming to all, as they often host flag raising ceremonies, among other events and celebrations. Vieau noted that he wants Chicopee Center to be the place people want to come to.
“I do believe we’re in a better place today than we were yesterday,” he said. “[We are] making progress.”
He went on to say, “I am not interested in this position if this becomes a job. I do this because I have a passion.”
While Vieau said he does not make promises to people, he does promise to continue to work hard in serving as the mayor of Chicopee.
“I am passionate about my job, and I want to continue that for the next two years. There’s still much more to do.”