Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Date: 9/27/2021
HOLYOKE – Recently, Reminder Publishing reached out to candidates vying for a seat on the City Council during the Nov. 2 municipal election.
Candidates were invited to answer a series of questions related to city-specific issues. Previously, the first of two parts of candidate responses were printed. The following responses are the second and final candidate responses. Responses printed by Reminder Publishing on behalf of the candidates represent their own thoughts, feelings and beliefs. Reminder Publishing does not endorse any candidate nor their beliefs.
Candidates on the ballot for ward-specific City Council seats include Jenny Rivera and Victor Machado for Ward 1; Will Puello for Ward 2; David Bartley and Anne Thalheimer for Ward 2; Michael Thomas Siciliano and Kocayne Givner for Ward 4; Guy O’Donnell and Linda Vacon for Ward 5; Juan Anderson-Burgos and Preston Macy for Ward 6; and Todd McGee for Ward 7.
Their response, listed numerically by ward and in alphabetical order, are as follows.
Reminder Publishing (RP): In your opinion, what are the most significant issues facing your Ward at this time, and what would your plans be to address them?
Thalheimer, Ward 3: What I hear most often from folks while door knocking relates to important quality-of-life issues. Residents have told me about how their street needs paving, how their sidewalks are crumbling, and how cars cut through their neighborhoods with no regard for speed limits or safety. I’ve heard about near-misses, accidents, and fatalities, about calls for change going unanswered, and a growing sense of frustration. I’ve heard about increased break-ins and how residents are losing their sense of safety in their homes and neighborhoods. People are rightly frustrated when the trash isn’t picked up or their street isn’t plowed. How I intend to address these issues is through a combination of hands-on work with city agencies (repainting crosswalks, empowering residents to address the council directly through public comment as well as direct and specific outreach to city agencies, following up on important issues and keeping the ward informed) and through community building and fostering connections. We haven’t had a Ward 3 meeting for quite some time, even before the pandemic, and we need more opportunities for neighbors to meet one another and connect – not only surrounding issues of public safety or when something happens in the ward, but also to build community among the diverse and interesting people within the ward, especially across our two precincts.
Givner, Ward 4: According to my neighbors, our biggest issues are trash, park maintenance, traffic violations, senior safety, Holyoke-centric public transportation and addicts. It is my intention to continue to be the squeakiest wheel in my community by requesting traffic studies to support the creation of crosswalks, turning lanes, bike lanes, speed humps, and ticketing cameras for speeders and those who run red lights and stop signs. I will continue to look for ways to better support our city services by working to hold our store and restaurant chains accountable for their trash. I would also love to see shuttles that run throughout the city connecting Ward 4 to our shopping areas and restaurants. City buses that loop throughout our communities would help our seniors and youth in so many ways. Additionally, I think it’s time that we help our addicted members find services and hold them accountable to take advantage of available services including shelter, food pantries, and addiction assistance. There really is no reason for so many homeless peddlers. There must be ways to encourage them to do better for themselves and for their community. It takes a village. We must learn from things that work in our neighboring communities and at least try to tackle this issue differently.
O’Donnell, Ward 5: Residents in Ward 5 want something really simple. They want to see the benefits from their tax dollars. They want the potholes in their road filled. They want access to safe, clean parks for their kids. They want the intersection down the street to be safe.
These are not big requests and are totally within our power to accomplish. We need to stop cutting corners and defunding the very departments that benefit our neighbors. As a city councilor I will ensure those departments that are directly benefiting our residents and making life better for all Holyokers get the funding they need to do their job.
Vacon, Ward 5: At this time, the biggest issues communicated to me in Ward 5 are:
• Poor condition of roads with potholes and needing resurfacing and drainage corrections in some cases: I will continue to communicate the road issues and repairs needed to the Department of Public Works (DPW) and file orders for correcting the issues when indicated.
• Speeding drivers throughout the ward and city: I will continue to follow up and assist residents to address neighborhood safety concerns and help with initiatives to improve quality of life in neighborhoods. Working with DPW to improve traffic flow/patterns for safety (such as Apremont Highway/Rock Valley intersection) will continue to be a priority for me.
• Recent increase in safety issues involving gunfire/drive by shooting on Homestead Avenue/neighborhood conflicts: I will work with Capt. Isaias Cruz to look at a Neighborhood Watch group and continue to address local neighborhood issues as they happen.
• Constant increases in rent expense, taxes and fees for residents: I will continue to work to bring our budget in line to fit the income of the interests of those I represent as a city councilor to ensure the local government is responsive to citizens by seeking to reduce excess spending in the budget and increasing efficiencies in government departments.
Anderson-Burgos, Ward 6: Traffic and other public safety concerns seem to be a constant concern for many residents, for good reason. It doesn’t get the big headlines that many other issues get, but it is an issue that impacts people every single day. I have visited many constituents at their homes and in their neighborhoods so that they can explain what they’re seeing. Sometimes it is speeding on West Franklin or people blowing by stop signs on Sargent or Hillside. Sometimes it has been addressing potholes that create hazards and damage vehicles. I’ve had many conversations with our DPW director and city engineer when these issues arise, and we have often spent numerous hours in and out of meetings discussing the best ways to mitigate the issues. These are issues I will continue to work very hard on in my next term.
RP: If elected, how would you work with the newly elected mayor to ensure a smooth transition in government and resident services?
Thalheimer, Ward 3: Arguably, all municipal resources should work in cooperation with one another. We don’t always see that in our City Council currently – in practice, it’s often the opposite – and the fact that a question like this exists as part of a municipal questionnaire speaks volumes. None of the mayoral candidates are wholly new to municipal government or how it works; all got involved because they want to see change happen in the city. That’s something I believe all candidates share in Holyoke; a love of the city and a desire to see things improve. It’s common ground I share with them. Due to the home rule petition approved earlier this year whoever wins the mayoral race in November will be immediately sworn in as soon as the votes are verified. City Council, however, won’t be sworn in until January. In those intervening months it seems crucial to begin fostering working relationships among departments and people; it’s a unique opportunity to start building bridges, looking toward the future, and moving forward on major projects. My hope is that the new mayor would use those months not only to get up to speed but also to immerse themselves in the culture of the office, meet their constituents, and set the tone of their administration – including, ideally, a continued open-door policy. We might not always agree on policy but I’d expect to work together with civil and possibly spirited discussion toward common goals
Givner, Ward 4: Ward 4 is the heart of this city and will benefit greatly from any and all progress. Since resident services are my primary focus, it will be my pleasure to work with our next mayor to do my part in helping all new services and policies be well understood and accessible to our residents. Holyoke is on a path that will be inclusive. I want everyone in our communities to feel like they can be a part of the process. I want to make it clear that City Hall is a place to access any information needed. The more we share with our neighbors, the more we can do with and for one another. I will be sure to work very hard to share all new resources and plans in an effort to create transparency. Too often good things are happening that are not well known. It will be so great to be able to help spread information throughout my community so that city happenings don’t go unnoticed and so that new services and processes are easily accessed and understood. I will support our new mayor in helping our city evolve into the amazing place it deserves to be, for itself and its citizens.
O’Donnell, Ward 5: While this is my first time running for public office, I have been very active in the community. I’ve been fortunate enough to get to know many of those running for mayor. We have a lot of great candidates with great ideas. I’m going to make sure that we are working together on those things that really make a difference in people's lives. That we stay focused on what people need and what they want rather than focusing on issues to divide us. Too often I’ve seen city councilors focus on what divides us and we get nothing done. We need leadership that focuses on those issues that unite us. People do believe we should see benefits from our tax dollars. People do believe that all Holyoke students deserve a quality education and real opportunities. People do believe we need to protect the environment for the future. The will is there. We need leaders who are willing to fight for these things.
Vacon, Ward 5: As a matter of good constituent service, if elected, I will make a good faith effort to work with the newly elected mayor to provide information, ideas, and discussion on the many issues facing our city. I hope the new mayor will be a person who has an open-door policy and a strong community service approach in contrast to the prior administration and his supporters.
When initiatives are proposed that will improve the government role to serve our residents, I will whole heartedly support them and urge others to do the same.
In short, I see the role of a city councilor to be one of service to our residents and community for a better future for all. I will work diligently to support a mayor who shares that philosophy whoever it may be.
Anderson-Burgos, Ward 6: There are many good candidates running for mayor this year. While they each will have their own style of governing and policy agenda, what I’ve learned over the past four years in city government has been that most of the time, the work is all about the everyday needs of people and finding ways to collaborate to face challenges directly. Because of the circumstances this year, the new mayor will be taking over almost immediately after they get elected. When the new mayor takes over, no matter who it is or if I voted for them, I will want to assure that they have a City Council that is a partner more than an adversary.
Reminder Publishing reached out to Rivera, Machado, Puello, Bartley, Thomas Siciliano, Macy and McGee, but had not received responses by press time.