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Date: 3/21/2023
SPRINGFIELD — Four new working groups centered on critical city sectors will be debriefing over the course of 2023 to create new, constituent-driven solutions to some of the issues facing Springfield.
City Council President and 2023 mayoral candidate Jesse Lederman announced the formation of the new groups during a March 15 press conference at City Hall.
The working group concept was established in October 2022, with the announcement of the Working Group on Civic Engagement. Lederman appointed 15 community leaders with diverse backgrounds to be part of a volunteer-led coalition that would create avenues for improving accessibility and engagement with local government.
“I believe that community and public participation should be at the heart of the work local government does every single day. We need more community voices at the table to solve our city’s greatest challenges and develop the next generation of leaders,” said Lederman in the October press conference.
Ward 5 City Councilor Lavar Click-Bruce chaired the working group as they met several times and hosted a community forum on Nov. 3, 2022.
In a little over two months after their establishment, the Working Group on Civic Engagement presented their final recommendations on Dec. 20, 2022. Some of the solutions included adding a laymen’s cover sheet to make ordinance proposals more legible to the public, improving the sign-up process for online meetings and adopting early and mail-in voting for local elections. The council will be working to enact these recommendations throughout 2023.
Lederman applauded the working group for creating articulate solutions in an ambitious period of time. He also shared during the council’s annual inauguration ceremony that the concept would be continued with four new topics in 2023.
The Working Group on Creative Economy and Tourism is chaired by City Councilor At-Large Sean Curran, the Working Group on Neighborhood Quality of Life is chaired by Ward 8 City Councilor Zaida Govan, the Working Group on Labor and Workforce Development is led by Ward 3 City Councilor Melvin Edwards and the Working Group on Digital Equity and Internet Access features Ward 2 City Councilor Michael Fenton as its chair.
Lederman and the working group chairs highlighted the work ahead during the press conference. The City Council president said the Working Group on Civic Engagement brought a “transformational vision” that he hopes to continue with the new working groups.
“I believe deeply that this is what local government really is all about — bringing well-intended individuals to the table, bringing all of our backgrounds and expertise to do more and go further in local government,” said Lederman.
Govan stressed that the working group approach “is how government should truly work.” She said gathering community responses will be essential in bettering quality of life issues across Springfield.
“We are such a great vibrant city and I believe we can make it better,” said Govan.
Members of the Working Group on Neighborhood Quality of Life include Shayvonne Plummer, Timothy Benoit, Scott Brubach, Mike Kocsmiersky, Steven Hooper, Yveline Hulse, Richard Serrano, Stephen Howard, Attorney Jeremy St. Laurent, Kaine Compton, Stephanie Murchison-Brown and Areliz Barbosa.
Curran said he’s often dreamed grand economic development ideas for Springfield, such as a basketball court for nationwide tournaments at Riverfront Park and his recent proposal of constructing a food hall in downtown Springfield. He expressed that the city could benefit from new ideas, utilizing his well-known mantra of “why not Springfield?”
“I really think the city can use new ideas to move us forward … I think this group of residents really can bring ideas, enthusiasm and energy to this endeavor,” said Curran.
Members of the Working Group on Creative Economy and Tourism Chair include MassMutual Center General Manager Sean Dolan, Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt, Morgan Holland, Springfield Preservation Trust President Erica Swallow, Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau President Mary Kay Wydra, Andrew Brow, Jamil Asad, LaMar Cook, Darcy Borecki, Lissandra Rosario, Tyanna Mccaulsky, Jonathan Tran, Kelly Fellner, Springfield Preservation Trust Vice President James Johnson, Latino Economic Development Corporation Director Andrew Melendez, Elizabeth O’Gilvie, Carlos Gonzalez II and Sheldon Smith.
Fenton considers equitable internet access one of the city’s most pressing issues. He shared that 39 percent of Springfield households do not possess a laptop or a personal computer.
“The information and broadband gap that exists in urban communities like Springfield and some of our suburban counterparts is the battleground for the future in competitiveness … We need to build a digital and internet environment that focuses on equity and inclusion,” said Fenton.
Members of the Working Group on Digital Equity and Internet Access include Giselle Gaines, Dr. Frank Robinson, Charlie Knight, Roberta Walker Kilkenny, William Brock, Justin Ayala, Chris Polanco, Darryl Williams, Alex Martin, Archbishop Timothy Paul and Jean Canosa-Albano.
Edwards spoke about the working group concept as a “vision of inclusion” in Springfield. Across his 14 years as a City Councilor, Edwards has primarily served as the chair of the council’s Responsible Employer Ordinance Committee, working to ensure local residents, minorities and veterans equitable opportunities for various construction jobs.
However, he noted that inclusive hiring practices still need to be addressed in Springfield.
“Too often though, our own residents are not able to take advantage of these opportunities to be employed. It’s a sad commentary when companies will come as far away as North Carolina and bring entire crews to do the work that our residents could be doing,” said Edwards.
Members of the Working Group on Labor and Workforce Development include Attorney Christine Agnitti, Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO representative Ethel Everett, SEIU 1199 representative Tammy Hall, Chelsea Bell, Carpenters Local 336 representative Lisa Clauson, Attorney Claudia Quintero, UFCW 1459 representative Dean Ethier, Kassandra Carasquillo, Ariaun Stewart, Steven Carosello, Asiala Rivera, Charlotte Dickerson, Gladys Franco, Ironworkers Local 7 representative Fiore Grassetti, Greg Ellerbee
Unlike the Working Group on Civic Engagement’s accelerated timeline, these coalitions will debrief over the course of 2023, according to Lederman. The City Council president expressed his optimism for what the working groups can achieve to better the city’s future.
“I share in my colleague’s hopefulness for the future of Springfield, and I know that together, we are going to ensure that it is a bright one,” said Lederman.