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Date: 10/11/2023
WESTFIELD — In advance of the city election, Reminder Publishing sent questionnaires to candidates on the Nov. 7 ballot.
Both of the candidates for mayor were given the same list of eight questions. Two answers are being printed in today’s newspaper, and the remaining six will be printed one day at a time in The Westfield News during the two weeks before Election Day, starting Oct. 27. Topics addressed by the candidates in the other questions include how they would promote businesses downtown, their priorities in education policy, the city’s top infrastructure needs and three “guaranteed” goals for the coming two years.
Candidates in other contested races were also sent questions. School Committee candidate responses will be printed in the Oct. 19 edition of The Pennysaver, and City Council at-large candidate responses in the Oct. 26 edition. More responses for both of those races will also be printed in The Westfield News during the two weeks before Election Day.
Incumbent Mayor Michael McCabe and challenger Kristen Mello are running for a two-year term as mayor.
Tax fairness
Are Westfield’s residential and commercial property taxpayers treated fairly? What measures would you take as mayor to reduce taxes?
Michael McCabe: I think they are treated fairly, for the most part. Taxes are a difficult topic for any mayor because the budget must be balanced with existing revenue. Taxes come down to whether ratepayers believe their money is being spent appropriately. If they do, then there is really no complaint. It is when their schools are perceived to be underperforming or their roads are in disrepair that people become angry, and rightly so. My job as mayor is to continue to make improvements to schools, infrastructure and customer service, and show real value in the taxes being paid. Commercial tax rates are another issue entirely. If the rate is too high, then prospective companies will look elsewhere to establish their businesses. This is problematic because new growth is the only way to offset residential tax increases. If taxes are too low, then the greater burden shifts back to the residents.
Kristen Mello: No, our taxpayers are not treated fairly, so much so that many residents will tell you, “Taxation is Theft!” We know that taxes pay for the city services we all rely on, but the way taxes are applied isn’t fair. Why should an elderly resident living alone pay the same residential tax rate as an owner-occupied multi-family? Why should either of them pay the same rate as a multi-unit landlord living out of state? The burden on city goods and services is not equal. The same holds true for businesses with taxes and stormwater fees. We reduce taxes by being more mindful with spending, by partnering with state and federal agencies to create economic opportunities for PFAS cleanup, by applying for and accepting grants for the work we need to do anyway (solid waste, recycling, brownfields, etc.), and by increasing city revenue in healthy and sustainable ways.
Affordable housing
Where does affordable housing rank among your priorities? What specific actions would you take to encourage or oppose low-income housing?
Michael McCabe: Affordable housing is “the” problem of our future. As it stands, even if we are to attract new business or new employees, there really is nowhere to house them. This will continue to be a problem unless we change some of our zoning requirements that limit where and how large properties can be. There is no real property in the downtown corridors to speak of, but about half of our existing land space is classified as rural residential. If we continue to have lot sizes no less than 60,000 square feet, then the only developable area will be in rural residential areas, which might be met with some resistance from those who would like to preserve the country feel of the western portion of our city. When Abner Gibbs and Fort Meadow schools come offline soon, they could be readily converted into housing similar to the Moseley School property.
Kristen Mello: Affordable housing and general population migration are becoming more and more important to think about here in the city of Westfield. This is not a question about whether or not Westfield has low-income residents or will continue to see our population rise. This is a question of what kind of community we are, how we choose to take care of our families, children, elders, and veterans, and how we will ensure we use the resources we have to meet the changing needs of our community. There is opportunity here if we will step up to it. The multi-generational community models of mixed rate housing, if located near transit and amenities, might be an interesting option for Westfield to discuss (a variation of something like Treehouse in Easthampton).