Got an opinion about how the city should rebuild after the June 1 tornado?
This evening, at 6 p.m. at the Milton Bradley School, the Rebuild Springfield Advisory Committee, the 15-member group put together by Mayor Domenic Sarno, kicks off a four-stop “listening tour” to get feedback from city residents and business owners. The tour, according to a press release from Sarno’s office, offers “a unique opportunity to improve upon the past and preserve the vital components of each neighborhood.”
The input gathered from the tour will be passed on to the yet-to-be-selected consulting firm that will oversee a master rebuilding plan.
“The Advisory Committee realizes that an effective Master Plan must reflect the voices of the people and businesses that reside in each neighborhood,” the mayor’s office said. “These meetings are an opportunity to ensure that everyone is part of the rebuilding process.”
Committee members should also brace themselves for an earful from some unhappy residents. Two months after the tornado, stories are emerging of frustrated homeowners who feel like the city is working against them, not with them. (See this recent report by the Springfield Intruder’s Bill Dusty about one such case.)
Mayoral candidate and School Committee member Antonette Pepe, meanwhile, recently took some time from her efforts to expose the hush-hush, over-the-top contract granted to School Superintendent Alan Ingram to call for more aid for victims of the tornado. Last week, Pepe sent a letter to Gov. Deval Patrick. Sens. Scott Brown and John Kerry, and U.S. Rep, Richie Neal asking for help, writing, “I am hearing how worried the tornado victims are about how they will deal with the debris still left from the tornado. Insurance money covers very little for tree removal and homeowners are digging deep into their pockets to cover the costs of the cleanup. The emotional impact is difficult enough, without the added stress of how to pay for everything.”
Scheduled stops on the listening tour:
• Tuesday., Aug. 2, Milton Bradley School, 22 Mulberry St., 6 to 8 p.m.
• Friday, Aug. 5, J.C. Williams Community Center, 116 Florence St., 6 to 8 p.m.
• Thursday, Aug. 11, Greenleaf Community Center, 1188 Parker St., 6 to 8 p.m.
• Tuesday, Aug. 16, Holy Cross Church, 221 Plumtree Rd., 6 to 8 p.m.
