Archive
Got Casino Questions?
You’ve seen their ads, read about their various contributions to city organizations, checked out their “artist renderings” of what their projects would look like—and tonight you’ll have a chance to ask questions of the two casino...Mike Rodgers' Passing
There have been far too many occasion this year to note the before-their-time deaths of Springfield public figures, a list that includes political activist Alan Howard, Republican music writer Kevin O’Hare, New North Citizens Council Director Michael Denney and...Days of Our Councilors' Lives
So Jimmy Ferrera has secured another term as president of the City Council—although it wasn’t the prettiest win. In an informal vote at Monday’s meeting (the formal vote will take place at the Council’s first meeting of 2013, on Jan. 7), a...Labor Leader Brown Steps Down
It’s hard for me to imagine the Pioneer Valley Central Labor Council without Rick Brown; he’s been the president of the group as long as I’ve been covering the Valley. But I better get used to it: last week, the Council announced that Brown was...One Casino, Two Reports
Mike Dobbs’ coverage of the splashy unveiling of Penn National’s North End casino proposal didn’t appear until six days after the Dec. 20 event; thus is the challenge of a weekly newspaper. Still, Dobbs’ report, in the Reminder, was a must...Zoning Ordinance in 2013? Dare We Hope?
It’s been more than 40 years since the city of Springfield enacted its zoning ordinance, and six years since work began to update it. Think of it this way: if the proposed zoning changes were a person, she’d be in kindergarten by now. Carrying a Shaun...Lively Lawsuit Heads to Court
On Monday, a federal court judge will hear arguments in Scott Lively’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit filed against him by Sexual Minorities Uganda, or SMUG. Last March, lawyers for the Center for Constitutional Rights filed the suit on SMUG’s behalf,...Justice for Charles?
While the persecution lawsuit against Scott Lively comes to federal court today, down the road at Hampden Superior Court a second high-profile case kicks off: the retrial of Charles Wilhite. Two years ago, Wilhite and a second man, Angel Hernandez, were convicted of...Falling Shoes Ahead?
I’ve been waiting all week for City Council President Jimmy Ferrera to announce committee assignments for the new year. Presumably, city councilors have been, too. But looks like we’ll have to wait a bit longer. Ferrera, who was sworn in to his second...News, Big and Small
The big news of the week: supporters of Charles Wilhite are celebrating today, after a jury found him not guilty of the 2008 murder of Alberto Rodriguez. Wilhite and a co-defendant, Angel Hernandez, had been convicted of first-degree murder in the shooting death in...Celebrate Winter's Fare This Saturday
If you haven’t yet made it to the winter farmers’ market—well, why haven’t you? But fear not; it’s not too late to get in on the action: the market, which is held the second and fourth Saturdays of the month at Forest Park’s Old...What Do You Want From a Casino?
If a casino does come to Springfield—and the enthusiasm of casino backers notwithstanding, it is still a matter of if—what does the community want from the company? That’s the question on the table at two upcoming meetings. This evening, at 5 p.m.,...Celebrate with No One Leaves
In the little more than two years since its founding, Springfield No One Leaves/Nadie Se Mude has become an important voice in the city, organizing protests at foreclosed homes; advocating for struggling residents about to lose their homes and the neighborhoods that...Lynch Comes Courting in Springfield
With John Kerry officially confirmed as secretary of state, now begins the scramble to fill his Senate seat—and that scramble will include a Democratic primary, between Rep. Ed Markey of Malden and Rep. Stephen Lynch of Boston. And, as Shira Schoenberg reports...ADP Seeks Donations in JobRaising Challenge
Springfield’s Alliance to Develop Power is looking for supporters’ help as it competes for a large prize that would help its job-creation programs. ADP is one of 74 non-profits from around the country competing for part of a $250,000 prize from the Skoll...What Would a Casino Mean for the South End?
There’s a week to go until Mayor Domenic Sarno is expected to announce which of the city’s two prospective casino developers he’ll negotiate a host agreement with. (Or, he could opt to negotiate with both. Or neither—ha, ha.) As we await the...Council Committee Weighs in on Casino Agreement
With a few days to go until Mayor Domenic Sarno announces whether he’ll negotiate with one or both of the city’s prospective casino developers, the City Council’s casino site committee is urging the administration to draft host-community agreements...Really, Is Nothing Sacred?
Yes, I know the big news of the day is Mayor Domenic Sarno’s anticipated announcement about which casino developer, or developers, he’s chosen to negotiate a host-community agreement with. But I can’t stop thinking about another bit of...Snow Woes
Having a bad day at work? Just be glad you’re not Al Chwalek. This afternoon, the city’s DPW head is being called on the carpet by the City Council’s planning and economic development and maintenance committees over the department’s performance...Show Some Love
If you like your Valentine’s Day romance with a nice dose of political activism, here are two events to check out today: • “One Billion Rising,” from noon to 1 p.m. at Tower Square, part of V-Day, an international movement working to stop...Casinos by the Numbers
Having a hard time sorting out the various details of the two casino proposals working their way through City Hall? Here, the Reminder’s Mike Dobbs offers a handy comparison of the two plans, culled from a “Proposal Comparison Matrix,” a somewhat...Our Lady of Hope Back in Court
The battle over the fate of the former Our Lady of Hope parish has been quiet for some time, but it’s not over. As the Republican’s Pete Goonan reports here, the Springfield Diocese is continuing to fight the City Council’s decision, in 2009, to...Blast From the Past (With Cosby Sweater)
One sign that I’ve been writing about Springfield for a long time: the number of things I’ve forgotten about. Like, for instance, Dan Yorke’s nightly t.v. talk show, which ran on Channel 40 back in the 1990s. So I was thrilled to read this...Who Should Control Purse Strings on Casino Funds?
Like suitors on Valentine’s Day, MGM and Penn National have been courting the city of Springfield with gifts, sort of the municipal version of candy and flowers: the former’s $50,000 donation to the South End Community Center’s after-school program,...Calling Gladys Kravitz
I predict that productivity will be down at workplaces across Springfield this morning—especially within City Hall. The cause? This search engine, posted on MassLive, that lets users find out the salaries of city employees. The article is linked to the...Save Allis Mansion
Want to preserve a piece of Springfield history? On Monday, interested developers are invited to tour the historic Allis mansion, on the campus of Mercy Medical Center. The Sisters of Providence Health System had planned to demolish the 1867 building to clear space...Housing Campaign Kicks Off
Plans by housing-justice activists to “reclaim” a foreclosed house in the city yesterday did not work out quite as planned. The event, organized by Arise for Social Justice and Springfield No One Leaves/Nadie Se Mude, had planned to clean up and reclaim an...Council Race Underway
It’s never too early to start handicapping City Council races, is it? At Western Mass Politics & Insight, Matt Szafranski looks into his crystal ball and makes predictions on who will—and maybe won’t—be running for Council this fall, using...Council Stands Behind Foreclosure Rules
City councilors last night confirmed their support of a pair of ordinances designed to address the city’s high rates of foreclosure. The ordinances, passed in 2011, required that lenders participate in city-facilitated mediation with homeowners before...Historic Rehab Gets Help
The effort to save the oldest remaining school building in the city has received a major boost: $50,000, to be exact. The money comes from the 1772 Foundation, which funds historic preservation projects around the country. The foundation awarded the grant to the...Casino Drama
Mike Dobbs has a dynamite story in this week’s issue of the Reminder about the tension between Peter Pan Bus Lines CEO Peter Picknelly and city officials over the fate of the long-awaited Union Station delay. And yes, like just about everything in the city these...Barry Shines Spotlight on Kingston
All last week, I was hearing rumors about a forthcoming hold-on-to-your-hat article in the Republican. While the details varied a bit from informant to informant, the general outline was this: Stephanie Barry would have an article in the Sunday paper that would look...Dobbs Takes on the Republican
Reminder managing editor Mike Dobbs gives a tepid review to Stephanie Barry’s article last Sunday in the Republican on Mayor Domenic Sarno’s relationship with the controversial political consultant Charlie Kingston, writing that, some interesting...Library Love
The Republican reports today on Ward 7 City Councilor Tim Allen’s recent recognition as the Mass. Library Association’s Advocate of the Year. Allen, who received the award last month at an MLA ceremony at the Statehouse, was honored for his successful...Where Have You Gone, Casino Whisperer?
CasinoWhispers.com, the anonymous website that’s been tracking all things casino related for the past several months, seems to be missing in action. Sometime late last week, as far as I can tell, the website disappeared. (Go there now and you’ll find a...CommonWealth Mag Looks at Casino Battle
The new issue of CommonWealth magazine has a must-read article about Springfield’s casino battle—with a particular focus on the competing interests of the Picknelly brothers. The article, “Springfield Bets on Sibling Rivalry,” by Gabrielle...Tosado to Return? & Forest Park Meets
I’ve spent some time over the past couple of weeks chasing down various rumors about potential City Council candidates. One of the more promising ones: that former Councilor Jose Tosado is considering another run. “ Yes, I am very much giving serious...Burger Bar Questions & Marathon Vigil
Where’s that new Luxe Burger Bar that’s supposed to open at the old visitor’s center on West Columbus Avenue? That’s the question Bill Dusty of the Springfield Intruder poses, yet again. Dusty’s been tracking the stalled opening of the...In Other News
It’s hard this morning to focus on much news beyond the riveting manhunt for the surviving alleged Boston Marathon bomber (Boston.com is running up-to-the-minute blog and Twitter updates, including, questionably, the movements of law enforcement personnel). But...Hurst Tries Again for Council Seat
This fall’s City Council race continues to shape up, as yet another candidate jumps into the contest. Justin Hurst picked up his nomination papers at City Hall this morning, his campaign has announced. He’ll be running for at at-large seat. A former city...The Biomass-Casino Connection
Like a lot of people, I suppose, I was so focused last week on the news out of Boston and then Watertown that I missed some local developments, like this interesting report by Channel 22’s Ryan Walsh. Luckily, a reader sent me a copy. Walsh took a look at the...Pitch In, Clean Up
Sure, in an ideal world, everyone would clean up his own messes. In the real world, it often falls to volunteers to pick up the slack—like Keep Springfield Beautiful, which tomorrow holds its annual citywide cleanup, part of the national Great American Cleanup....Teachers' Union Sees Contest
Tim Collins has been the president of Springfield’s teachers’ union for so long, and so visibly, that it’s easy to forget that it’s an elected seat, not one he holds by birthright. But next week, he’ll face a challenger for the position,...Time to Place Your Bets
It’s the moment of truth: later today, Mayor Domenic Sarno will announce the casino developer, or developers, with whom his administration has negotiated a host-community agreement. (Technically, of course, he could also announce that he’s reached an...Mayoral Raise Question Surfaces Again
That cheering you don’t hear coming from the streets of Springfield is the sound of city residents not rallying around the Chamber of Commerce’s latest proposal to give the mayor a pay raise. As Pete Goonan reports here, the Chamber is calling for the...Ferrera: Not So Fast
City Council President Jimmy Ferrera last night put the brakes on the rush to move forward the city’s draft casino agreement with MGM. It had been widely expected that the Council would approve the agreement, which Mayor Domenic Sarno had announced last week....Sarno, Ferrera Lock Horns on Casino
Are the Sarno administration and City Council President Jimmy Ferrera headed into a stand-off over the city’s agreement with casino developer MGM? On the heels of his move to halt a City Council vote on the agreement earlier this week, Ferrera yesterday released...Casino-free Zone
Have you had your fill of the casino war and are eager for something—anything—else to think about? Or are you completely absorbed by the drama and looking for something to pass the time until the next battle (this evening’s City Council meeting, at 5...Tax Relief from Casino?
City Councilor Tim Rooke continues to push a proposal to use some of the money promised the city by MGM to cut local tax bills. MGM was recently chosen by Mayor Domenic Sarno as the city’s preferred casino developer. In a host-community agreement negotiated with...Better Living Through Bocce
Did you happen to catch on The River yesterday the interview with Rico Daniele, owner of the South End’s Mom & Rico’s—and, as the River’s Monte put it, “bocce enthusiast, fanatic, evangelist”? The interview took place on...A Little Help Here?
This afternoon at 4:30, the City Council’s planning and economic development committee will meet to discuss data from the University of Michigan that shows deep racial segregation in the Springfield metro area. The research looked at segregation between the...On Asselin, Hurst, and segregation
The city’s License Commission has turned down an application from Chris Asselin, the one-time state rep turned convicted felon, to sell used cars in the city. Sometimes the jokes write themselves. Not so funny is the fact that Commission member (and Ward 8 City...Dobbs Considers Tornado Recovery
The recent news out of Oklahoma—not to mention the string of ominously dark, rumbly afternoons we’ve had this week—are reminders that we’re approaching the second anniversary of the freak tornado that devastated so much of Springfield. In this...Council Dodges Controversial Billboard Vote
It’s difficult to imagine how an issue as contentious—not to mention as potentially lucrative for the developers—as the battle over allowing digital billboards in the city could simply “fall through the cracks.” But that’s what City...Mayor's Budget Gambles on Casino Approval
Mayor Domenic Sarno released his proposed fiscal ’14 budget yesterday and—by recent standards, at least—it’s a fairly rosy document. The $571.8 million spending plan is slightly higher than last year’s budget, with the bulk of the new...Carr on Asselin; Billboard Question Remains Alive
Boston Herald columnist Howie Carr weighs in today on Chris Asselin’s failed attempt to secure a license to sell used cars in the city. It is not flattering. Meanwhile, it looks like Lamar Advertising’s bid to install two electronic billboards in the city...Local Takes on Last Night's Debate
With the election just two weeks away and polling numbers fairly close, last night’s Springfield debate between Senate candidates Gabriel Gomez and Ed Markey was a big deal. If you missed it, well, I’m not sure what to say. It doesn’t appear that...Meeting Tonight to Address Housing Crisis
Housing-reform activists will hold a public meeting this evening to, as organizers put it, “discuss key policy proposals to resolve the foreclosure crisis and build a Springfield that puts people before profit.” Members of Springfield No One Leaves/Nadie...Dems Press Neal on SNAP Cuts
Next week, the U.S. House will take up the federal farm bill, which includes potentially devastating cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP (the program once known as food stamps). As of early June, 47.6 million Americans were receiving SNAP...E-Edition
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