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East-West Rail

How Western Mass Can (and Will) Get More Rail Service Comes into Focus…

Hourly service to New York was the headline out of the March 19 Massachusetts Department of Transportation board of directors meeting. Rail & Transit Administrator Meredith Slesinger turned heads when she announced that as a goal last Thursday. Yet the clarity she offered on the future of passenger rail in Western Mass more generally may have been more significant.

Prettyman Courthouse

Climate Grant Showdown for Springfield and Its Allies Reaches Appeals Court…

The City of Springfield, several fellow municipalities and environmental groups will try to convince a Washington appeals court on Monday to revive a lawsuit to restore climate grants the Environmental Protection Agency illegally eliminated. Springfield was one of the first recipients of the Environmental and Climate Justice Block Grant (ECJBG) program. Yet, the city like many others lost its grant amid the chaos of the Trump administration’s slashing last year.

Springfield

Take My Counsel, Please: Confidence in Supply…

SPRINGFIELD—City councilors hurled disapproval and invective, at times in an apparent violation of the body’s rules during Monday’s tempestuous meeting. In the end, however, it signified nothing—at least for now. The Council voted down a resolution of no confidence in Council President Tracye Whitfield but not before trading fire amongst themselves for some time.

Supporters of Whitfield filled the chamber, but there had been signs before Monday the no-confidence push might peter out.

Fenway Park

After 10 Years, Politico Leaves Massachusetts Politics All on the Field…

This past Monday Massachusetts’s pundits and commentariat opened their inboxes and found something missing. The Bay State’s own version of Politico’s Playbook was not there. It was not a holiday or one of the newsletter’s seasonal hiatuses. Rather, the daily tip sheet on state and local politics is simply no more. Its last writer moved on and the Arlington, Virginia-based news outlet decided not to replace her.

Dori Dea

Briefings: A New Dean for the Western Mass State House Delegation…?

Several incumbents face challenges in the primary. Democrats from North Adams to Springfield will have to fight to secure their party’s nomination. The representative for the 5th Hampden District has now joined the list. Holyoke Rep Patricia Duffy will face political consultant and Democratic State Committee member Dori Dean in the primary.

Springfield

Take My Council, Please: Be Kind, Please Rewind (That Vote)…

As announced, the Springfield City Council held a special meeting Friday to purge its “tainted” vote to discontinue a stretch of Wallace Street. Essentially a street only on paper, the body had approved the discontinuance on February 2. That would return the land to abutting property owners. One of those owners was JETS Property Development, LLC. City Council President Tracye Whitfield owns part of JETS.