Western Mass Politics & Insight https://www.wmasspi.com/ Springfield...and the World... Sat, 18 Apr 2026 20:45:12 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 https://wmasspi.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/cropped-wmasspilogo-32x32.jpg Western Mass Politics & Insight https://www.wmasspi.com/ 32 32 Briefings: With HHS at Ways & Means, It Was Richie Vs. Bobby (Jr.)… https://wmasspi.com/2026/04/briefings-with-hhs-at-ways-means-it-was-richie-vs-bobby-jr.html https://wmasspi.com/2026/04/briefings-with-hhs-at-ways-means-it-was-richie-vs-bobby-jr.html#respond Sat, 18 Apr 2026 03:35:27 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25456 In his opening remarks at a hearing with US Health & Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy, Jr., Springfield Congressman and Ways & Means Committee Ranking Member Richard Neal alluded to their shared, if indirect history. As a young man, Neal supported Kennedy’s father, the OG Bobby Kennedy. Twelve years later, Neal was a delegate for Senator Edward Kennedy.

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]]> https://wmasspi.com/2026/04/briefings-with-hhs-at-ways-means-it-was-richie-vs-bobby-jr.html/feed 0 Take My Council, Please: Throw Your Hands Up and Shout… https://wmasspi.com/2026/04/take-my-council-please-throw-your-hands-up-and-shout.html https://wmasspi.com/2026/04/take-my-council-please-throw-your-hands-up-and-shout.html#respond Sun, 12 Apr 2026 04:30:42 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25443 The Springfield City Council brought fury to a procedural debate and waxed meticulous on the details of a food truck ordinance this week. During a rare Tuesday meeting, the body confronted a relatively simple agenda. Yet, it was debate over a motion that led to shouting, threats of expulsion and accusations of censorship.

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]]> https://wmasspi.com/2026/04/take-my-council-please-throw-your-hands-up-and-shout.html/feed 0 Analysis: Party in the 11th Hampden…Like It’s an Open Seat…? https://wmasspi.com/2026/04/analysis-party-in-the-11th-hampdenlike-its-an-open-seat.html Fri, 03 Apr 2026 02:09:39 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25437 From the moment educator Johnnie McKnight came less than 250 votes of unseating 11th Hampden State Rep Bud Williams in 2025, it seemed highly like he would try again. Indeed, last December, he announced he would do exactly that. What may have been more surprising was that a small crowd would join him to take on the longtime fixture of Springfield politics.

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]]> How Western Mass Can (and Will) Get More Rail Service Comes into Focus… https://wmasspi.com/2026/03/how-western-mass-can-and-will-get-more-rail-service-comes-into-focus.html Tue, 31 Mar 2026 03:58:55 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25430 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.

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]]> State Ethics Commission Initiates Proceedings against Former Holyoke Councilor… https://wmasspi.com/2026/03/state-ethics-commission-initiates-proceedings-against-former-holyoke-councilor.html Thu, 19 Mar 2026 03:02:14 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25424 The Massachusetts Ethics Commission served former Holyoke City Councilor David Bartley with an order to show cause, leveling no fewer than five charges against him for violating state ethics laws. Four of the alleged violations stem from his legal practice. Bartley had represented clients with

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]]> Climate Grant Showdown for Springfield and Its Allies Reaches Appeals Court… https://wmasspi.com/2026/03/climate-grant-showdown-for-springfield-and-its-allies-reaches-appeals-court.html Mon, 16 Mar 2026 03:54:52 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25419 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.

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]]> Briefings: Now the Governor’s Council Has a Primary in the 413… https://wmasspi.com/2026/03/briefings-now-the-governors-council-has-a-primary-in-the-413.html Thu, 12 Mar 2026 03:57:56 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25415 Western Mass legislators are no longer having all the fun. Tara Jacobs, the Governor’s Councilor whose district encompasses the 413, shall have primary challenge. Her 2022 rival Michael Fenton, a Springfield City Councilor, has pulled papers to run for the seat.

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]]> Take My Counsel, Please: Confidence in Supply… https://wmasspi.com/2026/03/take-my-counsel-please-confidence-in-supply.html Sun, 08 Mar 2026 17:50:17 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25399 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.

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]]> After 10 Years, Politico Leaves Massachusetts Politics All on the Field… https://wmasspi.com/2026/02/after-10-years-politico-leaves-massachusetts-politics-all-on-the-field.html Fri, 27 Feb 2026 03:31:22 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25392 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.

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]]> Bay State Pols Welcome SCOTUS’ Thumping of Trump’s Tariffs… https://wmasspi.com/2026/02/bay-state-pols-welcome-scotus-thumping-of-trumps-tariffs.html Sun, 22 Feb 2026 00:59:55 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25384 There were four concurring opinions, two dissents, and a majority opinion that had only three votes in parts. Nevertheless, a solid six justices said Trump lacked the power to impose these tariffs. The Bay State’s electeds welcomed the ruling and blasted Trump for instituting them in the first place.

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