Western Mass Politics & Insight https://www.wmasspi.com/ Springfield...and the World... Sat, 25 Jul 2026 03:09:26 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.5 https://wmasspi.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/cropped-wmasspilogo-32x32.jpg Western Mass Politics & Insight https://www.wmasspi.com/ 32 32 Briefings: Hampden DA Files Appearance on behalf of Moulton and His Primary Challenge… https://wmasspi.com/2026/07/briefings-hampden-da-files-appearance-on-behalf-of-moulton-and-his-primary-challenge.html https://wmasspi.com/2026/07/briefings-hampden-da-files-appearance-on-behalf-of-moulton-and-his-primary-challenge.html#respond Sat, 25 Jul 2026 02:45:04 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25720 Seth Moulton, the challenger in the Democratic Senate primary, has secured some notabl support from Westside's mayor to the Sullivans of Westfield. This past Wednesday, however, Moulton added another noteworthy name to his stable of supporters: Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gullluni.

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]]> https://wmasspi.com/2026/07/briefings-hampden-da-files-appearance-on-behalf-of-moulton-and-his-primary-challenge.html/feed 0 Disorder in the Courthouse Bid? Suit Challenges Process to Pick Springfield Justice Center… https://wmasspi.com/2026/07/disorder-in-the-courthouse-bid-suit-challenges-process-to-pick-springfield-justice-center.html https://wmasspi.com/2026/07/disorder-in-the-courthouse-bid-suit-challenges-process-to-pick-springfield-justice-center.html#respond Mon, 20 Jul 2026 23:04:36 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25708 When Liberty Junction was selected as the developer for the new Springfield Regional Justice Center, it seemed likely that the unsuccessful bidders would go quietly into the night. The invective and rending of garments was a job for the pols. The choice disappointed losing bidders, but it was not expected that they would take action against the choice.

Such was not the case.

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]]> https://wmasspi.com/2026/07/disorder-in-the-courthouse-bid-suit-challenges-process-to-pick-springfield-justice-center.html/feed 0 Our One Hundredth: The Senate Debates Rise in the West… https://wmasspi.com/2026/07/our-one-hundredth-the-senate-debates-rise-in-the-west.html https://wmasspi.com/2026/07/our-one-hundredth-the-senate-debates-rise-in-the-west.html#respond Tue, 14 Jul 2026 05:27:53 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25690 The Democratic primary for Senate came back to Western Massachusetts last Wednesday with the campaign’s first debate. Incumbent Senator Ed Markey jousted with his challenger, North Shore Congressman Seth Moulton, in a roughly hour-long debate that touched on effectiveness, healthcare and pushing back on Donald Trump.

The debate also provided a backdrop for Moulton to announce a slate of endorsements from the 413.

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]]> https://wmasspi.com/2026/07/our-one-hundredth-the-senate-debates-rise-in-the-west.html/feed 0 Calvi Retires, Quenching His Career and Sparking the Rivera Era for Springfield’s Bravest… https://wmasspi.com/2026/07/calvi-retires-quenching-his-career-and-sparking-the-rivera-era-for-springfields-bravest.html Fri, 10 Jul 2026 02:42:10 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25682 Transitions are underway at the second largest (non-school) department in the City of Springfield. Fire Commissioner B.J. Calvi is hanging up his fire hat and retiring on July 24. A longtime public safety professional who initially built his firefighting career outside the city, Calvi led

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]]> Analysis: With Liberty Street Site for Courthouse, Springfield Faces Its Own Junction… https://wmasspi.com/2026/07/analysis-with-liberty-street-site-for-courthouse-springfield-faces-its-own-junction.html Fri, 03 Jul 2026 03:58:49 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25661 UPDATED 7/15/26 6:07: To clarify the ownership of property the courthouse developers are buying. The selection of Liberty Junction, the proposal for a new Springfield courthouse at 125 Liberty Street, closes a contentious chapter in state-city relations. Replacing the ailing Roderick Ireland Courthouse was a

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]]> Laying It on a Little Ethic in the 12th Hampden Primary… https://wmasspi.com/2026/06/laying-it-on-a-little-ethic-in-the-12th-hampden-primary.html Wed, 01 Jul 2026 03:58:32 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25653 The primary challenges to incumbent Democrats in Western Mass are heating up as candidates battle for attention and votes. In Springfield, however, the latest back-and-forth in one race comes amid waves of ethical finger-pointing at City Hall and discontent with many incumbent Democrats nationally.

Michael Lachenmeyer, an educator and activist, has accused his opponent, Springfield State Rep Angelo Puppolo, of failing to properly disclose information on his statement of financial interest (SFI).

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]]> Take My Council, Please: The Next Best Thing to Being There… https://wmasspi.com/2026/06/take-my-council-please-the-next-best-thing-to-being-there.html Mon, 22 Jun 2026 06:06:20 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25646 At its June 15 outing, the Springfield City Council took a significant step toward curbing councilors’ remote participation at meetings. Formally, the item was a resolution and not a rule change. Therefore, the body did not bind its members. Yet, the push marks an attitude shift for the body, which was among the last to return to any in-person operations.

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]]> STCC’s Outgoing President Will Start Cooking at UMass Later This Month… https://wmasspi.com/2026/06/stccs-outgoing-president-will-start-cooking-at-umass-later-this-month.html Sat, 20 Jun 2026 05:09:36 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25631 Nearing the end of his at times controversial tenure as STCC's president, Cook told affiliates he was “honored” to share an update. He forwarded a message Fouad Abd-El-Khalick, the Provost and Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs at the University of Massachusetts-Amherst had sent campus affiliates. The provost announced that Cook would be taking on the role of Vice Provost for Lifelong, Interdisciplinary, and Digital Programming.

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]]> Our One Hundredth: Moulton’s Moves to Win Western Mass Votes… https://wmasspi.com/2026/06/our-one-hundredth-moultons-moves-to-win-western-mass-votes.html Tue, 16 Jun 2026 04:30:52 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25620 LONGMEADOW—Only standing astride the Commonwealth can one hope to win it.

That calculus has guided many statewide candidates and Seth Moulton, the congressman challenging Senator Ed Markey for the Democratic primary, has taken this to heart, too. He boasts of dozens of stops across the Commonwealth, including many in the 413.

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]]> Take My Council, Please: Youth Commissioning in Revolt… https://wmasspi.com/2026/06/take-my-council-please-youth-commissioning-in-revolt.html Mon, 08 Jun 2026 20:00:42 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25611 SPRINGFIELD—The first City Council meeting of June featured an agenda of the usual fare. Grants and orders were plentiful but typical. There was an appointment to the Springfield Redevelopment Authority (SRA), one of the few positions where the Council has a gatekeeper role. However, there

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