Western Mass Politics & Insight https://www.wmasspi.com/ Springfield...and the World... Sun, 06 Sep 2026 03:26:15 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.0.4 https://wmasspi.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/08/cropped-wmasspilogo-32x32.jpg Western Mass Politics & Insight https://www.wmasspi.com/ 32 32 Noho Divestment Resolution Reaches Judge, but Is Anything Actually in Court…? https://wmasspi.com/2026/09/noho-divestment-resolution-reaches-judge-but-is-anything-actually-in-court.html https://wmasspi.com/2026/09/noho-divestment-resolution-reaches-judge-but-is-anything-actually-in-court.html#respond Fri, 04 Sep 2026 03:59:52 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25841 NORTHAMPTON—Last Wednesday, a judge in Northampton heard dueling motions in a rather strange case. On the surface, it may be another political, legal and cultural battle waged over Israel. The roots of the case plainly reach there. Yet, the case has an odd feature. The plaintiffs, 10 residents of Paradise City, are seeking to overturn a nonbinding resolution.

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]]> https://wmasspi.com/2026/09/noho-divestment-resolution-reaches-judge-but-is-anything-actually-in-court.html/feed 0 In the 413’s Democratic Primary, Now Arriving at Incumbent Land… https://wmasspi.com/2026/09/in-the-413s-democratic-primary-now-arriving-at-incumbent-land.html https://wmasspi.com/2026/09/in-the-413s-democratic-primary-now-arriving-at-incumbent-land.html#respond Wed, 02 Sep 2026 06:07:42 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25834 SPRINGFIELD—The Democratic primary in Massachusetts left the federal delegation’s deans in place. Congressman Richard Neal and US Senator Ed Markey, both facing primary challenges, beat back their opposition, depriving younger and often leftier challengers before primaries conclude this month. Down ballot, however, incumbency was less effective as tool for reelection.

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]]> https://wmasspi.com/2026/09/in-the-413s-democratic-primary-now-arriving-at-incumbent-land.html/feed 0 Analysis: In a Burning World, Bay State Electorate Lacks Fire of Past Cycles… https://wmasspi.com/2026/09/analysis-in-a-burning-world-bay-state-electorate-lacks-fire-of-past-cycles.html https://wmasspi.com/2026/09/analysis-in-a-burning-world-bay-state-electorate-lacks-fire-of-past-cycles.html#respond Tue, 01 Sep 2026 05:53:03 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25823 WEST SPRINGFIELD—A rapid fire set of stops, cramming in as much as possible in the final hours of a campaign is classic. Salem Congressman Seth Moulton was here, at the Irish Cultural Center, after stops at two churches across the river in Springfield and a stop at Memo’s, a breakfast joint. With some brief remarks, he exhorted supporters to work the phones and, above all, to vote.

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]]> https://wmasspi.com/2026/09/analysis-in-a-burning-world-bay-state-electorate-lacks-fire-of-past-cycles.html/feed 0 The Money and the Meditations within the 11th Hampden Dem Primary… https://wmasspi.com/2026/08/the-money-and-the-meditations-within-the-11th-hampden-dem-primary.html https://wmasspi.com/2026/08/the-money-and-the-meditations-within-the-11th-hampden-dem-primary.html#respond Sun, 30 Aug 2026 19:25:16 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25814 Perhaps against better judgment, one scrolls through Facebook or Instagram. Amid the stunning vistas and global miseries and AI swill, a user in Springfield may find a video. The MTA paid for it and they’re plugging a candidate. Public records show the union has dropped at least $30,000.

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]]> https://wmasspi.com/2026/08/the-money-and-the-meditations-within-the-11th-hampden-dem-primary.html/feed 0 Singular Debate between Neal and Whalen Arrives at Campaign’s Pique… https://wmasspi.com/2026/08/singular-debate-between-neal-and-whalen-arrives-at-campaigns-pique.html https://wmasspi.com/2026/08/singular-debate-between-neal-and-whalen-arrives-at-campaigns-pique.html#respond Fri, 28 Aug 2026 03:59:08 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25798 CHICOPEE—The first and only face-to-face debate in the 1st Congressional District’s Democratic primary saw some heat and a bevy of accusations. US Representative Richard Neal and challenger Jeromie Whalen, an educator from South Hadley, traded blows on healthcare, Social Security and, arguably, the very essence of the democratic process itself.

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]]> https://wmasspi.com/2026/08/singular-debate-between-neal-and-whalen-arrives-at-campaigns-pique.html/feed 0 Court Won’t Halt Courthouse Selection, but Leaves Case with Plenty of Oxygen… https://wmasspi.com/2026/08/court-wont-halt-courthouse-selection-but-leaves-case-with-plenty-of-oxygen.html https://wmasspi.com/2026/08/court-wont-halt-courthouse-selection-but-leaves-case-with-plenty-of-oxygen.html#respond Tue, 25 Aug 2026 01:11:24 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25789 The Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management (DCAMM) and Liberty Junction, the developer selected to build the new courthouse in Springfield, can keep talking—and negotiating. That was the ruling from Superior Court Judge David Hodge, who refused to enjoin the process, as the plaintiffs in a suit had requested.

As skeptical as the ruling was, it might not have gone far enough to given DCAMM and Liberty Junction confidence the case is ending soon.

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]]> https://wmasspi.com/2026/08/court-wont-halt-courthouse-selection-but-leaves-case-with-plenty-of-oxygen.html/feed 0 Inside the 413’s Congressional Primary Finances, from Accounts to Airwaves… https://wmasspi.com/2026/08/inside-the-413s-congressional-primary-finances-from-accounts-to-airwaves.html Mon, 17 Aug 2026 01:22:25 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25768 As primary season rolls to a close, the action on the campaign finance side of the races begins to ramp up.

Second quarter reports became available on July 15. Candidates for the Democratic nomination in the 1st Massachusetts Congressional race hit the airwaves in July, after the deadline for the second quarter report. The second three months of 2026 also saw another kind of financial report: the candidates’ personal financial disclosures.

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]]> First Round of Springfield Courthouse Lawsuit Comes to a Head, but the Battlefield Has Grown… https://wmasspi.com/2026/08/first-round-of-springfield-courthouse-lawsuit-comes-to-a-head-but-the-battlefield-has-grown.html Tue, 11 Aug 2026 06:49:48 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25758 Since selecting the site for the new Springfield Regional Justice Center, the Commonwealth has had a fight on two fronts. In the public relations war, the Commonwealth has been releasing more information about the bid and process that led to the selected developer,

Then there is the lawsuit unsuccessful bidders USPB JV, LLC and Springfield Tower, LLC have filed. They allege Barros’ involvement tainted the bid.

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]]> Appeals Court Ruling Offers Hope to Climate Grants, but a Clock is Ticking… https://wmasspi.com/2026/08/appeals-court-ruling-offers-hope-to-climate-grants-but-a-clock-is-ticking.html Sun, 09 Aug 2026 15:53:02 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25742 More than four months after oral arguments, a panel of federal judges have effectively revived a suit that seeks to restore the Environmental and Climate Justice Community Change (ECJCC) grant program. Last year Springfield and a motley band of municipalities and nonprofits sued the Environmental Protection Agency for illegally terminating the program.

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]]> Take My Council, Please: The Pauses Will Continue until Morale Improves… https://wmasspi.com/2026/08/take-my-council-please-the-pauses-will-continue-untill-morale-improves.html Wed, 05 Aug 2026 02:32:10 +0000 https://wmasspi.com/?p=25736 The Springfield City Council's July 27 meeting looked back. While the procedural posture remain cloudy, the body revisit the new food truck ordinance that became law this year.

Also before councilors was an order seeking an outside ethics opinion on a Community Preservation Act (CPA) grant.

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