SPRINGFIELD — The 10 candidates running for City Council pledged to work to attract more businesses, prevent tax increases, improve traffic safety and communicate better with constituents.
Members of four neighborhood councils joined together Wednesday to sponsor a forum to help voters learn more about the positions of the 10 at-large candidates for City Council. Newcomers Juan Caraballo III, Nicole Coakley, Jose Delgado, Juan Latorre III, Gerry Martin, Will Naylor and Brian Santaniello, and incumbents Sean Curran, Kateri Walsh and Tracye Whitfield are vying for the five seats. The field was culled from 21 candidates during the September preliminary election.
The forum at South Congregational Church was casual and cordial. Moderators posed different questions to candidates and gave them between 30 and 45 seconds to answer. The moderators also set aside several time periods in between questions, where candidates could go back to expound on an answer or give their views on an issue.
Multiple candidates proposed different ordinances that they would file to try to solve problems in the city.
A housing shortage continues to be a huge problem in the region, and Delgado said he would craft an ordinance to streamline the process for developers to make it easier for them. The issue is a multifaceted one, and the city should examine zoning restrictions, and using empty plazas and lots.
“I want to work on so many things,” Coakley said. Included on her list is ensuring there are plenty of services for people recently released from jail, ensuring the city offers high-quality schools and creating a youth advisory board, so teenagers can get involved and learn more about government.
Latorre aired concerns that the city budget continues to increase annually. While he said he doesn’t want to cut services and jobs, the City Council has to look carefully at any new positions created.
“The city hasn’t had its tree ordinance updated in decades, and we need to improve our tree canopy,” Latorre said, adding he also wants to work to limit light pollution and push the city to do more business with local companies.
Carballo, a former Marine, talked about improving public safety. Since the city is having difficulty recruiting people to become police officers and firefighters, the council should reexamine the 10-year residency requirement for new hires. He also pushed for more police patrols to cut down on speeding, saying focused efforts are effective, like one that recently took place on Parker Street after two fatal crashes occurred within hours.
Many talked about finding ways to improve economic development in the city.
“One of the first things I’d like to accomplish as a city councilor is to create a small business working group,” Martin said. His idea would be to bring together the Chamber of Commerce, civic groups and business owners to help each other with planning.
Curran said the city is in a perfect place to lobby the state to take advantage of lower rents and move government offices to Springfield, since many people are working remotely. One of his ideas to improve economic mobility for the youth would be to expand the University of Massachusetts satellite campus that is in downtown Springfield, which would also benefit businesses and bring new attention to the city.
“There needs to be a review of zoning policies. … Are we business friendly? Do we make it too difficult to come here?” Walsh said. She added that public safety is paramount to economic development, and she would like to have community policing units in every neighborhood, instead of just a handful.
Whitfield agreed that the city has to look at different policies and procedures to ensure regulations are not hindering development, adding it was difficult for her to help her daughter build just one small duplex. But at the same time, she said the city also has to ensure large developers are doing their share to give back, such as paying for police details to keep their property safe.
Santaniello, who has served as a city councilor in the past, said while the economy is strong now, the city must be prepared for an inevitable recession, especially with high inflation and interest rates.
“Technology is changing fast … and we have to prepare with job training.”
Naylor called for the city to be creative with the use of larger commercial spaces by starting incubators to develop new small businesses. It also will help to remove red tape and improve communication to make it easier for entrepreneurs.
In a light-hearted lightning round, candidates were given 10 to 15 seconds to share their favorite comfort food and the way they relax.
Walsh won the award for the most succinct answer — “I eat hot fudge sundaes while reading” — while Delgado offered the biggest confession: He likes cookies so much, he has Cookie Monster pajamas.
Curran had the most Springfield-centered answer, when he said he watches Thunderbirds hockey games to relax.
Naylor and Martin scored points with their relatives answering “my wife’s apple pie” and mom’s pumpkin pie respectively, when revealing their favorite food.
