Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
for the first time in the city's history voters elected minorities to the
majority of seats on the Springfield City Council
does this reflect a changing attitude in how the voters look at their local
government
well here to talk about this and much more Springfield City Council President
Michael Fenton
counselor but Williams in counselors I to Luna
thank you all so much for joining me today will stay with you counselor
you been on the council for for twenty years say you've seen it from the very
beginning
from being on the air into now having this increase diversity
on the council talk about the change in 16 well a I think it's
its its speaks well for the city he and
you know we've been trying to correct the system for years to get more
participation more diversity
in voters a pretty smart and I think they've gotten it right with this
console
the two great gender yet you to get women african-americans Hispanics
into a good mix the individual which is a great
a reflection I'll the diversity up this great city
so I wanna commendable was even though the voter turnout wasn't that high
it's not 11 12 percent but but those involved
they spoke and I think they've corrected that corrected some
past mistakes that the system has many
how can we get that number up how do you increase
council president ask a hurry and get that number up how can we increase
participation
I think a big part of it is having government that's
accountable and transparent and reflective its population so
we are taking steps to do that add mainly you can see it
in in there representation that we have both an award level in a
at large level how when the government looks like the people that it represents
and it reflects the diversity that it represents people are more likely to
get engaged and out while those numbers are something to be necessarily proud of
I do think that you know they'd there the relatively reasonable in light of
the fact that there was only one
a local race on that ticket for that for that particular seat that year
now you do have to point out out at the nine members
holler democrats at that we have a worse even every other area except
there's no other party that
how to her I I mean is that
democrat the and that just but there are no Republican they are you okay there
are eight
well I just wanna chairman what what consequences is piggybacked
on what he says a little bit any speaks
the truth transparency is very important most sober citizenship we have over 100
56,000 people seriously you it's a majority-minority Syria
but if it doesn't reflect to make a pub
the individuals people come disenfranchised feels confident
they say why should I double doesn't matter I don't feel part of the system
I'm in the city when I'm not working for the city you
would take any jobs in the city to conserve buttons on the Suns
transparency
naming a a new youth group
to engage in the business see why individuals who are living
leaving the city which issued by a counselor hearst also the kind you think
you gonna
make people feel like they're part I'll the equation
so do you feel that that extends also across political Isles
it does only this is this is a nonpartisan election
I mean republicans have been elected in the city at me
just like that after world tone well tolerable so was a republican
a jon lai's aka some point I'm was a republican
a the they have been not been elected
but I mean this is a we're proud in massachusetts to be called the
democratic state we try to get democrats
it every form that the level that's what we work that's what I work every
inspector
yeah and I like to add to something I'm I
I think is to the process you always be
easy for the world voters I'll
one thing I know we are announce on the radio or TV
when the selections but I don't think is they don't do it
when is close to elections or
I think you have to really more media
out there so because a lot of people the day of the election day was always to
today the day you're polling the our insurance all in getting bilingual poll
workers
talk about the work yeah because I I people
the have to connect with the on language and
and I see that because they have so when they speak their language
many many times they can understand their name they don't pronounce a ride
they say only doesn't show on our list in they get this car which
and is a wall forget on a wall in
you know hadam you we have to make sure that
the Election Commission and they doing a great job I'll
keep you know to say the same pad and we're
they know that they have to have people that I speak the language
can make things easier the process easier
now we have minorities we have women
on the council and then also a younger demographic that you normally don't see
in politics
you're not even 30ed we've got a couple I can to others
in their 30's that's pretty young for politics never feel that kinda works
against your
advantage if that doesn't work as a dissident now I i think in Springfield
we have a a very
substantial problem in terms of retaining and professional talent
and that that brain drain as its commonly known
in western massachusetts is particularly prevalent in Springfield proper
so when you see young articulate
educated folks being elected to leadership positions in
very powerful cities like Springfield I think that sends a very clear message
that the voters recognize that there's a problem
and that the people who are most a quick to fix that problem are the people that
are the in that situation themselves
so am myself my other
younger professional friends on the council we recognize what these problems
are
and because we've lived them we're in the best position to help alleviate them
so I think that's a part of the reason why you're seeing now
okay now counselor Williams you've been a strong proponent of bringing back
the Police Commission talk about
why that's become such a important issue for you
for civil a
the police commission in my estimation when they have the right authority
in the right a power within
their own body he'll be able to called
when the police department a lot better any other things that
the transparency and no and the confidence in the bills
in our citizenship in terms of them feel like they're part
I'll the system dear is in the city and we just have to be
honest earnest straight for the past week and we have a great Police
Department
a lot a great individuals but community police relationships
are not that good they just are that is a reality
and I think this goes a long way to correct
that a perception that I don't feel part of the police department like
that carlson president said involving a young people because a brain injury
involving our citizenship within the police department we're not saying that
they want the police department colony
right the cruise is not seen that but many other major cities
have a citizenship did his part
up the police department would creates a partnership
and we're all in this thing together in the day and I want to commend the
council president has been a strong force
behind her this love new
trying to bring back to police commission now I'm a big proponent of
social media SACEM Facebook and Twitter us
mention I was speaking TD special City Council any questions that people had
so I got a couple questions we probably won't be able to get to the mall but
me build our discussion to you why do you feel crime has increased so much in
recent years
especially compared to surrounding communities would you say to that
well there's no doubt that Springfield has public safety problem both in terms
and
actual violent crime data and in terms of public perception
I would contest the fact that we have had and
and disproportionate increase in crime when compared to the suburbs
I just think that the volume love the
activity in Springfield is so much greater due to our population have
and in the excessive 255,000
residents that every time there's an instant it becomes
sensationalized in the media and that sensationalism
results and public perception that is very detrimental to our city and and
gives us the reputation that we have so
while we have problems I think that they're they're magnified here in a way
that's unjust
I and then also another question yes
just chime cuz he's absolutely on to what I always say
level perception and you have a reality the perception in Springfield
it's a very strange did that control that's not the reality
a perception guides most individuals so the perception is it's very dangerous
you can walk downtown can love and that that is needed on the crime is as high
as
it crime is high but but like you said the media has really exploded
if you see this on the your competitors
day in and day out that's all they see is the bad side
it's the perception not the reality the real reality that we can leave this to
your right now and walked out on Sprint bill
in most cases and feel safe okay next question beyond casino what are we
looking at
for economic development
in spring for we have seen tremendous success in creating
tax incentives to attract jobs to the city
special counsel special to the council's played an integral role in that process
some examples are type flex corporation in the Springfield on hand history
but the retention of over 100 jobs in last 3 years and also Smith and what
smith wesson now with the addition to sprinkle proper of over 250 jobs
they actually Boston Magazine just rank them the number one job creator in the
Commonwealth
this past cycle and that's a testament to the leadership that were
demonstrating in the city and the fact that
we're committed to coming up with creative ways to create jobs and
faster economic development so our economic development strategies go far
beyond
casino development and week we we look forward to continuing
okay and last but not least how do you feel about the mayor's consolidation of
power
and what are you going to need to preserve your role
happy to feel that one as well my colleagues would prefer
honey I would like to at that okay he the leader of the city
you have to understand that but we have to all work together
you know I we have committee assigned to us
you know to work in in in seen each other city
in and what for ways needed and I think each is a matter or just
working together your but the good point
arm this is play any
plan a former government too strong a mere mir's very strong
Cardinals real role as lawn you issues
that in the budget but I i suggested I would say that as
constant lewis et when you begin to work together
I'll its it its it's for the best interest to the toll City
to have a a government that's kinda unified in were all kindly read from the
same sheet of paper
and 11 pardoned one by this respect the other part
they need in you have a lotta love confusion I would say
but I think in the best interest it's all about working together
because you know the cattle I'll is very strong weekend
you know you can you can kinda like
make things very rocky for the mayor but were in the spirit of harmony
try to work together at the end of the day great thank you counsel Williams
Council in
come for president clinton thank you so much for your time
thank you for having us