Letter: Fitch the Right Candidate for City Council

To the Editor:

Andrew Fitch would be an excellent addition to the North Adams City Council and I am writing to show support for his election to the Council.

Since coming to North Adams, Andrew has demonstrated a strong passion for the city. He has become an active member of several organizations and boards, including First Fridays, North Adams Pride, North Adams Vacant Storefront Window Art, and more. He is a current member of the Zoning Board of Appeals and is co-chair of the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, and Access (IDEA) Commission.

Andrew brings a diverse background of experience to North Adams. His education in political science combined with his community volunteer work and career in community engagement and DEI make Andrew a highly qualified candidate with the ability to hit the ground running for positive change in our city.

Nancy Bullett
North Adams, Mass. 

Bullett is a former city councilor

Neal Secures $700,000 for North Adams Flood Chutes Project

12:13PM / Friday, May 17, 2024

Mayor Jennifer Macksey at last August's signing of an agreement with the Army Corps of Engineers. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — U.S. Rep. Richard Neal has secured $700,000 in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' budget to complete a feasibility study of the Hoosic River flood chutes.  

 

The Corps of Engineers is in the midst of a three-year, $3 million study of the aging concrete flood chutes that control the passage of the river through the city. 

 

North Adams has ponied up $500,000 as part of its share of the study and another $1.5 million is expected to come from state and federal coffers. Neal previously secured $200,000 in the fiscal 2023 omnibus spending package to begin the feasibility study. 

 

The additional funding secured by Neal will allow for the completion of the study, required before the project can move on to the next phase.

 

Neal celebrated it as a significant step in bringing the flood chutes project to fruition, which he said came after several months of communication with the Corps.

 

"The residents of North Adams have long advocated for much needed improvements to the city's decades-old flood chutes. This announcement is a substantial victory for the city, one that reaffirms the federal government's commitment to making this project a reality," said the congressman. "As a former mayor, I know firsthand the importance of these issues, especially when it comes to the safety and well-being of residents. 

 

"That is why I have prioritized funding for this project, one that will not only enhance protections along the Hoosic River Basin and reduce flood risk, but also make much critical improvements to the city's infrastructure and create jobs."