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Michael C. Bloom*
Candidate For City Council - North Adams NORTH ADAMS - Over the last 20 years, Michael C. Bloom has served in pretty much every capacity on the City Council and its committees, including president.
He still enjoys what he's doing and hopes voters will elect him to an 11th term. "I'm accessible and I can get things done."
Bloom, 48, moved here from the Boston area 30 years ago to attend North Adams State College. Not long after he graduated, he bought the Key West Lounge and now owns rental property in the city.
"I've always believed in North Adams," he said, describing himself as the type of person who sees the glass half full.
Bloom has supported much of the development initiated by Mayor John Barrett III.
What we're doing is taking a old mill town and giving it a rebirth, he said, and recognizing where we have to go. That includes diversifying the economic base with many smaller businesses to prevent the economic upheaval caused when Sprague Electric left in the 1980s, he added.
"I've supported that in a number of ways, throughout all my terms," said Bloom. "Through things like zoning changes, through infrastructure improvements, school improvement and school buildings. Things that make the town a more attractive and comfortable place to live in.
Bloom points to the development of Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art, the city's water filtration system and transfer station, and the renovation of Drury High and construction of Brayton Elementary School as some of things the council's been involved in during his terms.
He doesn't think the city is difficult when it comes permitting for a business.
"The negative way to look at it is that we're too hard on business, the positive way to look at it is that we're making the city look attractive," Bloom said. "We're looking long term, not short term.
"I think you can see the improvements - people come back here and they're impressed."
Those improvements are the tools the city can use to promote growth and development, he said. "We've been doing that all along. ... I think we're going in the right direction in terms of that."
In terms of marketing, he said there are always things in the works behind the scenes through the Mayor's Office of Tourism and the city's community development office. "We're always in touch letting people know what's available."
Bloom thinks the city made the right moves in facilitating the development of the Notre Dame property and Clark Biscuit.
"The problem is if the city sits back and does nothing, nothing gets done," he said. "Or you'll have a second-tier type of development and not quite get the project you were hoping the city would do."
In cases like Notre Dame, the city can act as a middle man and lay down guidelines for the developer and have some control over the development.
"Now we've got housing that we need and can direct what kind of facade work needs to be down," he said of Notre Dame, adding that with the Contemporary Artists Center taking part of the property, it will go hand in hand with the growing creative economy in the city.
"North Adams is way ahead of the curve," Bloom said. "We're doing all these things that other mill towns wish they were doing."
As for benches, "if someone really wants a bench they can get a permit," he said. Bloom doesn't see the issue as a make-or-break one for the downtown's success - that will come through shops, restaurants, housing and diversified businesses.
Bloom, chairman of the Finance Committee, sees budgetary issues as constant challenge as costs rise and state funding levels off or drops.
"The mayor has always tried to present what he says is an affordable tax," he said, adding that the budget is "bare bones" and there's few places to cut.
Like several other councilors, he thinks city staffing is stretched but adding more workers could cost the taxpayer $200 to $300 a year. "I don't think this the time to do that."
"It's always a challenge to balance the budget make sure all services are
intact," said Bloom, who added that the retail development planned on Curran Highway will bring needed tax revenue that could eventually pay for more police and fire personnel.
But with three children in the school system, the biggest issue on his mind is the proposal to close the middle school.
That's a huge undertaking that will have a social, academic and physical impact on the city, the schools, the students and their families, said Bloom, as the three grades are moved back to neighborhood elementary schools - or the high school.
"I want to be closely involved with what's going to happen in the
schools," he said. "I think that's such a huge component of our city. We need to get our scores up, get our facilities up. It may be the single biggest issue facing us."
Bloom and his family live on Bradley Street. He has been involved with the schools and youth sports and has served on the boards of directors "for a ton of organizations."
He thinks the election season has been quiet this year because people are happy with the direction the city is taking.
"I think when the voters go to the polls what they want to look at are
they happy with way things are running ... are these the people they want
running their government."
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