Walto Embarking On Fourth Campaign For Pittsfield Mayor
  Donna Walto says the economy is heading in the wrong direction. |
The founder of Berkshire Sightseeing is now running her fourth campaign for mayor to change things.
After three failed bids for the office, Walto says the city has just gotten worse as her passion to clean it up has grown.
"My passion is deeper than it has ever been. I've been watching this for 10 years and if something positive had happened, I'd be living happily on the hill on Sadler Avenue. But I don't see that," Walto said.
Walto says the city is losing its middle-class citizens as young professionals seek employment elsewhere.
"When you have white flight of educated kids like my own leaving here because there is no opportunity," the mother of three said, "unless you start to provide jobs to give kids a reason to stay, you've got white flight."
Walto said, "until you change the economics of the city, you'll have more undereducated, poorer people coming in to fill these apartments. It is like being in quicksand."
She believes she is the one to usher in change that will create job opportunities. She says there is a lack of leadership in the city and that she'll bring her business experience to the corner office to lead the city into prosperity.
Her plans to revitalize the city's economy centers on reaching outside of the Berkshires, tapping into the Williams College alumni pool, and finding people who are "passionate about Pittsfield."
"There are so many people who want to see the city succeed but I think they get disheartened by seeing what is going on," Walto said.
Walto said the likes of Larry Bossidy and Jim Shulman, both prominent businessmen in the city's history, carry the traits she'd seek out in potential business partners. The 1986 Williams College graduate says she'll reach into the college's connections to find new leaders.
"I know it is the strongest alumni network in the world. I know I can tap into that. It is an untapped resource. I know from my research that everything that has happened in this county that's been very important has come from Williams College," Walto said.
The William Stanley Business Park redevelopment is a priority for Walto, who said the property needs to be redeveloped with mixed array of businesses — from arts and culture to modern manufacturing. But it isn't just about redeveloping the parcels but also keeping in mind aspects like architecture, which can be a tourist draw.
What she doesn't believe will work is the Berkshire Innovation Center. The BIC is being designed with expectations of breaking ground this fall. Paid for through a $9.7 million grant, the center will serve as shared workspace for dozens of small and medium-sized businesses. Currently Pittsfield Economic Development Agency officials believe the space used for research and development and product testing will pave the path for the small businesses to grown.
Walto, however, says the building's design doesn't strike her as awe inspiring and after hearing stories of projects being constructed there to no avail, she doesn't believe the center will make it.
"I don't seen any hope there. It has been 15 years and I haven't seen a thing there," she said.
She instead sees an opportunity in medical marijuana. She said the city's history is in agricultural and it could be economically beneficial to use the PEDA property to grow marijuana for dispensaries across the state. The property is along a rail line, she said, making it easier to ship the product out.
The candidate also said she'd be active in reaching out to large manufacturers to relocate on the property.
Walto also took shots at the composition of the PEDA board, saying the right people weren't appointed. She is calling for the board to be made up of people who have a "vested interest" in the city.
Particularly, she pointed out that in 2008 former Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts President Mary Grant was appointed to the board by former Mayor Sarah Hathaway. Grant resigned from the board a year later after only attending one meeting. Last year, five years after resigning from the board, she moved to take a position in North Carolina.
"She wasn't from here. She's already gone. I don't think she ever went to any of the PEDA meetings," Walto said. "We need people who know the city and care about the city. Mary Grant is gone. She is in North Carolina. We need people with a vested interest in the city of Pittsfield to turn it around."
Walto also opposes the currently proposed Taconic High School project. The plan is to construct a new $120.8 million school. Walto, however, says she believes the project should have just been a renovation of the current building. Further, she said a project of such magnitude should have gone to a ballot.
While Walto says the city is "heading toward bankruptcy" because its spending plans, she also believes that investing in public safety should be the top priority for the mayor. She says if more police need to be hired, then she'll hire them.
"The No. 1 priority of any community is public safety. You begin with public safety," Walto said.
She also believes that the city should put more of an emphasis in saving historic buildings.
Walto is a Pittsfield native. In 1995 she began planning Berkshire Sightseeing Tours through historical research of the area.
"I began doing the research in 1995. It took me five years for business and historical research. It is a Pittsfield-based business but I began by sitting on the porch of the Red Lion Inn selling tickets," Walto said.
The business never quite took off as she hoped, saying the tourism industry didn't support such tours. Now the entrepreneur is caring for properties her grandfather built.
"There wasn't much interest in it so I changed it for private tours. My name is still out there for private tours but it wasn't off any stop like I envisioned until we turn Pittsfield around," Walto said.
Walto is on the preliminary election ballot with incumbent Daniel Bianchi, Linda Tyer, the current city clerk, and resident Craig Gaetani. The preliminary election is on Sept. 22.
Tags: candidates, election 2015, preliminary election,
