Letter: Vote Alcombright to Move City Forward

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To the Editor:

I was born and raised in North Adams and now I live here again. I have seen many changes. However, the most significant changes I have seen have been in the last six years.

Dick Alcombright and his administrators are welcoming, open, and willing to listen. We have seen the infusion of ideas and private investment in North Adams because of Mayor Alcombright's willingness to talk with outsiders and collaborate with other communities. I remember working at the Williams College Graduate Art History Department when Tom Krens had a vision for MoCA and John Barrett said it was a very stupid idea.

Dick Alcombright supported the first master plan for our city in over 40 years and people are reading it! This plan, called Vision 2030, aligns efforts within North Adams with those of the region. Dick understands that we have to develop and work closely with leaders throughout the entire area.

The investors of the Greylock Mill and the Redwood Motel have said that the city's Vision 2030 was instrumental in their decision to purchase these properties. Another new development in the West End is a museum at the airport. This developer, too, noted that Alcombright's vision and willingness to work with them has made investing in North Adams an easy decision. This administration is planning for the future and making plans to ensure that North Adams continues to develop and is a welcoming place to live.

I'm disappointed that we no longer have a hospital in North Adams. I don't know if Berkshire Medical Center will do the right thing and provide us with in-patient beds. I do know that Dick did everything in his power to ensure we have the services we do today. I listened to John Barrett at the debate he did agree to attend. His statements were far-fetched, accusatory and not based on the true facts. Be wary of rhetoric.

I am encouraged about the future of my city and am confident we will move forward. I do not want to see us retreat to a place of closed doors, arrogant decision-making by one person, or fear from residents to make suggestions. This is our community. Let's be part of it and vote for the administration who is moving us forward. Please vote on Nov. 3 for Mayor Alcombright!

JoAnn Bates
North Adams

 

 

 


Tags: election 2015,   


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Clarksburg Sees Race for Select Board Seat

CLARKSBURG, Mass. — The town will see a three-way race for a seat on the Select Board in May. 
 
Colton Andrews, Seth Alexander and Bryana Malloy returned papers by Wednesday's deadline to run for the three-year term vacated by Jeffrey Levanos. 
 
Andrews ran unsuccessfully for School Committee and is former chairman of the North Adams Housing Authority, on which he was a union representative. He is also president of the Pioneer Valley Building Trades Council.
 
Malloy and Alexander are both newcomers to campaigning. Malloy is manager of industrial relations for the Berkshire Workforce Board and Alexander is a resident of Gates Avenue. 
 
Alexander also returned papers for several other offices, including School Committee, moderator, library trustee and the five-year seat on the Planning Board. He took out papers for War Memorial trustee and tree warden but did not return them and withdrew a run for Board of Health. 
 
He will face off in the three-year School Committee seat against incumbent Cynthia Brule, who is running for her third term, and fellow newcomer Bonnie Cunningham for library trustee. 
 
Incumbent Ronald Boucher took out papers for a one-year term as moderator but did not return them. He was appointed by affirmation in 2021 when no won ran and accepted the post again last year as a write-in.
 
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