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Berkshire Reps Return Enthusiastic About Democratic Party

By Andy McKeeveriBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — State Rep. Paul Mark went into the Democratic National Convention with reservations about the political process.
 
But, four days later — after hours of speeches and networking with fellow Democrats from all over the country — he's been reinvigorated.
 
"I saw core values of the party and core values of what America stands for," Mark said on Friday as he embarked on the long drive back from Philadelphia to the Berkshires. "I feel good at the end of the week about what my party believes in."
 
The Democratic Party coalesced during the week behind Hillary Clinton as its nominee for president. The convention signaled the end of an exhausting primary season with a heated race between the former secretary of state and Vermont's U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders. A roll-call vote put Clinton as the candidate for president — a vote that was historic because she is the first woman any major party has put up for the office. 
 
"When she was introduced, that's when it truly hit me. It was really emotional," said State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier, who served as the Massachusetts whip for the Clinton campaign. "It is unbelievable to realize how long it has been. It's been really hard to get to this point. ... it's been generations of women working on this."
 
Clinton ended the convention with an acceptance speech outlining her and her party's values. The party has one of the most progressive platforms it's ever had and some of that is thanks to Sanders. Mark was there as a Sanders delegate and said debt-free college education, environmental protection, the economics of building a middle class, and overturning Citizens United were all big issues for he and Sanders. All of those made it into Clinton's speech.
 
"I think a lot of what Sanders stood for was reflected in Hillary Clinton's speech," Mark said. "She rolled out the welcome mat last night."
 
Mark said the Sanders campaign urged supporters not to feel disenfranchised because the senator lost or to feel that what happened during the campaign didn't matter. The senator didn't try to play a spoiler but rather joined in the efforts to support Clinton to help progressive causes into the future. 
 
"I have a lot of respect for what he's always stood for and what he's done this election," Mark said. 
 
Farley-Bouvier said when the convention first started, there were Sanders supporters still thinking the senator had a chance at the nomination, despite his endorsing Clinton prior to the event. After the vote was taken on Tuesday, she said there was some disappointment among Sanders supporters. But as Wednesday and Thursday rolled on, the two camps had begun to come together because while Sanders and Clinton may have differed slightly, both are far from the viewpoints of Republican nominee Donald Trump.
 
"There is such a clear contrast between the Democratic Party and the National Republican Party," Mark said.
 
Farley-Bouvier said the Republican Convention was "all about hate and fear" while the Democratic convention sent a message of love and inclusion. 
 
"[Clinton] just did a beautiful job of laying out the ideas of the Democratic Party. The alternative is just unfathomable. I think she hit it right out of the park," the Pittsfield representative said.
 
The two representatives will be back in the Berkshires before heading out to Boston for the final two days of the state legislative session. the campaigning season will begin in the fall and both said the connections gained at the convention will help drive efforts across the nation.
 
"There has also been some grassroots organizing," Farley-Bouvier said. "It is hard to get to the convention as a delegate. These are true political activists ... part of what we do is build a network."
 
That network is partially built during the off-camera time when legislators are able to mingle and talk with officials from both their home state and others. Farley-Bouvier said she was able to spend a lot of time talking about issues with Attorney General Maura Healey and state Party Chairman Tom McGee, who chairs the transportation committee that has one bill hoping to be passed in the next few days that includes a pilot program Farley-Bouvier had filed.
 
"We were able to have conversations and move things forward," she said.
 
Mark said the convention offered him a chance to discussion issues and political strategy with fellow Democrats as well, many with different perspectives because of a different home state. The Peru Democrat said the "political part of the job" can't be ignored because it is important to build allegiances and help get people with similar ideals into office in order to get bills and laws passed. 
 
"Politics shouldn't be a dirty word," Mark said.
 
And Democrats in others states were able to take advice from Massachusetts. Farley-Bouvier said in many states where Democrats in the minority, "they look to Massachusetts as leaders for progressive issues." 
 
"You get a perspective of how Massachusetts is a special place," she said.
 
Both representatives were active on Facebook and social media as well as sharing their thoughts with iBerkshires and with other media sources. The two wanted to not only experience it for themselves but also let Berkshire residents in on the experience. 
 
"The whole time I was here, I always had it in my mind that I was a representative of Pittsfield," Farley-Bouvier said. 

Tags: convention,   Democratic Party,   election 2016,   state representative,   

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MassDOT Project Will Affect Traffic Near BMC

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Prepare for traffic impacts around Berkshire Medical Center through May for a state Department of Transportation project to improve situations and intersections on North Street and First Street.

Because of this, traffic will be reduced to one lane of travel on First Street (U.S. Route 7) and North Street between Burbank Street and Abbott Street from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday through at least May 6.

BMC and Medical Arts Complex parking areas remain open and detours may be in place at certain times. The city will provide additional updates on changes to traffic patterns in the area as construction progresses.

The project has been a few years in the making, with a public hearing dating back to 2021. It aims to increase safety for all modes of transportation and improve intersection operation.

It consists of intersection widening and signalization improvements at First and Tyler streets, the conversion of North Street between Tyler and Stoddard Avenue to serve one-way southbound traffic only, intersection improvements at Charles Street and North Street, intersection improvements at Springside Avenue and North Street, and the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of First Street, North Street, Stoddard Avenue, and the Berkshire Medical Center entrance.

Work also includes the construction of 5-foot bike lanes and 5-foot sidewalks with ADA-compliant curb ramps.  

Last year, the City Council approved multiple orders for the state project: five orders of takings for intersection and signal improvements at First Street and North Street. 

The total amount identified for permanent and temporary takings is $397,200, with $200,000 allocated by the council and the additional monies coming from carryover Chapter 90 funding. The state Transportation Improvement Plan is paying for the project and the city is responsible for 20 percent of the design cost and rights-of-way takings.

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