Letter: Retired Police Chief Backs Macksey for Mayor

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To the Editor:

To the residents of North Adams: It is with great pleasure that I may provide you with an honest and heartfelt letter in support of, who I feel, is the most qualified candidate for mayor of the City of North Adams. I have the privilege of knowing Jennifer Macksey both on a professional and personal basis. I have had the honor of serving this great city for over 32 years. I have seen its ups and downs, good and bad, positive and negative, trials and tribulations of the city I call home. However, through all of this, we always hold our heads high and continue to do what’s best for our city, its residents, and the communities around us.

Having known Jennifer for nearly 25 years, she has the integrity, intelligence, and strong municipal knowledge to "hit the ground running" on Jan. 1, 2022. I know Jennifer has a deep love and understanding of our city. Her passion and caring for our senior citizens, the hard working men and women of our community, and one of the most important assets of this city, our children and their education and well being.

We know there are some significant issues within this city, our crumbling infrastructure, failing water and sewer lines, roads, sidewalks, fire hydrants, public safety building, etc. Yes, there has been some improvements made to these issues, however, there is much more that needs to be done. We all know that this type of comprehensive work can be costly. But, if we start now, put a plan together and execute it, we will begin to make progress. Of course, this will take to few years to complete, nothing happens overnight. However, I know that Jennifer is person that can find the funding, coordinate, and execute a significant infrastructure improvement plan.

I believe public safety and our schools are the backbone of this city. I know Jennifer has the ability, trust, understanding and communication skills, to be sure that these important issues are always being improved, funded appropriately, and maintained to the highest standards possible.

Having worked with Jennifer, I have found her to have the ability to communicate and work very well with others. She listens to people, understands, and shows great empathy. She is a strong, no nonsense woman, yet, kind and understanding. In my opinion, her honesty, integrity, transparency, and love for this city is unquestionable.
Please go out and vote for Jennifer Macksey for mayor on Nov. 2, 2021.

Michael Cozzaglio
North Adams, Mass. 

Michael Cozzaglio is the retired police chief of North Adams.

 

 

 


Tags: election 2021,   letters to the editor,   municipal election,   


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North Adams Council Accepts Controversial Policing Grant

By Tammy Daniels iBerkshires Staff
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The City Council on Tuesday accepted a fiscal 2025 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant in the amount of $14,231 for the construction of an evidence room. 
 
The small but contentious grant was accepted 5-4 after weeks of debate. 
 
"It was appropriate for us to accept the Byrne grant as those items of question, we'll say, were not going to be enforceable," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey, then turning to the packed audience, "I don't know how you feel, but I'm very sensitive to what you feel and the worries that you have. And I would speak on behalf of Chief Bailey ... 
 
"Our job is to make sure everyone is safe, whether you lived here five minutes, whether you lived here 50 years, 100 years."
 
The grant received weeks of pushback from area residents who have filled council chambers for the past four meetings and started a petition. The crux had been certain language added to the grant this year that put conditions on local law enforcement regarding immigration and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
 
At the last meeting, councilors had asked for a reservation of rights, a legal letter outlining that the city could not be compelled to comply with four provisions in the grant, based on the opinions of the city solicitor and Attorney General Andrea Campbell, and recent court cases. 
 
Councilor Peter Breen, who had urged the submission of a letter, noted the 23 states that have filed class action suits.  
 
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