PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Eric Lesser says the next gubernatorial administration needs to focus on the cost of living, affordable child care, affordable housing for people, and transportation because they are all tied together.
"They all go together, you can't really have good, high-quality housing without good transportation, right to get people connected to where they work and where they live," the state senator said recently during a visit to Pittsfield.
He's running in the Democratic primary on Sept. 6 for the lieutenant governor nomination.
One of the most important roles of the lieutenant governor is helping carry out the governor's vision, he said.
"The lieutenant governor is the one who really works to put the pieces together, working with cities and towns, working with the legislature, working with the business community, nonprofits, to get everybody around the table, you know, really singing off the same sheet of music," he said.
Since being elected to the Senate in November 2014, Lesser said he has been working to improve the quality of life of the residents in the nine 1st Hampden and Hampshire District communities in Western Massachusetts that he serves.
During his time on the campaign trail, he has heard a lot of citizens expressing that although we live in a state with a progressive history, it is getting more difficult and expensive to live here.
"It's a challenging time people have gotten through. We've gotten through COVID, but it's not completely in the rearview mirror and we've got all these other challenges. The price of housing, skyrocketing, rents are going up, gas prices continue to go up," Lesser said.
"So, I think people just feel like they need government on their side and I think especially for us in the outlying areas of the state right in Western Mass in the Berkshires, in the Pioneer Valley, it's even more important to get that focus from state government. I think what I really hear and something that I think I hear in common, really wherever we go, is that people just need some help. They need the government kind of working for them and helping them."
Lesser has championed bulk purchasing and prescription drugs in an effort to help bring prices down and give more bargaining power to MassHealth.
He said we are in a crisis when it comes to health, especially in terms of mental health and the costs.
"You're seeing this, especially in our schools with our young people, especially teenagers, high school, and middle school age, all of our hospitals across the state, including our hospitals here in the Berkshires don't have enough beds, don't have enough space," he said.
"So we've got to really tackle mental health, we've got to really dramatically expand access to care and improve reimbursement rates for mental health services, we've also got to do a lot more to bring costs down, you see cost continuing to go up."
As a Western Massachusetts resident, living in Longmeadow and representing Springfield and Chicopee in the state Senate, he really wants to place Western Massachusetts front and center when it comes to transportation. Lesser is a strong supporter of east/west passenger rail and was in Pittsfield for the maiden trip of the Berkshire Flyer from New York City.
"There are more than a dozen candidates for statewide office across all the various offices this year. There's not a single one outside [Instate] 495. It's very, very important that we have that regional balance that regional equity," he said.
He said his work on vocational education, tourism, art promotion, and being involved with several caucuses would make him a successful lieutenant governor.
Lesser is Senate chair of the Joint Legislative Manufacturing Caucus, the Gateway Cities Caucus, and the Libraries Caucus and Senate co-chair of the Food Systems Caucus.
He will face state Rep. Tami Gouveia of the 14th Middlesex and Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll in the primary.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Cyclists Pedal Into Berkshire Bike Month
By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
Berkshire Bike Path Council President Marge Cohan addresses bikers at the event.
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Clad in helmets and bright colors, more than 20 people gathered in Park Square to kick on Berkshire Bike Month on Wednesday.
The month of May will be stacked with bicycle-centered events throughout the county — beginning with an eight-mile loop from the city's center that ends at Hot Plate Brewing Co.
"We have we have a lot of things going on in Pittsfield for bicycles and for safety," Commissioner of Public Services and Utilities Ricardo Morales said.
"We're not anywhere near where we should be. We have a lot of work to do."
Bike month is meant to promote the safe use of streets for anyone and everyone no matter how they are traveling, he said The commissioner is especially excited about Bike to Work Day on May 17, as he can register to be recognized for his typical commute.
He presented a proclamation to President of the Berkshire Bike Path Council President Marge Cohan. It states that the city is committed to the health of its citizens and environment, safe cycling with road bike lanes and the extension of the Ashuwillticook Rail Trail, and that the Police Department encourages safe cycling by distributing lights and helmets and accompanies the city's Ride Your Bike to School event.
BBPC is celebrating its 25th anniversary. Cohan said the quarter century has been full of commitment to bike paths and bike safety throughout Berkshire County "on roads, on trails, on tracks, and on paths."
"In expanding our mission in this way we have been able to encompass all kinds of cycles and all kinds of riders," she said.
She noted that participants range from babies to 90-year-old people. Bike month includes events for all ages.
Voters at the annual town meeting on Monday, May 6, will decide 22 articles, including articles on sidewalks and the authorization of a number of spending articles, including an approximate $22 million budget. click for more
Ken Sagendorph, a former firefighter and emergency technician, says his goal is to improve communication between the Fire District, residents, town, and department if elected to the Board of Water Commissioners. click for more
Adoptable pups Beethoven and Starr took a stroll down North Street on Tuesday with hopes of finding forever homes on National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day. click for more