Guiel Lampiasi Will Keep at Pedestrian Safety, Equity in Pittsfield's Ward 6
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dina Guiel Lampiasi is not done with her work on important issues such as pedestrian safety and equity in the city.
She seeking re-election for a second term as Ward 6 city councilor, aspiring to continue that work into the future while representing her constituents.
"I ran the first time for Ward 6 because I really wanted to be more involved, I am one of those people, I think, that has a deep sense of responsibility in terms of if you think you can give back, you should be, and I think this is where my skills best apply," she said.
"Why am I running for re-election? I really want to continue the work I've started, I've enjoyed my time getting to know the residents in this new way and I'm invested in the issues that I'm working on."
Guiel Lampiasi was voted into office for the first time in 2019 over Craig Gaetani and current opponent Edward Carmel.
She is the first of her nuclear family to graduate college, earning a master's degree in public administration and public policy from Northwestern University, and is employed by the Berkshire County District Attorney's Office.
"I think my general style is really reflective of where I've come from, and that is that I like to sit back and observe, I don't like to speak out on things until I feel that they've been well addressed and discussed, I'm not one for grandstanding," she said.
"I really think it's important to look at the data and look at the information that we have, talk to residents, talk to experts in the area on various topics and come to decisions that way, I really believe in a government that's collaborative, and I think we get a lot more done when we are collaborative rather than upset."
Guiel Lampiasi has been largely invested in making the ward a safe space for people of all abilities and modes of transportation. She said these aspects need to be considered for the city to be welcoming to everyone.
"I have a deep passion for pedestrian safety and computer safety right now, it came about from talking to residents," she added.
"Some of which have different disabilities, others are just residents navigating the city, and particularly parts of Ward 6, but have found areas that they pass through regularly that are unsafe, so I really enjoyed working with the residents on identifying those areas, and then coming back to the city to find solutions."
This is not just about helping a resident using a wheelchair or riding a bicycle, she said, but also has an environmental impact. Encouraging alternative modes of transportation is a step toward becoming a "greener" community with less pollution coming from vehicles.
Another priority of Guiel Lampiasi's is to advocate for the residents in Ward 6B who may not be heard. The area, also known as the West Side, is shared between Ward 6 and 7 and has been identified as being disproportionately affected by the pandemic.
In recent months, the area that was already socioeconomically disadvantaged has experienced elevated gun violence and homelessness.
"I think it's really important to elevate those voices that sometimes either haven't been invited to the table or maybe they're not listened to," she said.
Guiel Lampiasi also wants to keep an eye on "big picture" items that come up in city agendas and consider how today's decisions will affect the future. She has this morality, especially when looking at the city's liabilities in this past season.
"We've seen this a lot, particularly of my generation, that tomorrow isn't always considered, whether we're talking about the environmental or financial decisions," she said.
"Basically, I think it's immoral to delay action today when it's going to cost more to future generations, and when I say that, I'm thinking of, how are we handling today's liabilities? How are we investing in our infrastructure?"
In the realm of liabilities, she has advocated for exploring new trash and recycling systems within the city. The current system she fears is costing taxpayers more than it should and does not take environmental impacts into account in terms of recycling.
"I think the most accessible topic that other people are probably thinking about is trash, our system doesn't work," Guiel Lampiasi said. "And any household that's concerned about their taxes, or any household that is on a fixed income, this is something that matters to them, this is something that will make a difference in their bank account at the end of the year."
She supports exploring the tabled "Pay as You Throw" trash system that provides residents with 104 15-gallon bags free each year and any additional bags would be purchased for $1.50 per 30-gallon bag and $0.80 per 15-gallon bag.
Guiel Lampiasi said she is also not done with exploring Mayor Linda Tyer's proposed toter system, which gives residents a 45-gallon tote for trash and a 96-gallon one for recycling and those exceeding 45 gallons for trash would have to purchase overflow bags.
"I think that's how we find the best solution for every problem that we have," she said about exploring multiple venues for trash.
"If we have 11 people that come to the table with a with their decision already made up, the conversation tends to be less productive, but if we have 11 people coming to the table considering maybe three options and genuinely going through what they mean for the city, I think that's how we end up in a better place."
Earlier this year, she and Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey submitted a petition requesting that the city prioritize recycling education through social media and other mediums. Following this, the councilors met with the city staff and a recycling awareness campaign was released not long after.
Guiel Lampiasi says this campaign is more about asking for continued support from her constituents so she can continue to do the work that she is invested in.
"Campaigns are sometimes about identifying yourself or maybe reinventing yourself, there are different ways of thinking about a campaign," she said. "And to me, this is really about asking the residents of Ward 6 to let me continue working for them."
Tags: election 2021, municipal election,
