Letter: Ciolkowski Withdraws from North Adams School Committee Race

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To the Editor:

My name is Chelsey Lyn Ciolkowski and I am on the 2025 ballot as a candidate for the North Adams School Committee. As a mom with children in the North Adams Public Schools, as a former educator and social worker, I have a very deep interest in our schools, our kids and our families.

Several months ago, I decided to run for a seat on the School Committee. I took out and filed my papers and my name was placed on the ballot. Several weeks later, a job within the district as a school adjustment counselor was posted and I applied. That decision was made with much thought around what was best for me and my family … and a way that I could very directly serve the system.

I interviewed, was offered the position and I very humbly and with great excitement accepted.

As I am now an employee of the district, I must withdraw from the election which will be held on Nov. 4. I truly apologize for putting the voters and the city in this position but my withdrawal is necessary for obvious reasons. I want to thank all of those who supported me and all those who might have voted for me. I assure you that I am pouring and will continue to pour my heart and soul into the school adjustment counselor position to support all the children and families of North Adams Public Schools.

Please remember that on election day, while my name is on the ballot, I am officially withdrawing from the race. Please do not vote for me. I wish all those on the ballot good luck and much success.

Chelsey Ciolkowski
North Adams, Mass. 

 

 


Tags: election 2025,   

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Letter: CDBG Funding for Housing Fix-Up, Purchase Assistance, and Affordable Housing Trust

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

At the public hearing (03/25/26) on the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Application submitted by North Adams, the presentation indicated that no funding was allocated to assisting residents with housing fix-up and housing purchase.

North Adams remains the only jurisdiction in Berkshire County that does not include these types of programs in their CDBG application. The grant application also misses an opportunity to fund the newly created Affordable Housing Trust which receives CDBG funds in other jurisdictions.

North Adams funded housing fix-up and housing purchase assistance in the past and these programs helped many residents with home upkeep and purchases. The need for these programs has only increased since they were abandoned by North Adams.

For the median income resident of North Adams the median home price is $40,000 more than they can afford. Over 27 percent of homeowners spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing and 12.5 percent of homeowners spend more than 50 percent of their income on housing. Over 20 percent of properties in North Adams are rated as below average condition by the North Adams assessor.

There should be no doubt that North Adams needs both fix-up and home purchase assistance programs and a well supported Affordable Housing Trust. I urge North Adams residents to advocate for funding for these programs during the upcoming budget review meetings.

Virginia Riehl
North Adams, Mass. 

Riehl is co-founder of the North Adams Community Housing Organization (NACHO)

 

 

 

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