I hope everyone is enjoying this time of year! It is quite a busy time, so please remember to take some time to relax with your loved ones or give back to the community. There are many excellent ways to give back this year – for instance, the Council on Aging is accepting donations for the new senior center this holiday season. You can give on your own behalf or even have someone else give in your name!
There are still many events going on to celebrate the holiday season. From breakfasts with Santa to caroling with the Westfield High School Band to lighting the menorah downtown, I look forward to going to various events this upcoming week, and I’m sure many of you are, as well. Remember to stay safe!
I spent the majority of the past week at a new legislators’ conference at UMASS in Amherst. Though I was elected in a special election back in April, I am still a member of this incoming freshman class. This conference was a great way for me to meet with other new legislators, as well as get a lot of one on one time with leadership – a rare thing indeed.
Although I learned many new things about being a legislator, the best outcome of this conference was discussing the many ideas my colleagues and I had in mind for this upcoming session. Since being elected November 4, I’ve been itching to get back down to Boston and file legislation.
What I’m especially eager to do once the Legislature is back in session is to file legislation to act upon the two public policy questions the people of Westfield voted on. By a margin of 4:1 on both questions, you made your point loud and clear that something needed to be done about road maintenance and restoring local aid. I have every intention of acting upon both of those concerns this upcoming year, not only because of the results of the public policy questions, but also because I share the same sentiment. It is an absolute shame that our hard earned tax dollars are going to Boston and not coming back and I will fight to make sure that is no longer the case.
There is one last thing I want to mention. I have moved into my new office at 52 Court Street! Stop by and see us Monday-Friday from 9-5 with any questions or concerns, or even just to say hi! As always, if you have a problem or need to talk to me, I can be reached at [email protected] or you can contact my aide Neesha at [email protected].
Have a great weekend everyone!
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of this publication.
