Hello Ward 3,
Last week I attended the City Council meeting, during the public participation segment I address a last year’s council subject of an improved relationship with Westfield Gas and Electric. Specifically regarding their plan to have Fiber optic cables throughout the city. My point was in that we are in the midst of The Gas Light development project and in that the conduits are going in, why not also include the cable too? We have spent millions of Federal, State, and Local tax money on the downtown development project so as to attract new businesses so why not add in the fiber cable so as to help attract those new businesses. Holyoke, Chicopee, Springfield, and others are already investing in having WiFi or fiber optic access to upgrade their attractiveness for new businesses. Please contact your City Councilors to urge them to support this idea. Right now the process is that if enough people agree to support having cable in their area then they will put that area on this list for it to happen. Westfield G&E has been very successful in their management, and are well resourced to invest in this opportunity. In this case it should not be a popularity contest, but a necessity contest instead.
Westfield G&E are going to go before the Council anyway on a couple of other issues any way why not include this one that will help entice new businesses to our new and improved downtown.
In the meantime I am urging those that live in or near the Gas Light District to contact Westfield G&E at whipcityfiber.com to put in your support for having this area made accessible to the cable. I would especially call upon the business sector to do likewise for it is in your interest to have this asset added for your customers and staff.
Why go through added expense of putting in the cables later when this area is still under development? Eventually, fiber cables will be here anyway.
As previously said, now that I am unelected, and considering my history of service I have chosen to be a Community Advocate, as such while I am not in office, I am still a responsible person, and the wellbeing this neighborhood, and Westfield in general is a part of that sense of citizen responsibility. If you agree with this plan or not, let me know. It takes the strength in numbers to make things happen.
Thank you,
Brian Hoose [email protected]
