I’d like to ask my fellow citizens in Westfield for one of their seven votes in the Westfield at-large council race. I’m a U.S. Navy veteran and served aboard submarines as a reactor operator. I’m a small business owner that develops and hosts websites and phone apps. I’m also very involved in the community, serving on the Director’s Board for the Greater Westfield Kiwanis Club, the Ward 1 Cable Commissioner, the Recording Secretary for the Pioneer Valley AFL-CIO and I continue to work on my dream of starting a New Year’s Eve celebration here in Westfield. I love Westfield and the great life it has provided my wife of fourteen years, Lorena, and our twelve-year-old son, Sean.
One of my major goals as city councilor will be to help foster a positive, can-do spirit in Westfield. That’s because the first step to tackling our problems is believing in ourselves and that things can improve. Without that attitude, real progress becomes impossible here in Westfield.
It was the positive, can-do spirit of people like Jeff LaValley and all the volunteers at the Friends of the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail who had a vision for the bike path that will soon be completed. As a result of their vision and energy, downtown Westfield now has the best chance in years at attracting new visitors from near and far and set the stage for real progress in Westfield.
And progress is something we as a community have to embrace. If we don’t keep up with the times, we will be left to decline and decay while the rest of the world moves forward.
Progress, however, requires investment. The rail trail wouldn’t have been built without resources. But as we all know, budgets are very tight these days. That’s why I want the city council to aggressively pursue economic development opportunities of city owned properties to increase our tax base while, at the same time, lightening the tax burden on homeowners.
Surrounding communities have done significantly better than Westfield at increasing their tax base with commercial and industrial development. Currently, only 27% of Westfield’s property tax revenue comes from commercial and industrial properties. This is far behind cities like Agawam and Chicopee which derive nearly 40% of their revenue from these property classes. And our neighbor, West Springfield, receives nearly 50% of their revenue from commercial and industrial properties. That’s why I am unequivocally in support of developing city owned properties on the north side of town and downtown so we can open up additional new revenue streams. We need to take steps now to ensure we have the revenue we need in the future.
Getting more revenue into the city is also why I support the move to a graduated income tax in Massachusetts. If passed, the state will be in a much better position to help us fund badly needed improvements to our city without further taxation on working families and retirees who are already struggling to make ends meet.
I also support streamlining our operations wherever possible so we can put every dollar to good use.
Finally, all decisions we make have to take into account future generations. We need to think about the legacy we are leaving behind and not focus solely on short-term considerations. I want us make every effort to give my beloved son and all his friends the best shot at continuing to move Westfield forward.
I am fortunate that my business is successful to the point where it affords me the freedom and time to devote to my community. I can supply the attention needed for weighing all sides of an issue before making any decision. I will also be the kind of city councilor that strives to compromise and find common ground with those who disagree with me.
I would greatly look forward to working hard for you and serving my community as you city councilor. And so I humbly ask for your vote on Nov. 3rd. Thank you!
Sincerely,
Steve Dondley
