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By G. Michael Dobbs
SPRINGFIELD — Although one local television reporter introduced Gov. Deval Patrick’s State of the Commonwealth speech with the prediction he would address the “meltdown of the Democratic Party” — following the senatorial victory of Scott Brown — there was little evidence of a “meltdown” at an enthusiastic house party supporting Patrick’s re-election bid in Springfield Thursday night.
Over 50 people from around the area gathered at the home of Edward Casey Thursday night to watch the speech and then await a visit by Patrick who chose to make an appearance at the gathering. Although there were 25 house parties around the state, Patrick selected the one in Springfield to underscore his commitment to Western Massachusetts.
When asked about a supposed Democratic meltdown, Patrick said, unlike some people, he believes in the idea of belonging to a political party and he is proud of being a Democratic.
As he heads into his re-election effort, though he made it clear that he is running to be the governor for all of the state’s citizens.
“I think what we have to be about is offering a positive, forward looking vision of the future. My own is we have to be about hanging in there together, that we all have a stake in each other. Part of this campaign and governing through this crisis is seeing the stake each of us has in each other and making policy accordingly,” he said.
Referring to the Brown victory, Patrick said, “I was teasing Scott about this today because we were on the phone. In some respects they learned their campaign from ours in 2006. It was very much a grassroots campaign. That’s important. The voters are smart and they respond to a personal ask. I just don’t believe and I don’t want to run a campaign that’s just about raising a lot of money and getting endorsements from important people and building the relationship with the voters in 30-second ads in the last few weeks of the campaign. It’s not a comment on anything I’ve seen. It’s not who I am. It is now what I want to do. We have to be out. We have to be talking to people and, most importantly, we have to be listening.”
Making government personal was a re-occurring theme of Patrick’s speech in which specific Massachusetts citizens and organizations were cited and “getting personal” was certainly the theme of the house party appearance. The governor warmly greeted many of the people gathered there by name, making sure he shook hands with everyone.
Holyoke City Councilor Aaron Vega attended the party, as did Springfield City Councilors John Lysak, Michael Fenton and Keith Wright.
Rory Casey of Holyoke, the host of the party, found out only that day that Patrick had selected his event to attend.
“I think it’s just amazing,” he said.
Commenting on the State of the Commonwealth speech, Casey noted he particularly liked the reference Patrick made to the anger in the state and how those emotions should be channeled into positive action.
After greeting everyone Patrick spoke briefly and then answered questions. He criticized the press for characterizing his relationship with the Legislature as confrontational and said he has been able to have about 90 percent of his initiatives passed by the General Court.
Making a reference to the Legislature, Patrick said, “People are not bad, but they have habits that are deep and entrenched and they are willing to fight for them.”
During the question period, Vega asked Patrick if he would support a different approach to legalized gambling the state. Instead of several large destination casinos, Vega asked about granting licenses to existing businesses for specific games — not unlike liquor licenses.
Patrick said he opposes that approach because research indicated, “the human costs are greater the more convenient the gaming is.” He added the state would receive less income from gambling under such an arrangement.
Speaking about the perception his administration has hired over 1,000 state workers at a time when many local governments in the state are forced to make sacrifices, Patrick said to great laughter, “I don’t know what it is about Democrats, but we are the first ones to believe the Republican talking points.”
“Get informed. Get informed,” he continued. “There are 2,200 people already [laid off]. Here’s another phenomenon. It bugs me, When a factory lays off 1,000 people everybody says what a tragedy. When government lays off 1,000 people, people say good. It’s wrong.”
He said one of the blessings of the current economic crisis has been to force the state to look for efficiencies and better ways of conducting business.
Susan Boyle Glidden of Holyoke asked about the status of Holyoke Soldiers’ Home and noted that it would be easier for people to campaign for Patrick in this area if “you could tell them the Soldiers’ Home would be there for a while.”
“There was no danger of the Soldiers’ Home going away — never any danger,” Patrick responded.
Patrick then referred to “a game that I’m not going to talk about on the record” — an obvious reference to a behind-the-scenes political event involving the Soldiers’ Home.
He noted the Soldiers’ Home funding has risen 14 percent since he has been in office, which was his decision. He said while looking for possible efficiencies his administration was advised by someone he declined to identify the outpatient clinic services could be taken over by other medical facilities.
He said the funding has been restored and it will be in his next budget and added the outrage about the cuts at the Soldiers’ Home have been matched by many other cuts in other programs across the state .
When told of the efforts made by Holyoke Veterans Agent Kris Lecca in acquiring financial records of the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home to see how money is being spent there, Patrick said, “I think transparency is always good, particularly in public institutions.”
 Holyoke City Council 2010-2011 Tim Purington (w4), Aaron Vega (AL), Peter Tallman (AL), Linda Vacon (W5), James Leahy (AL), Brenna Murphy (AL), Pattie Devine (AL), Joe McGiverin (AL), Anthony Keane (W3), Jay O’Neill (W6), Kevin Jordain (AL), Todd McGee (W6)
Rebecca Lisi (AL), Diosdado Lopez (W2), Donald Welch (W1)
Sub Committees
Ordinance – Lopez, O’Neill, Keane, Purington, Lisi
Finance – McGee, Talman, Leahy, O’Neill, Jourdain
Public Safety – Devine, tallman, Purington, Vega, Murphy
Public Service – Leahy, Welch, Lisi, Murphy, Vacon
Redevelpoment – Jordaine, Welch, keane, Vacon, Vega
Personal – McGiverin, Devine, Purington
By Michael Plaisance
January 22, 2010
HOLYOKE – If Holyoke is to be a center of computing technology, some city councilors say it makes sense for councilors to be accessible in a city-sanctioned e-mail system.
But other councilors say they would avoid using a city system because such correspondence is subject to public-disclosure laws, which could discourage constituents who want to discuss something in confidence.
The City Council on Jan. 5 referred the e-mail proposal to the Public Service Committee.
Councilors also will seek an opinion from the Law Department. They want advice about disclosure requirements of municipal e-mail systems and issues related to the Open Meeting Law if multiple councilors happen to exchange e-mails on an issue, said Councilor Rebecca Lisi, who filed the e-mail proposal.
“I think that constituents really want to be able to have that quick communication,” Lisi said on Tuesday.
The discussion comes as a regional task force has been discussing the potential benefits of an $80 million high performance computing center. A partnership consisting of the state, colleges and private companies plans to build the center along the canals in a project supporters say could make Holyoke a research hub.
Councilor Aaron Vega said it is important that people looking through the city Web site have access to councilors by e-mail. A councilor can always tell someone who wants to discuss a private matter that they can speak by phone, he said.
“Keep in mind if we are to (be) home to (a) high speed computer center and to an innovation district I believe we need to embrace new technologies and ideas that move us forward,” Vega wrote in an e-mail.
The Holyoke Gas and Electric Department operates the city’s Web site and e-mail services for department heads and others. Adding e-mail accounts for city councilors would be a minor adjustment, department Manager James M. Lavelle said.
Councilor Kevin A. Jourdain has a Web site and e-mail access, but it is a private account. He wants the public to feel free to contact him without worrying the discussion might have to be made public because it occurred on a municipal e-mail system, he said.
“This way, if a citizen e-mails me, if they want that confidence, they have that knowledge that they will have that confidence,” Jourdain said.
Courts have debated the disclosure requirements that public officials face regarding use of e-mail and other electronic communication. For example, according to Reuters news service, the U.S. Supreme Court said last month that it would decide in its current term whether privacy rights covered a worker’s personal text message on employer-owned equipment, hearing a case about an Ontario, Calif. police officer who sent sexually explicit messages from his department-issued pager.
Meanwhile, in West Virginia, the state Supreme Court ruled in November that private e-mail communication to and from government employees don’t qualify as a public record. The Associated Press had sued to gain access to the correspondence.
John P. O’Neill, who is the Ward 7 councilor here and a lawyer, said he believes city business that a councilor discusses in any forum should be subject to public disclosure.
“In other words, if we’re conducting public business on our private computers, I don’t think we can get around the Freedom of Information Act,” O’Neill said.
After the inauguration I got my new desk and name plate in City Council Chambers.
Now it’s time to get to work.
Thank You all for your Support so far.
Aaron Vega
Hello,
Jim here… I just want to welcome you to the new site that I’ve set up for Aaron Vega.
We’ll need some time to settle in, but you should expect a much better experience overall. I’m pretty psyched about the redesign (but that’s because I’m into this sort of stuff). We’ve moved from Joomla to WordPress so it’s nicer to look at, easier to maintain, and we should be able to add more (and better) features.
I won’t bore you (too much) with the details, but a quick list of the cool stuff is Apture, Lightbox, a mobile device theme, and heaps of back-end stuff that makes the site much more useful & easier to use for me and Aaron.
Anyway, I’m going to get out of the way and let Aaron do his thing now. I hope you enjoy the site and everything that Aaron accomplishes with it!
Aaron Vega, a native of Holyoke, MA, local business owner and local community organizer has been endorsed by the UAW Local 2322, offices located in Holyoke.
Aaron Vega is running for City Council because the city of Holyoke is his home and he believes Holyoke can do better to make this city prosper again. He has the desire to be an active member in building a city that is safe, vibrant and inviting to all people. This is the city where Aaron Vega wants to raise his family, grow his business and continue to call home.
Aaron Vega brings to the City Council a fresh voice and new ideas. He brings new energy, a willingness to learn and a positive “can do” attitude. Aaron Vega is driven to make our city better.
Ron Patenaude, President of the UAW Local 2322 says, “The UAW has a storied history of supporting equality and social justice and we are proud as a Union to support candidates like Aaron and other young progressives who we believe are the future of the Democratic Party and our best hope for building a more just society.”
“I am very excited about this endorsement. The UAW local 2322 and I both believe that our city of Holyoke should be more labor friendly and should promote a community of higher employment. This endorsement is a testament to my ability as a local community organizer and active citizen and business owner within Holyoke,” says Aaron Vega.
Aaron Vega has been an organizer within the Holyoke Community as a founding member of Citizens for the Revitalization & Urban Success of Holyoke and an organizer of Holyoke’s Community Convention in 2009.
Aaron Vega, who appears a perfect 10th on the ballot, is a local business owner in one of the old factory buildings, Open Square. Aaron Vega feels he can bring his knowledge of starting a business within the center of the city to creating incentives for other businesses to create more jobs for the citizens of Holyoke.
What are your qualifications for the elected position you seek?
The qualifications I bring to the office of City Council at Large include an eagerness to do the work that is needed to move our city forward, valuable listening skills, good negotiating skills and the ability to bring fresh ideas to the Council. I have roots and connections throughout the city, from the Highlands to South Holyoke, and I believe those connections are key in bringing Holyoke together.
Since May of 2009, I have been on my “learning and listening tour.” Through meetings with business, civic, municipal and community leaders, I have gained insight into many of the details concerning Holyoke’s challenges, as well as our future possibilities. Making these connections in our city and being educated in housing, taxes, non-profits and infrastructure has provided me a better understanding of how the city works, enabling me to make good decisions on the Council.
As a downtown business owner, I want to see Holyoke grow and prosper. As a resident, I simply care about this city; the whole city and all of its residents. This dedication and commitment will drive me to make informed decisions to improve our city and keep Holyoke a place we all want to call home.
Why do want the position you seek?
I am seeking the office of City Councilor at Large because I believe I can help Holyoke prosper in the 21st Century. I believe I can get us on the right to track to take advantage of all the positive momentum in Holyoke. I believe I can help leverage and build upon our infrastructure, our assets, our location and our potential.
I want to grow my business here, raise my family here and give back to the city I call home. I believe that fresh faces with new ideas working together with the experienced leaders in our city, will open new opportunities, spur new growth and create positive ways of doing business.
I seek this position because I know Holyoke’s future is bright and I am not someone to sit on the sidelines. I feel Holyoke’s municipal leadership needs to reflect the population of our city, including Latinos, business owners, active community builders, native Holyokers and new residents.
I am seeking the position of City Councilor at Large because I know I can bring the leaders of this great city together to the table; working together to coordinate our efforts, hone in on our missions, and create a better Holyoke.
What are your top three priorities for the position you seek?
The top three priorities I see that are needed for Holyoke to move forward and prosper in the 21st Century include marketing our city to bring in jobs and new residents, establishing smart incentives to keep our streets clean and safe and creating a more accessible and accountable city government.
In the proper marketing of our city, we can establish ourselves as a leader in Green Business and Technology. Capitalizing on our low energy rates and affordable building spaces, we need to aggressively and creatively invite new businesses both large and small into Holyoke, which will bring in more jobs and increase our tax base.
Establishing smart incentives for business owners and residents to keep our streets clean and safe will help build ownership in our neighborhoods and address our current issues of crime and blight. Incentives will provide small rewards for those who are doing their part to keep our city clean and give residents pride in their neighborhoods.
Having a city government that is accessible and accountable will encourage more civic engagement from all of our residents. Transparency and an “open door” policy will help bridge the divides we face in Holyoke and bring our community together.
Why are you running for office?
I am running for City Council at Large because I believe I bring the energy and the passion that is needed in this position, along with fresh ideas that are needed to move Holyoke forward. I am running because I want to give back to the city I love. I am running because I want to raise my family here, grow my business here and do what I can to put Holyoke on the right track to prosper in the 21st Century. I am running because I believe it is our civic duty to serve and do our part to make our communities better.
What are your qualifications for the post?
The qualifications I bring to the office of City Council at Large include an eagerness to do the work that is needed to move our city forward, valuable listening skills, good negotiating skills and the ability to bring fresh ideas to the Council. I have roots and connections throughout the city, from the Highlands to South Holyoke, and I believe those connections are key in bringing Holyoke together.
Since May of 2009, I have been on my “learning and listening tour.” Through meetings with business, civic, municipal and community leaders, I have gained insight into many of the details concerning Holyoke’s challenges, as well as our future possibilities. Making these connections in our city and being educated in housing, taxes, non-profits and infrastructure has provided me a better understanding of how the city works, enabling me to make good decisions on the Council.
As a downtown business owner, I want to see Holyoke grow and prosper. As a resident, I simply care about this city; the whole city and all of its residents. This dedication and commitment will drive me to make informed decisions to improve our city and keep Holyoke a place we all want to call home.
What are the key issues facing your community?
Holyoke has many issues facing it today including a need for jobs and business growth, as well as strengthening our schools and bringing our diverse community together. Holyoke has many positive things happening as well, including it’s Green potential, rich history, affordable housing stock, low energy rates, ground breaking of the canal walk, dedicated residents, the pending high speed computer center and a culturally diverse community.
I believe one of the main issues facing Holyoke is the need to bring everyone “back to the table.” Getting our municipal, civic and business leaders communicating and working together will help us reach a shared vision for the city. Also working to get our non-profits and human services into collaborations that will help to better serve our community. Communications and collaborations toward a collective plan will help us to market our city in a better way, which will help to keep our current businesses, while working to attract new businesses both large and small.
As a part of organizing team for Holyoke’s “Community Conversation” and participant in the event, I learned just how much all of the residents of Holyoke have in common. I learned that we all want the same things for our family and our city. I learned that we all want a safe and clean city, with opportunities for our young people on up to our seniors. I learned that we all want good schools that prepare our children for the future. I learned that we all want to call Holyoke our home and we all want our home to be the best that it can be.
Holyoke Election Issue Survey
1. I am in favor of the ballot question to establish a charter commission to review and study our city’s form of government. As a voter, I will vote “yes” on the charter review.
I believe all aspects of how the city runs should be looked at as Holyoke moves into the 21st Century. Any changes that can streamline how government works, maintain the checks and balances of power and establish relevant rules and guidelines for today’s world, all can be important and useful. Holyoke’s charter is old and outdated. There are currently ways within city council to work with the charter and move policies forward, however, I think any governing document or business plan should be periodically reviewed and edited or amended if needed in order to better serve the public.
The chanter review and the elected commission is also another way to invite the public to participate in city government and how it is run. Civic engagement is critical for residents to have “ownership” in their city. I am in favor of actions and opportunities that give the people a voice in their community.
2. The “perfect storm” of budget problems and of possible budget cuts from the State will no doubt hurt Holyoke in a significant way. Though I believe Holyoke to be rich in culture, history, art and potential, we are not a rich town in the sense of our revenue. Becoming more stable and self-sufficient regarding the costs associated with running the city, I believe is a goal we should be working with. I think we need to establish a 10-year tax plan to show we are thinking about the future and demonstrating to potential businesses that we have a forward-thinking plan.
To say schools and police should be immune to any budgets cuts would be ideal in the perfect world. I would also include the fire department and even our public works department employees, for they both too are critical to the city. Any additional cuts from the State need to be evaluated and every department would have to be looked at. I will do what I can to protect the budgets and pay of fire, police, teachers and city employees, while also doing what is needed for the city as a whole to keep solvent.
Further, I believe consolidating within departments, techniques for better energy saving and allotment for overtime all needs to be looked at. We also need to look at creative and innovate ways to bring in revenue, ways to put vacant buildings back on our tax rolls, ways to get people jobs which bring in taxes and ways to have all sectors of the city support one another. Finally, I would try to address and disburse any emergency cuts from the State in a way that would have the least effect on the city and how it functions. Though we may have a substantial “rainy day” fund, I would see that as a last resort to cover any State budget cuts.
3. As a downtown business owner, I am not just “taking the talk” about downtown revitalization, but I am “walking the walk.” I believe we need market rate housing in downtown and to refill our urban core with the kind of density that is appropriate for Holyoke. We need the right land and energy incentives, like the ones that were the original way businesses were brought into Holyoke, to be relevant today and attractive to new businesses. I would like to see us invite local businesses from Greenfield, Keene and Brattleboro to open a second location or satellite store in Holyoke. I would like to see us use better ways to market our green energy, our location and our infrastructure to outside companies.
Voters can believe in me because my agenda is not personal. I truly wish for the whole city to prosper. Voters can believe in me because I am not a career politician trying to feed them a stump speech. I am a resident and business owner who cares. Voters can believe in me because win or loose on November 3rd, I will continue to stay involved and work hard to make Holyoke the great city we all know it can be.
Candidate Questionnaire
Name and Office Sought
Aaron M. Vega
Candidate for City Council at Large
Age & Date of Birth
39 years old, born 8/15/70
Address
28 St James Ave
Holyoke MA 01040
Occupation & Employer
Co-Owner/Director VegaYoga & Movement Arts
Free Lance Film and Video Editor
Education
B.A. Psychology – Keene State College
B.A. Theatre and Film Arts – Keene State College
Elected Office Held
I do not currently nor have I held elected office in the past.
Memberships
- Board of Directors Member: Holyoke Health Center
- Member of: Friends of the Holyoke Public Library, Friends of Pulaski Park, and Friends of the Council on Aging
- Union Member: 4c’s SEIU LOCAL 1973
- Founding member of the Holyoke based community group C.R.U.S.H. (Citizens For The Revitalization and Urban Success of Holyoke)
Relatives Employed by the Federal, State or City Government
I have no relative currently employed by the federal, state or city government.
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