HAVE A GOOD DAY.
KEVIN: "THERE'S A NEW ATTITUDE
AROUND HERE. I
MEAN I THINK THERE'S A REAL
POSITIVE ATTITUDE AROUND HERE
NOW."
JAY: "PEOPLE ARE REALLY SEEING
THAT SOMETHING IS
HAPPENING DOWN HERE, THEY'RE
FEELING THE VIBE THAT'S
HAPPENING DOWN HERE, AND IT
REALLY IS
EXCITING."
KAIT
:
IT'S SAID THE CITY OF
SPRINGFIELD IS EXPERIENCING A
RENAISSANCE. A REBIRTH - A
REAWAKENING TO A CITY THAT WAS
ONCE A MECCA OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT AT THE CROSSROADS OF
NEW ENGLAND.
I'M KAIT WALSH, HOST OF 22NEWS
INFOCUS.
LOOK HARD HERE AT MAIN STREET -
IF YOU BLINK - YOU MIGHT SEE
SOMETHING
DIFFERENT.
THIS STREET IS CHANGING ITS LOOK
BY THE DAY - WHILE ALSO
PRESERVING ITS
HISTORIC VALUE.
AND WHILE MAIN STREET IS JUST
ONE THROUGHWAY IN THE THIRD
LARGEST CITY IN
MASSACHUSETTS - WHAT HAPPENS
HERE IMPACTS EVERY NEIGHBORHOOD.
IN THIS HOUR OF 22NEWS INFOCUS,
WE TAKE YOU ON A TOUR OF THE
CITY - AS WE
LOOK INTO THE FUTURE OF THIS
CITY - AND AT THE PRESENT STATE
OF AFFAIRS IN
TERMS OF KEEPING PEOPLE SAFE,
HOME.
MAYOR DOMENIC SARNO: "YOU KNOW,
PEOPLE ASK
ME, KAIT, WHY DO THEY CALL THAT
SECTION THE HOLLYWOOD SECTION? I
TOLD THEM, AT ONE TIME,
THAT WAS A PREEMINANT, PRE-CONDO
THING AFTER THE WAR, POST WW2,
THERE WAS A WAITING LIST
TO GET IN THERE. THAT WAS REALLY
A HONEYMOON AREA, IT WAS AN
EXCLUSIVE AREA AND THAT'S WHY IT
WAS CALLED THE HOLLYWOOD SECTION
AT THE TIME. IT WENT THROUGH
SOME TROUBLED
TIMES."
FOR YEARS, SHOOTINGS - STABBINGS
- NIGHTLY DRUG DEALS -
PLAGUED SPRINGFIELD'S HOLLYWOOD
SECTION - THE NEIGHBORHOOD
OFF OF MAIN STREET IN THE CITY'S
SOUTH END.
FAR FROM THE ROMANTIC POST-WAR
PICTURE OF THE CITY'S GOLDEN
YEARS.
BUT A RENAISSANCE IS UPON
US...OR SO THE CITY HOPES...
IN JUST OVER A YEAR, THIS VERY
NEIGHBORHOOD, NOW KNOWN AS
OUTING
PARK, WILL BORDER NEARLY 1
BILLION DOLLARS OF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT WITH MGM
SPRINGFIELD.
THE RESORT-STYLE CASINO COMES
WITH THE PROMISE ITS URBAN
DESIGN WILL
ENCOURAGE MILLIONS OF VISITORS
TO EXPLORE NOT JUST THE GAMING
FLOOR,
BUT THE DOWNTOWN.
WHAT BETTER WAY TO TRULY TEST
THE SAFETY AND APPEAL OF THIS
AREA THAN BY TAKING YOU ON A
WALKING TOUR - WITH SPRINGFIELD
MAYOR DOMENIC SARNO.
IT'S A CASE STUDY IN THIS HOUR
OF EXPLORATION OF THE CITY: ITS
PUBLIC
SAFETY ISSUES, ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES,
INNOVATION, EDUCATION, HEALTH
AND WELLBEING OF THE CITY'S
RESIDENTS.
WE MET THE MAYOR ON MARBLE
STREET.
AT THE END OF THIS DEAD END
STREET IS A HOUSING PROJECT AND
THE NEW 11-
MILLION DOLLAR SOUTH END
COMMUNITY CENTER AT EMERSON
WIGHT
PARK, SET TO OPEN THIS SUMMER.
SARNO: "THAT'S GOING TO PROGRAM
THE WHOLE
AREA."
"THE MORE POSITIVE ACTION,
TRAFFIC, FOOT
TRAFFIC AND VEHICULAR TRAFFIC WE
HAVE, THE BETTER IT'S GOING TO
BE. THESE WERE ALWAYS
ISOLATED AREAS, ONE WAY STREETS.
WHEN YOU GO TO OUTING PARK, ONE
WAY STREETS HERE AND THERE
AND NOW WE'RE SHEDDING THE LIGHT
ON THE GOOD THINGS THAT ARE
GOING ON, BUT ALSO SENDING THE
MESSAGE FOR ANY INDIVIDUALS THAT
WANT TO PERPETRATE NEGATIVE
ACTIVITES, THAT WE'RE
GOING TO RUN YOU OUT OF TOWN, SO
IT'S GOTTEN BETTER." KAIT:
"WOULD YOU SAY THIS IS,
CRIMEWISE,
ONE OF THE WORST SO TO SPEAK
PARTS OF THE CITY?" SARNO: "AT
ONE TIME. AT ONE TIME."
THAT POSITIVE ACTION INCLUDES
DEMOLISHING THIS HOUSING
PROJECT.
SARNO: "THERE WAS ALWAYS WATER
TABLE
ISSUES HERE AND THE HOUSING IS
NOT UP TO PAR FOR WHAT THESE
FAMILIES DESERVE, SO THEY'RE
GOING TO BE RELOCATED TO MUCH
BETTER HOUSING. IN TURN, THESE
ARE COMING DOWN AND THEN TRAFFIC
RECONFIGURATION IS GOING TO
OCCUR. FROM CENTRAL STREET,
WE'RE GOING TO RUN A ROAD, A
STREET, ALL THE WAY BACK HERE,
AGAIN, TO PUT MORE EYES AND
EARS."
KAIT:
"SO WHERE WOULD THE PEOPLE THAT
LIVE HERE BE
HOUSED?" SARNO: "WELL THEY HAVE
DIFFERENT VOUCHERS THAT THEY CAN
GO FOR ON AFFORDABLE
HOUSING AND JUDGE ABRASHKIN,
HANK ABRASHKIN, OF SPRINGFIELD
HOUSING
AUTHORITY HAS BEEN GREAT. HE'S
BEEN A PARTNER, HE UNDERSTANDS
THE VISION, HE'S ALSO BEEN
TREMENDOUS WHEN IT COMES TO
GETTING EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS,
SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAMS,
AND OTHER COMPUTER PROGRAMS
BECAUSE ALOT OF THE SUBSIDIZED
HOUSING IS NOT JUST FOR
OLDER PEOPLE OR SENIORS WHICH HE
HAS PROGRAMS THERE. THERE'S A
LOT OF YOUNG FAMILIES THERE SO
HE'S THEM THE WAY THAT HOPEFULLY
THIS IS JUST TRANSITIONAL, THAT
YOU'LL BE ABLE TO GET ON YOUR
FEET AND HAVE YOUR OWN PLACE
MOVING FORWARD."
MAYOR SARNO HOPES THE NEW SOUTH
END COMMUNITY CENTER WILL PLAY
THE SAME
ROLE THE OLD SOUTH END COMMUNITY
CENTER PLAYED FOR DECADES IN
PROVIDING PROGRAMS FOR CHILDREN
TO STAY OUT OF TROUBLE AND LEAD
PROSPEROUS
LIVES.
THE OLD SOUTH END COMMUNITY
CENTER, DAMAGED IN THE 2011
TORNADO, WILL NOW
BECOME A RESTAURANT OR BAR ON
MGM SPRINGFIELD PROPERTY.
THIS NEW CENTER WAS DELAYED FOR
MORE THAN 5 YEARS AFTER TORNADO
BECAUSE
THE CITY REQUIRED FEDERAL
FUNDING TO BUILD IT ON PARK
LAND.
IT'S COSTING THE 4 MILLION
DOLLARS OF CITY TAX MONEY AND
6.2 MILLION FROM THE
FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT
AGENCY, OR FEMA, DUE TO THE OLD
CENTER'S
DESTRUCTION IN THE TORNADO.
BUT AS WE WATCHED CONSTUCTION AT
WORK, MY PHOTOGRAPHER AND I
NOTICED KIDS RIDING THEIR BIKES
ON A SCHOOL DAY MORNING.
KAIT: "THERE WAS A KID RIDING
HIS BIKE WHO
CLEARLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN
SCHOOL AND WAS BRAGGING TO HIS
FRIENDS THAT HE GOT SUSPENDED.
AND RIGHT ACROSS THE STREET IS
THE COMMUNITY CENTER WHERE
THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE HELPING
KIDS, SO...?" SARNO "YOU KNOW
WHAT? THINGS LIKE THAT AGGRAVATE
ME..."
SARNO: "IN THIS CASE HERE, MAYBE
HE SEES THE
CENTER'S OPEN, GOES INTO THE
CENTER, AND THE FIRST THING
CHACE SWAN OR THE STAFF SAY IS
THAT, 'HOW
COME YOU'RE NOT IN SCHOOL?'
'WELL...' 'OKAY' AND THEN A
PHONE CALL CAN GO TO THE
SCHOOL."
AS WE WALKED DOWN MARBLE STREET
TOWARD OUTING PARK - FORMERLY
THE
HOLLYWOOD SECTION - WE NOTICED
DUMPSTERS FILLED WITH TRASH,
LIQUOR
BOTTLES LITTERING THE STREET,
AND HOUSES IN DISARRAY.
BUT WHEN WE APPROACHED OUTING
PARK, IT LOOKED MUCH MORE
WELL-KEPT.
SARNO: "YOU BRING FIRST RESOURCE
IN AND GORDON
PULSIFER, ONE COMPANY
CONTROLLING THIS, THE MARKED
IMPROVEMENTS HERE IN THE
HOUSING, THE
CAMERA SYSTEM, THEY HAVE THEIR
OWN LITTLE COMMUNITY CENTER THAT
THEY'VE OPENED, CRIME'S
DOWN, WE HAVE C3 POLICING UNITS
HERE, AND YOU CAN SEE THE
TRANSFORMATION."
WE'LL GET TO C3 POLICING AND ITS
SUCCESS LATER IN THIS PROGRAM.
BUT MAYOR SARNO SAID CRIME WAS
DOWN 13 PERCENT OVERALL LAST
YEAR IN THE CITY,
DUE TO PRIVATE AND PUBLIC
INVESTMENT AND FIXING UP
BLIGHTED
PROPERTIES.
SARNO: "WE CUT DOWN DENSITY
HERE, WE
KNOCKED DOWN, I HAD APARTMENT
COMPLEXES KNOCKED DOWN THAT WE
FELT WERE PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUE. THAT STARTED THE
TAILSPIN."
NOW, THERE'S A CLEARING FROM THE
FORMER HOLLYWOOD SECTION TO MAIN
STREET, WHICH IS TRANSFORMING
DAILY.
SARNO: "GLORY SHOES, WHICH WAS
ON THE
CORNER OF BLISS STREET AND MAIN
STREET RELOCATED DOWN HERE AS AN
ANCHOR AND I KNOCKED
DOWN SOME PROPERTIES THERE THAT
WERE DERELICT. THEY'RE DOING
VERY VERY WELL DOWN
THERE WITH THAT AND SO THEY
RELOCATED FROM THE MGM COMPLEX
AND I HAD SOME DERELICT
BUILDINGS.
I WANTED TO OPEN UP EYES AND
EARS TO MAIN STREET BECAUSE THIS
WAS A SECLUDED AREA."
AND IN THE DISTANCE, A SYMBOL OF
HOPE FOR ECONOMIC RECOVERY AND
SUCCESS.
SARNO: "TO SEE THOSE CRANES.
CRANES IN THE
SKYLINE, WHAT IT MEANS TO
PEOPLE, WHETHER THEY SEE IT FROM
I-91 OR UP ON MAPLE STREET, THEY
SEE
IT'S A SIGN OF PROGRESS AND
PEOPLE SAY TO ME FROM WITHIN AND
OUT, 'WOW, THERE'S A LOT OF
STUFF GOING ON.' NOT ONLY THE
DOWNTOWN AREA, BUT ALL ACROSS
THE CITY."
WITH THE CRANES AS OUR NORTH
STAR, WE WALKED DOWN MAIN STREET
TOWARD THE
FUTURE MGM SPRINGFIELD.
BUT AROUND US WERE STILL SOME
EMPTY STOREFRONTS.
SARNO: "THERE'S A BARREL RIGHT
HERE. OKAY."
AND INTERSECTIONS STILL WELL
KNOWN TO POLICE OFFICERS.
SARNO: "SOMETIMES YOU'LL SEE
SOME OF THESE CRIMES
THAT ARE OCCURRING ARE FUELED BY
DRUG SITUATIONS ON IT AND THAT'S
WHY I'VE ALSO
CONTINUED TO PUSH THE BAIL
LEGISLATION FOR THOSE HARDCORE
VIOLENT REPEAT OFFENDERS THAT
THEY KEEP THEM LOCKED UP AND OFF
THE STREETS."
KAIT: "DO YOU FORESEE MORE
BUSINESSES TRYING
TO BE BUILT HERE ON MAIN STREET
ONCE MGM OPENS?" SARNO: "YEAH,
SEE HERE'S THE THING. WHEN YOU
TALK
TO NICK RICHETTE AT MILANO'S AND
OTHERS DOWN HERE, HE SAID
BUSINESS IS BOOMING
BECAUSE NOW THEY DO BREAKFAST
NOW BECAUSE OF CONSTRUCTION
PEOPLE ARE HERE, SO A SMART
BUSINESSMAN AND A SMART
BUSINESSWOMAN, AND YOU HAVE A
GOOD PRODUCT, GOOD QUALITY, AND
YOU'RE
ABLE TO MARKET, YOU'RE GOING TO
HAVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE, NOT
ONLY VEHICULAR TRAFFIC, MORE
IMPORTANT, PEDESTRIAN TRAFFIC.
SEE MY GOAL IS WE HAVE A VERY
WALKABLE DOWNTOWN. SO THE
GOVERNMENTAL SECTION, BUT I WANT
THE GOAL TO BE ALL THE SUDDEN
THE SOUTH END."
SARNO: "WHEN PEOPLE ARE VISITING
THE CASINO AND
OBVIOUSLY THE CASINO IS SET UP
THAT WAY SO THAT IT'S PART OF
THE CITY, WOULD YOU IDEALLY WANT
OTHER BUSINESSES TO BE HERE SO
THEY CAN COME IN? MAYOR "I THINK
WHAT YOU START TO SEE IS, AT
TIMES THEY SAY IT'S A BAD WORD,
BUT YOU START TO SEE
REGENTRIFICATION OCCUR AND AS WE
CONTINUE TO MOVE ON 31 ELM
STREET, ALL DUE RESPECT TO A
PAWN SHOP OR THIS OR THAT, YOU
CAN
LOOK TO RELOCATE TO A DIFFERENT
TYPE AREA. THAT'S NOT GOING TO
BE CONDUCIVE AND WHAT
YOU'LL SEE AT THE TIME IS YOU'LL
BRING IN THE MORE POSITIVE BODY,
OR PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE AND HAVE
A
MORE DISPOSABLE MONEY, YOU'RE
GOING TO SEE AN ECLECTIC MIX. SO
ALMOST BY OSMOSIS, THAT WILL
START TO CHANGE."
THE CITY IS RELYING ON MGM
SPRINGFIELD TO REVITALIZE THIS
DOWNTOWN BY
ATTRACTING MILLIONS OF VISITORS
EACH YEAR, AND PROVIDING FUNDS
THROUGH ITS
HOST COMMUNITY AGREEMENT TO MAKE
IT ALL POSSIBLE.
SARNO: "THIS IS AN ICONIC
DESTINATION. PEOPLE COME
OUT AND SAY JEEZ I DON'T WANT TO
WAIT THERE. STREETSCAPE IS GOING
TO BE IMPORTANT. AESTHETIC
QUALITY FROM IMPROVEMENTS,
FLOWERS, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS,
AND KEEP IT CLEAN AND
SAFE. WE'RE GOING TO HAVE ALL
THOSE POLICING ASPECTS ALL THE
WAY UP AND DOWN FROM MILL
STREET TO UNION STATION. PEOPLE
WILL FEEL VERY COMFORTABLE AND
SAY, 'I HEARD...LET'S GO GET
SOME
PASTRY AT LA FIORENTINA. LET'S
TAKE A WALK TO MILANO'S. LET'S
GO TO FRIGO'S AND WALK OUT.'
NOW THE CITY WILL HAVE A CAPTIVE
AUDIENCE AND TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
IT."
AFTER AN HOUR OF WALKING THROUGH
THE DOWNTOWN, WE HEADED BACK TO
MARBLE STREET TO FIND MANY
PEOPLE ENJOYING THE DAY AT
EMERSON WIGHT PARK.
SARNO: "WE WALKED AROUND
UNATTENDED.
THERE WAS NO ENTOURAGE WITH ME.
THERE ARE NO POLICE OFFICERS
WITH ME. I'M HERE WITH TBE
BEAUTIFUL TALENTED KAIT WALSH,
MARIAN SULLIVAN MY DIRECTOR OF
COMMUNICATIONS PRESS
SECRETARY, MIKE. THAT'S IT.
NOTHING SCRIPTED. DID YOU SEE
ONE ISSUE? DID YOU SEE ONE
PROBLEM?
OKAY? THAT'S IMPORTANT TO GET
OUT TO THE PUBLIC WITH SOME OF
THE NONSENSE SAID ALL PUT UP
WITHOUT ANY BACKUP WHATSOEVER
FROM SOME OF THE NAYSAYERS."
MAIN STREET IS PERHAPS THE MOST
VISIBLE ART OF SPRINGFIELD, BUT
MGM SPRINGFIELD IS PROVIDING
JUST A THIRD OF 3.3 BILLION
DOLLARS IN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT FOR THE CITY.
IN THIS HOUR, YOU'LL HEAR FROM
BOTH THE NEW AND LONGTIME
ECONOMIC DRIVERS AS
WELL AS WHAT'S BEING DONE TO
ATTRACT VISITORS, KEEP RESIDENTS
AND PUT
SPRINGFIELD ON THE MAP FOR
PUBLIC SAFETY.
SGT. JULIO TOLEDO: "WE'RE
STARTING TO SEE A SMALL
INCREASE IN ACTIVITY IN THE
OPPOSITE SIDE OF THE TRACKS ON
THE MAIN STREET CORRIDOR SO
WE'RE
FOCUSING A LOT OF ATTENTION
THERE AND I THINK WE'VE MADE
SIGNIFICANT PROGRESS
OBVIOUSLY WHEN YOU SEE A 22
PERCENT DECREASE IN THE CRIME
RATE FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR
AND 13
PERCENT CITYWIDE, I THINK THAT
WOULD BE A STERLING EXAMPLE WHAT
WE'RE DOING HERE IS WORKING."
YOU'RE IN A FRONT ROW SEAT AT
THE SPRINGFIELD NORTH END C3
POLICING
WEEKLY MEETING.
EVERY THURSDAY, IT'S HELD AT
EDGEWATER APARTMENTS OFF
PLAINFIELD STREET,
OR AT SACRED HEART CHURCH.
C3 MEANS "COUNTER CRIMINAL
CONTINUUM".
IT ALL BEGAN EIGHT YEARS AGO
WHEN MEMBERS OF THE NORTH END
COMMUNITY MET MONTHLY WITH
POLICE.
COMMISSIONER JOHN BARBIERI WAS A
DEPUTY CHIEF AT THE TIME.
BARBIERI: "ATTENDANCE WAS VERY
SPARSE. JOSE
CLAUDIO FROM THE NEW NORTH
CITIZENS COUNCIL, SOME OF THE
LOCAL AND STATE REPRESENTATIVES,
SOME OF THE PEOPLE FROM CITY
GOVERNMENT, USUALLY THE PROPERTY
MANAGERS AND ONLY ONE
OR TWO TENANTS. WE WERE HAVING A
REAL HARD TIME OF GETTING PEOPLE
TO COME TO THE MEETINGS.
AND THEN UNFORTUNATELY WE HAD A
SPATE OF REALLY SERIOUS VIOLENCE
IN THE NORTH END."
THERE WERE SEVERAL HOMICIDES,
INCLUDING ONE INVOLVING ASSAULT
RIFLES.
BARBIERI: "WE RESPONDED IN KIND
TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD WITH 10-MAN POLICE
PATROLS WHICH I PERSONALLY LED
BECAUSE I WAS DEPUTY
CHIEF, CARRYING OUR OWN ASSAULT
RIFLES, AND WE MADE ARRESTS AND
WE STARTED TO WORK ON THE
PROBLEM, BUT THAT'S TRADITIONAL
POLICING. TRADITIONAL POLICING
IS YOU SATURATE AN AREA,
HEAVY ENFORCEMENT, YOU MAKE AS
MANY ARRESTS AS POSSIBLE, BUT I
KNEW THAT THE LONGTERM SOLUTION
WAS GOING TO HAVE TO BE
SOMETHING DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE
REALLY COULDN'T AFFORD TO BE
DOWN THERE IN THOSE KINDS OF
NUMBERS."
THAT'S WHEN STATE POLICE TROOPER
MICHAEL CUTONE HAD AN IDEA.
MICHAEL: "JUST COMING BACK FROM
A DEPLOYMENT
FROM IRAQ IN '06, MYSELF AND
ANOTHER TROOPER FROM OUR
EXPERIENCES WITH THE ARMY
SPECIAL
FORCES AND WHAT WE'VE DONE IN
THE TOWN OF AVGHANI WHERE WE
UTLIZED THE LOCAL POLICE
TO FIGHT COUNTERINSURGENCY, WE
TOOK THOSE PRINCIPLES OF
COMMUNITY BUILDING AND
WE JUST TOOK THEM BACK HOME."
IT MIGHT SEEM EXTREME: MILITARY
SPECIAL FORCES TACTICS USED IN A
WAR ZONE, TO BE USED ON A CITY,
BUT IT'S WORKED.
RESIDENT: "LOOK AROUND THIS
TABLE, I'M THE ONLY
ONE FROM THE 70S AND THE 80S
HERE, AND I TELL YOU, IT HAS
IMPROVED."
"WE DON'T ORDER THE COPS AROUND,
THEY DON'T
ORDER US AROUND. WE SIT DOWN AND
HAVE IDEAS."
C3 POLICING MEETINGS STARTED
BACK IN 2009 HERE IN THE NORTH
END, BUT THEY'VE
SINCE BEEN ENACTED IN OTHER
COMMUNITIES INCLUDING THE SOUTH
END, FOREST PARK AND MASON
SQUARE.
BARBIERI: "C3 IS DESIGNED TO
ROLL OUT TO THE
NEIGHBORHOODS THAT ARE MOST
IMPOVERISHED AND HAVE THE
GREATEST NEEDS FOR SERVICES AND
WHEN
WE SELECTED THE AREAS AFTER THE
NORTH END, WE WERE PRETTY STRICT
WITH THE GUIDELINES. IT WASN'T
WHERE WE JUST THOUGHT WE SHOULD
GO, WE DID RESEARCH. IT WAS
ABOUT CRIME STATISTICS OF
COURSE, BUT IT WAS ALSO ABOUT
TRUANCY, POVERTY, HOSPITAL USAGE
RATES. WE HAD OUR CRIME ANALYSIS
DEEP DIVE AND WHAT WE DISCOVERED
IS AS YOU CAN PROBABLY IMAGINE,
IT WASN'T COUNTERINTUITIVE.
MOST OF THOSE SPOTS JUST LAYERED
ON TOP OF EACH OTHER."
HERE'S HOW A MEETING WORKS:
THE POLICE OFFICER ASSIGNED TO
THAT NEIGHBORHOOD STARTS WITH A
LIST OF
THE CRIMES AND PEOPLE ARRESTED
IN THE PAST WEEK.
TOLEDO: "IF THE NAME SOUNDS
FAMILIAR, IT'S
BECAUSE WE'VE ARRESTED HIM IN
THE PAST, PROBABLY ABOUT FIVE
TIMES ALREADY."
ANYONE IS WELCOME TO ATTEND, AND
EACH HAS A CHANCE TO SHARE AN
UPDATE OR
CONCERN WITH THE GROUP.
THERE ARE SOME 80 LOCAL
ORGANIZATIONS INVOLVED...AS WELL
AS PRESIDENTS OF
TENANTS ASSOCIATIONS WHO RELAY
THE MESSAGE OF THE MEETING BACK
TO THE TENANTS.
ON THIS PARTICULAR DAY, THAT
INCLUDED AN ANNOUNCEMENT FROM
PRIDE THAT
THEY WOULD BE DONATING $2,000 IN
A SCHOLARSHIP FOR A KID IN THE
NEIGHBORHOOD.
WE HEARD FROM FRIENDS OF THE
HOMELESS, LOCAL SCHOOLS,
RESIDENTS,
PARENTS, AND EVEN A
REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE PIONEER
VALLEY RIVERFRONT
CLUB.
RIVERFRONT REP: "I'LL BE HONEST.
OVER 60 PERCENT
OF OUR PARTICIPANTS ARE NOT FROM
SPRINGFIELD AND SOME OF THEM ARE
FROM PRETTY UPSCALE
COMMUNITIES. WITH THE SUPPORT OF
C3, BOTH THE WORDS AND THE
ACTIONS, THESE PARENTS, THESE
FAMILIES, THESE SCHOOLS, NO
PROBLEM BRINGING THEIR KIDS INTO
OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO ENJOY
OUTDOOR ACTIVITY IN THE NORTH
END OF SPRINGFIELD. I MEAN WHO
WOULD'VE THOUGHT,
RIGHT?"
IT'S REALLY A SIMPLE CONCEPT AND
IT'S GETTING NATIONAL ATTENTION.
JUST ASK JOSE CLAUDIO OF NEW
NORTH CITIZENS COUNCIL.
HE'S LIVED IN THE NORTH END FOR
A LONG TIME...
JOSE: "UH...OVER 50 YEARS."
THROUGH OUR EXPERIENCE, PEOPLE
ARE HESITANT TO REPORT CRIMES OR
TALK ABOUT CRIMES IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOOD OUT OF FEAR OF
RETALIATION OR INVOLVEMENT.
BUT CLAUDIO SAID THEY ARE
HELPING POLICE NOW MORE THAN
EVER IN MAKING
ARRESTS.
JOSE: "C3 MODEL, THERE'S A
COUPLE STEPS THAT YOU
HAVE TO FOLLOW, AND A LOT OF
PEOPLE MIGHT NOT REPORT TO YOU,
BUT THEY'VE GOT ANONYMOUS
TIPS, THEY'VE GOT ANONYMOUS
PHONE NUMBERS THAT THEY CALL
PEOPLE, AND WHAT'S GOOD
ABOUT THIS IS THEY CAN CALL
POLICE, LIKE SERGEANT TOLEDO
HERE. THEY CAN CALL HIM
DIRECTLY, QUIETLY, AND THEY DO
ALL THAT QUIETLY, WHICH IS ALSO
AWESOME." KAIT: "AND HAVE YOU
FOUND THAT THE COMMUNITY IS
COMING TOGETHER MORE, THAT
PEOPLE ARE TALKING
MORE?" JOSE: "A LOT MORE. A LOT
MORE THAN EVER. WHEN YOU BUILD A
HOUSE, AND PEOPLE WANT TO COME
ON BUY AND YOU SELL IT IN LESS
THAN 30 DAYS, YOU KNOW THE
NEIGHBORHOOD IS COMING BACK."
KAIT:
"ARE THOSE PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN
APARTMENTS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
AND THEY'RE MOVING TO
HOUSES?" JOSE: "TO HOUSES. AND
PEOPLE COMING OUT OF OTHER AREAS
MOVING TO THE
NEIGHBORHOOD."
MORE PROOF THIS MODEL IS WORKING
IN THE COMMUNITY: ON THIS DAY,
THE BIGGEST
CONCERN WASN'T A MURDER OR EVEN
A MISSING PERSON: IT WAS
COMPLAINTS OF
SNOW REMOVAL FROM A RECENT
STORM.
STILL, THE CITY IS DEALING WITH
REPEAT OFFENDERS BACK ON THE
STREETS.
MAYOR SARNO HAS BEEN VERY VOCAL
IN MAKING SURE THEY STAY OUT OF
NEIGHBORHOODS.
SARNO: "WE HAD A RUN WHICH YOU
COVERED,
PROBABLY YEAR, YEAR AND A HALF
AGO WHERE WE HAD VIOLENT, REPEAT
OFFENDERS, BAD PEOPLE,
GUN TOTING, GANG BANGERS, DRUG
DEALERS, THAT FOR SOME RHYME OR
REASON WERE RIGHT BACK
ON THE STREETS IN A MATTER OF
TIME, COMMITTING CRIME, EVEN
WITH BRACELETS AND
MONITORS ON, COMMITTING THOSE
HIDEOUS CRIMES. THAT HURTS A
NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN
WE'VE CULTIVATED POSITIVE
RELATIONSHIPS, AND THEY'LL SAY
TO ME, HEY MAYOR, OR SARNO, OR
DOMENIC, OR COMMISSIONER
BARBIERI, OR OTHERS, WE WORKED
WITH YOU, WE HELPED YOU
GET THIS BAD PERSON OFF THE
STREET AND THEY'RE RIGHT BACK ON
THERE." KAIT: "SO WHAT HAVE YOU
DONE TO MAKE SURE THEY STAY IN
PRISON LONGER?" SARNO: "WELL I
THINK USING THE BULLY PULPIT IS
IMPORTANT, BUT I DIDN'T WANT TO
KEEP YELLING AND SCREAMING ALL
THE TIME. CHIEF SCOTT DID THIS
IN
HOLYOKE. I MET WITH ALL THE
LEGALS AND SAID WHERE'S THE
LOOPHOLES HERE? WHAT'S
OCCURRING?"
HE'S WORKING WITH SPRINGFIELD
STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANGELO
PUPPOLO IN
WRITING LEGISLATION FOR STRICTER
BAIL RESTRICTIONS FOR ACCUSED
CRIMINALS.
SARNO: "THEY HAVE THE RIGHT, IF
THEY DON'T LIKE
WHAT'S BEEN DISHED OUT TO THEM
IN A DISTRICT COURT TYPE
SETTING, THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO
APPEAL
THAT AND KICK IT UP TO A
SUPERIOR COURT ON THE RIGHT OF
BAIL AND RESTRICTIONS OF BAIL.
AND
IF THEY DON'T LIKE IT THERE,
THEY FIELD HAVE THE RIGHT TO
KICK IT TO A STATE SUPREME COURT
JUSTICE, SINGLE ONE, ON THAT. WE
THE PEOPLE HAVE NO SUCH RIGHT,
SO I'M LOOKING FOR AN EVEN
PLAYING FIELD."
IN ADDITION TO, AND BEFORE C3
POLICING, COMMUNITIES RELIED ON
THEIR FAITH
FOUNDATIONS TO WORK TOGETHER,
CREATE PEACE, AND HELP THOSE IN
NEED.
FAITH FOUNDATIONS LIKE ST.JOHN'S
CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH IN THE
CITY'S
OLD HILL NEIGHBORHOOD.
REV. MCFADDEN: "WE SEE ON AN
AVERAGE ANYWHERE
FROM 400 TO 600 PEOPLE EACH
SUNDAY."
REVEREND DR. CALVIN MCFADDEN IS
A PARTNER WITH C3 POLICING IN
THE
NEIGHBORHOOD...BUT SAYS HIS
CONGREGATION ALONE BRINGS HOPE
TO A
PART OF THE CITY THAT COULD USE
SOME.
REV. MCFADDEN: "ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT WE
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO DO IS NOT TO
LEAVE WHAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED
IN THIS FOUR WALLS, IN THIS
PLACE,
TO TAKE THAT JOY, TO TAKE THAT
LEVEL OF COMMITMENT OF SERVICE
TO OUR COMMUNITY OUT
INTO OUR SOCIETY SO THAT WE CAN
BETTER OUR SOCIETY. MANY OF OUR
PEOPLE LIVE RIGHT IN OUR
COMMUNITY AND EVEN ABROAD IN THE
REGIONAL AREA AND THEY GIVE BACK
TO THE COMMUNITY AND
THAT'S THEIR WAY OF GIVING GOD
PRAISE AND HONOR FOR THEIR LIVES
BUT ALSO BEING THE
BLESSING TO OTHER PEOPLE. AND
ST. JOHN'S HAS A HISTORY OF
DOING THAT. WE HAVE OUR FOOD
PANTRY
THAT'S OPEN SEVERAL DAYS DURING
THE WEEK PROVIDING FOOD TO NEEDY
PERSONS IN OUR
COMMUNITY, PROVIDE A HOT MEAL ON
WEDNESDAYS TO ANYONE WHO COMES,
AND SO WE BELIEVE THAT
MINISTRY IS NOT JUST WITHIN THIS
SACRED SPACE, BUT IT'S
EVERYWHERE WE GO."
MEMBER DENISE JORDAN HAS LIVED
IN SPRINGFIELD HER WHOLE LIFE,
WORKS FOR THE MAYOR AND IS A
MEMBER OF THE CONGREGATION.
DENISE: "ONE THING ABOUT OLD
HILL I ALWAYS SAY
THIS IS LIKE HOLY GROUND. THERE
ARE AT LEAST 7 HOUSES OF WORSHIP
IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD AND
SO IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR THE
CHURCHES TO COME TOGETHER FOR
PRAYER VIGILS AND WALKS,
BUT THERE'S A CHURCH JUST ABOUT
ON EVERY OTHER CORNER IN OLD
HILL."
THAT'S WHY WHEN THE CONGREGATION
WAS SET TO BUILD A NEW WORSHIP
SPACE, IT
WASN'T EVEN A QUESTION FOR
REVERAND MCFADDEN TO KEEP IT IN
THE
NEIGHBORHOOD...IN FACT, THIS
HOUSE OF WORSHIP WAS BUILT JUST
ACROSS THE
STREET FROM THE ORIGINAL.
REV. MCFADDEN: "WE MADE A
CONSCIOUS DECISION AT
ST. JOHN'S RATHER THAN MOVING
OUTSIDE OF THE CITY TO BUILD
THIS FACILITY THAT WE'RE IN, AN
OVER 300 MILLION DOLLAR
INVESTMENT TO THE COMMUNITY, WE
WANTED TO STAY RIGHT HERE IN THE
COMMUNITY BECAUSE WE BELIEVE
THAT THIS WILL HELP PERHAPS
BRIGHTEN THE HOPES OF FOLKS
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY AND LET
FOLKS KNOW THAT WE'RE HERE TO
SERVE, LET FOLKS KNOW THAT WE'RE
HERE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN OUR
COMMUNITY."
AN INVESTMENT IN THE
COMMUNITY...BOTH FINANCIALLY AND
IN SPIRIT...BOTH HELPING
TO SPRUCE UP A NEIGHBORHOOD
RIDDLED WITH CRIME AND POVERTY.
COMMISSIONER CONANT: "FIRE
SERVICE IS
COMMUNITY SERVICE AND OUR
FIREFIGHTERS ARE OUT THERE AND
THEY INTERACT WITH THE COMMUNITY
VERY
WELL, ESPECIALLY OUR PUBLIC
EDUCATION AND FIRE PREVENTION.
WE'VE DONE 200 PUBLIC
EDUCATION PRESENTATIONS UP TO
THIS POINT IN THE FISCAL YEAR,
AND WE'VE DONE ALMOST 600
INSPECTIONS OF DIFFERENT
BUILDINGS, SO OUR FIREFIGHTERS
ARE UP IN THE PUBLIC ON A DAILY
BASIS AND WE VERY RARELY HAVE
ANY NEGATIVE FEEDBACK FROM
THAT."
WE CAN'T TALK ABOUT PUBLIC
SAFETY WITHOUT FOCUSING IN ON
THE SPRINGFIELD
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
CONANT: "ESPECIALLY IN
SPRINGFIELD, WE ARE STILL
A VERY BUSY DEPARTMENT AS FAR AS
FIRES GO BUT WE DO MANY OTHER
THINGS. MEDICAL CALLS, WE
RESPOND TO ABOUT 7,000 MEDICAL
CALLS A YEAR FOR CHEST PAIN,
DIFFICULTY BREATHING, HEART
ATTACKS, THOSE TYPES OF
EMERGENCY CALLS. WE ALSO GO TO
CAR ACCIDENTS, EXTRICATIONS, WE
GO TO
HAZMAT INCIDENTS, WE GO TO WATER
OR ICE RESCUES."
WHEN DISASTER STRUCK IN THE FORM
OF THE EF3 TORNADO ON JUNE 1,
2011,
SPRINGFIELD FIREFIGHTERS WERE
THERE...AS THEY WERE AGAIN AT
THE
WORTHINGTON STREET GAS EXPLOSION
A YEAR LATER ON BLACK FRIDAY.
YET, COMMISSIONER JOSEPH CONANT
SAID, THEY'RE TRYING TO DO
MORE...WITH LESS.
CONANT: "THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE
IS KEEPING THE
PERSONNEL UP, NO MATTER WHAT
TYPE OF EQUIPMENT YOU HAVE, HOW
GOOD THE EQUIPMENT IS, YOU STILL
NEED FIREFIGHTERS TO DRAG THE
HOSE INTO THE BUILDING AND TO DO
THE WORK OF FIREFIGHTING."
WITH
242 FIREFIGHTERS, THE DEPARTMENT
IS AT ITS HIGHEST NUMBER IN
YEARS, BUT NOT
NEARLY WHAT IT USED TO BE.
CONANT: "WE WERE UP TO 500
ALMOST AT ONE POINT,
I THINK WHEN I CAME ON THERE
WERE 491, SO IT'S BEEN A
DRAMATIC HIT OVER THE YEARS, BUT
THE
FIREFIGHTERS THAT WE HAVE NOW DO
A TREMENDOUS JOB AT WHAT WE DO
AND THE CALLS THAT
WE HAVE TO GO ON AND GETTING THE
JOB DONE EVERY SINGLE DAY."
SPRINGFIELD FIRE CURRENTLY HAS
EIGHT WORKING ENGINES...DOWN
FROM
10. EACH ENGINE HAS TWO DISTRICT
CHIEFS PER SHIFT.
DESPITE BUDGET CUTS,
COMMISSIONER CONANT IS ALWAYS
LOOKING FOR WAYS TO
BEST SPEND YOUR LIMITED TAX
MONEY ON STATE-OF-THE-ART
EQUIPMENT.
CONANT: "WHEN I TOOK OVER WE
WENT FROM A
CLASS 2 TO A CLASS 3 FIRE
DEPARTMENT RIGHT BEFORE I TOOK
OVER FOR INSURANCE PURPOSES, AND
WE JUST GOT NOTIFIED WE'RE GOING
BACK UP TO A CLASS 2 SO THAT'S A
HUGE ENDEAVOR. THAT'S
THROUGH TRAINING, EQUIPMENT,
PERSONNEL WE'VE BEEN ABLE TO
MOVE OUR RATING BACK UP FROM
A CLASS 3 TO A CLASS 2
DEPARTMENT." KAIT: "AND HOW DOES
THAT RATING WORK?" CONANT: "IT
GOES
INTO. THEY TAKE IN ACCOUNT YOUR
WATER SYSTEM, DISPATCH,
TRAINING, PERSONNEL,
EQUIPMENT AND THEY BUILD THAT
ALL INTO A SCORE AND IT DIRECTLY
AFFECTS THE INSURANCE
RATES OF THE CITIZENS OF
SPRINGFIELD SO GOING FROM A
CLASS 3 TO A CLASS 2 IS A BIG
STEP FOR THE
DEPARTMENT. SO BASICALLY YOU'RE
PAYING LESS FOR INSURANCE.
CORRECT."
CONANT SAID MAYOR SARNO HAS
NEVER LAID OFF A FIREFIGHTER DUE
TO
BUDGET CUTS.
HOWEVER, THE MAYOR DID MAKE A
CONTROVERSIAL DECISION NOT TO
RE-
SIGN THE COMMISSIONER AFTER HIS
CURRENT CONTRACT ENDS.
NOT FOR BUDGET CUTS...BUT FOR
DISCIPLINARY REASONS.
MAYOR SARNO: "I THINK I,
EVERYBODY KNEW WHERE I
STOOD ON THIS ISSUE. IT WAS VERY
PUBLIC. VERY PUBLIC AND THAT'S
WHAT HAD TO BE DONE. IT WAS
NOT DONE, AND I HAD TO ACT
ACCORDINGLY."
MAYOR SARNO ANNOUNCED EARLY THIS
YEAR THAT HE WOULD NOT RENEW
COMMISSIONER CONANT'S CONTRACT
AS PUNISHMENT FOR COMMISSIONER
CONANT NOT DISCIPLINING DEPUTY
FIRE CHIEF GLENN GUYER. GUYER
VIOLATED A
CITY ORDINANCE BY NOT MOVING TO
SPRINGFIELD WITHIN A YEAR OF HIS
PROMOTION.
SARNO: "IT'S ON THE BOOKS.
THAT'S THE
SITUATION THAT IF YOU'RE GIONG
TO BECOME A DEPUTY CHIEF, YOU
HAVE TO BECOME A RESIDENT OF
SPRINGFIELD. I APPRECIATE WHAT
COMMISSIONER CONANT HAS DONE. WE
WORKED ALOT SIDE BY SIDE
AND MR. GUYER HAD EVERY RIGHT IN
THE WORLD TO APPEAL TO A HIGHER
AUTHROITY AND IF THAT
HIGHER AUTHORITY, WHETHER ON A
STATE LEVEL, INDICATED THERE WAS
NOT ANY TYPE OF
ISSUE THERE, THEN BUY IT. BUT I
HAVE TO STAY CONSISTENT. I HAVE
TO STAY CONSISTENT. THIS
WAS ON THE BOOKS. IF YOU'RE
GOING TO BECOME A DEPUTY CHIEF
YOU HAVE TO BECOME A RESIDENT OF
SPRINGFIELD. AS WHAT I'VE DONE
WITH THE SPRINGFIELD POLICE
DEPARTMENT. IF YOU DON'T THEN
THAT'S THE ISSUE. WE ALWAYS WANT
TO GET THE BEST PERSON FOR THE
TAXPAYER, BUT I HAVE TO
STAY CONSISTENT."
CONANT: "WELL, I KNOW THE
DISTRICT CHIEF'S THAT
AN ISSUE THAT'S AT THE
BARGAINING TABLE AND THERE WAS A
COURT CASE ON THAT SO I'M NOT
GOING
TO COMMENT ON THAT. I THINK THE
CITY ORDINANCE NEEDS SOME WORK,
THE RESIDENCY ORDINANCE,
THERE'S SOME FLAWS IN IT AND I
THINK THE CITY COUNCIL IS LOOK
AT IT TO REVISE AND TO WORK OUT,
BUT THERE WAS NO LAWS BROKEN BY
THE SPRINGFIELD FIRE
DEPARTMENT."
COMMISSIONER CONANT DIDN'T THINK
THE DISCIPLINE WAS WARRANTED.
CONANT: "I REALLY DON'T KNOW. WE
HAVE
FIREFIGHTERS THAT LIVE IN THE
CITY AND WE HAVE FIREFIGHTERS
THAT LIVE OUTSIDE THE CITY AND
MY
MAIN CONCERN IS THAT IF THEY
COME INTO WORK AND THEY DO THEIR
JOB, AND THEY COME TO WORK EVERY
DAY, IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER TO
ME AND IT DOESN'T MATTER TO
SOMEBODY WHOSE HOUSE
IS ON FIRE. WHEN THE
FIREFIGHTERS SHOW UP, THEY DON'T
TAKE A POLL ON WHERE THEY LIVE,
AND
THAT'S SOMETHING FOR THE CITY
OFFICIALS TO BE CONCERNED ABOUT.
I'M JUST CONCERNED ABOUT
THE FIREFIGHTERS COMING TO WORK
AND DOING THEIR JOB."
AND DESPITE POLICE
COMMISSIONER JOHN BARBIERI'S
EFFORTS IN LEADING THE C3
POLICING...HIS DAYS COULD BE
NUMBERED AS COMMISSIONER.
THE CITY COUNCIL WANTS TO
ELIMINATE THE OFFICE OF THE
POLICE COMMISSIONER
AND INSTEAD HAVE A CIVIL POLICE
COMMISSION, FOLLOWING RECENT
ALLEGATIONS OF POLICE MISCONDUCT
WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT.
MAYOR SARNO IS DEEPLY OPPOSED TO
THIS PROPOSAL.
KATERI: "WELL IN THE PAST, THE
INTERESTING THING
ABOUT IT IS THAT THE POLICE
COMMISSION WAS SUPPORTED BY THE
MAYOR. THE MAYOR DOES NOT
SUPPORT THE POLICE COMMISSION
AND THE CITY COUNCIL OVERRODE
THE VETO, SO THERE PROBABLY
IS GOING TO BE A LITTLE TEST OF
THAT, BUT IN THE PAST THE MAYOR
HAS SUPPORTED 5
COMMISSIONERS AND THEY REVIEW
POLICE POLICY AND REVIEW
PROMOTIONS. THAT'S WHERE MOST
PEOPLE ARE CONCERNED. ARE THE
PROMOTIONS FAIR? IS IT THE
PERSON WHO SCORES THE HIGHEST ON
THE TEST GETTING THE JOB? IT'S
REALLY AN EFFORT TO ELIMINATE
ANY KIND OF FAVORITISM." KAIT:
"AND
DID YOU SEE THAT WITH
COMMISSIONER BARBIERI? WHAT
STARTED THIS PROCESS?" KATERI:
"I THINK
COMMISSIONER BARBIERI IS DOING A
GREAT JOB. I THINK THERE HAVE
BEEN SOME VERY DIFFICULT
ISSUES FACING THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND INDIVIDUALS IN
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WHO HAVE
KIND OF GIVEN IT A BLACK EYE BUT
I THINK OVERALL, HE IS A
COMMISSIONER THAT I HAVE SEEN
OUT IN
THE COMMUNITY, AT CHURCHES, AT
NEIGHBORHOOD GROUPS. I MEAN
REALLY MAKING AN
EFFORT, SO I'M SURPRISED AT THE
BACKLASH. HE'S REALLY BEEN
MAKING AN EFFORT TO THE
COMMUNITY." KAIT: "BUT YOU THINK
IN GENERAL A COMMISSION WOULD BE
BETTER THAN A POLICE
COMMISSIONER?" KATERI: "I DO."
IF THE OFFICE OF POLICE
COMMISSIONER IS ELIMINATED, IT
WOULDN'T OCCUR
UNTIL COMMISSIONER BARBIERI'S
CONTRACT ENDS IN 2019. KAIT:
THE ROLE PUBLIC SAFETY PLAYS IN
SPRINGFIELD WILL BE EVEN MORE
IMPORTANT IN THE COMING
MONTHS...WITH UNION STATION ON
THIS END
OPENING FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
MORE THAN 40 YEARS IN
JUNE....AND MGM
SPRINGFIELD OPENING IN THE FALL
OF 2018.
IF THE CITY WANTS TO ENCOURAGE
VISITORS TO WALK THIS CORRIDOR,
THEY MUST
MAKE SURE IT'S SAFE.
WHEN WE COME BACK, FIND OUT HOW
NEW AND OLD ECONOMIC ENGINES FOR
THE CITY
ARE HELPING LEAD SPRINGFIELD
INTO A RENAISSANCE PERIOD.
KAIT:
I'M STANDING IN THE MIDDLE OF
WHAT'S KNOWN AS THE FUTURE
INNOVATION
DISTRICT.
IN THE CITY'S ONGOING EFFORT TO
MAKE THE DOWNTOWN MORE WALKABLE,
PRIVATE AND PUBLIC BUSINESSES
ARE INVESTING IN WAYS TO CLEAN
UP THE
STREETS, OPEN STOREFRONTS, FUEL
INNOVATION AND REDESIGN THE
ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT INTO A
DINING DISTRICT.
JAY: "WE'RE SEEING PEOPLE MAKE A
CHOICE TO COME
INTO THIS DISTRICT BECAUSE THEY
SEE WHAT'S HAPPENING HERE ON THE
GROUND AND THEY WANT
TO BE A PART OF IT, AND THAT'S
EXCITING."
THE CATALYST FOR THE INNOVATION
DISTRICT IS THE SPRINGFIELD
INNOVATION CENTER ON BRIDGE
STREET, BY THE INTERSECTION WITH
MAIN STREET.
FOR YEARS, THIS STREET HAS BEEN
IN DISARRAY - EMPTY, CRUMBLING
SIDEWALKS HAD PEOPLE WALKING
AWAY FROM BRIDGE STREET, NOT
ONTO IT.
JAY: "WHAT WE'RE FOCUSED ON IS
STIMULATING
REVITALIZION AND ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT IN SPRINGFIELD."
RESTRICTED BY LIMITED TAX MONEY
AVAILABLE FOR THESE PROJECTS,
THE CITY
SEEKS HELP FROM DEVELOP
SPRINGFIELD, A PRIVATE NONPROFIT
ORGANIZATION THAT
RELIES ON GRANT MONEY AND
PRIVATE INVESTMENT
.
JAY: "WE DO HAVE SIGNIFICANT
GRANTS THAT
CAME IN TO SUPPORT THIS PROJECT
FROM THE STATE, PRIVATE
FOUNDATIONS, MOST NOTABLY
MASSMUTUAL AND LIKE WITH ALL OF
OUR PROJECTS, WE'RE ALSO USING
HISTORIC TAX
CREDITS TO HELP MAKE THIS WORK,
AND WE ARE FINANCING THE
BALANCE."
DEVELOPSPRINGFIELD BEGAN IN 2008
AS A WAY TO HELP WITH IMPROVING
THE LOOK
AND ECONOMIC IMPACT OF STATE
STREET.
SINCE THEN, DEVELOPSPRINGFIELD
HAS TAKEN ON REVITALIZING OLD
HISTORIC BUILDINGS TO SELL FOR
COMMERCIAL SPACE.
BUT THIS PROJECT...THIS IS
SOMETHING COMPLETELY UNIQUE.
JAY: "WE FOCUSED ON THIS GROUP
OF BUILDINGS
BECAUSE CLEARLY THESE WERE
BUILDINGS THAT NEEDED NEW
INVESTMENT, THEY WERE
UNDERUTILIZED,
SUFFERING FROM DETERIORATION,
BUT ALSO VERY, VERY VISIBLE.
THEY'RE RIGHT IN FRONT OF
TOWER SQUARE PARK. YOU CAN LOOK
DIRECTLY AT THESE BUILDINGS FROM
THE SIGNATURE CLASS A OFFICE
BUILDINGS DOWNTOWN, SO THIS WAS
REALLY THE GATEWAY TO THE
DISTRICT, THIS IS WHAT IT NEEDED
TO
BE."
PRESIDENT AND CEO JAY MINKARAH
GAVE US A TOUR OF THESE
24-THOUSAND SQUARE
FEET OF MIXED USE SPACE AMONG
THREE ADJACENT BUILDINGS.
JAY: "WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
PRESENTATION SPACE,
STAFF OFFICES, REALLY THE FOCUS
HERE IS GOING TO BE ON OPERATING
BUSINESS ACCELERATORS, RIGHT
NEXT
DOOR AND OPEN TO THIS SPACE,
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE WHAT WE'RE
CALLING AN INNOVATION CAFE. ON
THE SECOND FLOOR, THERE'S GOING
TO BE COWORKING SPACE. WE ALSO
HAVE SOME
ADDITIONAL OFFICE SPACE. WE'VE
GOT A STARTUP THAT CAME OUT OF
VALLEY VENTURE MENTORS THAT IS
MOVING TO THE SECOND FLOOR. THE
THIRD FLOOR IS GOING TO BE A
VARIETY OF THINGS."
THE RENT IS SUBSIDIZED TO
ENCOURAGE INNOVATIVE STARTUPS
AND THINKTANKS TO MOVE IN.
SPRINGFIELD'S CHIEF ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT OFFICER KEVIN
KENNEDY SAYS THE CITY'S PRIVATE
BUSINESS RELATIONSHIPS ARE KEY
TO LONGTERM ECONOMIC SUCCESS.
KEVIN KENNEDY: "WHAT WE'RE
TRYING TO
ACCOMPLISH HERE IS NOT JUST
GOVERNMENT DOING THINGS. WE NEED
TO GET THE PRIVATE SIDE OFF THE
SIDELINES AND FRANKLY THEY'RE
OFF THE SIDELINES. MOSTLY
TWO-THIRDS OF THE SPENDING THAT
WE'VE
REVIEWED HERE AND ANNOUNCED HERE
IN SOME OF OUR REPORTS BACK TO
THE PULBLIC SHO THAT IT'S
ON THE PRIVATE SIDE. "
ONE OF THE BIGGEST ECONOMIC
ENGINES WILL BE MGM SPRINGFIELD.
KEVIN: "THE IMPACT OF IT FRANKLY
IS A BILLION
DOLLARS WORTH OF SPENDING AND IT
DOESN'T TAKE A GENIUS TO FIGURE
OUT THAT'S A BIG IMPACT.
BUT THE OTHER PART OF IT IS, AND
I THINK YOU SEE THE
REINVIGORATION OF EVERYTHING
ACROSS THE
CITY, IT GAVE US FROM A PLANNING
POINT OF VIEW THE ABILITY TO
LOOK AT OUR DOWNTOWN AND HAVE
A MAJOR INVESTMENT IN THE SOUTH
END WHICH WAS DAMAGED BY THE
TORNADO, A MAJOR INVESTMENT IN
THE NORTH END OF DOWNTOWN IN
UNION STATION, AND WE FILLED IN
THE MIDDLE WITH AN
INNOVATION DISTRICT, AND WE HAVE
A DEVELOPMENT WITH
MASSDEVELOPMENT AND THAT'S ALL
MOVING
ALONG."
HE SAID THE FORMER ENTERTAINMENT
DISTRICT ON WORTHINGTON STREET
STILL HAS TO WORK ON CHANGING
ITS REPUTATION.
KAIT: "HOW DO YOU TRY TO PUSH
OUT THOSE TYPES OF
BUSINESSES THAT MIGHT NOT FIT IN
IN THAT AREA TO ENCOURAGE MORE
OF THE DINING AND LESS OF THE
ENTERTAINMENT?
KEVIN: "I THINK WHAT WE LAY OUT
IS THE STRATEGY
AND TRY TO MAKE IT WORK AND WORK
WITH EVERYBODY TO MAKE THINGS A
LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENT, BUT THE PRIVATE SIDE
HAS TO BUY INTO IT. I MEAN IF
THEY OWN THE PROPERTY, THEY
HAVE TO MAKE THE INVESTMENT, AND
THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE DOING
THE LEASING AND ALL
THOSE KINDS OF THINGS."
A WALKING DISTANCE AWAY, MGM
SPRINGFIELD WILL BE THE FIRST
MGM
RESORT-STYLE CASINO TO
INCORPORATE THE CITYSCAPE INTO
ITS DESIGN, RATHER THAN
KEEP VISITORS INSIDE ITS FOUR
WALLS.
AS PART OF THAT DECISION, MGM
DECIDED TO SCRAP A 25-STORY
GLASS
TOWER THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN
CENTRAL TO THE DESIGN.
MGM SPRINGFIELD PRESIDENT MIKE
MATHIS ADMITS PART OF THE
REASONING
FOR THE CHANGE WAS THE RISING
CONSTRUCTION COSTS IN THE
GREATER
BOSTON AREA.
KAIT: "DO YOU STILL STAND BY
THAT DECISION TO GET
RID OF IT?"MIKE: "THE REMOVAL OF
THE TOWER WAS A BIG EMOTIONAL
ISSUE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE
AND I UNDERSTAND THAT BECAUSE IT
WAS ONE OF THE REALLY ICONIC
ELEMENTS OF OUR DESIGN.
THE IRONY IS THAT THE GAMING
COMMISSION BACK WHEN WE RECEIVED
OUR APPROVAL BACK IN 2014
AND THEY HIRED A BUNCH OF
DESIGNERS TO REVIEW ALL ELEMENTS
OF OUR PROJECT, THE ONLY
CRITICISM WE GOT EVEN THOUGH
THEY WERE REALLY GLOWING ABOUT
THE DESIGN WAS THE TOWER.
THEY THOUGHT IT FELT LIKE IT WAS
ANTITHETICAL TO THE WHOLE
CONCEPT WE HAD GOING DOWN HERE
WHICH WAS TO INTEGRATE, SO UPON
REFLECTION, I THINK WE LANDED IN
A REALLY GOOD SPOT AND
THE HOTEL ON MAIN STREET AS A
FIVE LEVEL HOTEL IT REALLY FEELS
MORE ENGAGED WITH THE MAIN
STREET AND MORE ACCESSIBLE, SO
THAT PART OF IT FEELS GOOD. I
THINK IN TERMS OF HOW WE GOT
THERE IT WAS A COMBINATION OF
LOOKING AT WHAT WE WANTED TO DO
WITH RESIDENTIAL. WE
THOUGHT RESIDENTIAL FELT BETTER
AS AN OFF- PROPERTY CONCEPT THAT
FREED UP THEN THE SPACE
ON MAIN STREET FOR A HOTEL."
SOME FEAR THE MORE URBAN DESIGN
WON'T CATCH THE EYE OF
PASSERSBY.
MIKE: "NO, I REALLY DON'T THINK
THAT'S AN ISSUE.
WE'VE GOT A LARGE MARQUEE SIGN
THAT'S GOING TO GO ON OUR
GARAGE. AS YOU DRIVE
THROUGH THIS CORRIDOR ON 91, YOU
CAN'T MISS OUR GARAGE. IT'S A
REALLY DOMINANT BUILDING AND
FEATURE AND REALLY WHAT'S UNIQUE
ABOUT MGM IS THE POWER OF OUR
BRAND AND OUR
DATABASE."
AS PART OF ITS AGREEMENT WITH
THE CITY, MGM SPRINGFIELD IS
REQUIRED TO OFFER 54 MARKET RATE
HOUSING UNITS.
35 OF THOSE WILL BE LOCATED AT
195 STATE STREET...THE FORMER
SPRINGFIELD SCHOOL
DEPARTMENT BUILDING.
THE REMAINDER...WILL BE THE OLD
COURT SQUARE HOTEL, 31 ELM
STREET - JUST A BLOCK
AWAY FROM MGM.
ANOTHER CHALLENGE HE SPOKE
CANDIDLY ABOUT...THE
RELATIONSHIP MGM
HAD WITH THE SPRINGFIELD
HISTORICAL COMMISSION.
MIKE: "OUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
HISTORICAL
COMMISSION HAS EBBED AND FLOWED
OVER TIME. ONE OF THE THINGS
THAT SORT OF HURT US WAS WE
CAME IN WITH A REALLY AGGRESSIVE
PRESERVATION PROGRAM RIGHT OUT
OF THE GATE, BECAUSE WE
THOUGHT A LOT OF THE CORE DESIGN
ASPECTS OF OUR PROJECT WOULD BE
TO INCORPORATE SOME OF THE
GREAT BUILDINGS THAT WERE
ALREADY ON-SITE, SO WE WANTED TO
PRESERVE THE ARMORY EARLY ON, WE
WANTED TO PRESERVE THE FACADE OF
73 STATE STREET, WHICH WAS THE
OLD ELECTRIC BUILDING
AND ALSO KEEP THE CHURCH AND THE
OFFICE BUILIDINGS THAT ARE ON
THE CORNER, SO THE PROBLEM IS WE
DIDN'T REALLY HAVE ANYTHING TO
NEGOTIATE WITH THEM AND WE GAVE
THEM UP FRONT ALOT OF
THE THINGS THEY WOULD HAVE ASKED
FOR SO I THINK SOME OF THE
CHALLENGES WE HAD WERE IN TRYING
TO
GET THEM COFMORTABLE THAT THIS
WAS ALREADY A GREAT
PERSERVATIONS PROJECT, AND THEY
DIDN'T
NEED TO PUSH FOR SOME OF THE
EXTRA PRESERVATION THAT THEY
WERE LOOKING FOR. WE ULTIMATELY
GOT
TO A GOOD PLACE, BUT I THINK
THAT'S WHAT HARMED US. WE CAME
IN SO AGGRESSIVELY WITH OUR
PRESERVATION PLAN BEFORE WE EVEN
MET WITH THEM, AND THEY FELT
LIKE THEY NEEDED TO EXTRACT A
LITTLE BIT MORE FROM US. KAIT:
"WOULD THAT HAVE TO DO WITH THE
HOTEL FACADE?" MIKE: "YEAH.
THAT ONE WAS A LITTLE PAINFUL.
AS I UNDERSTAND IT, PRESIDENT
POLK BACK IN THE 1840S SPENT ONE
NIGHT IN THAT BUILDING AND
BECAUSE OF THAT IT TURNED INTO A
BIG PRESERVATION PROJECT.
IT'S FUNNY, I WATCH TELEVISION
NOW AND I THINK ABOUT WHEREVER
OBAMA AND TRUMP ARE
STAYING IN THEIR TRAVELS AND THE
AGGRAVATION THEY'RE GOING TO
CAUSE ONE DAY TO SOME
DEVELOPER BECAUSE THEY SPENT THE
NIGHT ON THE WAY TO SOME EVENT,
SO THAT ONE WE WOULDN'T
HAVE DONE ON OUR OWN, BUT THE
WORK IS UNDERWAY AND IT WILL BE
FINE AND THEY'VE GOT
GREAT INTENTIONS, SO WE WORK
WITH THEM."
THROUGH OUR INTERVIEW WITH MIKE
MATHIS, WE ALSO DISCOVERED THE
MASSIVE PARKING GARAGE YOU SEE
FROM I-91, MAY NOT BE FREE, AS
WAS ONCE
BELIEVED.
MIKE: "THERE'S A MOVEMENT AROUND
OUR
INDUSTRY CONVERTING FREE TO PAID
PARKING AND A LOT OF THAT IS
MANAGING CAPACITY FOR
OUR CUSTOMERS SO IN LAS VEGAS,
WE STARTED CONVERTING SOME OF
OUR GARAGES TO PAID, AND OUR
COMPETITORS FOLLOWED SUIT SO I
THINK FOR US WE'VE GOT TO FIGURE
OUT WHAT MAKES SENSE HERE IN
THE REGION, WHICH IS WHY WE
HAVEN'T MADE A DECISION ON THAT,
AND IT'S NOT A BINARY YES OR
NO. I THINK DEPENDING ON THE
VOLUMES AND WHAT'S GOING ON ON
PROMOTIONS AND HOLIDAYS, SOME
DAYS
WE WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO MAKE
IT PAID JUST SO THAT WE MAKE
SURE THAT WE'VE GOT IT AVAILABLE
FOR OUR CUSTOMERS."
MATHIS SAID THEY'LL LOOK INTO
WHAT COMPETITORS FOXWOODS AND
MOHEGAN SUN DO.
22NEWS FOUND OUT FOR OURSELVES
THAT BOTH CONNECTICUT CASINOS
OFFER FREE
VALET PARKING.
MGM SPRINGFIELD'S 950 MILLION
DOLLAR INVESTMENT IS JUST A
THIRD OF THE MAJOR
INVESTMENTS COMING INTO THE CITY
OF SPRINGFIELD.
ACROSS THE CITY ON PAGE
BOULEVARD IN EAST SPRINGFIELD,
THE FORMER
WESTINGHOUSE SITE HAS BEEN
TRANSFORMED INTO THE 95 MILLION
DOLLAR
CHINA RAILROAD ROLLING STOCK
CORPORATION, OR CRRC RAIL CAR
MANUFACTURING FACILITY - THE
LARGEST IN THE WORLD.
WHEN IT'S COMPLETE THIS FALL,
THE 204- THOUSAND SQUARE FOOT
FACILITY WILL
EMPLOY ABOUT 150 WORKERS, WITH
MORE HIRES EXPECTED.
THEY'VE ALREADY SIGNED A 280
MILLION DOLLAR CONTRACT WITH THE
MASSACHUSETTS BAY TRANSPORTATION
AUTHORITY AND 178 MILLION DOLLAR
CONTRACT WITH THE LOS ANGELES
METRO BOARD.
KAIT
:
SPRINGFIELD BOASTS A LONG
TRADITION OF MANUFACTURING AND
INVENTING AS THE CITY
OF FIRSTS.
BUT IT'S THE FIELDS OF FINANCE
AND MEDICINE THAT HELPED
CATAPULT THIS CITY
INTO A NEW REALM OF ECONOMIC
SUCCESS- AND OPPORTUNITY FOR
EMPLOYMENT.
TAKE, FOR EXAMPLE, MASSMUTUAL.
THE NATIONWIDE LIFE INSURANCE
COMPANY IS AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN
HEADQUARTERED HERE IN
SPRINGFIELD.
DENNIS DUQUETTE: "WE'VE BEEN
PART OF THE FABRIC
OF SPRINGFIELD FOR GENERATIONS,
FOR MANY GENERATIONS. THE FIRST
PRESIDENT OF
MASSMUTUAL, CALEB RICE, WAS ALSO
THE FIRST MAYOR OF SPRINGFIELD,
SO WE'RE INEXTRICABLY LINKED IF
YOU WILL."
FOR 165 YEARS, MASSMUTUAL HAS
BEEN GIVING BACK TO THE
COMMUNITY IT
EMPLOYS.
DUQUETTE: "WE EMPLOY OVER 7400
PEOPLE
NATIONALLY, AND SEVERAL THOUSAND
OF THOSE PEOPLE ARE HERE IN
SPRINGFIELD, SO AS AN
EMPLOYER IT'S IMPORTANT FOR US
TO BE INVESTED IN THE COMMUNITY
AND HELPING THE COMMUNITY
BE A BETTER PLACE FOR OUR
EMPLOYEES, BUT ALSO TO ATTRACT
TALENT, TO ATTRACT OTHER
BUSINESSES AND OTHER INTERESTS
TO OUR REGION."
DENNIS DUQUETTE GAVE US A TOUR
OF THE MASSMUTUAL HEADQUARTERS
ON
STATE STREET.
DUQUETTE: "I THINK WE ARE THE
LARGEST
EMPLOYER, AND HAVE BEEN FOR
QUITE SOME TIME, BUT BEING THE
LARGEST EMPLOYER IS IMPORTANT
AND I THINK THERE'S A
SIGNIFCANCE THAT COMES WITH
THAT, BUT IF YOU'RE LOOKING AT
WHAT REALLY
DRIVES THE ECONOMY THESE DAYS,
WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT SMALLER
COMPANIES, SMALLER
BUSINESSES. THE ENTREPRENEUR
COMMUNITY THAT'S BUBBLING UP
DOWNTOWN, WE THINK IS
VERY EXCITING WHICH IS WHY WE'VE
INVESTED IN IT."
DUQUETTE
IS THE PRESIDENT OF THE
MASSMUTUAL FOUNDATION.
IT'S AN ENTITY OF THE COMPANY
FOCUSED SPECIFICALLY ON WRITING
GRANTS AND
FUNDING PROGRAMS IN THE
COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY STARTUPS.
REMEMBER THE INNOVATION CENTER?
MASSMUTUAL IS A MAJOR
CONTRIBUTOR....AFTER ALL,
DUQUETTE SAYS,
THEIR ORIGINAL 31-MAN COMPANY
BEGAN ALL THOSE YEARS AGO AS A
STARTUP OF
SORTS.
HE SAID INVESTING IN EDUCATION
IS A TOP PRIORITY.
DUQUETTE: "WE HAVE A UNIQUE
OPPORTUNITY
BECAUSE WE'RE SURROUNDED BY
GREAT RESOURCES, GREAT
EDUCATIONAL
INSTITUTIONS, AND GREAT THINKERS
THAT CAN ACTUALLY COME INTO THIS
SPACE AND COME INTO THIS
ECOSYSTEM AND ACTUALLY MAKE
SOMETHING HAPPEN FOR
SPRINGFIELD."
BAYSTATE HEALTH ALSO BOASTS
EMPLOYING THE MOST PEOPLE IN
WESTERN
MASSACHUSETTS.
DR. KEROACK: "WE ARE BY FAR THE
BIGGEST
EMPLOYER, ABOUT 12-THOUSAND
EMPLOYEES, TEAM MEMBERS, AS WE
CALL THEM, IN ALL THE THREE
COUNTIES OF THE PIONEER VALLEY
AND WE CONTRIBUTE ABOUT 3
BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR TO
THE LOCAL ECONOMY IF YOU THINK
ABOUT NOT ONLY THE JOBS BUT THE
SPENDING POWER OF ALL THOSE
EMPLOYEES. IT'S ROUGHLY 10
PERCENT OF THE ECONOMY OF
HAMPDEN COUNTY."
IT SERVES EVEN MORE THAN THAT.
DR. KEROACK: "AS FAR AS THE
HOSPITAL CAPACITY OF
WESTERN MASS, WE'RE ABOUT HALF
OF IT. THERE ARE A THOUSAND
BEDS, AND THAT'S ROUGHLY HALF
THE
HOSPITAL BEDS IN ALL OF THE FOUR
COUNTIES OF WESTERN MASS, BUT
WE'RE WAY MORE THAN A
COLLECTION OF HOSPITALS THESE
DAYS. WE'RE DOCTOR PRACTICES, WE
EMPLOY ABOUT 600 DOCTORS. I
THINK WE HAVE ABOUT 90 DIFFERENT
MAILING ADDRESSES BETWEEN ALL
THE VARIOUS LAW-DRAW
STATIONS AND THE AREAS THAT
SUPPORT BAYSTATE."
DESPITE THOSE STATISTICS,
BAYSTATE DID HAVE TO LAY OFF
MORE THAN 300
EMPLOYEES LAST FALL.
BAYSTATE HEALTH PRESIDENT AND
CEO DR. MARK KEROACK SAID THERE
WAS GOOD
REASON FOR THE CUTS.
HE EXPLAINED ABOUT TWO-THIRDS OF
PATIENTS ARE PAID FOR BY THE
FEDERAL
GOVERNMENT.
BUT THE GOVERNMENT PAYS UP TO 25
PERCENT LESS THAN BAYSTATE'S
COSTS
FOR CARE, LEADING TO A 50
MILLION DOLLAR SHORTFALL.
HE SAID WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
DOESN'T RECEIVE AS MUCH HELP AS
THE
GREATER BOSTON HOSPITALS DO.
DR. KEROACK: "IT'S BECAUSE OF
THE FACT THAT IN MOST
LARGE CITIES, THERE'S A SINGLE
HOSPITAL OR HOSPITALS THAT
REALLY FOACUSES ON THE CARE OF
THE POOR. IN BOSTON THAT'S
BOSTON MEDICAL CENTER AND
CAMBRIDGE HEALTH,. IN OTHER
CITIES
LIKE WORCESTER AND SPRINGFIELD,
IT'S ALL UNDER ONE ROOF, SO
WE'RE NOT ONLY THE HOSPITAL
WHERE POOR PEOPLE COME IN
SPRINGFIELD AND GREENFIELD AND
PALMER, BUT WE'RE ALSO THE
REFERRAL CENTER FOR THE WHOLE
REGION. IN A BIG CITY, THOSE
ROLES ARE SPLIT, AND SO WHEN
THEY
FIGURED OUT A FORMULA TO
DISTRIBUTE THE EXTRA MONEYS, THE
SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING,
THEY TENDED TO FAVOR THOSE VERY
SPECIALIZED HOSPITALS AND IGNORE
THE SORT OF HYBRID HOSPITALS
LIKE BAYSTATE."
DR. KEROACK SAID ONE GOAL IS TO
ATTRACT WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS
NATIVES TO STUDY LOCALLY AND
THEN WORK LOCALLY SO THEY CAN
INVEST BACK
INTO THE ECONOMY.
ONE WAY THEY'RE DOING THAT IS A
NEW MEDICAL SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP
WITH
UMASS AMHERST.
KAIT:
POVERTY IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGES FOR SPRINGFIELD
SCHOOLS.
CITY LEADERS KNOW THAT CAN LEAD
TO A CYCLE OF POVERTY...AND
FUTURE CRIME.
WE LOOKED AT WHAT THE PUBLIC
SCHOOL SYSTEM - AND A LANDMARK
COLLEGE IN
SPRINGFIELD IS DOING TO BETTER
THE COMMUNITY.
"EDUCATION IS KEY, NOT ONLY FOR
FAMILIES BUT FOR
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND
EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES."
THIS FISCAL YEAR, THE CITY
INVESTED 63.9 PERCENT OF ITS
BUDGET ON THE
SPRINGFIELD PUBLIC SCHOOL
SYSTEM.
STILL, THE DISTRICT, WHICH IS
THE SECOND LARGEST IN THE
COMMONWEALTH,
FACES SETBACKS DUE TO ITS URBAN
ENVIRONMENT.
WARWICK: "I'D SAY POVERTY'S THE
GREATEST
CHALLENGE, BUT ALOT OF TIMES OUR
POOREST FAMILIES ALSO HAVE
LANGUAGE BARRIERS AS
WELL."
58 LANGUAGES ARE SPOKEN IN THE
SCHOOLS.
AT ONE TIME, SOME SPRINGFIELD
SCHOOLS WERE FAILING - RANKING
THE LOWEST
IN THE STATE - AND THREATENING
THE DISTRICT FROM BEING TAKEN
OVER BY THE
STATE.
BUT SUPERINTENDENT DANIEL
WARWICK FOUND WAYS TO IMPROVE.
WARWICK: "IT'S BEEN A HUGE
EFFORT, WE'VE PUT
GRADUATION COACHES IN EACH HIGH
SCHOOL, WE HAVE COMPLETE ONLINE
CREDIT RECOVERY
PROGRAMS AVAILABLE FOR KIDS
DURING THE DAY AND IN THE
EVENING. WE'VE MADE OUR SUMMER
AND
NIGHT SCHOOL FREE SO KIDS HAVE
ACCESS BECAUSE IN A POOR
COMMUNITY, A LOT OF OUR KIDS
COULDN'T
ACCESS THEIR CREDIT RECOVERY
VEHICLE AND SUMMER NIGHT SCHOOL
BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T
PAY FOR IT."
HE SAID THE GRADUATION RATE IS
UP 10 PERCENT IN THE LAST FIVE
YEARS, NOW
TO 68.8 PERCENT.
AND THE DROPOUT RATE WAS CUT TO
4.9 PERCENT - THE BEST
IMPROVEMENT IN THE
COMMONWEALTH.
WARWICK: "TALK ABOUT THE ARRESTS
IN THE
SCHOOLS. WE'VE CUT THE ARRESTS
DOWN IN THE SCHOOLS FROM ALMOST
500 TO 80 LAST YEAR SO WE DO
HAVE POLICE IN THE SCHOOLS, WE
HAVE SCHOOL RESOURCES OFFICERS,
BUT IT'S BEEN A VERY POSITIVE
EXPERIENCE."
SPRINGFIELD IS THE FIRST IN
MASSACHUSETTS TO OFFER FREE
BREAKFAST TO ALL STUDENTS IN
EVERY CLASSROOM - EVEN HIGH
SCHOOLS -
FUNDED BY THE USDA.
WARWICK: "THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
STUDIES AND
RESEARCH IF A YOUNGSTER COMES TO
SCHOOL HUNGRY, THEY END UP GOING
HOME SICK MORE OFTEN, THEY'RE
NOT AS FOCUSED, SO EVEN THE
ACHIEVEMENT RATES WHEN THEY'VE
DONE STUDIES INCREASED, BUT
THIS IS JUST THE RIGHT WAY FOR A
STUDENT TO START THE DAY."
THEY'RE ALSO PIONEERING A NEW
EDUCATION EXPERIENCE WITH THE
SPRINGFIELD EMPOWERMENT ZONE
PARTNERSHIP.
EIGHT PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS
SERVING MORE THAN 44-HUNDRED
STUDENTS
COMBINE THE BEST PRACTICES OF A
TRADITIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL AND A
CHARTER SCHOOL.
THE RESULT: THE SCHOOLS HAVE
AUTONOMY FROM THE DISTRICT,
SETTING
THEIR OWN SCHOOL DAY TIMES AND
WRITING THEIR OWN CURRICULA.
THE END GOAL FOR ALL DISTRICT
STUDENTS ISN'T JUST GRADUATION -
BUT JOBS - ESPECIALLY ONES WITH
LEADING ECONOMIC ENGINES IN OUR
REGION - LIKE
CRRC AND MGM SPRINGFIELD.
WARWICK: "WE HAVE OVER 100 KIDS
AT PUTNAM RIGHT
NOW THAT ARE ACTUALLY WORKING IN
JOBS ON THEIR VOC WEEK IN LOCAL
BUSINESSES. SOME OF THEM
WILL WORK FOR THOSE BUSINESSES
RIGHT AWAY, SOME OF THEM WILL
WORK FOR THE BUSINESSES AND
MOVE THROUGH COLLEGE ALSO, BUT
OUR GRADUATION RATE AT PUTNAM IS
OVER 96
PERCENT."
A BUSTLING COMMUNITY WITHIN AN
URBAN ENVIRONMENT, SPRINGFIELD
COLLEGE
HAS SPRINGFIELD RIGHT IN ITS
NAME.
MARY BETH: "I BELIEVE THAT A
COLLEGE OR A
UNIVERSITY THAT'S SITTING
AMONGST A NEIGHBORHOOD REALLY
HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE
COMMUNITY THAT SHARES THE NAME,
SHARES A ZIPCODE, SO FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE, IT'S A
RELATIONSHIP FROM DAY 1. WHEN
MAYOR SARNO CAME TO MY
INAUGURATION WE STARTED TALKING
ABOUT
HOW WE COULD BE GOOD PARTNERS."
SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE'S FIRST
WOMAN PRESIDENT, MARY BETH
COOPER.
SHE EXPLAINED MOST STUDENTS ARE
FROM NEW ENGLAND, BUT NOT FROM
THE CITY.
MARY BETH: "A SMALL PERCENTAGE
OF
SPRINGFIELD STUDENTS, WE'D LIKE
TO HAVE MORE. WE TRY TO DO A LOT
OF RECRUITING IN THIS AREA."
BUT THE SCHOOL IS CONTRIBUTING
BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY:
STUDENTS ARE
HELPING NEIGHBORS BY PROVIDING
HEALTHY COOKING CLASSES,
OFFERING
STROKE SURVIVOR CLINICS,
BUILDING A BASEBALL FIELD WITH
DISABILITY
ACCESSIBILITY FOR NEIGHBORHOOD
KIDS, AND WORKING ON SAFETY
SOLUTIONS.
MARY BETH: "WE'RE MAKING SURE
THAT OUR BLUE
LIGHTS WORK AND MAKING SURE THAT
OUR PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICERS ARE
WALKING THE CAMPUS."
THE CAMPUS OFFICERS CARRY GUNS,
MAINLY AS A DETERRENT TO
WOULD-BE CRIMINALS.
COOPER LIVES ON CAMPUS WITH HER
FAMILY.
MARY BETH: "WHEN THINGS DO
HAPPEN IN THE
SURROUNDING AREA, THEY'RE AWARE
OF IT BECAUSE IT'S RIGHT NEXT TO
IT, BUT FROM MY
PERSPECTIVE, THERE'S GOOD
NEIGHBORS THAT LIVE RIGHT AROUND
US AS WELL THAT ARE RAISING
FAMILIES SO TO SAY THAT IT'S A
PROBLEM RIGHT AROUND CAMPUS IS
UNFAIR BECAUSE WE'VE GOT
INDIVIDUALS TRYING TO RAISE
FAMILIES THAT WANT GOOD LIGHTING
AND WANT POLICE PROTECTION AS
WELL AND SO I THINK WORKING WITH
THEM HAS BEEN FROM OUR
PERSPECTIVE AN IMPORTANT
THING TO DO BECAUSE THEY WANT TO
BE SAFE AS WELL."
KAIT:
IT'S EASY IN OUR DAILY LIVES TO
PASS THROUGH THE CITY OF
SPRINGFIELD EVERY
DAY AND NOT TRULY KNOW WHAT'S
GOING ON.
IN THIS HOUR, WE HOPE YOU'VE
LEARNED HOW YOUR TAX MONEY IS
BEING USED TO
KEEP RESIDENTS SAFE, AND WHY
CITY AND STATE LEADERS SAY
THEY'RE EXCITED FOR
A PROMISING FUTURE FOR THE CITY
OF HOMES.
I'M KAIT WALSH.
THAT'S OUR PROGRAM FOR TODAY.
REMEMBER, YOU CAN WATCH IT IN
FULL, ANY TIME, ON OUR WEBSITE,
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