Clik here to view.
Clik here to view.
4:02 Mandy Hofmockel
That about wraps it up for this live chat with the mayor. Thanks for joining us with all your great questions!
View ArticleClik here to view.
4:02 Mayor Morse
Thank you everyone for your questions this afternoon. Have a Merry Christmas next week and a Happy New Year. Stay safe and enjoy time with friends and family. As always, if I wasn't able to answer a...
View ArticleClik here to view.
4:01 Mayor Morse
I'm hoping that the City can tackle Avery Field next year. Now that we just received a $175,000 grant to go towards the skate park, that frees up the money I originally allocated for that to use on...
View ArticleClik here to view.
3:59 Mayor Morse
Suzanne - I joined "Mayors Against Illegal Guns" back in January, and I signed a letter yesterday that was crafted by Menino and Bloomberg, urging both Congress and the President to take action on gun...
View Article3:58 Comment From Suzanne Williams
Will Mayor Morse join 'Mayors Against Illegal Guns' and also the recent Menino/Bloomberg petition?
View ArticleClik here to view.
3:57 Mayor Morse
Yes - in our new Urban Renewal Plan we have an entire list of vacant and abandoned properties that we plan to take by eminent domain - once we do that, we either market the property to a developer for...
View Article3:54 Comment From Terrence
Thank you for your response. Have you considered the option of demolishing abandoned Holyoke property on imminent domain, and then selling that space to businesses for cheap? It would create more jobs...
View ArticleClik here to view.
3:52 Mayor Morse
Aaron - the new Senior Center is now open! The official open house and ribbon cutting will be early February. The Center is a fantastic addition to the City - great new building with a fitness center,...
View ArticleClik here to view.
3:51 Mayor Morse
Also, Sara, check out our new Urban Renewal Plan, both the plan and the video at www.holyokeredevelopment.com
View ArticleClik here to view.
Clik here to view.
3:49 Mayor Morse
I completely agree - thank you! We are doing a number of things. We actually have an entire "Transit Oriented Development" (TOD) plan for the City of Holyoke. We are investing in key infrastructure...
View Article3:45 Comment From Sara
Mayor Morse, what is city government doing to make Holyoke a safer place to walk and ride a bike? I'd like to see Holyoke become a Bike-Friendy and Walk-Friendly City as we move forward.
View ArticleClik here to view.
3:45 Mayor Morse
Yes of course, that is exactly what I am advocating for. I am not alone in this view, that is why it's important for all of us Western Massachusetts communities to come together to discuss these...
View Article3:42 Comment From Max
Do you believe that neighboring communities that would get casino revenue should have to contribute to the region in terms of solving the homeless problem, affordable housing and social services, all...
View ArticleClik here to view.
3:42 Mayor Morse
We are doing a number of things to address the drug issue here in Holyoke. First off, it's important to note that a vast majority of drug-related arrests in Holyoke are of people who don't actually...
View ArticleClik here to view.
3:37 Mayor Morse
I meet with people every single day - residents, current and perspective business owners. This was no different. In the effort of transparency, I let the public know that I had a meeting with Mr....
View Article3:35 Comment From anne duffy
Why didn't you tell the people of Holyoke about your meetings with Eric Suher before you met with him? It gave a lot of people a shock, and was certainly not the most transparent way to operate.
View ArticleClik here to view.
3:34 Mayor Morse
I think we all do! I don't have a good answer for you, but if you email my office (morsea@ci.holyoke.ma.us) I can send you a timeline. This is a state project, not a city project, so I will have to...
View Article3:33 Comment From Guest
How is the Holyoke/Chicopee bridge project coming along? I really miss being able to use this avenue.
View ArticleClik here to view.
3:32 Mayor Morse
Casinos are off the table, and I suspect they will not have the money nor the desire to do anything with that property without a casino being involved. I look forward to working with the Holyoke Boys...
View Article3:30 Comment From Bill
Please tell us your impression is of Paper City Development's offer of development monies to the Holyoke Boys and Girls Club. Would you support it if a Casino was part of the deal? Thank you.
View ArticleClik here to view.
3:29 Mayor Morse
Thanks Terrence - I understand your concerns on this issue and I assure you that these conversations do occur often at City Hall. We need to remember that Holyoke once had a population of 60,000...
View Article3:21 Comment From Terrence
I have a concern about your efforts to renovate downtown Holyoke. If the downtown area becomes a Northampton-like area, then the property values and cost of apartment rentals will reach...
View ArticleClik here to view.
3:21 Mayor Morse
I don't think so. I think the past few weeks have demonstrated that elected officials often times have to deliberate on issues in a public forum. As Mayor, it is my obligation to keep an open mind,...
View Article3:15 Comment From Abe
Mayor Morse, do you feel that your series of reversals on the casino question will define your legacy as the mayor of this city? Have you cemented your image of an indecisive politician with these...
View ArticleClik here to view.
3:14 Mayor Morse
Good question Brad. This is the perfect opportunity to have that conversation. One of the positive results of the conversations over the past few weeks was our ability to transform the casino...
View Article3:10 Comment From Brad
What are Holyoke's chances of getting a piece of the casino revenue as a neighboring community of Springfield? Is it going to be a problem that Holyoke does not actually border Springfield?
View ArticleClik here to view.
3:10 Mayor Morse
Kelly - it depends on the type of industry. I am willing to have a conversation with any developer in the City as long as they know that casinos are off the table. We have shifted our efforts to...
View Article3:06 Comment From Kelly
Now that the casino is not going to happen in Holyoke, do you think you can encourage Mr. Suher to expose the land to industry and hopefully bring jobs to Holyoke?
View ArticleClik here to view.
3:05 Mayor Morse
We are still going through the process of crafting a new Request for Proposals (RFP) for the property. Last year, there were no bids on the Lynch school itself. We are working with the state now to...
View Article3:02 Comment From John
Mayor Morse, is there any update on what is going to happen to Lynch Middle school?
View ArticleClik here to view.
3:02 Mayor Morse
Thanks Thomas. I've made it a priority since day one to make sure that there will be a stop in Holyoke when passenger rail service is coming through Western Massachusetts. We recently were awarded a...
View Article2:59 Comment From Thomas
Good Afternon Mayor Morse, Amtrak's Vermonter is poised to once again pass through Holyoke in 2014 and Connecticut is funding a major commuter railroad project between Springfield and New Haven. What...
View ArticleClik here to view.
2:58 Mayor Morse
Good afternoon everyone - I'm looking forward to answering your questions!
View ArticleClik here to view.
2:49 Mandy Hofmockel
Mayor Alex Morse will be joining us at about 3 p.m. so there's still plenty of time to submit questions in the "Send questions or comments" box below.
View Article