Unfinished Business in Springfield
by Bill Dusty
Governor Deval Patrick paid Springfield a visit on Wednesday, offering new funding and renewed support to help the City bring in new jobs and rebuild its economy. The Springfield Republican gave Patrick the by-line to tell his own story in their “Viewpoint” column:
[excerpt] “To accelerate Springfield’s recovery, we are launching the Springfield Partnership, a new collaboration between the city and the commonwealth to augment the work of the Finance Control Board. Our goal is to develop a working economy that will sustain a working community.”
The Governor mentioned funding and assistance for such things as job training, attracting business, and streamlining local government. He also said casinos were a part of the plan:
“Locating a destination casino in Western Massachusetts is consistent with this strategy. It will create thousands of good local jobs and have a multiplier effect on local investment as well.”
The Governor also lauded the State’s assistance in funding for new police officers, promising $500,000 to suppliment the Finance Control Board’s own $1 million infusion of funds for law enforcement. He said the State would also continue to deploy the State Police gang unit – the same force, it is presumed, that the Governor himself had tried to axe funding for last spring in a failed bid to help fund new police officers statewide.
The Governor was scheduled to be at the State Office Building on Dwight Street today to announce the re-opening of the governor’s satellite office, which had been closed since 2003.
Also in his “Viewpoint” piece, Patrick also alluded to the city contracts in Springfield, saying that “98 percent of city employees have agreed to long-term collective bargaining contracts.” Meanwhile, the other 2 percent were outside the city’s State Office Building to remind the Governor of their unresolved situation. The state-mandated Springfield Finance Control Board, despite assurances this past spring to speed up a resolution of differences with the Springfield Police Supervisors Association, still has yet to negotiate a new contract. The change-over of leadership at the Finance Control Board hasn’t helped matters, either. One officer said the Association thought they had worked out a deal ready to sign earlier this year, but when the FCB presented their offer, it wasn’t even close to what the union had expected.
The Police Supervisors have been without a new contract and without a raise since 2003.
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