Deeply Concerned...give more Covid-19 attention to Western Mass.

The lead councilor, Victor Davila, said he learned of the Franklin County representative Wednesday, but believes there should be someone from the Springfield area, as being the third largest city in the state and being ranked among communities with the highest rate of the virus.

The one representative from Western Mass., is “not nearly enough,” Davila said.

“Springfield has been lagging behind in the fight on Covid-19, we seem to be an after thought when it comes to getting the resources we need to successfully fight this Pandemic,” Davila said, in a prepared release. “We lacked behind with Protective Personal Equipment for our Police Officers, no testing sites for at the initial critical stages of the Pandemic.”

Tackling Illegal Fireworks in Springfield

By Douglas Hook | dhook@masslive.com

A Springfield city councilor has proposed stricter penalties for those caught with fireworks in the city.

Ward 6 City Councilor Victor G. Davila proposed an ordinance change calling for the Springfield Fire Department to issue a $300 fine and allow the Springfield Police Department to issue a criminal complaint or make an arrest if a person is found in possession of fireworks.

“Fireworks pose a real safety threat to our neighborhoods and are a public nuisance. This ordinance change aims to hold those accountable for their reckless use of fireworks,” said Davila. “People work hard. They deserve a quiet and peaceful night of sleep. These knuckleheads are ruining our quality of life and it’s not acceptable.”

Springfield Police Department has received numerous fireworks complaints throughout the city. In the past two weeks, Forest Park - the neighborhood Davila represents - made 426 fireworks complaints.

“I have received countless communications from neighbors across our city like never before. These acts are dangerous and illegal, not to mention inconsiderate, especially to families with young children and individuals experiencing post-traumatic stress disorder including our veterans,” said At-Large City Councilor Jesse Lederman. “We are acting to send a clear message to those who would subject our neighborhoods to such harassment, cut it out.”

It is already illegal in Massachusetts for private citizens to use, possess, sell or purchase them legally elsewhere and then transport them into the state. The law prohibits any article designed to produce a visible or audible effect.

Under the current law, those that are found in possession of fireworks will receive a fine up to $100. However, if a person is found selling fireworks, they could face not only a fine up to $1,000, but also possible imprisonment.

“This isn’t about a few days around the 4th of July. It’s every night, in every neighborhood. It has gotten out of hand. Those setting off fireworks need to feel a larger financial pinch for this disruptive activity,” said Ward 2 City Councilor Mike Fenton.

The proposed ordinance amendment has been co-sponsor by City Councilors Mike Fenton, Adam Gomez, Jesse Lederman, Melvin Edwards, and City Council President Justin Hurst. It will be heard at the next regular city council meeting on July 22 at 6:30 p.m. remotely via Zoom.

Victor opposes methadone clinic bordering Forest Park

July 6, 2019

Springfield, Ma - Victor Davila in a community meeting with Mayor Sarno and other community leaders, expressed opposition to a proposed Methadone clinic bordering Forest Park. “It is a potential traffic nightmare...it will be a disaster waiting to explode,” he said. “Everyone wants to come here and this neighborhood can only handle so much.”

(Clink on title to read full article or click here) https://www.masslive.com/news/2019/05/springfield-south-end-residents-protest-planned-methadone-clinic.html

Victor sends a letter to Council President Orlando Ramos regarding Police and Community Relations Committee

On July 27, Victor sent a letter to Springfield City Council president Orlando Ramos expressing his opinion regarding the extension of the Springfield Police and Community Relations Committee.

Victor expressed the desire to a younger generation should be allowed to join the commission.  Read the attached letter for more information.

Op-ed on Fighting Blight in the City of Springfield

On July 27, Victor released an op-ed to The Republican and MassLive outlining his proposal for fighting blight within the City of Springfield.  The text is included below.

Dear editor,

Blight is a critical community issue in many ways.  Blight is directly associated with social, economic, and environmental issues in the community.  As the economy starts to turn downward, we tend to see an increase in abandoned and foreclosed properties—an open invitation to blight.

The causes of blight vary from city to city and even neighborhood to neighborhood, but many cities are dealing with blighted parcels as a result of some combination of “suburbanization,” population decline, job losses, foreclosures, and natural events that render structures or lots unusable.  If left unchecked, blight will devour any neighborhood.

Here in our beloved city of Springfield, great gains have been made in addressing blight.  Our code enforcement team does a great job in conjunction with the Police Department Ordinance Flex Squad in following up with vacant and blighted properties.  All great gains, but I believe we can do more.

We can improve this fight by identifying at-risk properties before blight takes hold.  I have personally seen four vacant and blighted properties in a relatively short distance from each other in a city neighborhood.  We must be more proactive on this front.

Here is what we can do.  We need a vacant property registry ordinance, aimed at requiring property owners to register vacant housing with plans to maintain the property.  This will ensure a safe and livable neighborhood.  This ordinance should include foreclosed properties and those in danger of becoming foreclosed.

We must also increase the amount charged in code enforcement fees when the city does maintenance on the property.  Current city ordinance (Chap. 285, Sec. 5A) allows the city to recover fifty percent of the fair market value for the maintenance performed on a blighted property by the city.  We must increase this amount to 100%.  This area is currently lost revenue for the city and is not a deterrent to the owner that lets the property become blighted.

Lowering blight will bring economic and social stability in the neighborhood and is a strong catalyst to reducing crime.  This would be one of my priorities if I am so fortunate to be elected to the Springfield City Council.

Victor Davila
Springfield City Council-at-large Candidate