1. Personal Connection

Springfield is blessed with a rich mix of arts and cultural organizations.  Please name two places where you have had personally significant arts and/or cultural experiences.  How have these organizations positively affected your life? 

I can never forget the majesty of the Springfield Science Museum when I first saw it. The Chinese art exhibit and the Japanese Samurai armor were impressive. I relive these memories every time I visit for the yearly Christmas community party. The Christmas carols, the ginger house displays and the buzzing of people ,make it a special holiday event.

During the summer, I enjoyed the annual Caribbean Parade ending at Blunt Park and become all smiles during the annual Puerto Rican parade, marching from Wasson Ave to Main St downtown. I look forward to the day that the Puerto Rican festival returns to Springfield.

2. Addressing Citywide Issues

Can you provide examples on how you would integrate the arts, culture, and creative community in solving social problems such as safety in the downtown district?   

We have a serious problem with detracted walkers and drivers. Particularly in the Main St and State St area and in front of the central library. There have been several fatalities and serious injuries. We can look at a creative campaign involving the arts to help address this issue. There have been several fatalities and serious injuries.

3. An Arts Destination

While Springfield is growing as a community, the city has yet to fully leverage the strength of our arts, culture, and creative community as a means for branding and attracting residents, employees, and visitors.  How would you utilize our community to make Springfield a place where people want to live, work, play, and visit?

I have supported Sen. Eric Lesser push for a high speed rail in Springfield. A high speed will help to increase home ownership, increase college enrollment, and overall foot traffic. The multiplying economic effect this would bring to downtown is enticing. We must also work to improve our overall cit transportation system.

We should look at a similar version to Chicopee downtown get down for Springfield. It appears that we may have already developed the raw blueprint for this with the successful White Lion summer events.

4. Your Priorities

When elected, what actions will you take to provide support and resources to the creative community?

Arts and culture are a powerful historical reminder for future generations of who we are. I am open to lobby the mayor to create a line item for funding for the SCCD. The economic impact and community pride a strong and vibrant arts, culture and creative economy would bring to the city would me a welcoming change. We must look at Holyoke and see how they are slowly using a creative economy to change and improve downtown.