HOLYOKE With less than a month until a Nov. 2 general election, two political action committees have formed in Holyoke to boost the candidacies of competing factions for city offices.A PAC calling itself Holyoke Forward, or Holyoke Pa’lante in.
Police OT under scrutiny in Holyoke
A Holyoke police supervisor responds to a call on Sargeant Street on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN GUTTING
Holyoke police respond to a call in the 100 block of Suffolk Street on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN GUTTING
Holyoke Police station on Appleton Street, photographed on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN GUTTING
Holyoke Police cars parked at the William S. Taupier Municipal Parking Garage on Division Street on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN GUTTING
Holyoke Police cars parked at the William S. Taupier Municipal Parking Garage on Division Street on Wednesday, April 28, 2021. STAFF PHOTO/KEVIN GUTTING
Holyoke City Council addresses police practices, policies after corruption allegation
Updated 12:35 PM;
HOLYOKE – The City Council’s Public Safety Committee took up an order that supports examining the Police Department’s policies and practices.
City Councilors Rebecca Lisi, Gladys Lebron-Martinez and Juan Anderson-Burgos filed the order after a YouTube video posted by Police Officer Rafael Roca alleged widespread corruption within the Police Department. Roca was suspended from duty in early March.
The order stated, “In an effort to obtain neutral, fact-based data and statistics, the city contract an independent assessment of Holyoke Police Department’s structure, policies and practices.”
Ward 2 Councilor and Acting Mayor Terence Murphy, the committee’s chair, said his goal was to share as much public information and possible “to prove what we have and what has been working well” within the Police Department.
Holyoke City Council OKs permits for cannabis growers; honors activist
Updated 9:08 AM;
Massbiology proposes to build and operate a marijuana cultivation and processing facility at 6 Appleton St.
The permit requires Massbiology to add a bike rack. Holyoke Fire Department approves a generator for the site, finds an alternative fuel source, and “obtain site control of the area slated for parking.”
The Massachusetts Cannabis Commission requires all licensing applicants to apply for a special permit at the municipal level. The commission oversees the Commonwealth’s medical and recreational marijuana industry, an economic bright spot in Holyoke’s economy.
Councilor At-large Rebecca Lisi, who chairs the Ordinance Committee, said Massbiology’s application was “straightforward and very complete” during an April 13 committee hearing.
Holyoke City Councilor Terence Murphy appointed acting mayor
Updated Apr 12, 2021;
Posted Apr 12, 2021
Ward 2 City Councilor Terence Murphy listens during an online meeting April 12, 2021, where he was elected acting mayor.
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HOLYOKE The City Council elected Ward 2 Councilor Terrence Murphy as acting mayor during a special meeting Monday night. Murphy will serve until the November mayoral election.
A recently passed home rule petition granted the City Council one-time authority to appoint any councilor as acting mayor.
City Clerk Brenna Murphy McGee will swear in Murphy at City Hall Tuesday morning. Murphy won on the first ballot 8-5. All 13 councilors voted for Murphy during a symbolic second vote.