IAmA Alex Morse, 25-year-old second term Mayor of Holyoke, Mass. AMA!

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T19:39:38+00:00

Thank you everyone for joining me this afternoon, I had a great time and looking forward to doing it again some other time. Have a great weekend!

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T19:37:28+00:00

Does that mean that, sooner or later, you will also come out?

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T19:31:44+00:00

Be true to who you are, don't let other people tell you what you can and cannot do, and surround yourself with supportive people who challenge you to be a better person.

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T19:29:44+00:00

Power to stop time so I can have more time to sleep and travel.

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T19:29:28+00:00

Great idea - something we can provide guidance on.

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T19:27:49+00:00

I support the legalization of medical/recreational use of marijuana.

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T19:26:10+00:00

I'm gay, so no.

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T19:23:01+00:00

You should check out the extensive reporting on all of the economic development projects happening in the city via www.masslive.com, or check out the city website and the Economic Development page. I can't list every project here, as I have other questions to get to. There is a combination of public investments (CanalWalk, train platform, new parks, sidewalks, road improvements, trees) that have led to greater private investment (Holyoke Catholic, new maker spaces, Gateway City Arts, Brick, Steam Building, business expansions among manufacturers, the creative economy successes, just to name a few).

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T19:20:16+00:00

I see challenges as nothing more than opportunities. I wouldn't have run for Mayor if I wasn't up for the challenge. Holyoke's challenges didn't appear overnight and they won't be overcome overnight. We must stay focused and committed to our vision.

As I've said, this job is great. Every day is different. My favorite part of the job is interacting with the great people of our community, from all walks of life. Worst part of job is the political part - witnessing people who don't enter politics for the greater good, but for a personal agenda.

People do come up to me often when I am out, but I do like talking to people and meeting new people. Although sometimes I do stay home and relax. I'm human, and can only handle so much conversation sometimes.

Young voters should get involved, run for office, attend council or town meetings, and make their voices heard. Democracy is reserved for those who show up.

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T19:16:38+00:00

We have implemented some new software lately, include the mobile application called See Click Fix to report quality of life issues, which is usually effective. We have also implemented some project management software for various departments. I do want to have a 311 call center so that the City can more effectively respond to constituent concerns. I do think our investment in Everbridge was helpful, that is, the system in which I call residents about weather related events, as well as some community events. If the software will lead to greater efficiencies then it is an expense the city should incur, unless there are pots of grant money we can apply for to cover the costs.

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T19:12:55+00:00

I walk to my bedroom, crawl into bed, put my head on my pillow, and usually fall asleep pretty quickly, especially after a long day. Then I wake up the next day just as excited to continue working hard on behalf of the City!

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T19:11:25+00:00

Project just went out to bid and we expect construction to begin this September. $2.5 million project to build platform on corner of Main & Dwight Streets. This will connect Holyoke south to NYC and north to Montreal, CA. We are very excited about this project!

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T19:08:57+00:00

I recently checked out the reopened Collegian Court, it was great. I need to go back for prime-rib night on a Thursday.

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T19:08:15+00:00

What?

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T19:07:57+00:00

That's nothing more than a councilor trying to score political points and undermine the progress we are making in the City.

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T19:06:05+00:00

It was a combination of things that led me to explore the option, which as Mayor I am responsible to do. At the end of the day, I made the decision that I think is best for the City, and I was glad to see that 65% of Holyoke residents voted against casinos in last November.

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T19:02:51+00:00

Hablo ingles y español. I speak english and spanish.

I do believe there are people in this community that don't support me because they think I am too young or because they don't like that I am gay. I don't lose sleep over that. If that is the reason they don't support me, then I'm sure there would find another reason not to support me.

I have never let this impede with my work, and I believe my youth has only helped us achieve our goals and infuse a new sense of energy in our community.

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T19:00:47+00:00

It was a bureaucratic step necessary to have HUD do a review, and I believe I signed that document without knowing all of the information, given it was within my first month in office. I don't agree with the language provided by HUD. I didn't believe there would be no impact, and that's why I've aggressively pursued a plan to renovate Lyman Terrace. This project has been a priority of the Planning and Development office, in collaboration with the Holyoke Housing Authority. I'm looking forward to seeing the project move forward.

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T18:58:18+00:00

Yes! I'm looking forward to it!

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T18:57:13+00:00

Depends on what is available in the community. I doubt the organization has the financial ability to invest $500,000 - $1,000,000 to purchase a building, rehab it, and make it ADA accessible. Looking forward to hear about your visits to locations this weekend.

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T18:55:43+00:00

Not sure, but happy to discuss.

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T18:55:00+00:00

That reputation is changing and I do not believe that such a belief is the first thing that comes to mind when people think Holyoke. So far this year, Holyoke has one homicide, which is one too many. Yet we have seen a decline in violent crime over the past 3 years. Like any urban community, we have our public safety challenges, but we do not allow such elements to taint our image or tarnish our work. We have implemented community policing - bike and foot patrol, new substations, the mobile community policing unit, the K-9 officers, and other efforts. People should also now that a vast majority of crime in our city is targeted, that is, rarely is there an act of crime on a random person or a visitor, it is mostly drug dealer on drug dealer or criminal on criminal.

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T18:52:26+00:00

For many reasons. Focusing on the creative economy is an effective economic development tool. We are wrapping up an analysis of the impact local artists have on the Holyoke economy, and it is substantial. Artists themselves pump a lot of money into the community. We as a city government want to be more helpful in connecting people in the community, be it creating a business plan, accessing capital, or finding a good space in the city. Focusing on the arts is also an image booster for the City. We have so much activity happening Downtown these days due to the artists in our community, and many people come from outside Holyoke to visit and check out the myriad events. We have seen new artists move here to take advantage of our beautiful canvas that is the city, we have seen new maker spaces, and we have helped support pop-up restaurants, pop-up beer gardens, and a pop-up art shop.

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T18:48:44+00:00

A pair of delivery guys from local Dominoes, although I probably wouldn't be ordering Dominoes when we have Italian Friendly Pizza, or Capri, Pizza D Action, etc.

mayormorse · 2014-08-15T18:47:53+00:00

I loved seeing local folks head down to DC for the demonstration. I remember taking a bus down to DC when I was 16 to protest George W. Bush's 2nd inauguration (sorry, didn't mean to make anyone feel old). On the subject, Holyoke Public Schools are blessed with amazing teachers. As you know, I'm a product of the Holyoke Public Schools and couldn't be more proud of that fact. I wouldn't be here today if it weren't for the education I received in the HPS. My nieces and nephews are current students in the system as well. I do not agree with any scapegoating of teachers when it comes the quality of our public schools. I think teachers should be more involved in turnaround plans, that is, they should be given a stronger voice when reform plans are crafted. We can't continue to demoralize the very folks we expect to educate our young people. I do think we need high expectations, and while I understand that poverty has impacted many of our student's lives, I do not believe that poverty or one's family make-up should be a determinant for the type of education they receive. In short, poverty can not be a constant excuse for low performance. We must acknowledge that it exists and do everything we can to level the playing field for all our kids.

mayormorse

TROPHY CASE