Teamwork

The legislators that Springfield voters have sent to Boston and Washington are excellent representatives who have helped the city in so many ways. We need a strong partnership with our delegations in the state and national capitols to ensure that we don’t miss one opportunity to bring more attention and more funding for Springfield’s needs.

Bud's 10 Point Plan to Fight Crime

(1) Immediate implementation of the Curfew Ordinance by the Police Department for all citizens under the age of 18.

(2) Immediate deployment of trained officers currently performing “office duty” to PUT MORE POLICE OFFICERS ON OUR STREETS.

(3) Having the Commissioner and all Deputy Commissioners working Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

(4) Requesting assistance from the State Police.

(5) Seeking Special state legislation to allow for “a regional approach to law enforcement” by utilizing police officers in other communities to assist Springfield.

(6) Increase in prison sentences for those convicted of possessing a firearm in the commission of a crime.

(7) Assignment of more Judges to the District and Superior Courts in Springfield with a focus on having special sessions for those charges with crimes of violence and weapons.

(8) Assignment of more officers to the 4-12 and 12-8 shifts where more violent crimes and drug activity is occurring.

(9) Immediate applications to State and Federal Law Enforcement Agencies for grant money for additional neighborhood police officers.

(10) Use of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for Neighborhood Crime.

VOTE NOV 3RD FOR BUD L. WILLIAMS

Trash Fee Commercial (Honesty)

Economic Development

Springfield needs more good jobs so its hard-working people can make a good living, buy houses, send their kids to college, and have a secure retirement.
But businesses won’t invest in places they feel are unsafe. To keep our existing companies in Springfield, to attract new businesses, and encourage start-ups, we need to take care of crime, first of all.

Second, we need an economic development team of people who know the city and its needs, know how to make a solid pitch to attract new companies, and know how to work to keep the businesses and jobs we already have.

And there’s something else we can do: Foster Springfield’s entrepreneurial spirit. In the “City of Firsts,” people invented the first gas-powered automobile, the first gas-powered motorcycle, and the game of basketball. In a down economy, sometimes the best job is the one you make for yourself. The Williams administration will do everything it can to help businesses grow here, move here, and thrive and prosper here. That way, we’ll have good jobs here.

Bud Williams on Safety

Bud Williams on Trust

Transparency: Believe What You See

Transparency is a fundamental part of good government. If people know what’s going on, they’re more like to get involved, and an informed citizenry is key to a robust democracy.As mayor, my goal is to have an open administration that is accessible to the people and works with the City Council as a team, all working together for a better Springfield.

Trust and The Trash Fee

Trust, respect and integrity are paramount to Bud L. Williams. A man's word is his bond. Bud believes that Mayor Domenic J. Sarno broke the community's trust when he rescinded on his promise to remove the trash fee. Sarno heavily campaigned against the trash fee as a first time mayoral candidate with many pundits saying it was that stance that resulted in his win over an incumbent mayor."He made a campaign promise when he got into office and he abandoned that," Bud says. "He made a false promise to the residents of Springfield."Now, Mayor Sarno is delaying the mailing of the trash fee bills until after the election, Bud said."The citizens of Springfield will not be fooled again," Bud said. "Making a campaign promise and not following through is bad enough. Hiding the matter by delaying the issuance of the bills is deceitful and disrespectful to our citizens."The issue isn't so much based on the fee itself, but on the factor that citizens were misled by Domenic Sarno who pledged to eliminate the fee in his attempt to win the mayoral race, Bud said."City Hall needs a major dose of transparency. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me," Bud said, referring to a popular saying.In addition, a policy imposed under Sarno's administration calls for the removal of trash barrels at homes when fees are not paid. As a result, illegal dumping has increased around the city.Bud, along with Councilor James Ferrera III, has sponsored a resolution that calls for the suspension of the city's policy to seize trash barrels from residents and instead use other options to collect fees; options like a payment plan for people who can demonstrate a financial hardship or for seniors or placing a lien on a property where the fee goes unpaid.Bud believes the current trash fee policy must be changed to protect the public health of Springfield citizens. And citizens should be able to trust the mayor is a man of his word.

Moratorium On Low-Income Housing

City Councilor and Mayoral candidate Bud L. Williams has called for a Moratorium on Low Income Housing Initiatives in Springfield.In making his call for a moratorium, Councilor Williams stated “it is clear that Springfield has done its fair share of low income housing in western Massachusetts. It is now time for an inventory of low income housing units to be conducted in the city; and a judgment made as to how many more, if any, should be approved with use of city financial resources. Councilor Williams went on to say “it is also time for a summit meeting of all western Massachusetts communities to develop a strategy on how best to proceed” and “so every community meets its responsibilities under the law.”Councilor Williams went on to say “all across America, housing experts, including HUD have rejected the policy of warehousing people in high density developments. Longhill Gardens is a prime example of a past project that should have been demolished and turned into open space or single family units.”Williams noted, “even with the proposed density reduction for the Longhill Gardens project, it is still far too dense for the neighborhood. Creating open space makes more sense which will assist in the revitalization of the Forest park neighborhood.”