PRESS RELEASE FROM WARD 6 CITY COUNCILOR MARIANNE

LaBARGE

In a press release today [April 6],

I, Marianne LaBarge, am announcing my Re-Election as City

Councilor in Ward 6. I have served Ward 6 and in the City of
Northampton since 1996. I will be completing my 7th term this
year. I would be honored to serve my residents and City again.

I have been a Hands-on City Councilor who has worked with many
residents in Ward 6 to reach a solution to their individual and
neighborhood problems.

I feel as a City Councilor it is my Fiscal Responsibility to look at

the Budget carefully. As a City Councilor I have had Ward 6
Budget Briefings with past and present Mayors at Ryan Road
School for all residents of Ward 6.

* Our Budget constraints are my top issue.

* We need to re-evaluate spending priorities.

* We need to look at how to keep our business here in

Northampton, and bring in New Business.
* As an example, we need to look at the Town of Hadley, they
have new businesses coming in, helping them increase the tax
base and lowering each property owner's share of the burden.

* Conservative Taxing and Spending. This has been of great

concerns from many residents who feel that their taxes continue
to go up on their homes due to the Tax Rate that keeps going up.

I have a passion for my City and for City Government. I have

worked hard to listen to the residents with concern and
compassion. Communication is very valuable and residents want
to be heard. I have been a hands-on Councilor and with a very
strong voice, and that voice is strong because it comes with my
residents support. I will continue to be an independent voice for
the residents of Ward 6 and in our City.

Many residents felt due to the lack of communication from the

City that their voices were being left unheard. Best Practices has
opened this communication. As a City Councilor I supported a
resolution promoting Best Practices in Northampton Decision-
Making. This Committee undertook extensive outreach efforts to
gather public input regarding experiences and concerns Citizens
have had interacting with City Government. This has helped
promote Citizen participation in local Government. In order to be
fair, transparent, and impartial, and in order to support the
democratic process in Northampton.

Education is a priority that affects all of us in our City. What is the

future of our schools? A question I have heard recently from
residents is that are cuts being proposed in the city budget that
will cut services for education.

The Busing Issue has been a great concern from many residents
with 2 to 3 or 4 children in a family. They can't afford the Busing
Fee. You now see many children being picked up by car pool or
by walking with neighbors.

I have had many Ward 6 meetings yearly through out my service

as City Councilor in Ward 6. As a City Councilor I have sponsored
many Ordinances and Resolutions that have given residents a
better quality of life. Acquiring the Quarry on Turkey Hill Road for
Conservation Land, so no building would be allowed to change the
character of that rural area, preserving land for open space is also
a priority of mine.

I also was a co-sponsor of an ordinance not allowing nude

entertainment 500 feet from a school, home or church in the City.

I was a sponsor on the Drinking Water Protection Ordinance.

There have been many changes in our ward, more development,

the re-construction of Rt 66. I was a hands-on Councilor through
out the two years to its completion.

The Ward 6 meetings have a lot of value and we all should take
advantage of these meetings to establish positive communication
and interaction with our neighbors, the goal being to provide a
safe, quality environment for our families. On April 14, 2010 I
organized a Ward 6 Community Meeting on “Overview of Fire
Safety”. On December 9, 2010, I organized a Ward 6 Community
Meeting on “Keeping Ward 6 Safe & Our Community”. In
attendance was the Florence Hardware Store, Florence Lock and
Key, and Foster Farrar Co. These were great educational events
with lots of public interaction.

As a City Councilor I have put in place the first Neighborhood

Watch Training, which was scheduled on January 22, 2011. This
training was due to several break-ins that occurred in Ward 6.
Twenty one residents from different streets were trained to be
Certified as Neighborhood Block Captains in Ward 6. The training
was given by the Fire Department, Police Department, Sheriff's
Department, and quest speaker, our new District Attorney David
Sullivan, and new Employee Mary Carey, who does Community
Outreach.

I have also put in place for 3 years now, Help Safe Guard Your
Child, with free child identification kits.

I have sponsored several Ward 6 Get Togethers, Family and

Friends, at the Hickory Dell Farm, where neighbors and families
get together, socialize, meet new neighbors and get reacquainted
with old neighbors. These events also included educational
programs.

I have served on many City Council Committees.

I am proud to serve as a City Councilor in Ward 6 and in our City,
a Community that strives to be tolerate and embraces diversity. I
believe I have an obligation to my residents of Ward 6, and I will
continue to be a persistent, tireless, and effective worker on their
behalf.

Sincerely;

Ward 6 City Councilor

Marianne LaBarge