Candidates for mayor of Greenfield, Massachusetts, disagree over the best use of money for youth activities. This comes as Franklin County looks for solutions to a heroin crisis.
In a 26-minute WWLP debate taped Monday, opioids were mentioned just once. Challenger Patty Morey Walker called for the reopening of Greenfield’s youth center and skate park.
“I think with the current heroin problem that we have, and all of the other temptations that children have and youth have in our community, that we need more places for our youth instead of less,” she said.
But Mayor William Martin defended his decision to close the youth center five years ago, saying state budget cuts forced the town to use the building for offices. And he said the school district offers activities for kids.
“My emphasis has been on classrooms, not skate parks,” he said. “My focus has been on family recreation, team sports and education.”
Martin said Greenfield has invested heavily in playgrounds and ball parks during his six years in office.
Meanwhile, the candidates differed on whether the town should market itself to potential businesses. Morey Walker said Greenfield’s downtown has wonderful shops and restaurants, but too many empty storefronts.
“I would like to do direct marketing to businesses that would specifically address certain demographics in our community,” she said, referring to young people.
But Martin took issue with Morey Walker’s plan.
“It’s not the position of government to work in such a way as [to] solicit businesses but to provide an environment where businesses can do their business in town,” he said, such as infrastructure and tax incentives.
The candidates face each other on Greenfield’s November 3rd ballot.