February 2026

Hi!

Though I’m timing these newsletters for the end of the month, I would like to wish everyone a reflective Black History Month, one of pride and hope in spite of some of the most horrific times in the living memory of our world.

Times are horrific indeed. Following disastrous elections in Costa Rica, Japan and Thailand, installing conservative and reactionary majorities in all three countries, a comrade aptly remarked on a global “purging of democratic forces” in view of escalating imperialist violence. As Cuba suffers under the most brutal period of blockade in its history — already a crime against humanity, near-universally condemned by the United Nations for decades before this moment — and American bombs fall today upon Iranian children, we are called to action like never before. The unilateral right to execute heads of state is now precedent in MAGA’s international order, while our Governor capitulates instantly.

We cannot discuss the state of our world without reckoning with our own complicity here in Northampton. The L3Harris factory in Village Hill is directly responsible for producing equipment used by ICE and in the bombings of Iran, Palestine and elsewhere. Our city cannot stand for peace while harboring agents of genocide, using profits of labor here in Northampton to bankroll the MAGA movement as it destroys our public services. Our city cannot stand for education while our government and its allies bomb children in schools. Organizing is well underway for a weapons ban ordinance, to prevent any new weapons contractors from entering Northampton and stop any future expansion of L3Harris, as a first step in removing this fascist menace from our city for good. Please reach out to me if you are interested in getting involved.

Meanwhile, our city’s response to ICE, modestly updated at the start of this month, remains woefully inadequate. I am particularly attentive to claims about the “lawful authority” of federal law enforcement in a statement released as a response to multiple summary executions by ICE. Local coalitions defending immigrant rights have advocated for over a year for simple policy changes (for instance, ending “routine” traffic stops) to reduce the potential for ICE to obtain the personal information of undocumented people in our community. You can contact the Mayor’s office to urge a stronger response at mayor@northamptonma.gov.

As a momentary reprieve, it was an honor to present a portrait of Frederick Douglass to the city council for the walls of council chambers. This portrait, a gift from the Western Massachusetts CPUSA, comes from the Center for Marxist Education in Cambridge, where he stood for several decades. It is rumored that he will replace Woodrow Wilson. We hope that Douglass will stand as a testament of unwavering determination in the face of reaction, and as a reminder of our tremendous, enduring obligations in pursuit of multiracial democracy.

Recent and upcoming council affairs

Though the council was originally set to meet only once in February (on the 5th), a special meeting was called for February 26th.

• Mayor Sciarra brought forward a limited order for $290,317 as a mid-year appropriation for the Northampton Public Schools, and the council approved it 8-1 (councilor Stratton opposed). During public comment, I voiced concern at the utter disregard for the decision of the school committee. This extends beyond not only the sheer dollar amount of the request, but into the actual logic of stripping out line items: while the removal of capital projects is fair game, over $200,000 remains unaccounted for in the Mayor’s written rationale.
  • Mayor Sciarra’s response, suggesting that this request “came from the schools”, is patently dishonest. Our schools are not a monolith, and efforts to conflate the interests of workers with those of management are among the oldest tricks in the boss’s book. No input for this amended appropriation was publicly sought from the school committee, NASE, SEPAC, the NHS student union or any other representative organization. Superintendent Bonner does not speak for our district.
  • I am glad to see some immediate relief for our schools — depending on the hiring process, this may mean sufficient staffing to keep bathrooms open in the high school — but reiterate that this is the second year in a row with an emergency mid-year appropriation for our district, as our city takes on substantial recurring expenses for short- and medium-term bonding on the NHS geothermal project.
• Solicitor Seewald was renewed as city solicitor by unanimous vote. As I mentioned in last month’s newsletter, I oppose his return to the role and anticipate further roadblocks to transparency, access to information and progressive legislation as a result.
• The council explored the question of retaining its own legal counsel, and unanimously postponed the proposal following discussion. This was put forward in the February 5th meeting as “new business”, which prevented deliberation during that meeting, as well as broader sponsorship of the measure (technically an amendment to the council’s rules) prior to discussion.
  • Independent legal advice for the city council is a step toward a clear separation of powers. While I would like to see coalitions and consensus built around legislation before it is brought forward, I am supportive of measures that empower the council as an independent democratic body. This is especially salient given the conservative influence of our current solicitor.
  • Councilors associated with Mayor Sciarra raised questions about the funding and political content of the proposal. These claims are both frivolous given that the council already pays for legal counsel on an hourly basis, and hypocritical given the spending priorities discussed above.
    • Echoing their rhetoric during the 2025 campaign, several councilors suggested that the council was not an independent legislative body at all, but rather akin to a city department.
• A public hearing for the FY27-FY31 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) will take place during the March 19th meeting of the city council. The CIP itself will be available for public viewing at the Forbes Library starting next week, or via the city’s website.

Recent labor news

The struggle continues here in Ward 5 for TransHealth workers (UAW 2322), who are still seeking their first contract. In addition to hosting TransHealth itself, our ward is home to many queer and transgender people who have been internally displaced by far-right state governments. It is the responsibility of TransHealth to bargain in good faith with the workers who provide essential healthcare in our city, especially for those who have come here for that very reason. You can contact TransHealth workers and keep up with their organizing via their Instagram — keep an eye out for upcoming events and new ways to support them!

Congratulations to Stop & Shop workers (UFCW) on ratifying a new contract! Negotiations involving all five UFCW locals representing stores across New England — including Local 1459, here in the River Valley — concluded earlier this month, with wage increases and protection of healthcare benefits.

After nearly two years without a contract, the Professional Staff Union at UMass (MTA) has secured a tentative agreement with the university! Negotiations took more than 50(!!!) bargaining sessions and spanned a majority of the contract’s prospective term. The administration’s longstanding refusal to bargain in good faith is abhorrent, and underscores its abject illegitimacy following no-confidence votes from several unions and nearly every representative body of students and workers on campus.

As always, please feel free to reach me via email or at (413) 404-0405 with any thoughts or questions. More than ever — stay strong, stay healthy and stay in the struggle!

-Luke