springfield mayoral candidate sal circosta statement on wmass alcohol center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:August 5, 2015Statement from Mayoral Candidate Sal Circosta on the Sherifs Alcohol Center ein! forcef"lly mo#ed to the $orth End:A few weeks have gone by since Sherif Ashe presented his plans for a new Alcohol Treatent !enter to be built in the "orth #nd neighborhood in Spring$eld%As a ayoral candidate & was asked for y position by nuerous people%&t seeed to e that the intelligent thing to do would be to take a step back and look at it ob'ectively%(eadership is not aking a decision in haste%(eadership is about listening to all sides and e)aining the truth%There is no doubt that the Sherif*s progra is e)cellent%+any people have cited inforation that clearly shows the brilliance and efectiveness of the progra%,or that, & say we are lucky to have such a great progra in our !ounty%-ut does that ean the process is .awless/"o%0ere are a few facts to consider11% Sherif Ashe approached the "orth #nd residents to hear their concerns and be a good neighbor%!oncerns are things we should listen to prior to aking a $nal decision%The Sherif approached the people of the "orth #nd neighborhood with ore forceful tongue than open ears%2% The "orth #nd neighborhood has done ore than its fair share in hosting andbeing good neighbors to a variety of clinics, progras, and facilities%(et*s not forget, the general "orth #nd area hosts the 2oen*s 3ail, an abortion clinic, and a ethadone clinic%"ow, we are placing a 'ail for those with alcohol and drug addictions/4% The property will not be owned by the !oonwealth of +assachusetts%&nstead, a private copany will construct and lease the property to our state%All this at 51 illion per year for a ten6year lease%This is siply a waste of ta) dollars%&f the facility will cost 510 illion to build, why wouldn*t we own the building, rather than pay a private entity the sae aount of oney without owning it/7% The +ayor says there*s nothing he can do about it%8eally/The +ayor is the!hief #)ecutive of the city%The people elected hi to lead%All the ayor has to do is call the 9overnor and infor hi that the city does not want to host the 'ail%:ur 9overnor will listen to the +ayor%5% The +ayor represents the people, not the Sherif%#veryone knows the Sherif is a powerful and in.uential politician%0owever, it is sad that the ayor rather brown nose the Sherif, than $ght for the people who elected hi%;% The Sherif is not seeking reelection%0ow about we wait for the newly elected Sherif to assess the situation/ 22#ail1 salforspring$eld?gail%cohttp1@@www%sal7spring$eld%coAAA