Alex Jarrett for Ward 5 City Councilor

I'm running because I care deeply about Northampton's future. My key issues are affordability, climate change, walkable mixed-use development, safe and sustainable transportation, inclusion and social justice.

As city councilor, I will bring leadership that is responsive, energetic, and prioritizes listening and collaboration.


About Alex Issues Join me Donate


"Over the last 20 years of living in the community with Alex, he has volunteered technical expertise and offered the benefit of his experience to a variety of projects. I have found him to be thoughtful and helpful whenever I’ve reached out to him. I look forward to the ways we will work together ... (see more)"

Diana Riddle
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About Alex

I've lived in Northampton for 21 years, and have lived almost 14 years in Ward 5 near Florence center on the rail trail. I'm co-founder and a current worker-owner with the Pedal People Cooperative. This has given me a wheels and feet on the ground view of Northampton, and extensive experience in facilitating groups and finding consensus, all while running a small business committed to the environment and workers' rights.

I currently serve on the Northampton Housing Partnership, a city board that works for affordable housing. I was a founding team member of Valley Time Trade, served on the board of the Valley Alliance of Worker Cooperatives, and am a volunteer for the Pioneer Valley Worker's Center.

I love creating projects large and small that bridge technology and connection. Check out the Northampton Snow Squad, the Degree Confluence Project, and my personal blog, Sharett.

I have a lifetime commitment as an "adopted uncle" to a family here in Florence. I am also engaged to be married in June and am excited to have two stepchildren soon!

Issues

What issues do you care about? I want to hear from you!

Affordable housing

Housing is a human right. We need to make Northampton more affordable by increasing the housing stock, lobbying for the ability to change our property tax structure and encouraging or requiring affordable units in new developments.

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Development & zoning

I believe in encouraging denser development in downtown and village areas, and reducing it at the outskirts of the city, to save the city money, create a more walkable environment and to reduce carbon emissions.

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Climate change

We're facing unprecedented change over the next fifty years and we need to take radical and immediate steps to minimize and mitigate the worst of those effects. As a city, we need to commit to a transition to 100% clean energy. It's great that we've committed to being carbon neutral by 2050. How can we achieve that even sooner?

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Transportation

Whatever way we choose to travel, I want that way to be safe and efficient. For most of the past 70 years, transportation policy has focused on getting cars as quickly as possible to their destination, which has impacted development policy and quality of life in all other areas.

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Wealth inequality & classism

Wealth inequality is a worldwide problem. It's also a local one. In Northampton, it is especially apparent in housing and wages. Two families that work equally hard can have vastly different earnings.

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Social justice

Everyone should have the right to be safe and accepted. I will work to end discrimination and inequality in our city.

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Schools

I believe in strong local public schools. We must get adequate state funding to pay fair salaries and provide the needed additional positions and resources.

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Business

I support strong local businesses and workers' rights. I believe these two go together. Workers who are respected will be dedicated to the success of their workplace.

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Inclusion

I want to make sure that all voices are heard in city government. People who show up at city meetings, write or speak with their representatives tend to be disproportionately white, middle class and able-bodied. I will listen to these voices, and I will also do an assessment of who is not in the room, and come up with strategies to make sure everyone is heard.

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Sharing

The resources we have as a community are astounding. I feel very lucky to live here and am grateful every day for the people, the roads and paths, the trees and fields, the animals, the air and the water, and the buildings that are available to me. This sense of gratitude makes me want to give and share.

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Contact Alex

I'd love to hear from you!

(413) 320-4700 (call or text)
alex@alexjarrett.com
(soon)