Dear Friends and Constituents of Ward 7 and the City of Springfield,
In this chaotic time, just as we were starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel with the Coronavirus, with everyone's emotions and feelings being worn down, it is difficult to take in all that is going on in the world, and even more difficult to ignore. Please read on for reopening updates, and what you can do to help in the remembrance of George Floyd.
All the Best,
City Councilor Tim Allen
Vigils and Remembrances
On Monday June 1st, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, joined by Fire Commissioner BJ Calvi and City Solicitor Ed Pikula, observed the 9th anniversary of the June 1, 2011 tornado with a moment of silence and reflection on the front steps of City Hall as the bell in the Old First Church tolled at 4:38 p.m., the time the tornado touched down in Springfield.
On Tuesday June 2nd, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Police Commissioner Cheryl Clapprood joined together with religious and faith leaders for a prayer vigil of hope and healing on the City Hall steps in response to the tragic death of George Floyd, and peaceful movements calling for justic and reform.
Last week total Coronavirus deaths in the United States crossed the 100,000 mark. We're all taking time in our own way to grieve this loss.
COVID-19 Reopening Plan
Springfield, MA COVID-19 Data through June 1st
I would like to reiterate my gratitude to everyone for following the rules, being responsible with social distancing, and wearing masks. As you can see on the chart on the left, our numbers are going down. However, we still need to be cautious and responsible about social distancing, otherwise we could be right back to where we were before with a lot of new cases.
The City of Springfield is currently inPhase I of the Commonwealth's reopening plan. This graphic is from the City of Springfield'swebsite. City Hall and all municipal buildings reopened to the public on May 27th. No walk-in traffic is allowed, services are by appointment only.Phase II starts on
Phase II begins June 8thand includes the reopening of retail, restaurants, lodging, salons, and other personal services, with some restrictions in place to ensure safety for everyone.
To see the full four-phase approach to thereopening plan for the Commonwealth of Massachusettsgo here https://bit.ly/3eNepdP.
In Memory of George Floyd - What You Can Do
There have been peaceful demonstrations in Springfield. Mayor Sarno's letter to the editor came out over the weekend. I have selected and paraphrased a section to share with all of you:
Other cities in America are faced with violent protest. We here in Springfield did not experience these events...I must commend our Springfield Police Department and just as importantly, the protest groups who got their message through in an orderly and peaceful fashion.
Where You Can Donate In Memory of George Floyd
You can donate directly to the Official George Floyd Memorial Fundon GoFundMe that George Floyd's brother set up. In addition, the GoFundMe page includes an address where anyone can send sympathy notes or contributions.
Utilize Healing Thoughts and Words
I prepared a statement for the Moment of Silence at the Springfield City Council meeting on June 1, 2020.
To all – I have been greatly affected by the video of the death of George Floyd while in police custody. It got me thinking about the brutal and senseless lack of humanity of that act, and also some of the recent and continuing problems we are dealing with in our city and in our country. It is a challenging time. The Covid-19 pandemic has caused over 100,000 deaths and had a huge impact on many of our citizens, families, healthcare workers, citizens and the country itself. In addition, nine years ago today, the tornado hit our city. It was a devastating event for many in our city. To read the full statement please visit my blog https://bit.ly/371npcG.
A Meditative Poem In honor of George Floyd
The Awareness Field
by Chandresh Bhardwaj
Awareness field is a space beyond the dark and light
where known meets the unknown
where anger meets the compassion
where suppression finds liberation
where love becomes a pilgrimage within.
Let’s cultivate an awareness field
where we don’t wait for heroes and healers to save us.
Let’s cultivate an awareness field
where the compassion travels beyond the limitation of our mind.
Let’s cultivate an awareness field
where we channel the power of our privilege
and serve the humanity for an equal and just society.
Let’s cultivate an awareness field
where buddha and martin luther king sing their melody through us.
Let’s cultivate an awareness field
where you let the warrior and the lover in you be in harmony with each other.
Let’s cultivate an awareness field
where you transcend from the battlefield to blooming field.
Thank you for reading this newsletter. It's a challenging time for our city and our country. Stay safe and well. If you need anything, please don't hesitate to reach out to me at electtimallen@gmail.com or 413-427-4650.
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