PITTSFIELD, Mass. — City Council veteran Anthony Maffuccio is running for re-election to represent Ward 7 as an independent voice that is dedicated to the needs of constituents.

 

His priorities include supporting the ward with needed infrastructure improvements, reducing gun violence and crime in the West Side, and ensuring efficiency in the city's finances.

 

Maffuccio — who is an unchallenged incumbent — will be serving his fifth non-consecutive term in Ward 7. He first became involved in local politics at the start of the millennium out of displeasure with the way that the council was being run and returned after a hiatus for the same reason.

 

The councilor was re-elected to office in 2019 after taking about a decade off.

 

"When I first got into politics, back in the early 2000s, I didn't like the way things were being run," he said. "Things just did not look like they were going in the right direction and I jumped in the ring to make a run at the council to try to make a difference and change and bring a better quality of life for the residents of Pittsfield."

 

Throughout his time in office, Maffuccio said there have been many changes made to the ward and he is going to continue to advocate for the areas of concern that have not been addressed yet.

 

In the last month, the long-anticipated Westside Riverway Park was unveiled on Dewey Avenue and a culvert renovation was finished on Churchill Street.

 

"There's been a lot of cleanup work going on, lawns, vacant lots, etc., are being mowed and maintained now throughout the summer," he added. "There's just so many aspects that we are dealing with."

 

In the future, Maffuccio's goals include securing new paving for the streets in Ward 7, returning Pontoosuc Lake to its former glory with more docks and marinas, and aiding the cleanup of the West Side physically with city services and crime-wise with increased police presence.

 

He supports increased funding for Mayor Linda Tyer's At Home in Pittsfield Program, an exterior renovation loan program that enables eligible homeowners to renovate the outside of their homes through a combination of funding from local lenders and the city of Pittsfield.

 

In November 2020, the City Council approved a $500,000 price tag for the loan program and it began taking applications earlier this year.

 

The West Side contains many homes that are in disrepair and Maffuccio has previously stated that At Home in Pittsfield will improve some low-quality housing in certain areas of the city, stimulating the construction industry, and improve individuals' homes to make the neighborhood more favorable.

 

"I do believe that funds to be increased," he said. "This allows people to do the repairs that need to be done to their homes to improve our housing stock and the appearance of West Side."

 

City-wise, he would like a full organizational audit of the city's finances to ensure that taxpayers' money is being spent efficiently.

 

"I still feel very strongly about having an organizational audit of the School Department to see where the waste is and if the city really has enough children to fill all of our schools, especially the elementary schools, and the administration being so top heavy," Maffuccio said.

 

"I think that there are too many people in administration in the School Department, and on the city side, I want to see the same organizational audit done to see where each department we have too much help or not enough help. It's time for an organizational audit."

 

Maffuccio also backs the city's proposal for a $55 million new Police Department headquarters, claiming that the current facility cannot support the needs of the force.

 

In relation to the uptick in gun violence that occurred early this summer, he believes that the ward needs the help of the police now more than ever.

 

"We have one of the finest Police Departments, I'm a strong supporter in the Police Department," he added.

 

"I've always advocated for proper funding for the police station, I disagree with any cuts, I don't believe in defunding the police station, I believe in funding the police station to its full capacity, because that's what people want, especially in Ward 7, they want services and have a safe community that we can all live and work in and not have to worry about all the chaos that is happening."

 

When it comes to "trash talk," Maffuccio is against the proposed "Pay As You Throw" trash system that the council tabled in a Committee of the Whole meeting earlier this year. With this system, residents would be provided with 104 15-gallon bags free each year at cost and any additional bags would be purchased for $1.50 per 30-gallon bag and $0.80 per 15-gallon bag.

 

He believes that residents should not be charged for services they are already taxed for.

 

When asked how he feels about having new colleagues in four of the seven wards, he expressed a wish for all councilors to respect one another and work as a cohesive team for the good of the city.

 

"I work for the people always have worked for the people, especially the people who put me in office," Maffuccio said.

 

"I'm dedicated to the people and their voice, they deserve the best voice and avocation that's possible, I am an independent voice for my people, I am straightforward, I'm very compassionate and as you can see, my personality is a lot different than everybody else on the council, I'm unique in my own way."