Debbie Kates: Greenfield needs DeSorgher

Published: 11-02-2023 6:02 PM

Greenfield needs Virginia “Ginny” DeSorgher as our mayor. She has proven leadership skills and will work for all of Greenfield’s citizens, not just her friends and the well-connected.

From her time on the Planning Board our mayor has a proven record of supporting developers at all costs. Under her leadership the Ford/Toyota dealership was allowed to be built with inadequate drainage causing flooding in the houses down the hill.

In order to build dense housing on Phyllis Lane, the developer needed exceptions to the existing bylaws. At a Planning Board meeting, despite abutters’ voiced their concerns, a special permit was railroaded through, turning Phyllis Lane from a country lane into a street of McMansions.

The mayor instituted a Human Rights Commission, then refused to follow their advice. After the police chief was found guilty of violating the civil rights of a Black police officer in a court of law, the commission recommended she fire him. Wedegartner reinstated him after a leave instead, immediately declaring he would be exonerated on appeal, a decision that is a stain on Greenfield.

DeSorgher was able to help reinstate nearly $1.2 million to the school budget from discretionary funds after the mayor cut $1.5 million from the proposed school budget.

And while the mayor has gotten the endorsement from officials in Boston, she has not gotten the endorsement of any union representing the working people of Greenfield, not the nurses union, not the teachers union, not the commercial workers union. They all support Ginny.

Greenfield needs a mayor who will listen to and respect the people she serves.

Debbie Kates

Greenfield