[{"_1":2,"_96":-5,"_97":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_25":26},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_27":28,"_29":30},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[31,75,86],{"_32":33,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":39,"_40":41,"_42":43,"_44":45,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6268053,"mediaKeyId","3059875-712fd776558ec53ecc303e18f5f07e49","parentId",3059875,"title","Northampton council endorses ‘make polluters pay’ climate super‑fund resolution","audioSeconds",4649,"startMs",1967000,"endMs",6616000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3059875-712fd776558ec53ecc303e18f5f07e49&start=1967&end=6616","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3059875-712fd776558ec53ecc303e18f5f07e49/thumbnail_1967000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6268053/Massachusetts/Northampton-council-endorses-make-polluters-pay-climate-superfund-resolution","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268053-4ddcf081f8ca590a6502bc793d7a205b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770008654&Signature=kdO~Nemh6HmuUnUKNbi9auIlPszW8iV2HnRdhdAOcCPpHTUqrQtEMlSP~jAXx3KedsTfjWD-IoTk9oWKuc4zhN8crZSvexYhhEyRnbmYCxTZRNDwIAWLKI2EKquTO76uisKSq9gU2gocSFu8Uf4-ZegyBkKxAy4u5wmzaAiJDCJ3GUmO0z1EcJScJyu7HL22UrbId1ibeXk2ZOLERO0WyEPQb66PDDRKIL-LqAhcV1VhMwQ4PzKwk8lUzGdgfU9xyryfOrFBfPBKc8K5mLtjG5S-lhUsjBz4iGsk9HFWQhAXs1MvQWtFxPwcnjzbpO3scLITYGOVIj~HiYi-5GBlwg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Northampton City, MA","date","2025-04-19T08:38:59.627Z","article","The Northampton City Council unanimously approved a resolution supporting state legislation that would establish a climate‑change “super fund” funded by major oil and gas companies.

Sponsors asked the council to suspend its usual rules so the vote could occur that night; the suspension motion passed and the council then approved the resolution backing H1014/S588, an act that — as described in the resolution text read into the record — would require the largest fossil‑fuel producers to pay a fund totaling about $75 billion over 25 years, with a statutory preference that 40% of funds benefit environmental‑justice communities.

Smith College students and local climate organizers urged the council to act. Emma Cooper Smith, a Smith College student, told the council, “At a time when climate action is blocked at the federal level, city and state climate action is more important and urgent than ever.” Multiple student speakers and representatives of Climate Action Now Western Massachusetts described the resolution as part of a broader campaign to push state lawmakers to hold major polluters financially accountable for climate damages and to fund adaptation and resilience work.

Council sponsors said the proposed fund would give municipalities an additional resource for climate adaptation and resilience projects that local budgets cannot cover. Councilors noted the resolution is a statement of support: it asks state lawmakers to pass the bills H1014 and S588; it does not itself create state law. Mayor Sherra and several councilors thanked the student organizers and local advocacy groups for their efforts.

Votes at a glance
• Motion to suspend rules to allow a same‑night vote — mover: Councilor Perry; outcome: approved unanimously.
• Resolution in support of H1014/S588 (climate change super fund) — mover: Councilor Elkins; second: Councilor Perry — outcome: approved unanimously.

Next steps: The approved resolution will be forwarded to state officials and the city’s legislative delegation as a municipal endorsement of the bills cited in the resolution.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Northampton City Council | April 17, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Council unanimously approved a resolution supporting state legislation (H1014/S588) to establish a climate change super fund financed by major fossil‑fuel companies; student activists and local groups urged passage and council suspended its rules to vote the same night.","taxTitle","Northampton City, Hampshire County, Massachusetts","taxId",68541,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_32":76,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":77,"_40":78,"_42":79,"_44":45,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6268057,"Northampton approves home‑rule petition to bar mandatory broker fees for renters",5874,742000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3059875-712fd776558ec53ecc303e18f5f07e49&start=742&end=6616","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3059875-712fd776558ec53ecc303e18f5f07e49/thumbnail_742000.jpg","/articles/6268057/Massachusetts/Northampton-approves-homerule-petition-to-bar-mandatory-broker-fees-for-renters","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268057-beec83e4aced50aaa50a594b3a46ab24/orig.mp4?Expires=1770008654&Signature=Fu8qwMkNIcoqPIIFrM80sBFRTfq2JwUemszWaQspIe6fDIGYWHdt6W2-lnxGBbDw0~Z29Qdj6rv2rLwsHkDD-BQSBNdLHswsBbdo09CnnL9pyYD8KDKB8vwNq8pOOcBC2EuStWeKbv3eRa9qMQRrWCwMvb3sg0OF3Av5~9sA4i2fFrdZObzupORS0cwDQ-4~ofx~hk7I3xdkOkPH0vAxLwLNhVGu~r8Ns6D8Pz1EmqMFrq3YV5BBucNYJba3Ndt6kOw3xweihfQptjBCd4wYSxdu9CMqeFVypzrMXHUOscHycmjuLlW3Z3cq~2xE-1BH~uUMbwIpWsj-omU9qHzyvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Northampton City Council unanimously approved an order to pursue special legislation to prevent tenants from being required to pay broker fees for residential rentals.

The item, listed as an order for special legislation (home‑rule petition) addressing broker fees, was in second reading and received a letter of support from the Northampton Housing Partnership. Public commenters who rent in Northampton described broker fees as a barrier to housing: Hannah Schafer, who has rented in Northampton for 15 years, told the council the local market is “monopolized by companies that require these fees” and said, “Adding a broker fee of 50 to 60% of 1 month's rent can push move‑in costs for a one‑bedroom in NoHo to over $5,000.”

Councilor Perry moved to approve the order and Councilor LaBarge seconded; a roll‑call vote recorded unanimous approval. The council recorded appreciation for the Housing Partnership and for local and state legislators who have engaged on the issue.

The order asks the city to seek state action through the home‑rule process to change the statutory framework that allows tenants to be charged broker fees; the council and speakers described the measure as a tenant‑protection step intended to make rental move‑in costs more manageable.

Votes at a glance
• Order for special legislation relative to broker fees (25.235) — mover: Councilor Perry; second: Councilor LaBarge — outcome: approved unanimously.

What was not decided: The council’s action approves the city’s request for special legislation; whether a statewide law will be enacted is subject to the state legislative process and was not decided by the council.","City Council approved an order to pursue special legislation (home‑rule petition) preventing landlords from requiring tenants to pay broker fees for residential rentals; the vote was unanimous. The Housing Partnership and tenant speakers urged passage.",{"_32":87,"_34":35,"_36":37,"_38":88,"_40":89,"_42":79,"_44":90,"_46":91,"_48":81,"_50":92,"_52":93,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":94,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":95,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":71,"_72":73,"_74":73},6268062,"Northampton council declines to refer rezoning of Phillips Place parcels after residents oppose 54‑unit proposal",5803,6545000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3059875-712fd776558ec53ecc303e18f5f07e49&start=742&end=6545","/articles/6268062/Massachusetts/Northampton-council-declines-to-refer-rezoning-of-Phillips-Place-parcels-after-residents-oppose-54unit-proposal","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6268062-830fb1ab4be2578d5273d02e3145f2d5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770008654&Signature=kMDk2RoxSGrRlm~zViE9O~-JgcHTkNtUg9CoOSOKFFAH6R6vL5xz7zLso-ep3qlXYHbPeWWMnEx7494vU-7939~hCVxaR3dVRbr2s9ZnHPoCkYiVHpHfgpDBiPlF~q5PV51m5SeAjjgOBAxjHC2twTD9Z-7WNtmRSsDyxLEoTiPZEwP6Qzd~WPXkyGBfFFeg5gRtKv4hxi8XKb7k~GvGDV-q5LUswEk-I5dPKLhj3gPi25MSE8T2nGQQ2K~3IDJdRWOKT0L8IeAUmlTr8R6qnrZFOCvd1hkkwf39v28J9FVHLYIX6ynZUmTnIMxovDsyHOHrZz1JWN-g6vHtu~tjag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Northampton City Council voted not to refer a zoning ordinance affecting two parcels abutting Phillips Place after residents and several councilors said the rezoning would permit a five‑story, 54‑unit apartment building that would alter the historic neighborhood.

Councilor Quaverly Rothenberg introduced the ordinance to amend the zoning map (map IDs listed at the hearing) to change the parcels from Central Business Side Street (CB Side) to Urban Residential C (URC). The council considered a motion to refer the ordinance to the Planning Board and the Committee on Legislative Matters; after debate the motion failed on a roll call, with eight councilors voting no and one councilor — Rothenberg — voting yes.

The matter drew dozens of public comments and extended council debate. Residents who live on Phillips Place and adjacent streets told the council the proposed building would overwhelm narrow streets, reduce light and privacy for adjacent homes, and worsen already limited on‑street parking. Dan Brindell, a Phillips Place resident, said, “My home is boxed in on three sides by this central business expansion,” and urged the council to restore residential protections for the block. Multiple speakers described the block as one of Northampton’s oldest residential areas and noted recent archival and preservation work on the former Saint John Cantius Church across the street.

Sarah Stein, president of O'Connell Development Group, which owns the parking lot at the corner of Holly Street and Phillips Place and submitted the site plan to the Planning Board, described the developer’s application. “Our firm submitted a site plan application for a 54‑unit multifamily apartment building on this location,” Stein said, and told the council the proposed units would range from studios to two‑bedrooms and were intended as “middle market rental housing.” Stein told the council the planning board public hearing on the project is scheduled for April 24.

Council debate focused on two related questions: whether the city council should initiate a narrowly targeted map change that critics called spot zoning, and whether the Planning Board’s pending review of the specific site plan and a special permit is the appropriate forum to test design and mitigation measures. Councilor Elkins — a former Planning Board member who opposed the referral — argued the Planning Board’s special‑permit process gives residents and the board more practical discretion to require changes to a development’s layout, scale, parking and landscaping than a single parcel rezoning would. Councilor Rothenberg responded that “the zoning is what allows for the buildings to be 65 to 70 feet tall. The zoning is the problem for the residents,” and that the council should register its view by referring the ordinance.

The motion to refer was made by Councilor Rothenberg and seconded on the floor; the final roll call recorded eight councilors voting no and one yes, and the motion failed. Council President Alex Jarrett confirmed the Planning Board hearing will proceed next week; councilors and residents were urged to attend that meeting to comment on the special permit and site plan.

The ordinance text and neighborhood materials shown during the meeting were added to the meeting record for public access.

Votes at a glance
• Motion to refer ordinance (rezoning parcels abutting Phillips Place from CB Side to URC) to Legislative Matters and the Planning Board — mover: Councilor Quaverly Rothenberg; second: not specified on the floor — outcome: failed (8 no, 1 yes).","Council defeats motion to refer an ordinance that would rezone two parcels abutting Phillips Place; residents and councilors debated historic character, parking and whether the planning board or council should address the proposal. Planning board hearing on the development is scheduled for April 24.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Northampton council endorses ‘make polluters pay’ climate super‑fund resolution

Northampton approves home‑rule petition to bar mandatory broker fees for renters

Northampton council declines to refer rezoning of Phillips Place parcels after residents oppose 54‑unit proposal