[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"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","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_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,"_75":74},"mediaId",6253556,"mediaKeyId","3180333-14339924edd881449f8f6e033cb39b60","parentId",3180333,"title","Hundreds of residents urge Northampton to ban weapons manufacturing, end tax breaks for L3Harris","audioSeconds",5502,"startMs",830000,"endMs",6332000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3180333-14339924edd881449f8f6e033cb39b60&start=830&end=6332","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3180333-14339924edd881449f8f6e033cb39b60/thumbnail_830000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6253556/Massachusetts/Hundreds-of-residents-urge-Northampton-to-ban-weapons-manufacturing-end-tax-breaks-for-L3Harris","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253556-af312719f9f153aa3fbf1d8ce37fee5b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771115919&Signature=bEHTtPe9B9Qvk13165oDpGro9cmD4a-QBVyMNEC-lUZPcJJS6A7mxdbr0dKh2IA3l7hLC9XVvt32YAe8To0BnL37sWQEmNRl0DuM5OUZYc6yvmKAHAxWuzButNT3VTi~tlJxrKY3siNZBd8GuT4W97i22RyV9wJrRHWzwFJ7zTyRw~ygA33ot-dKrXFDn8OxXWf-VAhQyOKECevgNwmnb2rV~kS5xbcxW9JML9wCL3ft1HdUql4TMpW~DY6BZJ~MFb98XvxFF2fcHYMsuS3hGNnxSQLKJdLVHlxthn28HanG88KQNHyhyuK-xTs~iMW5mgb7~XilAQBTW4M6pULG~g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Northampton City, MA","date","2025-05-02T13:52:05Z","article","Dozens of residents at the Northampton City Council meeting on May 1 urged the city to end tax breaks for L3Harris and to adopt a local ordinance banning weapons manufacturing.

Organizers and dozens of speakers, several of them wearing signs and arriving by a march earlier in the evening, pressed councilors to act. “Organizers and local and statewide sponsors of today’s event at L3 Harris call on the city of Northampton to cease providing tax breaks to this billion dollar weapons manufacturer. They demand a weapons ban, and they demand a swift transition to ethical local jobs and industry,” said Jen Scarlett, who identified herself as a Northampton resident and organizer during the meeting.

Speakers framed their appeals as consistent with Northampton’s recent local commitments on peace and environmental policy. Several said L3Harris manufactures parts used in overseas strikes and surveillance technologies used in immigration enforcement. Hannah Bernhard, a local resident, cited the city’s 02/2018 executive ordinance and said continuing tax breaks was “a betrayal of Northampton’s history and its people.” Other speakers, including Beth Rogers and Michael Beatty, linked the company’s products to civilian harm in Gaza and to surveillance tools used by ICE.

The matter drew sustained public attention: speakers ranged from students and teachers to veterans and health-care professionals, and multiple speakers asked the council to consider both financial steps (revoking tax incentives) and a city ordinance banning weapons production.

Councilors did not take a formal vote or adopt an ordinance at the meeting. Councilor Doves, who chairs the Ordinance Review Committee, said public proposals could be referred to that committee for consideration. Councilor Quaverly Rothenberg (Ward 3) told the meeting she has formed a Ward 3 working group to look at L3Harris-related issues and said residents may contact her for involvement.

Speakers and organizers said they will press the council to build a city-level policy that would prohibit weapons manufacturing and to pursue enforcement of the city’s existing declarations. Several called for a community meeting with L3Harris to allow public questioning of the company’s activities; Deborah Yaffe specifically urged the council to hold a community Q&A with the company.

For now, no formal legislative action was taken. Councilors and staff suggested the topic could proceed through the Ordinance Review Committee or via a council referral to draft a specific weapons ban ordinance and return it for public hearings.

Supporters left the meeting urging continued organizing and follow-up with councilors and committee chairs. Councilor Doves told the public the Ordinance Review Committee will accept suggestions and proposals; Councilor Rothenberg offered contact information for the Ward 3 working group.

Background: speakers repeatedly referenced a city-level executive ordinance from 02/2018 and Northampton’s membership in peace-oriented initiatives. Several speakers also cited past council votes and tax breaks that they said benefited L3Harris over many years.

No formal city action on L3Harris or related tax incentives was recorded at the May 1 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Northampton City Council | May 1, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Dozens of residents at the Northampton City Council meeting on May 1 urged the city to end tax breaks for L3Harris and to adopt a local ordinance banning weapons manufacturing.","taxTitle","Northampton City, Hampshire County, Massachusetts","taxId",68541,"location","Massachusetts","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6253547,"Council approves leasing up to $97,176 for additional vehicles; pilot expands EV fleet",297,6574000,6871000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3180333-14339924edd881449f8f6e033cb39b60&start=6574&end=6871","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3180333-14339924edd881449f8f6e033cb39b60/thumbnail_6574000.jpg","/articles/6253547/Massachusetts/Council-approves-leasing-up-to-97176-for-additional-vehicles-pilot-expands-EV-fleet","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253547-879f6d55876d60ee030278fbbc49b091/orig.mp4?Expires=1771115919&Signature=F~3nTi9ceOAs9l0KXFBH8t3twaxV5NqPOmRf9T9-pLxBff5F~vd1yWBJ9Lao-XRuWZMGL-Le5qhyaP-gBgiWQCOeoItzTVY7Bw~9mrmyl0h~9b5WrYwQKpcycSgwqDrMJSBvnZXWhAj0sspzAG-GF6xySvFHcMsTnKN1RniWsRCGXmIms-Okjk86wBytZ6KAa2nsMqCa6OmuBh1tdxjlV7ZDE8goAurN5solQeYBjebELbQb8eIDbJUK~fn9LZXFXeOns76N8wrWybhY6wjSJO3U~ZUUnvcbEYnZcta3eSAjbzjaF-TLSZsx6ySl3PEHPqqBXZkEGg6NHJzIKk8GXQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Northampton City Council unanimously approved on May 1 an order authorizing additional vehicle leases as part of a pilot program, provided the total lease cost over the term does not exceed the originally appropriated amount of $97,176.

Finance Director Melissa Nardi told the council that favorable lease pricing would allow the city to add a fifth electric vehicle to a pilot fleet and trade in a gas vehicle: “we can actually turn in another gas vehicle and get another Leaf vehicle and actually do 5,” she said. Staff said the pilot is intended to expand the city’s electric-vehicle fleet and increase shared use among departments.

Councilor Moulton moved to suspend the rules so the measure could be voted on at the same meeting; the motion was seconded and passed by roll call. Councilor Clemmer moved to approve the order; Councilor Moulton seconded. The measure passed by roll-call vote with all voting councilors recorded as yes.

Council discussion noted the program’s pilot status and intent to share vehicles across departments including health and human services. City staff said the additional leased units would enable an increase in the electric share of the pilot fleet from about 22% to a higher proportion, and that the leasing arrangement is with a fleet manager under a fixed appropriation.

Outcome: Motion to approve leasing as authorized (not to exceed $97,176 over the lease term) passed unanimously. Staff said they will proceed with the additional lease(s) and report back on shared use.

The approval was presented as a low-cost pilot step toward electrifying portions of the municipal fleet and enabling shared departmental access to vehicles.","The Northampton City Council unanimously approved an order to lease additional vehicles within the originally appropriated amount of $97,176, allowing the city to add a fifth leased electric vehicle in a pilot fleet and turn in an older gas vehicle. Councilors said vehicles will be shared across departments.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6253552,"Northampton council rejects measure to let council increase school budget; vote 3–5",224,6806000,7030000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3180333-14339924edd881449f8f6e033cb39b60&start=6806&end=7030","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3180333-14339924edd881449f8f6e033cb39b60/thumbnail_6806000.jpg","/articles/6253552/Massachusetts/Northampton-council-rejects-measure-to-let-council-increase-school-budget-vote-35","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6253552-f0de703e8670344038b4139109e43cf3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771115919&Signature=EocWrmif1XXK2MO7Jt~2iT9nQ9efchKjOXiBJ5ymjLnzRtIpzvlx7Pf3HSqd~q2MZMOpGxFDHmfCP~qSKhvEnDHOAGTsDdzb6xJiPyOaNNW4w8knQTorwA3Yb6FJKapWRMZYOZKpVIiiupUw5DwgPlugfTMIR95EpRiTv8iG5e7WIvMwhp3uWzcsGQjD6CBSmcfrkvRCBjEDe2fs1et5OUit9qq~ZiNWVDCUNZoboDxmD2x~r1FhZYd6kOIeyRvPF905kQIgWT7VfgwBbZpa~XsvephG1H2GvXD6Zqu8Tdw8Q8RvUxiqV2P2l-Qr4o7OlfuIXdWMoAZidibY6yxULg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Northampton City Council declined on May 1 to accept Chapter 3.29 of the Acts of 1987, an order that would have given the council the option to increase a school budget (Northampton Public Schools or Smith Vocational) above the mayor’s submitted figure during the annual budget process.

The council vote to accept the order failed by a roll call tally reported at the meeting (three in favor, five opposed). The order had been presented in second reading after referral to the Finance Committee, which issued a neutral recommendation with Councilor Maiori opposed.

Supporters, including multiple public commenters, urged the council to opt in to gain an extra tool to protect school services after repeated midyear staff reductions. Ace Tayloe, a Ward 3 resident, said the measure was “another tool in the toolkit” and urged council approval. Several parents and teachers urged immediate action to avoid further cuts to classroom supports and interventions.

Opponents and skeptics warned that accepting the measure would force the council to cut other municipal departments or seek overrides within constraints set by Proposition 2 1/2. Mayor Sherra argued the mayor’s office carries statutory responsibility for preparing a balanced municipal budget and that accepting the order could require rapid, late-stage decisions that would reduce services elsewhere. As she summarized the city’s practice, “the mayor has a responsibility to produce the budget in a city form of government.”

Council debate referenced a written, revised legal opinion from the city solicitor (dated April 9) and guidance from the Division of Local Services (DLS). The council president read the solicitor’s corrected opinion aloud at the meeting: the revised opinion states that the city council would not be able to draw on reserves to balance an increased school budget without the mayor’s agreement. City staff and councilors reported that DLS staff said the school committee’s budget recommendation is the figure the school committee votes for and that DLS will give advice only about state law, deferring local charter interpretation to local counsel.

Councilors split along lines of process and practicality. Councilor Moulton said she lacked appetite to attempt last-minute cuts to other departments to cover any increase the council might approve. Councilor Clemmer said the measure would create “an unfair system where only the school department can lobby for more money, and every other department can only lobby to be spared cuts.” Councilor Rothenberg argued the tool would help the council negotiate and apply pressure where the schools are in crisis.

The Finance Director, Melissa Nardi, and other staff noted that the city is operating at its levy limit; any local increase would require either reductions elsewhere in the operating budget or use of reserves with mayoral consent. Nardi also noted the city regularly reviews non-property revenue projections and that those lines are part of the budget picture.

The council did not adopt the order at the meeting. Several councilors and public speakers urged continued advocacy at the state level and greater year-round collaboration between the council, School Committee, and mayor’s office. The mayor and several councilors said the upcoming formal budget hearings (scheduled for May 27 and June 4) will be the next opportunity for public testimony and negotiation.

Authority and legal context: the measure would have accepted Chapter 3.29 of the Acts of 1987; the mayor and staff cited Mass. Gen. Laws c.44 §32 and the Division of Local Services guidance during discussion.

Outcome: Motion to accept Chapter 3.29 failed by roll call; no change to current budget authority was made.","On May 1 the Northampton City Council voted down an order to accept Chapter 3.29 of the Acts of 1987, which would have given the council the option to increase school budgets above the mayor’s proposal. Council debate centered on levy limits, where cuts would come from, and state legal guidance; the motion failed after a roll call vote.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Hundreds of residents urge Northampton to ban weapons manufacturing, end tax breaks for L3Harris

Council approves leasing up to $97,176 for additional vehicles; pilot expands EV fleet

Northampton council rejects measure to let council increase school budget; vote 3–5