The Democratic presidential primary in Massachusetts on Super Tuesday produced one of several victories for former Vice President Joe Biden, and helped spell the end for Senator Elizabeth Warren's presidential hopes.
Biden took Massachusetts by about 10 percentage points over Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders. Warren finished third. Warren later in the week dropped out of the race. She did win Northampton. That city's mayor, David Narkewicz, said her departure was a sad thing.
"It's sad on many levels for me. One, because I feel like she was one of most qualified people running for president," Narkewicz said. "Sad for my daughters and many other women that I know that feel that it's well overdue that we have a woman leading our country."
Biden did well in Hampden and Berkshire counties, while Sanders was strong in Hampshire and Franklin counties.
Panelist Matt Szafranski said the Massachusetts results tracked broadly with results those across the country.
"I think a lot of Democratic primary voters are simply done with this primary. They're ready to move on to November and take on Donald Trump," Szafranski said. "And what they had left in front of them, as far as canddates were concerned, they just fell on Joe Biden. I think if things that been a little bit different for Elizabeth Warren earlier on, maybe she might have caught that wind."
Meanwhile, a recent report from American Public Media's America Amplified project shows West Springfield ranked fourth in the country for per-capita refugee resettlements over a four-year period. Springfield checked in at 66th.
West Springfield's mayor, Will Reichelt, said it's good to be at the top of the list, and that his town's population otherwise would have dipped.
Panelist Elizabeth Román called Reichelt's approach "really refreshing."
"He's got this really positive look of how — not only is it a boom for their economy, but also if you look at the Census numbers, they are boosting those numbers for them. So all of West Springfield will benefit from that. It's not just the refugees that are coming in, but you can apply for more federal grants and funding."
Reichelt's message is far different than that of Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno has said he won't grant permission for further placements. An executive order from the Trump Administration gives states and cities the ability to block resettlements, although that's being challenged in court.
Finally this week, some residents in Berkshire County say they should be able to vote on a deal with General Electric to clean up the Housatonic River. The select boards of several communities along the river agreed to a plan with GE and federal environmental officials. The plan includes the disposal of some low-level toxic waste in the area. GE polluted the river with PCBs decades ago when it ran a factory in Pittsfield.
Guests:
- Elizabeth Román, reporter/editor, Springfield Republican and El Pueblo Latino
- Mass Szafranski, editor, Western Mass Politics & Insight
