SPRINGFIELD — As Jesse Lederman leaves the Springfield City Council, he reflected with Reminder Publishing on his time as president and his various accomplishments within the role.

Lederman will be leaving the council after deciding not to run for reelection and instead run for mayor. However, Lederman was defeated during the preliminary election in September.

Lederman, who has been on the council since 2017, became president in May 2022 and was reelected to the position in January.

“I think I served as president during a really interesting time,” Lederman said. “Certainly, the transition as the pandemic morphed into a different phase allowed us to return to the City Council Chambers.”

Lederman coordinated that return which included implementing a remote participation policy along with technology upgrades in the chamber.

“I really used that as an opportunity to try to put in place some factors that would allow for broader public participation in the future, even outside of the pandemic,” he explained.

Through those efforts, the subcommittee room was also equipped with new technology to allow for the public to participate virtually in any subcommittee meeting. This resulted in all the subcommittee meetings being recorded and posted for public viewing.

Lederman was able to increase the level of opportunity that existed, both for public engagement and for the public to know what was being done in those subcommittee meetings, even if they could not be there in person.

Lederman said some of that extended to the City Council Chamber as well, as the technology upgrades made it easier for people to engage and sign up to speak out before the City Council online, whereas before they had to call the office to sign up. In the long term, Lederman said he thinks these aspects will make the City Council more connected to the residents of Springfield.

“The council is as strong as its coalitions and relationships, so I really viewed my role as president in terms of my responsibilities — not just to the people of Springfield but also to my colleagues on the body — as really being there to support their efforts and making sure the operations of the council ran smoothly,” Lederman said.

He noted that he always made it clear to all his colleagues that even if they disagreed on a policy, he wanted there to be space for them to be able to do what they were elected to do, which was advocate for what they thought was right.

“I think I was effective at doing that,” Lederman said.

During his time as president, there were several policy debates and regardless of the outcome, there was always a platform for people to advocate, he added.

Lederman shared several legislative accomplishments that he was “really proud of” including halting the biomass waste incinerator proposed for East Springfield. He was able to see the “final blow” to this long-term campaign of his — and others — on his way out when the Land Court on Dec. 1 sided with the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals, which declared the building permit for the facility had expired.

Lederman also helped pass the Housing Trust Fund. As it continues forward, he said it will be a “really important piece” to solving the housing crisis in Springfield.

Another accomplishment is the Community Choice Energy Aggregation. Like the Housing Trust Fund, Lederman said hopefully — if the city continues forward with it now that they got it authorized under his presidency — it will stabilize energy rates and address some of the energy costs residents are experiencing.

Other pieces Lederman worked on include engaging the public more through working groups such as the Working Group on Civic Engagement and the recommendations they were able to implement at their merging, among others.

A longterm goal of Lederman’s that was accomplished was appointing the Board of Police Commissioners.

He reiterated that he is proud of those aspects and thinks they show a continuity throughout his years in service in terms of what he focused on.

Regarding the state of the council and the city as Lederman leaves his position, he said, “I think we’re in a unique time for the city of Springfield and I think there’s an opportunity for really incredible growth to occur in the next several years if folks come together and really channel some of that opportunity.”

He went on to say that Springfield residents — short and long term — have made it clear that they want to see more investments into the neighborhoods, increases in neighborhood quality of life, increases in the efforts to attract industry and create jobs.

Lederman shared that his message to newly elected and elected officials that are continuing in local government is to be proactive, not shy away from the big issues faced in the city and think big.
Since joining the City Council in 2017, he said, “I always looked at how can we be the best Springfield possible and how can we excel in ways that when you look across the country, other communities might be doing it in an innovative way. We shouldn’t limit ourselves and we should really be prepared to take on some of those big projects.”

Regarding what is next for Lederman, he said he is hopeful to make an announcement on that soon.

“I’ve dedicated my entire life to public service and certainly intend to continue being involved in our community and look forward to continuing to work with people in whatever comes next,” he shared.