Oliveira, Levin-Epstein define positions in debate for senate seat

Aug. 16, 2022 | G. Michael Dobbs
news@thereminder.com

SPRINGFIELD – The two Democrats vying for a spot on the November ballot for the Hampden, Hampshire and Worcester District state Senate seat discussed issues in a debate broadcast over Focus Springfield on Aug. 9.

State Rep. Jacob Oliveira and Sydney Levin-Epstein answered questions supplied by the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, CISA and the Springfield Food Policy Council, the sponsors of the debate, as well as questions from a media panel.

The winner of the primary race in September will face Granby businessman William Johnson, a Republican, in the November election.

The district has been redefined and now includes South Hadley, Palmer and Warren. It also includes Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Hampden, Wilbraham, Granby, Belchertown, Ludlow and parts of Chicopee and Springfield.

Levin-Epstein has worked with the current state senator for the district, Eric Lesser, who is now running for lieutenant governor, along with Congressman Richard Neal and U.S. Sen. Edward Markey.
Oliveira is in his first term as a member of the House.

Answering a question about the health disparities in Hampden County affecting people of color, Levin-Epstein used school meals for all as an example of a vital program for the BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) communities. However, she did not think it goes far enough and called for the program to be codified into law, preventing a recurring discussion about it as part of the state budget.

“There’s two fundamental components of food policy,” she said, “the farmer side and the consumer side; increasing access to resources [for farmers] enhance their abilities to reach communities of need.”

By making the school lunch program a law, it prevents an annual lobbying effort by food security advocates, she noted. It would also assist farmers to determine the budgets needed to produce food items.

Oliveira said the subject of food insecurity is “imperative,” as one in five Massachusetts households are food insecure and “it is far worse for our BIPOC community.” He noted that he was a co-sponsor of a bill that made universal free school lunches for the budget year of 2023.

He called for the expansion of free meals and for the expansion to be permanent.

The candidates were asked about the housing crisis in Western Massachusetts as a recent report indicated the region is 17,000 units short of what it should be.

Oliveira noted the housing problem is not just about the number of available units, but the cost of housing. He said that Springfield, for instance, is one of the more affordable communities to rent or own, however if a family is earning the median income, renting a home requires that family to actually have an income 130 percent above the median. He noted his support for legislation that allocated $2 million has helped create additional housing at the Ludlow Mills complex. He called on a more comprehensive approach that would address housing needs in suburban communities as well as cities.

Levin-Epstein said the housing crisis must be handled with “utmost urgency.” She would support additional subsidies for senior housing and mixed income housing. If elected she would work for the creation of housing in existing mill buildings in the district and suggested the Eastfield Mall property in Springfield be used for housing.

The issue of land use and the conversion of agricultural property to non-agricultural uses was also posed to the two candidates. Levin-Epstein said the next generation of farmers are being “forced out and priced out” in maintaining their property. She has been in discussion with farmers in Ludlow, for example, to identify the root causes of the issue and noted the costs of something as essential as hay have doubled to $15 a bale.

She said the increase is not just due to inflation but to climate change as well.

Oliveira explained he had recently met with area farmers at Cold Spring Orchard, owned by the University of Massachusetts, to develop strategies to help farmers to increase fruit yields. He also mentioned his involvement in urban farms such as Wellspring Harvest in the Indian Orchard section of Springfield.

To watch the full hour-long debate, go to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGTWMLXU7-g.

For more information on Levin-Epstein go to https://www.votesydney.com. Oliveira’s campaign website is https://www.jakeoliveira.org.

Share this: