City Councilor Jesse Lederman Announces Candidacy for Re-Election

At-Large Springfield City Councilor Jesse Lederman announced his candidacy for re-election to a third term this week with the release of a campaign announcement video.

The video – titled Delivering Results & Building for The Future - can be viewed via YouTube here, and via Facebook here.

“It remains the honor of my life to serve the people of Springfield on the City Council,” said Councilor Lederman, “I didn’t come from a big political family or a family with a lot of money, it is with the support of voters across this city we have been able to deliver real results for Springfield. I am humbly asking for the support of the voters once again to continue building upon that track record of delivering results in a third term.”

Councilor Lederman says his immediate priority remains the municipal response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As Chairman of the City Council’s COVID-19 Response Committee, Councilor Lederman has been strongly advocating for Springfield to receive its fair share of resources to combat the virus and plan for an equitable recovery. He was at the forefront of the fight for the state to prioritize vaccines to the City of Springfield.

“Serving during the COVID-19 Pandemic has meant fighting for transparency, equity, and resources to keep our community safe and healthy. From Virtual Town Hall Meetings, to assisting residents one-on-one with accessing unemployment and housing resources, it has been my honor to work directly with so many constituents during this unprecedented time,” said Councilor Lederman.

Beyond pandemic response, Councilor Lederman also points to his legislative accomplishments over two terms. This includes the passage of regulations Councilor Lederman sponsored to govern online short-term rentals like AirBNBs, ensuring that such commercial efforts don’t overtake residential neighborhoods or deplete housing stock, as well as the establishment of the Impacted Neighborhood Stabilization Fund, which directs a third of all revenues from legalized cannabis to benefit neighborhoods directly.

“Working together with neighborhood residents and organizations to address quality of life issues is one of my favorite parts of the job, and we’ve shown how we can use the legislative process to put long-term protections and benefits in place for neighborhoods,” said Councilor Lederman.

Lederman says other accomplishments include the establishment of the online snow map to allow residents to track the status of plowing during snow storms, working to ensure the new Eversource Gas Utility continues important gas-leak repair work, and working together with City Councilors in surrounding communities to oppose the imposition of internet data caps.

“I will continue to hold public utilities, municipal departments, and internet service providers accountable to the tax-payers,” said Councilor Lederman.

Councilor Lederman also serves as Chairman of the City Council Committees on Health and Human Services and Sustainability and Environment. He points to the recent revocation of state and local permits, and removal of state financial incentives, for a long proposed biomass waste incinerator in Springfield following efforts he spearheaded on the City Council along with residents and federal officials.

“For too long Springfield has been subject to disproportionate levels of pollution – we are fighting to send a clear message that the days of polluters being rubber stamped in Springfield are over,” said Councilor Lederman “The work is paying off. Springfield is no longer ranked as the Asthma Capital of the United States, and our Climate Action and Resiliency Plan is putting us on a path to further reduce pollution and save tax-payer dollars.”

Councilor Lederman says he will continue supporting reforms to increase transparency, accountability, and effectiveness in public safety and policing. He points to his involvement in efforts to seek state and national accreditation for departmental policies, securing funds for the Hub & COR program to partner the Police Department with community and human service organizations, and his long-time support of a Civilian Police Commission.

“The important work of reform cannot take place behind closed doors. We must work collaboratively and transparently to build trust between the community and the police, and ensure the safety for all our neighbors,” said Councilor Lederman.

Councilor Lederman will also be focusing on continued efforts to increase Internet access and affordability for Springfield residents and businesses, and is currently working with the administration to study the potential implementation of a municipal fiber internet option.

“The internet has become an essential utility for families and businesses, and people are tired of being nickel and dimed when it comes to internet access,” said Councilor Lederman, “The time is now to make sure that Springfield is not left behind as new technology becomes available,”

Other legislation Councilor Lederman was involved in introducing and passing includes the recent Wage Theft Ordinance ensuring municipal contractors are not engaged in wage theft of employees and barring contractors convicted of wage theft from municipal contracts, as well as legislation tying tax incentives to local hiring requirements to benefit local workers.

City Councilor Jesse Lederman was born and raised in Springfield in the McKnight Neighborhood. He is a graduate of the Springfield Renaissance School, and went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Mr. Lederman is employed by the University of Massachusetts, Amherst as an advisor and recruiter, where he works with non-traditional adult students looking to complete their college education at the UMass Center in Downtown Springfield. He is married to Emila (Ponikiewski) Lederman. The two met while they were students at UMass Amherst, where Emila earned her Bachelor's Degree in Economics. After restoring their first historic home in the city's Forest Park Neighborhood, the two purchased a home in the McKnight Neighborhood just a few streets from where Jesse grew up, where they live with their Basset Hound, Theodore.

Jesse also serves as the Chairman of the Springfield Democratic City Committee, as a member of the Democratic State Committee, a member of the Board of Directors of the Springfield Preservation Trust, and on the Leadership Board of Reading Success by 4th Grade, Springfield's early literacy initiative.

He is a member of the Honorary Deputy Sheriffs Association of Hampden County. Jesse formerly served on the Board of Directors of the McKnight Neighborhood Council, the Springfield Armory Alliance, and the Governing Board of the Springfield Renaissance School.

Voters can stay up to date on Councilor Lederman’s work or contact Councilor Lederman by visiting www.JesseForSpringfield.com or following him on Facebook at www.facebook.com/JLLederman .