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If you live in Western Mass, you’ve seen the large grey planes in the sky – or if you haven’t seen them you certainly have heard them. Westover Air Force base in Chicopee and the C-5 plane that calls the base home are intrical parts to the U.S. military’s operations – but the base and the thousands of reservists that come to it every month are also major economic drivers for the Western Mass economy. In honor of Veteran’s Day I sat down with Colonel Joseph D. Janik, Commander of the 439th Airlift Wing, and Chief Master Sergeant (CMSgt) Rosaline R. Ratliff, Command Chief at Westover to discuss how important Westover is to our region. This is that conversation.  

If you follow this podcast, you know that the constant theme is the inequality between Western Mass and Eastern Mass -- and now a new report from Massachusetts Auditor Suzanne Bump shows in dollars and cents how Western Mass continues to get left behind, especially when it comes to infrastructure spending. Eric spoke with Auditor Bump about the report and the changes we need to make to state law to ensure that all regions of our Commonwealth can grow together. This is that conversation.

If you are listening to this podcast, you’ve probably heard Eric talk once or twice -- or a million times about the need for East-West rail connecting Boston to Springfield. When Eric first ran for office many called this idea impossible, but we’ve come a long way since then. Last week he spoke with Kimberly Robinson of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission & Lyle Wray from the Capitol Region Council of Governments in Connecticut the new East-West Rail Ridership Forecast and what it means for the project going forward. This is that conversation

The Spirit of Springfield is an organization build around bringing people together in the spirit of community celebration, but like everything else that had to do with the convening of people, COVID-19 put the organizations very existence at risk. Eric spoke with Spirit of Springfield President Judy Matt about how the organization survived the worst of the pandemic and how Bright Nights and the many other events they put on made a roaring comeback, with just a few precautions in place. This is that conversation.

The COVID-19 pandemic has upended everything we thought we knew about education. From quickly being thrust into remote learning in March of last year, to a return to the classroom in a new normal this fall, it’s been a challenge for students, teachers, and parents alike. Now imagine you’re in charge of figuring all of this out for one of the largest school districts in Western, Mass. Oh – and you’re a new Superintendent whose only been on the job a month. That’s what happened to Chicopee Superintendent Lyn Clark. We talked about that and what the road looks like ahead in a very different world than when she started in February of 2020. This is that conversation.

For the longest time, student loans and services perplexed borrowers with terms that constantly changed and practices designed to put borrowers at a disadvantage. That’s why I’m 2017 I authored the Student Loan Bill of Rights, and after years of trying to pass it, this spring, Massachusetts was finally able to make the Student Loan Bill of Rights law. It regulates borrowing services and establishes a position designed to help students now and in the future. I spoke with Attorney General Maura Healey, whose office is hosting the position, about It and what we can expect of the bill of rights going forward and how borrowers can get help -- this is that conversation.

Juneteenth marks the day enslaved people in Texas learned of their emancipation, the last occurrence in the United States to mark the end of slavery within the country. As a holiday, it is a remembrance of historical inequalities and should officially acknowledge the continuing commitment being made towards achieving true equality. Eric spoke this week with Janine Fondon, chair of undergrad communications and President/CEO of unityfirst.com about her push to make Juneteenth an official state holiday -- this is that conversation.

In recent years, we’ve seen an alarming rise in hate crimes affecting people across all communities and regions. In Western Mass, there have been three separate large-scale attacks alone in the last year. Through their programs, advocacy, and community relations, organizations such as the Anti-Defamation League work to make sure no member of any community has to fear for their lives now or in the future. Eric spoke with Robert Trestan, Regional Director of the Anti-Defamation League of New England, about continuing to ensure the safety of our communities through initiatives and increased funding – this is that conversation.

In June 2015, America rejoiced as the Supreme Court ruled in favor of legalizing same-sex marriage across the nation. But such a history came with the knowledge of battles long fought and many lost without the opportunity to see such a victory. In reality, the issue of same-sex marriage has been debated for over 25 years, a cyclical argument of the legitimacy of its legalization. Eric spoke with political reporter and author Sasha Issenberg about the history he chronicles in his latest book The Engagement: America’s Quarter-Century Struggle Over Same-Sex Marriage and the role Massachusetts played in being the first state to legalize same-sex marriage – this is that conversation.

For so many other countries, rail travel is mainstream – you can get inexpensive train tickets in the blink of an eye, get to your destination at practically any time of day, and in some places, just going to the station itself is an experience. We’ve long talked about the benefits of East-West rail, but an equally important relationship for Western Mass is the Connecticut Valley. The Hartford line on CT rail has been a big success and if we do it infrastructure improvements right, we can build on its success and seize the economic opportunity improved rail service across New England could bring. This week, I sat down with my friend and Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin to talk about what all that could mean for our region – this is that conversation.

In the past year, anti-Asian rhetoric and hate has skyrocketed in the wake of the pandemic. Declines in patronage for Asian American businesses and attacks such as the March shootings in Georgia are two examples of the devastating effect that’s been the scapegoating of Asian Americans for the pandemic. They, like others, demonstrate the need for urgent policy and efforts to address the rhetoric being against a brilliant, diverse part of our community. During AAPI Heritage Month, it is critical – this month and now more than ever – that we acknowledge the importance of AAPI stories and identities. Eric spoke with Rep. Maria Duaime Robinson this week about the importance of AAPI stories and what’s being done to support AAPI communities and address anti-Asian rhetoric – this is that conversation

In Massachusetts, tourism is the state’s third biggest industry. Behind all of the attractions and historical sights, there are people who support the tourists. The hotel workers, the restaurant staff, the attraction workers themselves – so many positions that took a hit at the onset of the pandemic. Now that we’re moving in the direction of a post-pandemic recovery, we have to think about the best ways to get tourism and those jobs back. And it’s going to be a statewide effort: this week, Eric spoke with Mary Kay Wydra and Martha Sheridan, Presidents of the Springfield and Greater Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau, about what summer tourism and continued growth will look like – this is that conversation.

Even as we go into a third semester of higher education during a pandemic, plans to reopen and operate are shifting constantly. How do you balance public health with the best student life has to offer? What about international students? Programs of study? There’s no denying the pandemic’s affected all of that, and different institutions have adapted in their own ways. This week, I spoke with Dr. Mary-Beth Cooper, President of Springfield College, one of the many fine institutions I’m proud to have part of my district. We talked about what fall semester might look like and what Springfield College has changed throughout the pandemic – this is that conversation.

The Boys and Girls Club Family Center in the Mason Square and Bay Street neighborhoods of Springfield have long been a hive of activity. After school programs, sports teams, weekend trips, pre-school and teen events, you name it. But when COVID-19 hit, like so many other community centers, they had to shut their doors. Keshawn Dodds soon reemerged as a key resource for parents and families as the pandemic wore on. Now they’re looking forward to summer camps and resuming normal operations. Eric spoke with Keshawn about the Boys and Girls Clubs, COVID-19, and how he’s talking with young people about the Derek Chauvin trial and the fights for social justice and civil rights. We also caught up about his best-selling book series for young adults. This is that conversation.

As we continue to tackle the civic issues of today, it’s important that they be done well and in a way that’s socially responsible. What does that mean, you might ask? It can mean any number of things – if there’s job growth, it needs to be done diversely, or that every option is considered when sourcing solutions to bettering transportation. But sometimes, keeping track of every meeting or development is tough for one person, and something like a pandemic can change civic priorities in the blink of an eye. Eric spoke with Jennifer Benson, the President of Alliance of Business Leaders, about what that means for them and how that’s changed with the pandemic – this is that conversation.  

To become vaccinated in Mass is no small feat – there’s lines to stand in, tricky rules to navigate, and a maze of websites that sometimes result in many people being unable to get the vaccination slots they deserve. But it shouldn’t be as hard as it is – countries like Israel have vaccinated most of their population. What are they doing, and what can we take from them to do better as a state? Eric spoke with Israeli Consul General for New England Meron Reuben about how Massachusetts has been outpaced and what it can do to catch up – this is that conversation.  

Senator Eric P. Lesser was joined by a panel of guests for a Lunchtime Livestream on arts and Massachusetts cultural economy. The panel featured Michael Bobbitt, Executive Director of the Mass Cultural Council (MCC), Eileen McCaffery, Executive Director at the Community Music School of Springfield & Chair of the Springfield Cultural Council, Andrew Cade, Vice Chair of the Springfield Cultural Council, and Rosemary Tracy Woods, Owner of Art of the Soul Gallery & At-Large Member of the Springfield Cultural Council. This is that conversation. 

In the Spring of 2020, massive construction projects shuttered to halt the spread of Coronavirus. Many of their job sites quickly adapted to keep workers safe. But even as COVID-19 wanes, our Commonwealth's construction workforce faces another spreading menace; wage theft, tax fraud, and unfair labor practices by shadowy labor brokers that often prey on an immigrant work force without the resources to fight back. Eric spoke with Noel Xavier, representative and organizer of the North Atlantic State's Regional Council of Carpenters to learn more. This is that conversation.

An urgent topic that we’ve discussed on previous podcasts, is COVID-19’s disproportionate impact on women, especially women of color. Sectors like education, health services, childcare, and hospitality have been some of the most disrupted and as a result more than 2 million women nationwide have left the labor force entirely since the start of the pandemic. In honor of Women’s History Month and International Women’s Day, Eric spoke with Gabrielle Jackson, who chairs the Hampden County Commission on the Status of Women and Girls. Along with Pattie Hallberg, the vice-chair, and Lizzy Ortiz, a member of the commission. We talked about policies to support women and girls through the pandemic and beyond. This is that conversation.

As limited in-person classes began in February, a spike in COVID cases forced UMASS Amherst into lockdown. Since then, cases have come under control, but, the campus is still operating at a fraction of its normal capacity. Eric spoke with Dr. Kumble Subbaswamy, the Chancellor of UMASS Amherst and one of the most respected leaders in public higher ed about the impact COVID-19 has had on our public universities and the future of higher education more broadly once COVID passes. This is that conversation.