Rebecca Lisi Submits Nomination Papers for Open At-Large Seat

from The Sun; August 31, 2007:

HOLYOKE- Rebecca Lisi of 25 Reservation Rd. submitted her nomination papers for At-Large City Councilor to the City Clerk with over 300 signatures from residents throughout the city- only 50 are required. Lisi is running an aggressive door-to-door campaign and started by talking with neighbors in several wards.

“Holyoke is changing and so is the way its residents interact with the city. It is important for a politician to listen to peoples’ experiences and bring those voices to the table, in order to get an accurate understanding of how we can work to enhance the quality of life here”.

Bill and Sandra Rigali of 42 Knollwood Cir. agree, “Going door-to-door demonstrates Rebecca’s willingness to meet people face-to-face and get their input about how to improve our wonderful city”.

Lisi is very familiar with door-to-door organizing. She directed Clean Water Action’s Canvass Operation for nearly 4 years, helping to mobilize constituents for clean air, clean water, and public health legislation. Rebecca also has experience coordinating grassroots election campaigns, including several aspects of Deval Patrick’s gubernatorial race in Western Massachusetts.

A strong proponent of Smart Growth, Rebecca Lisi will focus her campaign on downtown re-vitalization as a way to make Holyoke attractive to residents and investors alike. Smart Growth encourages mixed-use development in the city’s urban core to protect historic resources, preserve green spaces, and promote cultural diversity. These principles can increase job and business opportunities by attracting private sector investments to areas near clusters of housing, workforce, and transportation options.

Lisi remarks, “Holyoke has so many young people in the city who are yearning to live the American Dream. With increased job opportunities and affordable housing, young people will re-invest in the city, become productive tax paying citizens, increase the city’s ability to generate revenue, and support a community invested in success”.

Rebecca Lisi announces candidacy for At-Large City Council seat

from The Sun, April 6, 2007:

HOLYOKE- Rebecca Lisi of 25 Reservation Rd. took out papers this week to run for an At-Large City Council seat. Lisi, who has lived in Holyoke since 2004, ran for Ward 7 City Council in 2005 and lost only marginally to Councilor Jay O’Neill. “When campaigning for the Ward 7 seat, many Holyoke citizens told me that the issues I want to take on are more appropriate for an At-Large Councilor. I am running with that momentum this year,” said Lisi.

Lisi will again focus on revitalizing the downtown as part of her campaign platform. She believes that Smart Growth strategies can help improve the quality of life throughout Holyoke by establishing clear and predictable avenues for economic development. Smart Growth concentrates urban redevelopment to compact areas downtown, where the infrastructure already exists, preserving our natural environment, and utilizing our community diversity.

Lisi works as a political organizer for Clean Water Action. She helps develop grassroots campaigns to protect public health and the environment. This past year she successfully led the organization’s endorsement efforts for Deval Patrick’s campaign for Governor. For her own 2005 campaign and also for Patrick’s, she knocked on many doors in the city and will continue to do so for this At-Large campaign. Lisi said, “Canvassing is really important to any political campaign. It’s where I get to listen and engage with the real issues and concerns of the people who live here”.

Rebecca Lisi is also very involved in many community organizations in Holyoke. She teaches yoga classes at the Holyoke YMCA. Lisi has volunteered with the Holyoke Youth Task Force since 2005 and recently took the position of Chair to the newly formed Advocacy Committee. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Nueva Esperanza.

Lisi said, “Holyoke is a special place and I’ve met so many people working hard to overcome the challenges we have to deal with here. I’d like to be in a position where I can support these efforts and help make the city safer and more vibrant”.