Mindful of the Berkshires
GOVERNOR MAURA HEALEY MAKES A BIG DEAL ABOUT THE STATE’S WESTERNMOST REGION
By Anastasia Stanmeyer
From the pages of our May/June 2023 Issue.
JOSHUA QUALLS/GOVERNOR’S PRESS OFFICE
On a Saturday morning at Lenox Town Hall, state and municipal leaders from across Massachusetts gathered for “Beacon Hill in the Berkshire Hills.” The workshop, hosted by Sen. Paul Mark (D–Becket), featured State Auditor Diana DiZoglio and chairs of Senate committees, in dialogue with municipal leaders. Topics ranged from public transportation to education, funding for road improvements to housing, rural governance to land preservation. If anything was emphasized during the talk, it was that the Berkshires is an important region in many ways: in its natural environment with pristine forests and working farms; in its innovative businesses and tourism industry; in its cultural venues and rich, diverse history. The meeting was held on the heels of Governor Maura Healey’s proposed budget that addresses many of those points—and in the run up to the House and Senate each delivering their proposed budget, with a finalized FY 2024 budget to be ratified in July.
On a picture-perfect spring afternoon earlier that week, this writer traveled from the Berkshire Hills to Beacon Hill to meet with Healey, who was keen to share her admiration and love for the Berkshires, as well as to soak up as much information as she could. From the very start of the conversation in her office at the State House, Healey made it known that she was a huge fan of the region. (As she flipped through the pages of the latest Berkshire Magazine before starting the interview, she was quick to call out familiar places like The Red Lion Inn, Williams College Museum of Art, Wahconah Park, Chocolate Springs, and Tourists.) She also was raised in a rural environment and was familiar with its dynamics. Let’s see what she has to say:
Healey: My family is from Massachusetts, the North Shore by Newburyport. But I grew up just over the border in New Hampshire, on a farm with 40 acres and a town that had, at the time, 1,200 to 1,500 people. We had two apple orchards in our town. We had a dairy farm in our town. I’ve seen over the years some of that go and turn into subdivisions, but it’s still a rural place. That’s the reason why I’m always drawn to places like the Berkshires. I love the woods. I love space. I love the outdoors. As somebody who grew up looking at a lot of ocean, I find that when you go to the Berkshires, you have a similar feel, where you get to gaze out at the hills or the mountains or the sky. It’s not an area that I knew as a child; we pretty much stayed around Hampton Beach and Essex County. In recent years, I have spent a lot more time in the Berkshires. It’s such an incredible place with an incredible history.
Stanmeyer: So you have visited the Berkshires a number of times?
Healey: I do like to spend time in the Berk- shires when I go away overnight or for a few days. I remember being in Great Barrington and spending the day there; it was after my election but during my transition. I don’t think anybody realized or was paying attention that I was there, but I worked in the Great Barrington public library. I was struck by the volumes of history; there was so much on Du Bois. In that moment, I was reminded again of the richness in the history of the Berkshires. I also love going up north. I was at FreshGrass in September. Tanya Tucker was playing; it was a great lineup. I went to dinner at Greylock Works because I wanted to check out the restaurant. Years ago as attorney general, we did the Brownfields Covenant on that property. I was actually walking around on the top of the roof, just when it was just a vision of something that could be. So it was super cool to go back and see all that’s happened there in the space and an incredible collection of craftspeople, the restaurants and the other entrepreneurs who are working out of there. I stayed at Tourists, which I love.
Stanmeyer: Do you have plans to return to the Berkshires soon?
Healey: It won’t be long. One of my favorite drives in the state is the Mohawk Trail and the Hairpin Turn. I love stopping at The Wigwam, and I like the woman who’s running that now. She has little concerts, and the stuff in there is really cool. This past summer, I was at the Brandi Carlisle show at Tanglewood. I love getting out, whether it is the Clark or MASS MoCA or the Norman Rockwell Museum, The Mount, Chesterwood, Naumkeag, or Jacob’s Pillow. Even the Berkshire Museum. And there is Arrowhead. When you speak about Herman Melville sitting atop Mount Greylock, it’s amazing. I was in New Bedford the other day doing an event on climate, talking about our move to renewables and our support for the offshore wind industry; how I want to create a climate corridor that stretches all the way from the Berkshires down to Barnstable. I was thinking about Moby Dick because I was there, in New Bedford.
Stanmeyer: When you said that you grew up on along the shore and how the Berkshires has that feeling, I also thought about Melville and Moby Dick, because when he looked out his window, he saw Mount Greylock, and to him, it resembled a white whale surfacing.
Healey: I don’t pretend to be Herman Melville, but I did make that connection. That’s why, in our budget, we have proposed such a significant investment in tourism, in arts and culture, because these things are so important to the fabric of our communities, to the fabric of this state. We know, particularly after Covid, how important arts and culture as well as recreation spaces are to our mental health and well-being. Also, they’re a huge economic driver. I’d love to see as a state do a much better job of supporting arts, culture, and tourism. Berkshire County is a place that is naturally home to that, and where there’s an even greater potential.
Stanmeyer: What part of your proposed budget would you say is critical for the Berkshires?
Healey: We know that there’s a housing crisis around the state. In Berkshire County, homes have become more and more expensive, rents more and more expensive. We need to urgently address this. Part of what we’ve proposed is historic levels of funding for housing and for housing development. Housing development may include funds to support the rehabilitation and preservation of housing and also the conversion of properties into housing. We have mills and other buildings that can be converted into housing, just like they can be converted into retail and commercial use. We have older housing stock in the Berkshires, so it’s not just a matter of we’re going to go build new housing. When it comes to certain regions of the state—and the Berkshires are a good example—making sure there’s funding for preservation and rehabilitation of existing housing is really important.
Stanmeyer: What else are you paying attention to in the Berkshires?
Healey: We recently proposed significant investments in our food security infrastructure program, because we know that there are many people in Berkshire County who are food insecure, just like they’re housing insecure. It’s also a growth opportunity, because we’ve got significant funding to support our local farms, which are so critical to addressing issues of food insecurity. They’re also economic engines of our rural economy. A week or two ago, we were in Greenfield and Deerfield, announcing a first-time-ever Director of Rural Affairs, so that we can have an intentional effort around supporting our 181 rural communities around the state. I’m really excited about this position and this office. It will be there to support our rural communities, working directly with them on identifying grant opportunities, on providing technical assistance, because some of these communities just don’t have the bandwidth to not only apply for grants, but also to navigate through some of the state and federal programs that are out there.
Stanmeyer: I have been talking to Senator Paul Mark on this topic. He lives in rural Hancock with 296 households and represents 57 cities, towns, and communities. How have you come to understand these rural communities, and how do your policies fit for these smaller communities?
Healey: These communities are not unlike the community I grew up in: 1,200 residents, three-person select board, a volunteer fire department, one-and-a-half police officers, not full time. These communities just don’t have the infrastructure because of their size. They struggle with their tax base. Part of it has to come through increased funding for local aid for our rural communities, which is something we’ve proposed. It also has to come from having greater open doors to state assistance—technical assistance—in helping these communities fulfill some of the functions that larger communities have on their team, on their payroll.
Stanmeyer: How can the state be a better partner?
Healey: One area is transportation. In addition to increased funding for rural aid, we also want increased funding for rural school districts, because rural school districts are uniquely situated. You’ve got greater distances to pick up students and to make sure they’re able to get to school. It’s very different from an urban footprint when it comes to transportation needs. That’s why we specifically proposed what we did when it came to rural education and rural transportation. And support for regional transit authorities. In our smaller communities and regions throughout the Berkshires, you can think about piloting innovative programs where maybe it’s the bus, maybe it’s something else because our rural regions are unique. You have to recognize the differences and then put resources where they need to go. Key to that is housing, transportation, and basic administration of government in these communities. I’ll add, too, that it’s really important that we find ways to drive economic growth opportunities. I understand that there’s a huge potential to grow the tourism economy. I also understand and firmly believe that that alone is not enough. We need to create throughout the Berkshires opportunities for employment. Some of that may be remote in today’s economy, with a lot of people able to work from home, which also gets to the housing point. We want people to be able to do that, but they’re only going to be able to do that if they can afford to live in certain places. We must pay attention to opportunities for advanced manufacturing, for light manufacturing, for research, for innovation. Look at what’s happening in Pittsfield, at Berkshire Innovation Center. On the Housatonic, on former GE grounds, is this really cool incubator of innovation and ideas and things that can get you from lab to fab. We’ve got to push on opportunities in Berkshire County like that.
Stanmeyer: How are you able to keep your finger on the pulse of the Berkshires?
Healey: It’s by talking to Mayor Macksey, Mayor Tyer, the town managers and select people. Nothing beats seeing or experiencing a place than by walking around a community, by getting a meal, by going to an event, by talking to people who live and work there. The lieutenant governor absolutely shares this as well and is so committed to making sure that our administration really means what we say, when we say we want every region of the state to thrive. We both bring a huge appreciation for what the Berkshires has to offer. We’re pretty regularly dialed in. Our legislative delegation is just terrific. Smitty Pignatelli is not afraid to tell me what I don’t know, or what I need to know.
Stanmeyer: Yvonne Hao, who attended Williams College and has a home in Williamstown, is on your team. Do you have any plans to have more Berkshire representation?
Healey: Oh, definitely. It’s a big government—45,000 folks working across so many agencies and secretariats. If you spoke with Secretary Hao, one of the reasons she took this job—and she is in charge of economic development for the state—is because she had an experience of attend- ing Williams College, having a home now in Williamstown, and looking around Berkshire County and seeing disparity and seeing that there were a lot of communities that didn’t have the resources that other communities have and wanting to do something about that. If you asked her, she would say that part of the reason she took this job is to make sure that we, as a state, are driving a thriving economy and livable communities like in Berkshire County.
Stanmeyer: How important is the Berk- shires to the state?
Healey: Super important. And let’s not forget it’s located alongside New York and Vermont. There are huge opportunities for regional collaboration and work with our neighboring states.
Stanmeyer: That was one point that I was going to make, and that is the Berkshires is a unique part of Massachusetts. It is a connect- ing point to Boston, New York City, Hud- son, Albany, as well as Southern Vermont. Have you considered using the Berkshires as a resource to build cross-state partnerships?
Governor Maura Healey and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll joined Secretary of Economic Development Yvonne Hao for a tour of Greylock Works in January. JOSHUA QUALLS/GOVERNOR’S PRESS OFFICE
Healey: Absolutely. And I’ve had conversations with both Governor Hochul and Governor Scott about this. There are some areas where it’s really important as a matter of commerce that we work together, whether it’s dealing with issues of broadband or whether it’s dealing with issues related to energy costs. There are huge opportunities for economic development and work between and among the states in our region. I’m really excited about that. I remember years and years ago, I think I was in Great Barrington, and it was the first time I saw Yankees caps in Massachusetts. I was, like, wow. You have to recognize there are certain regions of our state that have sensibilities that are shared with other states.
Stanmeyer: As you know, there is a huge number of second homeowners in the Berkshires who are from New York.
Healey: I think that’s been both a good and a bad thing. The influx of folks from New York contributed to the rise of the housing prices. We saw that impact as far east as Fitchburg. It’s also important that people are coming in to support and help grow our tourism economy and our economy that’s based in the arts and culture.
Stanmeyer: A key feature of the Berkshires is the environment, of course, and outdoor recreation.
Healey: Which is why I proposed more funding for DCR, so that we have trails and parks and recreational spaces that more people can enjoy, that are well-maintained, that are accessible, and that are open.
Stanmeyer: Have you done a lot of hiking in the Berkshires?
Healey: Absolutely, in and around North Adams, down and around Lenox and Lee, even further south, Bash Bish Falls and in Sheffield, Bartholomew’s Cobble. I was there for a friend’s wedding a while back. This is why we increased our funding for the Office of Tourism, because we want to make sure that from the state level, we’re supporting the right organizations that are out there putting together these guides and putting together the programming. As governor, one thing I really look forward to doing is being a champion for all regions of our state and celebrating what all our various regions have to offer.
And that certainly includes Berkshire County, where I’ve had such wonderful experiences and want more people to know and appreciate the Berkshires for all the Berkshires has to offer. And why I want to make sure those folks who are living in Berkshire County have an opportunity for economic mobility and truly livable, affordable communities.
Stanmeyer: You are a role model for young women. You are one of the nation’s first lesbian governors and the first woman elected governor of Massachusetts. How do you feel about that?
Healey: I am certainly mindful of that. I’d say a couple of things. One, I’m really grateful to women who have gone before me who have been role models and helped pave the way, and that includes Jane Swift, who is in Williamstown, who is our first female governor. I’m grateful to people who have gone before me, people who supported me directly in my career. I always say representation matters. Seeing is believing. Until you see someone doing something who looks like you, you may not make the connection of that’s actually something you can be.
My experiences with girls really warms my heart, when they come up to me and they’re excited to meet me, not because I’m Maura Healey, but because I’m their governor and their governor is this woman, and they think that’s kind of cool. The same thing happens when I meet young LGBTQ people. I’m mindful of that, and I hope that I can be an example to them of this idea, that you can be anything you want to be, even if the people who’ve done that job or had a particular experience don’t look like you. It doesn’t mean that you’re not the right person to do it. We live in a world where there’s still racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia and judgments and stereotypes, and people have certain perceptions of what X is supposed to look like. The more we can do to open up people’s eyes, break down barriers, make it possible for more people to do more things, the better off we’re going to be as a society. When I go into rooms, I’m very mindful of the people whose voices aren’t heard, or may be standing off to the side. I always take a look at who’s where and try to make it a point to call out those who look like they’ve been kept to the back.
As we were wrapping things up, Healey was mindful that we might have missed some questions. I noted only one, and that was about the rail system. With her press secretary reminding us again of Healey’s next appointment in just a few minutes, the governor said she wanted the Berkshire Flyer not to just carry passengers from NYC to the Berkshires for the weekend and return, but also to give Berkshire residents the opportunity to travel there for the weekend. She also pointed out the study for the East-West Passenger Rail from Pittsfield to Boston. She carved out $8.5 million in her proposed budget for track improvements at the Pittsfield station, as well as funding for a director and four staff.
Healey: That’s why I have proposed huge support and investments for an East-West Passenger Rail. There are many major transportation infrastructure projects relevant to Western Massachusetts that we need to push through. We want to have seamless, integrated transportation that allows people to come and go as they like. People used to be able to travel and see a Red Sox game once upon time. Ideally, that’s where we get to, right? Not just not for purposes of seeing the Red Sox, of course.
How about a Yankees game?
Oh, I don’t know about that.
She laughs jokingly.