David A. Lamarre

1. In one paragraph please give a brief biography.

I am a North Adams native, son of Ed and Claire Lamarre, one of seven children. I was educated in the NAPS system. I enrolled in the Restaurant Management program at Berkshire Community College and discovered the culinary arts. I worked in many restaurants over the years, earned a degree from New England Culinary Institute and have lived in several communities including Boston, MA, East Arlington, VT and Northampton, MA. I am especially proud of my accomplishments in the food business. I specialized in re-organizations, team building, profitability and business turn-a-rounds. The job of a chef goes well beyond food preparation and includes many essential business and management skills. I left the kitchen several years ago and moved into dining management, most recently at Williams College. Three years ago I left the food profession altogether and now work in Facilities administration at Williams. My wife Jane Marie and I live on Marion Avenue.

2. What is your vision for a reinvigorated North Adams 10 years down the road?

I see a broad based economy that is anchored by art, technology and tourism and all that they have to offer. The natural beauty of our surroundings and an expanding interest in environmental preservation present ecotourism opportunities that we can benefit from. I see us growing from all the opportunities that are available. I see a re-growth in population, a strengthening middle class and a solid public school system that rivals the best in the state. Our demographics shifts as young families find North Adams attractive with housing that meets their needs at the right price. I see progress and North Adams as the leader in our region.

3. What is the roll of the city council in North Adams government and how should a city councilor’s vision of North Adams come into play in the course of governing North Adams?

We have one mayor and nine councilors, not one mayor and nine assistant mayors. That doesn't mean that councilors can't bring forth ideas, build support for those ideas, lobby the mayor and push an agenda forward. We can focus on the vision, but we have to recognize that most often times we are a role player, not the quarterback. Maintaining continuity of purpose, a spirit of cooperation, respectful debate, and collective actions are essential elements to our progress and important roles for a councilor to play.

4. Give concrete examples of how you would tackle three or more of the following issues.

a. Employment in North Adams

We have to be proactive rather than reactive. It all begins with an educated work force, ready and available to fill the need of new and existing business. To prepare to meet the needs of employers we have to develop a strategic plan for the short and long term. Civic and business leaders and the leadership of our educational institutions must address this strategy collectively and on a regional basis. The Berkshire Compact for Higher Education has been a terrific beginning to this continuing process.

b. Poverty In North Adams

Poverty in North Adams is both generational and perpetuated by opportunists. Many of the less fortunate people residing in North Adams are the result of declining industry. Parents lost  jobs and  their skills became obsolete in this region. People chose to stay and try to remake a life here. Some were successful, many were not. Some of these families are in the third generation since the beginning of our industrial decline.  

                            The second and probably greatest contributing factor to our level of poverty is the housing glut that resulted when thousands of people left North Adams. The resulting availability of subsidized housing attracted many people in need of shelter and security for their families.  Some landlords saw Section 8 as a financial bonanza.  They drew many people to the city who came without job skills or education. They are now rolled into the generational cycle of poverty.

                           Education is the first step to helping improve their quality of life. Jobs are what's needed most and North Adams must demonstrate to new and existing businesses that we can provide a work force that meets their needs. This is a long term issue with no short term solutions. It takes generations to reverse the trend of generational poverty. 

c. Housing in North Adams

  I have been consistent in my position that we can begin to improve housing by working to encourage the creation of live and work spaces designed for artists. This is our first and best opportunity to begin rehab and or construction on quality middle class housing. We attract new residents and begin to re-grow population, strengthen the middle class and preserve and revitalize neighborhoods. This effort could take the shape of a public/private partnership or be a private enterprise supported with tax incentives. We should waste no time. People want to move into this community and be a part of a developing cultural center.  

d. Crime in North Adams

e. Attracting business to North Adams

    150,000 people come to North Adams each year to view the art work at Mass MoCA. Artists move here and create work that they hope to sell.  With a world renown art museum one block from Main Street an opportunity to attract buyers and collectors presents itself. At the first candidates forum I asked the question, If people will travel to North Adams from all over the world to view art ,will others travel here to buy it?  With credible art museums like MoCA, the Clark and Williams College Museum of Art right in our back yard, and with their help, I think the answer is yes. It might begin as a "festival" of top tier artists gathering to sell their work for a month or two each summer, DownStreet Art magnified. How would this benefit the relatively unknown artists living here who work to create art for sale? What violinist wouldn't want to share the stage with a world renown virtuoso. What fledgling band wouldn't jump at the chance to appear on the same stage as Springsteen? Discovery, recognition and the chance to sell. 

                            We'll give  people another reason to visit North Adams, expanding our tourist base and benefiting the travel and hospitality industry and put a brighter shine on our city.  

f. Preserving, utilizing, and promoting the Natural Resources of North Adams

g. Engaging the people, skills, and talents, of North Adams toward a better North Adams

Volunteerism is the backbone of so much that is positive about North Adams. As a community with limited financial resources we have seen time and again people with little step up to help those with less. We cannot underestimate the enormous value these people represent. What truly wonderful thing about this city does not rely on volunteers at its' root? Consider the Northern Berkshire United Way, local youth athletics, Mass MoCA, the SteepleCats and the Berkshire Food Project to name only a few. The people that I refer to as the true North Adams are generous, compassionate and responsive participants. We should encourage and cultivate civic participation. Who knows where the next great idea might come from?

h. Engaging with and utilizing the neighbors and the region surrounding North Adams

   i. The Downtown of North Adams

For so many years we have focused on downtown as the indicator of our health and vitality as a community. I don't believe that it is a completely accurate measure. North Adams is more than Main Street. Of course it would be wonderful to have full store fronts, lots of foot traffic and everyone making money. Given that we're up against shopping malls, online retailers, a decreased population and low incomes are our expectations realistic? I think we should focus first on housing, education and employment opportunities. People don't move to a city for its' downtown, a downtown develops when people move into a city. When we grow and progress entrepreneurs will see opportunities and downtown businesses will develop.