Public Safety
As City Councilor and State Rep, Orlando has a proven track-record on Public Safety which includes:
Police Body Cameras
Orlando made good on his promise to bring Police Body Cameras to the Springfield Police Department by promoting accountability; holding a series of public meetings; and voting to support the funding for the purchase of the equipment needed to implement the program.
Dirt Bike Ordinance
Authored legislation to help the Springfield Police Department combat illegal operation of dirt-bikes and off-highway vehicles. The ordinance passed on July 15, 2019.
Facial Surveillance Technology
Orlando worked collaboratively with the Police Commissioner on a compromise to temporarily ban technology that has consistently proven to be inefficient and inaccurate, in the interest of protecting civil rights for all people in the city; as well as protecting the public from unnecessary government surveillance. This ordinance passed on February 24, 2020.
Following his successful implementation at the municipal level, Orlando Ramos introduced Facial Surveillance legislation in the House of Representatives. Representative Orlando Ramos filed an amendment to that judiciary IT bond bill codifying the recommendations of the Facial Recognition Commission which was created in the 2020 policing reform law and tasked with investigating and making recommendations governing usage of facial recognition by state government. That amendment was adopted by a 149-4 vote.
Safe Neighborhoods
As State Representative, Orlando prioritized funding for Springfield to continue protecting the public through innovative initiatives such as C3. He also ensured that funding was made available for the Massachusetts State Police to assist each community when needed.
New Springfield Police Department Headquarters
As your Next Mayor, Orlando Ramos is committed to working together with the legislative delegation and Governor Healey’s administration to secure funding for a new Springfield Police Department Headquarters.
New Hampden County Hall of Justice
As your next Mayor, Orlando is committed to working together with the legislative delegation and Governor Healey’s administration to secure funding for a new Hampden County Hall of Justice to better serve the people of Springfield.
Community Policing
Mayor Sarno has been in office almost 2 decades, yet crime is worse than ever! As your next Mayor, Orlando is committed to keeping the city of Springfield safe. Currently, over 60% of the department works behind a desk. As mayor, he will put more police on the streets by bringing back a modern version of community policing.
Streamlining Non-Emergencies
As your next Mayor, Orlando will simplify the process for reporting non-emergencies (such as graffiti, illegal dumping, abandoned vehicles or noise complaints) by make it more accessible for residents to anonymously report illegal activity using their smartphone.
Illegal Guns
Get guns off the street; As your next Mayor, Orlando will adopt a reward program in collaboration with the Federal ATF to reward tipsters for information leading to the recovery of illegal firearms. This program has helped Washington D.C. get dozens of guns off the street.
Police/Community Relations
Orlando understands the importance for children to have positive interactions with police. This is why he is committed to bringing police into the schools in a positive way; similar to the D.A.R.E program.
Economic Development
As City Councilor and State Representative, Orlando has worked to support Economic Development, including:
Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Ordinance and Housing Development Incentive Program (HDIP) Ordinance
Orlando was the lead sponsor on two key pieces of legislation intended to ensure that developers who obtain special property tax relief for major commercial and housing projects, will be held responsible for complying with fair labor laws and diversity hiring goals. The ordinances were intended to protect taxpayer money, while also providing job opportunities for residents. The TIF Ordinance passed in September of 2018; and the HDIP Ordinance passed on April 1, 2019.
MGM, CRRC, Union Station and more
As City Councilor, Orlando has been instrumental in helping make these projects a reality. He supported a Host Community Agreement with MGM; a TIF Agreement with CRRC; and voted in favor of the funding for the revitalization of Union Station.
Cannabis Industry
In July of 2018, Orlando was part of a delegation that travelled to Denver, Colorado to learn more about the Cannabis Industry. Upon his return, Orlando helped author one of the strongest marijuana zoning ordinances in the country.
Sports Wagering
State Representative Orlando Ramos (D- Springfield) introduced an amendment to H3977 in support of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the sports wagering industry. At the conclusion of a 5-hour long formal session in July of 2021, the first-year legislator took the floor to deliver his maiden speech.
“The truth is that legislation which has disproportionately impacted people of color has contributed to the wealth and income gap that exists both in Massachusetts and throughout the country” Representative Ramos said to his House colleagues. “Legislation helped create this gap; we must use legislation to help close this gap.”
Ramos went on to say that it is essential to allow black and brown business owners an opportunity to benefit from this new multi-billion-dollar industry.
The amendment was unanimously adopted by a vote of 159-0.
Continued Economic Development
As State Representative, Orlando brought back millions of dollars for economic development in the city of Springfield. As your next Mayor, Orlando will focus on innovation and manufacturing, modernize our city, and make it attractive for businesses.
Caring for Our Seniors
As City Councilor and State Representative, Orlando has a proven track-record on supporting issues that are important to Seniors, including:
Tax-Breaks for Seniors
Orlando authored legislation to create a program that allows senior citizens an opportunity to work-off up to $1,000 of their property taxes by volunteering for certain departments within the city of Springfield. The ordinance passed on November 18, 2019.
Springfield Senior Center
Orlando supported the funding for the new $12.5 million Raymond A. Jordan Senior Center which opened to the public in February of 2018.
Funding for In-Home Care
As State Representative, Orlando fought for more funding for in-home care, so that all seniors may have the option for independent living.
Affordable Healthcare
As State Representative, Orlando worked hard to ensure that all seniors have access to affordable healthcare; and supported expanded Medicare Savings Programs.
Expanded Meals-on-Wheels
As State Representative, Orlando advocated for expanded services for programs that are essential to serving our seniors, such as Meals-on-Wheels.
Indian Orchard’s Purple Cane
Along with lifelong Indian Orchard resident Pat Voisine, Orlando Ramos helped the Indian Orchard Community begin a new tradition called “The Purple Cane”. The Purple Cane is similar to the Golden Cane tradition and recognizes the oldest living resident in the community of Indian Orchard. Purple is the official color of Indian Orchard. The first Purple Cane was given in 2014 to 103-year-old Margaret Popko, and in 2017, 100-year-old World War II veteran Walter C. Alexander received the cane. The third recipient of the purple cane was Joaquim Pereira, who was 100 years old in 2021.
Housing and the Environment
Property Taxes
Mayor Sarno has increased our property taxes every year since he took office in 2007. As your next Mayor, Orlando is committed to working towards reducing property taxes for homeowners.
Affordable Homeownership
The cost of living has skyrocketed since the covid-19 pandemic. As your next Mayor, Orlando will invest in affordable homeownership, fight to stabilize rents, and prevent Boston developers from profiting from displacing families in our city.
Skyrocketing Utility Costs
Housing, grocery, and utility prices are squeezing families. While mayor Sarno has been silent on the cost of utilities, Orlando has taken on the big utility companies head on! Thanks to his advocacy, Eversource recently agreed to reduce the rates for natural gas; and the Springfield Water and Sewer Commission is actively exploring alternative funding resources to alleviate the costs to the consumer. As your next Mayor, Orlando will take action to hold companies like Eversource and Comcast accountable, and stop rate increases. He is also committed to ending the Comcast monopoly in the city of Springfield.
Green Jobs
As your next Mayor, Orlando is committed to creating green tech jobs, decarbonizing our buildings, and saving residents money on utilities.
Continued Economic Development
As State Representative, Orlando brought back millions of dollars for economic development in the city of Springfield. As your next Mayor, Orlando will focus on innovation and manufacturing, modernize our city, and make it attractive for businesses.
Quality of Life
Orlando is committed to constituent services. He dedicated almost a decade of his life working for the State Legislature on behalf of the residents of Springfield and Chicopee, and authored several pieces of legislation to help improve the quality of life for his constituents, including:
Private Ways Ordinance
As City Councilor, Orlando introduced legislation to hold developers accountable for paving dirt roads, by establishing the responsibility to design and construct a roadway that meets the standards of a public way as part any new developments on dirt roads. This piece of legislation means that developers will no longer be allowed to build homes on dirt roads without paving the street to city standards.
Parking Ban/Snow Removal Ordinance
As your next Mayor, Orlando Ramos will demand more accountability from city contractors on snow removal. Orlando will also introduce an Ordinance aimed at simplifying the city’s parking ban.
Biomass
As City Councilor, Orlando vehemently opposed the proposal to build a Biomass plant in the East Springfield neighborhood.
Building on his unwavering opposition to Biomass, Representative Ramos successfully passed H.3333, legislation to prevent Biomass incinerators from receiving taxpayer funded state subsidies under the guise of “renewable energy.” This legislation was the final nail in the coffin of the Palmer Paving proposal, as it eliminated a large portion of their expected funding.
Dog Parks
As City Councilor, Orlando helped secure CPA funding for the purpose of studying and designing dog parks in the City of Springfield. As your next mayor, Orlando will bring dog parks to the city.
Constituent Services
As State Representative, Orlando has been committed to using his constituent services experience to serve the residents of Springfield. He understands the importance of being accessible to his constituents and is committed to being the mayor for all 17 neighborhoods of the city of Springfield.
Quality Schools and Youth
School Buildings and Summer Jobs
Springfield schools are failing our children. Kids are unsafe, buildings are crumbling, and our educators lack resources. As your next Mayor, Orlando will champion youth summer jobs, wrap-around services, vocational education, and safe and healthy school buildings.