Below is a short excerpt from an interview with Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra published in the Fall 2023 edition of the Smith Alumnae Quarterly. Click here to read the full interview.

Describe the proposed plan to redesign the center of Northampton.

It is a really exciting plan for downtown, and it addresses how cities need to evolve. I’ve found pictures of Main Street from well over 100 years ago, and nothing has really changed. Even parking that had been for buggies is the same. Working with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, we plan to create more space for people and a more environmental infrastructure by increasing the tree canopy, giving more room to sidewalks, and creating a permanent summer outdoor dining space. I’m really prioritizing space for humans and recognizing not only how we use cars but also how cars themselves are changing. And I think that we need to take back space for people.