Latest news with #MariaPerez
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Rival for Springfield incumbent's council seat hid his role in accusatory press release
SPRINGFIELD — A political rival of Springfield City Councilor Maria Perez was the architect of a press release that accused her, falsely, of embezzling money from the New North Citizens' Council. In an unusual move, the council on Friday retracted damaging accusations against Perez, who until July 21 served as its housing director. In a emergency meeting Thursday, members of the council's board learned that board member Joesiah Gonzalez on July 26 enlisted the board's clerk, Efrain 'Jesse' Vazquez, to send a press release that accused Perez, the Ward 1 city councilor, of embezzling from the nonprofit organization. The council on Friday issued what it called a 'corrective' press release, saying the one sent last Saturday was unauthorized — but stopped short of explaining who drafted the false allegation. 'The New North Citizens Council, Inc. (NNCC), through its Executive Director, Maria Ligus, issues this corrective press release in response to a prior press release dated July 26, 2025, which appeared to be disseminated by NNCC,' the release said. 'The July 26th release was issued without the knowledge or approval of NNCC executive leadership and without formal authorization from the NNCC Board. It contained certain inaccuracies,' it continued. Friday's statement said that while Ligus decided to 'terminate the employment of Ms. Maria Perez ... such termination was unrelated to any allegations or findings related to the use of federal funds.' At Thursday's emergency board meeting, members learned that Vazquez, the board's clerk, had been approached by Gonzalez about creating what amounted to a smear against his opponent in the Nov. 4 election. Gonzalez, who serves on the School Committee, is running against Perez for Ward 1 City Council seat. Perez could not be reached for comment Friday evening. Thursday's emergency meeting was called by a new board member, Gladys Oyola, who is now the acting president of the board. It was revealed at that session that Gonzalez was responsible for orchestrating a public statement about Perez's firing without proper authorization. Earlier Thursday, Gonzalez resigned from the board. Board members are elected by members of the community. Friday's statement from Ligus, the executive director, clarified that the press release last Saturday was not properly vetted. The termination letter provided to Perez, a 43-year employee of the agency, made no mention of embezzlement. Instead, it said she was being fired for using agency computer equipment for 'political reasons.' In interviews Friday, multiple board members told The Republican that Vazquez, acting as the board's clerk, claimed to have been manipulated by Gonzalez on the Saturday the press release about Perez's firing went out. 'He told us that Joesiah called him and said to meet him on his porch in 10 minutes and that he asked him to bring his laptop,' said board member Carmen Santana. Gonzalez is said to have told Vazquez that the press release 'couldn't come from him' and instead asked for Vazquez's passcode, to send it out from his computer as the clerk of record. Gonzalez then sent the press release from Vazquez's laptop, according to what Vazquez told board members. 'He said he felt used and manipulated,' Santana said of Vazquez. 'He kept telling the same story over and over again.' Reached for comment, Gonzalez declined to comment on the account of his actions provided by board members. 'If that's what you want to believe,' he told a reporter before saying 'God bless,' and hanging up. Days after the July 26 press release about Perez's firing was sent, and before his role in its creation was revealed, Gonzalez told The Republican that he believed Perez should step down from the City Council, if the accusations proved to be true. 'I said if it was true,' he told a reporter Thursday. Vazquez declined Friday to speak publicly about his role in the sending of the press release. Records obtained by The Republican show the release went out from Vazquez's computer at 4:44 p.m. Saturday. 'He told Jesse it was an emergency and they had to send something out,' board member Sheyla Acosta said, referring to Gonzalez. She confirmed the account of the visit between the two men on Vazquez's porch on Massasoit Street. After the press release was sent, Gonzalez said he had only just learned of Perez's firing, calling it 'unfortunate.' 'I will pray for her and her family,' he said at the time. Gonzalez is chief philanthropy and communications officer for Home City Development. He was previously an employee of New North Citizens' Council. On Thursday, according to board members interviewed, Oyola made a motion to strip president Juana 'Jenny' Girona of her position, a move she resisted. Girona had approved of the sending of the press release. Board votes prevailed and Girona was replaced as president by Oyola. Vazquez also was demoted from his position as clerk, pending an internal review of the circumstances surrounding the July 26 release. Board member Acosta, who was herself previously reprimanded over an incident with human resources, when she challenged Ligus' self-drafted performance evaluation, had been denied her chairmanships of subcommittees. Now she finds herself with a promotion. 'Isn't that something?' she askec. A document obtained by The Republican shows Girona submitted an apology letter to the board Thursday. 'I acknowledge that I approved a press release to be sent by the board secretary this past week. Knowing that the board was in recess and this was going around the community, I made the decision to protect NNCC and the work that we do for our community,' the letter reads. 'I apologize if board members did not agree with certain words, or sending this out. I believe that what is done is done and that we don't have to add fuel to the fire,' it reads. She added that if board members have questions about why Maria Perez was fired, they should ask Ligus. Read the original article on MassLive. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
08-08-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Springfield city councilor files lawsuit against former colleagues, alleging ‘calculated attack'
SPRINGFIELD — Attorneys for Springfield City Councilor Maria Perez announced the filing of a $1 million lawsuit against her former colleagues at New North Citizens' Council over her firing on July 21. Perez spent more than 40 years at the agency headquartered on Main Street. The reason officials there offered before ushering her immediately out of the building: using her computer for 'political reasons,' without giving any further information. Among the defendants named in the lawsuit is New North Executive Director Maria Ligus, who spearheaded Perez's firing, and Joesiah Gonzalez, who sat on the board of directors at the time. Gonzalez, a member of the Springfield School Committee, is Perez's opponent in the race for the Ward 1 council seat. He was once a protégé of Perez. The lawsuit alleges Ligus and Gonzalez were in cahoots to run Perez out. 'We allege that this termination was without cause, preplanned and specifically designed to derail Councilor Perez's reelection campaign in favor of her opponent, Josiah Gonzalez,' attorney Jeffrey Morneau said during public comments on the steps of the Roderick L. Ireland courthouse Wednesday morning. Morneau called the string of events a 'calculated attack.' Ligus said she could not yet comment on the complaint. Perez was present at the press conference, and gave a tearful speech surrounded by a group of supporters. 'The people mentioned today by my lawyer attacked me. They attempted to attack my faith. They attempted to attack my family. They attempted to attack my integrity,' Perez said as she choked back sobs. In addition to Ligus, the complaint names Gonzalez personally, New North Citizens' Council Inc., board members Juana 'Jenny' Girona and Efrain 'Jesse' Vazquez and Human Resources Director Carmen Rivera. As previously reported by The Republican, Gonzalez cooked up a press release later after Perez posted a campaign video on Facebook. The press release flagged Perez's firing and falsely mentioned 'embezzlement of federal funds' when there was no such allegation. A couple of weeks after the termination, Vazquez said in an emergency meeting of the board that Gonzalez called him on a Saturday, went to his home with the release already drafted and used his computer sign-on to send the release out. Gonzalez hung up on a reporter when asked about the allegation. Ligus eventually walked back the embezzlement accusation in a Friday press release that said the July 26 press release 'contained certain inaccuracies' and a recent termination was not connected to 'the use of federal funds.' 'They intentionally failed to refute the allegations for several days, allowing the false claims to linger in the minds of the public,' Morneau said. This story will be updated after further reporting. more news from Western Massachusetts Now-closed UMass marmoset lab euthanized its colony of monkeys Paving starts Tuesday on Morgan Road in West Springfield Safety upgrades coming to West Springfield rail crossing Springfield police arrest 4, seize 4 guns Jacob's Pillow cancels remaining 2025 performances after fatal accident Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Springfield Park celebrates renovation with new patio
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A local park in the north end of Springfield has welcomed a newly renovated patio area to the neighborhood. Italian Feast returns to Springfield's South End with reopening of historic social club The Jaime Ulloa Park is a stomping ground for many residents in the north end of Springfield. Some issues with the pavilion in the park made it hard for retired groups like the Domino Club to enjoy. 'The water was leaking from the roof, you couldn't play when it was raining, and it was uncomfortable,' said Jose Riveria, a Domino Club member. City Councilor Maria Perez brought the concerns to Mayor Domenic Sarno once she learned of the current conditions, and in a joint effort along with park management, it was time for a change. 'I came here every afternoon and I check how they are doing, what is needed,' said Perez. This t$225,000 project helped renovate new tables, posts, but a few benches were kept to keep the nostalgic feel of the area. It was all made official in a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The Morgan Street Domino Club has been playing in the same spot for over 30 years, it's their home, and they're glad that they were heard. Playing dominoes isn't just an activity for the Latino community here; it's essential to embracing their culture. 'This is the beautiful things that happen to us. And we appreciate it from the bottom of our hearts,' said Tony, another Domino Club member. A new mural is possibly in the works as an addition to the new pavilion, and it might even honor the local legacy of the Domino Club. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
