Latest news with #OrlandoRamos
Yahoo
19 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Rep. Ramos proposes bill for red light cameras in Mass.
BOSTON (WWLP) – Massachusetts State Representative Orlando Ramos has introduced legislation to install cameras that track drivers who run red lights. Route 9 in Belchertown closed following multi-car crash According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, at least 22 states and Washington, D.C. permit the use of traffic enforcement cameras. Representative Ramos' bill, An Act Relative to Traffic Safety at Intersections, would not apply to speeding, only to red-light violations. The cameras would automatically fine drivers running red lights. 'This legislation is about saving lives,' Ramos said. 'Red light cameras are a proven tool to improve safety and prevent avoidable tragedies at dangerous intersections.' The act would allow municipalities to opt in after holding public hearings and receiving approval from local governing boards. The bill is scheduled for a public hearing before the Joint Committee on Tuesday. 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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Rep. Orlando Ramos offers tie-tying lessons to Springfield students
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Representative Orlando Ramos is launching a new initiative to teach young men in Springfield Public Schools how to tie a tie. He and community mentors visited Putnam Academy on Friday morning to set students on the path to success. Ramos says that this is an important yet overlooked life skill and hopes to show students the importance of making a good impression. He told 22News, 'I hope they walk away with the experience of seeing people who look like them. And positive role models that are in the community, both in the private sector and the public sector, and learn about careers that they're not even aware of.' Ramos is a Putnam graduate and wanted to give back to the community there. He hopes to expand this initiative to all of Springfield's public schools, so that everyone can learn how to tie a tie. 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.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New pilot program looks for restaurant owners to help boost Indian Orchard
INDIAN ORCHARD, Mass. (WWLP) – The Indian Orchard Restaurant District Pilot Program is looking for entrepreneurs to give Indian Orchard a boost to its neighborhood and small restaurants. The idea of revitalizing the dining district in Indian Orchard dates back to 2018, when Representative Orlando Ramos wrote a letter to the editor. Indian Orchard used to be home to three of the biggest employers of Western Massachusetts. 'We had Chapman Valve, we were home to Mount Santo, as well as the Indian Orchard Mills. And a lot of the people who worked there, remained in Indian Orchard. Their families still live in Indian Orchard,' said Representative Orlando Ramos, Democrat – 9th Hampden. Many long-time residents saw Indian Orchard as a main attraction, but not so much in the last few years. Therefore, city officials, state legislators, and the Latino Economic Development Corporation made a goal to support new and existing minority owned restaurants. 'Today we are going to launch the Indian Orchard Main Street Dining District Pilot Program,' said Andrew Melendez, Founder, Latino Economic Development Corporation. Starting on Main Street, the program will offer to pay security deposits, first and last month's rent for 3 new restaurants. $5,000 to $10,000 in grants will also be available to current district restaurant owners for upgrades or relocation costs. The historic Pleasant Snack Bar on Main Street is one of many restaurants that have been vacant for 4 to 5 months. Now it will be one of many restaurants that will benefit from this pilot program. This comes after Representative Ramos and the Western Mass legislative delegation secured $100,000 from the fiscal year 2025 budget. 'We need capital infusion to support, we're going to be doing coaching and technical assistance, coaching to support our businesses to get going, everyone will receive book-keeping and accounting and marketing support, and also connections,' said Melendez. To help revitalize the dining district, new and existing restaurant owners can submit a Request for Proposal to the Latino EDC. 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.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Local lawmaker fights back against illegal dirt bikes
BOSTON (WWLP) – Local city councilor turned state representative Orlando Ramos is working to get illegal dirt bikes off the street to keep Springfield safe. Springfield officials work to get illegal dirt bikes off city streets These dirt bikes, while safe to ride off-road, have caused several incidents and deaths in the community. Incidents have decreased over the past few years, but as the weather gets warmer, city and state officials are looking to permanently end the issue. The representative says there is often a misconception that illegal dirt bike riders are just kids looking for fun. 'These are grown men, some of them in their 30s and 40s, and they know that they're riding illegally, and they're doing it for no other reason than to break the law,' said Ramos. As a city councilor, Ramos started a home rule petition, which allows local governments to impose rules within their own jurisdiction regardless of state-level mandates. This petition sought to allow police officers to destroy illegal dirt bikes after they are confiscated, instead of having to give them back to their former owners or sell them at auction. 'What we're trying to avoid is for these illegal dirt bikes, illegal off-highway vehicles, to end up back on the road,' said Ramos. While this petition expired due to slight disagreements in implementation on the state level, Ramos is filing in the House again to get this initiative off the ground. Ramos' home rule petition is modeled after one from the early 2000s, which resulted in allowing police to confiscate cars involved in illegal drag racing to make Bay State streets safer. 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.
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Springfield non-profit that helps those impacted by trauma held reopening event
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – A grand re-opening and ribbon cutting was held at Parent Villages in downtown Springfield Friday morning. The non-profit, Parent Villages, has announced 32 Hampden Street in downtown Springfield will be re-named to 'Parent Villages Non-Profit Center. Parent Villages has been servicing Springfield and surrounding areas since 2018 helping and nurturing families impacted by trauma. Even though the name of the organization is Parent Villages, the services are not just for parents. 'We transform lives two generations at a time. We believe it happens together as a unit. Children and their parents together, working towards a common goal.' Monroe Naylor said 90 percent of the families they help are impacted by violence or trauma and they are elated to have a building where they can continue to help people in the community. State Representative Orlando Ramos said the services Parent Villages provides is like no other in the city. 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.
