Author: john_velis

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Velis Demands Data Centers, Not Residents, Pay for Any Energy and Water Strain

(6/2/2026 – Westfield)  As utility costs are on the rise for residents across the Commonwealth and the state begins accepting applications for its new Data Center tax incentive program, Senator John C. Velis continues to call on state leaders to ensure that Data Centers do not pass the costs of their heavy energy and water usage on to local rate payers.

In March, the Executive Office of Economic Development (EOED) issued final regulations for the Commonwealth’s new tax incentive programs designed to encourage significant investments by technology companies aiming to expand their networks through data centers, technology hubs for data processing and storage. Data Centers, which Velis described in a recently released pair of letters sent to the agency as “extremely and increasingly energy-hungry”, have been shown to put substantial strains on local resources and communities.

“I firmly believe that Massachusetts needs to continue to be a leader of technological innovation and advancement; in fact I think it is vital for Massachusetts to remain a competitive with other states however, these advances cannot be born on the backs of residents,” shared Senator John Velis. “Today’s costs already put enough strain on residents’ wallets, and that is why I firmly believe that any costs associated with Data Centers should fall squarely on the facilities that are directly responsible for the increased usage.”

An October 2025 letter from Velis to EOED noted his concerns regarding Data Center’s energy usage as the agency collected feedback on the program’s then-draft regulations. The Agency’s final regulations released in March now include a requirement that any applicant for the tax incentive program must provide information on “the peak electricity demand and consumption of the proposed Qualified Data Center” to better assess applicants and promote the efficient planning of any dater centers. A subsequent letter from Velis noted these improvements and stressed again that any “costs associated with increased energy usage or consumption should absolutely not fall to the residents of our communities”.

Senator Velis noted that he is grateful for the attention paid to his letters by EOED and that he will continue to work with them, other relevant state agencies, members of the legislature, and municipalities themselves to ensure that any data center program is carried out in a balanced and responsible way. 

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Week of May 30th

Hello everyone,

I hope you all had a great week

Despite the rainy weather and having to transition indoors, the Westfield community truly turned out in droves to attend Monday morning’s Memorial Day Ceremony to remember and pay tribute to those who paid the ultimate sacrifice while defending our nation. Each Memorial Day, I cannot help but think and share the stories of the brave young soldiers I had the honor of serving with in Afghanistan that tragically never returned home to their families. There is a powerful message I read while returning home from my very first deployment, “Live a life worthy of their sacrifice”, an important reminder to cherish each day and our shared duty to support our service members and their families.

On Wednesday afternoon, I joined Secretary Goralnick from the Executive Office of Veteran Services and Governor Healey at the Holyoke Veterans Home to celebrate its significant transformation. The facility has become one of the nation’s strongest long‑term care nursing facilities due to major improvements in care, staffing, safety, and resident satisfaction. It’s impressive to observe all the positive changes, driven by strong collaboration between the Legislature and the Administration to enact the veterans’ home bond bill and various oversight and governance reforms following the Home’s COVID-19 tragedy. In the months that followed that outbreak, I spent countless hours talking with families and dedicated staff where I made each of them a promise, never again, and I truly believe the new facility and the achievements celebrated this week will live up to that promise.

Later that evening I had the opportunity to join Westfield’s Dollar for Scholars’ annual award night to celebrate the achievements of many of our local high school students that will be graduating next week. Congratulations to all the recipients, I have no doubt you all have bright futures ahead of you!

Thursday morning, I was over in Holyoke with Mayor Garcia and Representative Duffy to discuss critical housing projects around the city with Secretary Matias of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities. Western Massachusetts has so much potential to help our Commonwealth tackle the housing crisis, but to do so we need to seriously invest in all forms of new housing for our communities.

This week I joined Team Velis at Southampton Office Hours where I caught up with friends and attempted crocheting again, unsurprisingly my skills haven’t improved. I’m excited to get back to many of our local office hours whenever possible over the next month in between my legislative obligations.

This week Team Velis also hosted office hours in Russell. Next week Team Velis will be hosting office hours on Monday at the Agawam Council on Aging from 11:00am to 12:00pm. If you are unable to make office hours, I can always be reached by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com.   

Best,    

John Velis  

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Week of May 23rd

Hello everyone,

I hope you all had a great week! For most of the past week I was over at the State House participating in the Senate’s Fiscal Year 2027 budget debates. I’m proud to report that it was a highly successful week as I was able to secure over $600,000 in local funding for our district and strengthen support for statewide programs such as the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs and MCPAP for Schools.

Having spent countless hours at our local Boys and Girls Clubs, shooting hoops as a kid and later as a youth mentor, I’ve seen firsthand the transformative impact these organizations have on children and teens. That is why I was beyond proud to increase the funding allocated to our Commonwealth’s 40 Boys & Girls Clubs to help ensure they can continue providing essential resources and support to the next generation.

I also spent much of this week engaging with my colleagues about the serious youth behavioral health crisis that we have on our hands and the troubling stories I have heard from students and school staff about how profoundly our children are struggling. That’s why this week I led the charge on a budget amendment to fund the MCPAP for Schools program so that they can continue their work not only in the Agawam and Somerville Public Schools but expand their reach to ten more schools next year.

In addition to my work on the budget this week, I participated in the second annual Military Appreciation Day, an event dedicated to recognizing active-duty service members and local veterans from across the state for their dedication to our nation and their communities. Among those honored was Westfield’s Frederick Banda, who was recognized for his advocacy surrounding Agent Orange exposure. Last year, I had the privilege of partnering with Mr. Banda to ensure that Agent Orange Awareness Day is commemorated annually on August 10th in the Commonwealth.

I am truly thankful to Mark and Bridget for keeping things running smoothly here in the district throughout the week. On Thursday, Mark visited a class in West Springfield, where he talked with 8th grade students about the importance of civic engagement and explained that public service careers go far beyond just holding elected office. He highlighted the many ways people can positively influence their communities through various roles. Bridget also took part in celebrations for the grand opening of Contractors Home Appliances and marked the 10-year anniversary of Whip City Fiber.

This week Team Velis hosted office hours in Easthampton and Holyoke. Next week Team Velis will be hosting office hours on Tuesday at the Russell Council on Aging from 11:30am to 12:30pm and on Wednesday at the Southampton Council on Aging from 9:30am to 10:30am. If you are unable to make office hours, I can always be reached by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com.   

Best,    

John Velis  

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Week of May 16th

Hello everyone,

Words truly cannot express how great it is to be back home with my family and our entire community!

As you might have seen online, last week I returned home following a six-month deployment with the Massachusetts National Guard as part of Joint Task Force Southern Border. I am grateful to everyone who supported me through this deployment, especially my Senate Team. While I was deployed, my team went above and beyond to serve our district and ensured I was kept up to date on everything going on in our communities and at the State House.

After spending a few days with my family, I was excited to jump right back into things and start preparing for next week’s debate of the Senate’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget. I am proud to share that the Senate’s budget proposes the highest allocation of local aid in our state’s history. I’ve heard loud and clear how our municipalities and local residents are struggling to keep up with rising costs, that’s why next week I’ll be fighting hard to bring back essential funding for our district and Western Massachusetts as a whole.

This week my State House team had the opportunity to connect with a few local organizations during their advocacy days. Caitlyn greatly appreciated the opportunity to connect with staff and clients from Riverside Industries in Easthampton to discuss the essential services and employment opportunities that they provide for adults with disabilities. Sam also had the chance to meet with folks from Meghan’s Light, a Western Massachusetts nonprofit that raises awareness and supports individuals diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis.

On Thursday, I attended a special event with the JCRC of Greater Boston, where my team and I were honored for leading the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism. I am grateful to be named their Legislator of the Year and for their recognition of my staff. While this work is absolutely not done, I look forward to working with the Administration to implement the Commission’s recommendations and will continue to push back on hate wherever it rears its ugly head.

At the end of the week, I had the chance to join students from West Springfield and Agawam for their 8th grade civics bowl. It is critical that we provide our young people with a strong civics education and I am grateful to the educators who organized this fun opportunity for the students to put their knowledge to the test and, even more importantly, discuss the significance of being active citizens.

This week Team Velis hosted office hours in Chicopee, and West Springfield. Next week Team Velis will be hosting office hours on Tuesday at the Easthampton Council on Aging from 10:30am to 11:30am and on Wednesday at the Holyoke Council on Aging from 10:00am to 11:00am. If you are unable to make office hours, I can always be reached by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and you can find me online at senatorjohnvelis.com.   

Best,    

John Velis  

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Weekly Update- Week of May 9th

Hi Everyone,

Team Velis wishes you all a Happy Mother’s Day! Our team is so thankful for the strong women that raised us and are eager to celebrate all that they have done for us over the years. Fingers crossed we will have nice weather this Sunday while we all celebrate the ones we love!

This week Team Velis is excited to introduce you all to our new Legislative Director, Sam Hershman. We kicked off the week on Monday, welcoming Sam on his first day with our office and catching him up to date on all things Team Velis! Sam is a great new addition to the team, and we cannot wait to dive into budget season with him.

On Tuesday, Mark attended a ribbon cutting to celebrate PV Allergy’s opening in Westfield. Our district staff always looks forward to attending ribbon cuttings and learning more about the new business that help our district continue to grow. Tuesday was also the Nurses Association Day on the Hill at the State House. Gabe and Sam had the opportunity to meet with nurses from the district to discuss legislation exploring safety protections for healthcare workers.

Wednesday was a busy day at the State House as the whole building was abuzz as the Senate prepares to take up its version of the FY27 budget. Team Velis spent the day meeting with various local advocacy groups and learning about different budget priorities from local Western Mass providers.

This Thursday, Mark met with community leaders in the district to discuss potential youth intervention programs. This program in particular is focused on engaging youth with sustainability efforts in order to drive community-based engagement in Western Mass. Senator Velis always looks forward to learning more about resources in our district that promote healthy mindsets and developing civic engagement in our youth. Later that evening, Team Velis attended an information session on Leaders Engaged and Activated to Drive System-wide change (LEADS), an executive fellowship program dedicated to connecting gateway city leaders to discuss entrepreneurship, collaboration, and development. This was a great opportunity for our team to learn more about educational resources out there to help our community and gateway cities continue to grow.

This week, Team Velis hosted office hours in Agawam. Next week we will be hosting office hours at the Chicopee Council on Aging on Tuesday from 10:00am to 11:00am, and at the West Springfield Council on Aging on Wednesday from 11:00am to 12:00pm. If you are unable to make office hours, please remember that you can reach us by email,  john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and online at senatorjohnvelis.com.  

Sincerely,

Team Velis

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Weekly Update- Week of May 2nd

Hello everyone,

We hope you all had a great week! To all those participating in this morning’s Westfield Little League Opening Day we hope you have a fun beginning to your season; Play Ball!

Our district was alive with celebrations this week! Team Velis had the chance to attend four ribbon cutting events in Westfield, West Springfield, and Southampton. Whenever a new business chooses to establish itself in our area, the Senator and our team are delighted to mark the occasion and offer support from our office. Congratulations to JMR Staffing, Priority Skin Boutique, Applied Mortgage, and Chique Boutique for opening their doors and becoming part of our district!

On the topic of special events, MassHire Holyoke marked its 30th anniversary this week, celebrating three decades of bolstering the workforce across Hampden County. Thanks to the commitment of MassHire Holyoke’s staff over the years, the organization has assisted over 200,000 community members with job training and employment services. Congratulations to MassHire Holyoke, we are wishing you another thirty years of success!

Over at the State House, Caitlyn and Gabe have been working diligently to get our office prepared and ready for a busy month ahead focused on the Senate Budget. With the House of Representatives having passed their version of the FY’27 budget this week, all of us on Team Velis are eager for it to make its way to Senate and for all work that is to come to help ensure Western Massachusetts and our district receives its fair share of investments next fiscal year.

Speaking of securing funds for the district, this week several cities and towns in our district were awarded funding for fire safety programs. This includes funding for the Student Awareness of Fire Education (SAFE) program, which sends firefighter-educators into schools to deliver clear, consistent lessons to young people, as well as the Senior SAFE program which is geared toward older adults. We are truly excited to see these investments in action and look forward to the positive impact they will have in keeping our communities safe.

This week, Team Velis hosted office hours in Westfield, Russell, and Southampton. Next week we will be hosting office hours at the Agawam Council on Aging on Monday from 11:00am to 12:00pm. If you are unable to make office hours, please remember that you can reach us by email,  john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and online at senatorjohnvelis.com.   

Sincerely,

Team Velis

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Weekly Update- Week of April 25th

Hello everyone,

We hope all the local students and teachers had a fun and relaxing April vacation this past week.

Mark and Bridget kicked off the week in Westfield to help celebrate the swearing-in of Westfield Fire Department’s new chief, Eric Bishop. This past fall Senator Velis was proud to help celebrate now Chief Bishop on graduating from the prestigious Executive Fire Officer Program at the National Fire Academy, a two- year rigorous program centered around community safety and well-being. On behalf of our office and the Senator, Congratulations Chief!

During school vacation weeks, visitors from all over Massachusetts flock to the State House to explore its rich history. This week, Boy Scouts representing various regions of the state, including three scouts from West Springfield, visited the Senate Chamber to present a report on Scouting’s impressive impact statewide. We hope they enjoyed their visit and the remainder of their Freedom Trail Tour around Boston.

On Wednesday, Gabe hosted guests from Forum House in Westfield for the Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition’s annual advocacy day and employment celebration. During their visit, Gabe joined in acknowledging their valuable partnership with Westfield State University’s Dining Services, which offers numerous supportive employment opportunities for their clients. Partnerships and employment opportunities such as these are vital for individuals served by Forum House, as they foster personal growth, independence, and a sense of belonging within the community.

This week, our team began preparing for the Senate’s upcoming budget season, which starts in just a few weeks. We aim to advocate strongly for our communities and the essential services everyone relies on. Each year, one of the legislature’s most significant responsibilities is crafting a robust, balanced budget for the next fiscal year. The Governor presented her proposed FY’27 budget in January, and following months of hearings and analysis of both the proposal and our Commonwealth’s needs, the House of Representatives now has the budget. They will complete their review over the next week or so before sending it to the Senate, where we will have the opportunity to put forth our own strong recommendations. We look forward to sharing updates about the Senator’s efforts on the budget throughout the next month.

This week, Team Velis hosted office hours in Easthampton. Next week we have an exciting line-up of office hours beginning on Monday at the Westfield Council on Aging from 12:30pm to 1:30pm, on Tuesday at the Russell Council on Aging from 11:30am to 12:30pm, and again on Wednesday at the Southampton Council on Aging from 9:30am to 10:30am. If you are unable to make office hours, please remember that you can reach us by email,  john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and online at senatorjohnvelis.com.   

Sincerely,

Team Velis

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Week of April 18th

Hello everyone,

We hope you all had a great week and were able to enjoy those warm days that came our way!

Monday was a memorable occasion across Western Massachusetts as we honored all the things that make our region unique during 413 Day! This year, Senator Velis has put forward a bill that is progressing through the legislative process to officially designate April 13th as 413 Day throughout the state. On Monday, our office participated in local festivities with officials from across Massachusetts, which included an exclusive look at the new Holyoke Veterans Home. Our entire team, along with the Senator, is eagerly looking forward to welcoming residents into this state-of-the-art facility within the next year!

This week, MassEcon hosted its 22nd Annual Team Massachusetts Economic Impact Awards at Gillette Stadium, where Erd Metal of Westfield was among a select group of businesses recognized statewide for their significant contributions to both Western Massachusetts and the broader state economy. Although our team was unable to attend the celebration on Thursday, we were pleased to present Erd Metal with an official Senate citation in honor of this accomplishment. Congratulations!

April marks National Donate Life Month, a time dedicated to increasing awareness about organ donation, paying tribute to donors, and celebrating those whose lives have been transformed by their generosity. This cause is especially meaningful to Team Velis, which is why we were honored to participate in an event at the State House on Wednesday aimed at promoting donor registration and spreading the word about its impact.

On Friday, the City of Westfield honored Chief Patrick Egloff as he retired after 31 years of dedicated service with the Westfield Fire Department. Throughout his distinguished career, Chief Egloff demonstrated unwavering commitment and leadership, making a lasting impact on the community. Team Velis was proud to present an official citation at his retirement celebration, expressing the Senator’s heartfelt gratitude for Chief Egloff’s remarkable service to the City of Westfield.

This week, Team Velis hosted office hours in Chicopee and Holyoke. Next week, we will be hosting office hours at the Easthampton Council on Aging on Tuesday from 10:30am to 11:30am. If you are unable to make office hours, please remember that you can reach us by email, john.velis@masenate.gov, by phone, (413) 572-3920, and online at senatorjohnvelis.com.

We hope all our local students and teachers have a relaxing April vacation this upcoming week. And to all those participating in the Boston Marathon on Monday, rest up and good luck!

Sincerely,

Team Velis

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