Common Sense for the Commonwealth hosts regional town hall

An organization created by the Massachusetts business leader and former U. S. Ambassador to Denmark hosted a regional town hall this morning. 22 News reporter Nick Antonakis joins us live in studio now with a look at the conversations they had. Julia, community and political leaders from around western Massachusetts came together for the town hall discussions this morning, highlighting major issues that face the western part of the state. Common sense is for common sense for the Commonwealth's goal of the town hall is to incorporate western Massachusetts is residents concerns into the eventual shaping of a statewide policy agenda, bringing together voices to hit on pressing topics like rising costs, housing, small businesses and more is pivotal to reaching, like the name says, common sense solutions. Alan Leventhal established the organization with the hope of creating more platforms for those conversations to happen. While the talks were difficult at times, it's exactly what's needed to move forward. What we heard today is so much what the needs are in this community. If we don't have a growing state and a growing job base, we're not gonna have the resources to provide the type of support that's so important to provide for people's lives. And Springfield's a representative example of that. Various representatives of Western Mass were in attendance, including Senator Adam Gomez to hear what he had to say at the event. Soon. It's a 22 news later this evening. Working for you. Nick Hanson, Akis 22 News.