Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra ’96 has attributed her decision to attend Smith College to the profound impression she experienced upon first driving into the city. After completing her undergraduate studies, Sciarra pursued a career in political consulting in San Francisco and later joined the ACLU’s national office in New York. While earning her graduate degree at the City University of New York, Sciarra resided in Northampton and was a campaign manager for a local City Councilor before being inspired to run for office herself.
Sciarra’s decision to run for the City Council was motivated by a love for her city. “Northampton is the best city in the world,” she beamed. Though she was initially hesitant about seeking a public position, “I was always a behind-the-scenes kinda gal; I never thought about running [for office], but the city council seat for the ward I live in became available, and I just kind of spontaneously said, … ‘I’ll do it!’” said, Sciarra.
Sciarra was elected as a representative of Northampton’s fourth ward and subsequently as an at-large councilor before ultimately ascending to the position of Mayor in 2021. Sciarra’s campaign addressed issues such as affordable housing and climate justice. She has since secured a location for a “Resilience Hub” project, which was initiated by the previous Mayor, David Narkewicz, that is aimed at centralizing services for Northampton’s vulnerable residents in a vacant church building near Smith College.
According to Sciarra, the Resilience Hub will serve as a vital day center for individuals experiencing housing and food insecurity, providing a much-needed space for community members to connect with critical services and resources. “The pandemic amplified a need for a place where people can be, […] the resilience hub is a place to connect the different services together so it is easier for them to find out what they need and figure out what they need for next steps in their lives,” said Sciarra.
Sciarra has also worked to create a new section of the Northampton Health and Human Services Department to work on an alternative response for calls or help or service when a police officer is not necessary. “We rely on emergency services for so much that doesn’t fall under what their mission is and when it is not appropriate for an armed response to a mental health crisis or a substance use situation.” The Department for Health and Human Services will also be housed in the Resilience Hub.
Mayor Sciarra recognizes that affordable housing is one of the most pressing issues affecting young people today, particularly for Smith College students who wish to continue living in Northampton after graduation. Sciarra is keenly aware of the challenges posed by rising living costs and is actively working to increase the availability of affordable housing options in the downtown area and closer to the town center. Transportation is also a significant obstacle residents face, particularly for low-income individuals and families. The city has, however, recently developed affordable housing units on Bridge Road, including options for family housing. “Family housing is one of my biggest priorities,” says Sciarra. She is also working on creating single-room occupancy housing, which Sciarra notes is a gap in what Northampton currently has for affordable housing options, in a space right behind City Hall’s campus. “You might look outside and wonder how we will fit a building here, but we want to use every nugget of space we can for affordable housing.”
Mayor Sciarra understands the importance of enhancing Northampton’s downtown and nightlife scene, which is particularly significant for the Smith College community. In her efforts to revitalize the area, Sciarra is currently focusing on the “Summer on Strong” initiative, which involves closing off Strong Avenue to traffic and creating an outdoor dining area for families and residents to enjoy. Sciarra’s ultimate aim is to create more opportunities for people to venture downtown and appreciate the city’s atmosphere.
In addition, Sciarra is collaborating with local businesses to revitalize, what she and team members have coined as, “Paradise East,” an area beyond the railroad tunnel that has been historically underutilized. As part of this effort, Sciarra and her team are installing LED lights along the train path to illuminate the way for visitors as they explore this overlooked area. Through these measures, Sciarra is creating an inviting and dynamic environment that encourages community members and visitors alike to engage with Northampton’s downtown scene and contribute to its growth.
Mayor Sciarra is committed to working with Smith students to address their needs as she acknowledges the important role Smith plays in Northampton’s community. She encourages Smithies to get involved with events the city of Northampton hosts, to explore Northampton beyond Smith’s campus, and to reach out to her office and the city council for concerns and ideas they may have.
