Agawam, Massachusetts

The Agawam, Massachusetts City Council has reignited debate over the public school district's "Brownies" nickname and mascot, which depicts an Indigenous person in a headdress. A council resolution affirmed the school committee's exclusive authority over district symbols like colors, logos, and mascots. Sponsors say it was meant to reinforce governance procedures, not take a position on the mascot itself. Mayor Chris Johnson, who chairs the school committee, said he was unaware of the resolution beforehand and noted current talks involve adopting a stylized letter "A" logo, not changing the nickname. Massachusetts has no statewide ban on Native American school mascots, though advocates continue pushing for one.

Agawam's City Council voted 10-1 to oppose provisions in Massachusetts' pending economic development bill that would let duplexes be built by right in all residential zones and multifamily housing by right on land owned by religious institutions. The resolution, backed by Mayor Christopher C. Johnson, argues zoning decisions should remain local rather than be set by state lawmakers on Beacon Hill.

The lone dissenting vote came from Councilor Thomas D. Hendrickson, who cited long waitlists for units managed by the Agawam Housing Authority as evidence that restrictive local zoning is worsening the region's housing shortage. Other councilors who supported the resolution acknowledged an affordability crisis but said denser zoning wouldn't necessarily lower costs, pointing to high construction costs and concerns about strain on local services and property values.

A legislative conference committee is currently reconciling House and Senate versions of the bill, which differ on whether to include duplex zoning, multifamily-on-religious-land provisions, both, or neither. Advocacy group Abundant Housing Massachusetts has pushed for both measures as part of efforts to close the state's housing gap.