In this episode of So That Reminds Me, hosts Ryan Feyre and Tyler Garnet sit down with Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni to discuss the work of the Hampden District Attorney’s Office, youth outreach, public safety and community engagement across Western Massachusetts.

Gulluni talks about his office’s youth programs, including Hoop Up Springfield and HERizon, the importance of building relationships with young people and why approaches such as “Scared Straight” may not be the best way to prevent crime. He also discusses other community outreach programs, how their effectiveness can be measured and the importance of connecting with residents throughout Hampden County.

The conversation also covers the Hampden County courthouse, including Gulluni’s concerns about the process behind the selection of the Liberty Junction bid as well as Springfield’s recent multi-agency public safety initiative, which resulted in more than 50 arrests, more than 200 motor vehicle citations and firearm seizures over a two-day period.

Ryan and Tyler also recap the Sept. 1 Massachusetts primary election, including several key results in Western Massachusetts, U.S. Senate and Congressional races and the South Hadley tax override vote.

• Welcome: 0:30
• Primary election results: 1:08
• District Attorney Anthony Gulluni: 10:17
• Wrap up: 45:09

Ahead of the upcoming election for Massachusetts’ 1st Congressional District, So That Reminds Me spoke with Democratic congressional challenger Jeromie Whalen and independent candidate Nadia Milleron about the race for the U.S. House of Representatives, their campaigns and the issues facing voters in the district. The interviews were conducted at Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi’s annual picnic.

Whalen and Milleron discuss their candidacies, priorities and views on the issues as they seek to represent Massachusetts’ 1st Congressional District in Congress.

Note: Incumbent U.S. Rep. Richard Neal was invited to participate in an interview at the sheriff’s picnic, and other invitations to participate in an interview for this podcast were unanswered.

• Welcome: 0:30
• Top news in Western Mass.: 1:07
• Democratic candidate Jeromie Whalen: 13:10
• Independent candidate Nadia Milleron: 22:24
• Wrap up: 33:52

Food for Thought: Talking Politics at the Sheriff’s Picnic

On this special episode of So That Reminds Me, the co-hosts Ryan Feyre, Tyler Garnett, Dennis Hackett and Chris Maza sat down with elected officials and political hopefuls from Western Massachusetts to the Massachusetts State House to discuss the issues and their platforms as a pivotal election season approaches.

• Welcome: 0:26
• Top news in Western Mass: 4:43
• Sheriff Nick Cocchi: 9:07
• Governor Maura Healey’s media avail: 15:15
• State Auditor Diana DiZoglio: 23:11
• Governor’s Council candidate Michael Fenton: 34:36
• Republican treasurer candidate Elizabeth Dionne: 43:27
• State Rep. Angelo Puppolo: 57:28
• State Rep. candidate Michael Lachenmeyer: 1:08:21
• State Rep. candidate Nichole Coakley: 1:16:36
• Springfield City Councilor Victor Davila: 1:24:27
• Springfield City Council hopeful Juan Latorre: 1:32:02
• Wrap up from the Sheriff’s Picnic: 1:41:09