City Councilor Michael Canuel

06/17/2026

I was honored tonight, along with Councilor Michael Canuel, to present Ret. Capt. Mary E. Goff of the U.S. Army Nurse Corps with a City Citation in recognition of her dedicated commitment and unwavering support for her fellow veterans here in Fall River.

Thank you to the Nurses Honor Guard for the invitation. Seeing Mary made an honorary member of your group tonight was truly priceless. I’m grateful I was able to be part of such a special evening.

06/15/2026

This weekend, my family and I had the opportunity to attend Fall River's Day of Portugal celebration.

It was wonderful to see our community come together to celebrate the culture, traditions, and contributions of the Portuguese community, which are such an important part of Fall River's identity and history.

Thank you to the organizers, volunteers, performers, and everyone who helped make the weekend such a success. We enjoyed the food, music, and festivities, and most importantly, the chance to spend time with friends, neighbors, and members of our community.

Feliz Dia de Portugal! 🇵🇹🇺🇸

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Neste fim de semana, a minha família e eu tivemos a oportunidade de participar nas celebrações do Dia de Portugal em Fall River.

Foi maravilhoso ver a nossa comunidade reunida para celebrar a cultura, as tradições e as contribuições da comunidade portuguesa, que são uma parte tão importante da identidade e da história de Fall River.

Obrigado a todos os organizadores, voluntários, artistas e participantes que ajudaram a tornar este fim de semana um grande sucesso. Gostámos muito da comida, da música e das festividades, mas acima de tudo da oportunidade de conviver com amigos, vizinhos e membros da nossa comunidade.

Feliz Dia de Portugal! 🇵🇹🇺🇸

06/10/2026

I wanted to provide an update regarding the SRTA assessment increase that I highlighted during our recent budget discussions.

After raising concerns about the size of the increase, I spoke at length with the SRTA Administrator and Chief Executive Officer to better understand the numbers and determine whether there was any opportunity to reduce the impact on Fall River taxpayers.

Based on that conversation and the numerous documents sent to me after the conversation, I am satisfied that the assessment was calculated correctly and in accordance with the established funding formula. I was also informed that the increase is largely attributable to the addition of Sunday bus service, which was approved by the SRTA Advisory Board in 2023. The FY27 assessment is generally consistent with the projections that were presented when that service expansion was approved.

I also learned that Fall River's representative on the Advisory Board at the time, the then-City Administrator serving as the Mayor's designee, voted in favor of the service expansion and the associated financial plan.

Importantly, I was advised that there are no reserve funds available that could be used to offset or reduce this assessment, and there is no mechanism to reduce Fall River's obligation for FY27. In short, the increase is real, the calculation is correct, and the amount must be paid.

While the increase remains significant, I believe it was important to ask the questions, verify the facts, and understand exactly what is driving the cost. Taxpayers deserve transparency, especially when a budget item increases by more than $600,000 in a single year.

I appreciate the time the SRTA Administrator and Chief Executive Officer spent answering my questions and providing detailed information.

06/08/2026

06/04/2026

📊 A number in our FY2027 budget that deserves more scrutiny.

Last night during the budget hearing, I raised concerns about Fall River's assessment for SRTA (Southeastern Regional Transit Authority) — and unfortunately, I didn't get the clarity I was hoping for.

Here's what the data shows:

Fall River's SRTA assessment is jumping from $1,698,180 in FY2026 to $2,322,260 in FY2027 — a $624,080 increase, or 36.7% in a single year. For context, we've seen steady 2–3% annual increases for years. This spike is on par with the FY2018 jump that followed a major restructuring.

What's even more striking: of the $2.37 million in additional regional transit funding being assessed statewide in FY2027, Fall River is absorbing 26.3% of it — more than a quarter of the entire statewide increase according to preliminary cherry sheet estimates.

I asked the administration about this two weeks ago. I asked again last night. We still don't have a satisfying explanation for why Fall River is being hit this hard relative to other communities.

To be clear — this is not a line item the City Council can unilaterally cut. Our SRTA assessment is set at the regional level. But that doesn't mean we shouldn't pressure test it. We should be asking hard questions: How is this number calculated? What's driving the spike? Is Fall River's share of the formula correct? Can it be reduced?

Residents deserve answers, and I'll keep pushing.

05/25/2026

Today, we honor the American heroes who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

May we never forget the courage, service, and patriotism of the brave men and women who gave everything for this nation.

God bless our fallen heroes, and God bless America. 🇺🇸

05/16/2026

This morning, my boys and I joined others at Oak Grove Cemetery to place flags on the graves of veterans ahead of Memorial Day. 🇺🇸

It was a meaningful opportunity not only to honor the men and women who served our country and made the ultimate sacrifice, but also to teach the next generation the importance of remembrance, gratitude, and respect for those who defended our freedoms.

I believe it is important that our children understand the sacrifices made by those who came before us and that traditions like this continue to be passed down for generations to come.

Thank you to all of the volunteers who took part in helping ensure these heroes are never forgotten.

05/16/2026

I had the opportunity to attend several meaningful events across our community over the last 24 hours and wanted to share.

Thursday evening, I attended the 2026 Outstanding Vocational Student Awards Banquet for Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School, recognizing 19 outstanding students representing trades from across the school. Their hard work, dedication, and talent are a reminder of the bright future ahead for our city and region.

Today, I attended the Civil War Monument Ceremony at Oak Grove Cemetery, honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country.

I then joined the Peace Officer Memorial Ceremony to recognize and remember the law enforcement officers who gave their lives in the line of duty, and to thank those who continue to serve and protect our communities every day.

From there, I attended the Haitian Flag Raising Ceremony at Fall River Government Center, celebrating Haitian heritage, culture, and the many contributions of the Haitian community here in Fall River.

Thank you to everyone involved in organizing these important events and for all those working every day to strengthen our community.

05/08/2026

Glad to attend this morning’s grand opening of the new Behavioral Health Network Abilities Learning Center here in Fall River. Expanding access to behavioral and learning support services for children and families is an important investment in our community, and we’re proud to welcome them to the city.