Louis A. Costi * Candidate For City Council Ward 2 - Pittsfield
A local businessman, Louis Costi, ward 2's incumbent City Councilor, is personally invested in the success of the downtown. Owner of North Street's Wright Block, Costi, 65, is interested in promoting the city as a haven for businesses while also working to attract artists to the area to support the growing creative economy.
"People used to have the perception that the downtown was unsafe. That perception is just gone," said Costi, who is seeking a third term.
Costi is heavily involved in community activities, serving on boards for the Boys and Girls Club of America, the Morningside Initiative and CIAO of the Berkshires. He is also a member of the Downtown Crime Watch and a driving force behind the redevelopment of the A.H. Rice Silk Mill into an artists' community.
In Ward 2, Costi's main concerns include public safety, street and sidewalk upkeep, economic development and the future of the Hill 78 PCB-landfill site.
"It's amazing all the differences we've seen in the city over the last year. It's all because of the work the City Council has done," Costi said.