Dear 413 Insider Readers,
We at *413 Insider* are committed to delivering accurate, timely, and respectful coverage of the stories that matter to our Western Massachusetts community.
Unfortunately, a recent introduction to a linked story at Western Mass news published in our newsletter on October 21,2025 regarding developments in Holyoke City Council contained a significant error that misrepresented key facts and individuals involved. We take full responsibility for this mistake and are issuing this formal retraction.
The Error
In our summary to the linked story titled "Former City Counciler David Bartley's Voting Rights Revolked for fleeing the country after child assault charges," we incorrectly identified City Councilor **David Bartley** as the individual facing criminal charges related to assulting a child, councilor whose seat was vacated—resulting in the loss of voting rights.
This was due to an editorial mix-up during fact-checking and editing, where names were inadvertently transposed in the narrative and supporting details.
David Bartley was not involved in any criminal activity and that the error unfairly implicated him.
The Correction
The individual in question is **Wilmer Puello-Mota**, a former Holyoke City Councilor for Ward 2, not David Bartley. Puello-Mota was charged in Rhode Island in with criminal offenses.
Pursuant the Holyoke City Charter, which provides for the automatic vacancy of an elected office upon conviction of a crime punishable by imprisonment, the City Council voted to vacate Puello-Mota's seat preemptively amid his pending charges. This action disqualified him from voting or participating in council proceedings at the time.
David Bartley, the current Ward 3 Councilor, was not charged, convicted, or disqualified in this matter. He participated in the 2022 council proceedings as a colleague and has since commented publicly on the legal and procedural complexities involved, including a subsequent court ruling that briefly reinstated Puello-Mota before further appeals.
#### Our Apology
This error not only undermined the integrity of our reporting but also unfairly implicated an innocent public servant, Councilor David Bartley, in a serious and sensitive legal matter. We extend our sincerest apologies to **Councilor David Bartley** for any distress, reputational harm, or professional inconvenience this may have caused him and his family.
At *413 Insider*, accuracy is our north star, and we fell short here. We have implemented an additional layer of cross-verification in our editorial process to prevent such oversights moving forward, including a dedicated review for stories involving public officials and legal proceedings.
If you have any questions or concerns about this retraction, please reach out to us directly at editor@413insider.com. Thank you for your continued support and for holding us accountable—we're grateful for the opportunity to make this right.
**With deepest regrets,**
**The 413 Insider Team**
October 22, 2025
