What’s In This Issue?

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ANALYTICS 
(numbers in parentheses reflect the + or – change since last week)
Number of Unique Page Views:
Last 30 days: 28,992 (+224)
Last Week: 6639 (-723)
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 Days: 11,662 (+183)
Last Week: 2775 (+6)

TOP FIVE MOST-READ STORIES LAST WEEK
1. Letter: Petitioners Represent Tyranny Of The Minority by Matthew Blumenfeld
2. Amherst Board Of Health Recommends Opt-Out Of Mosquito Spraying Program by Lenore Bryck
3. Finance Committee Questions Special Education Costs and School Salaries by Toni Cunningham
4. Town Clerk Uses Ex-Offico Role On Board Of Registrars To Kill Fresh Count Of Petition Signatures by Art Keene
5. A Few Questions For… Michele Miller And Matthew Andrews, Reparations For Amherst. by Kitty Axelson-Berry

WHAT”S IN THIS ISSUE?

NEW/BREAKING NEWS
Lawsuit Over Wrongfully Disqualified Signatures Filed In Supreme Judicial Court by Art Keene

COVID-19
In-Person Government Meetings May Resume June 15 by Toni Cunningham

Demand High At Middle School Vaccination Clinic by Toni Cunningham

Amherst Vaccine Clinic Schedule Update: Walk-in Appointments Still Available

COVID-19 Daily Update by Art and Maura Keene

CLIMATE /ENVIRONMENT /NATURE
Forum On Climate Change And Affordable Housing Slated For May 25

Opinion: Love, Justice, And Climate Change: Nurturing Hope by Russ Vernon-Jones

Almanac : Sunflecks by Stephen Braun

Photo Of The Week: Cicadas Have Arrived Though Not In Western Mass, By Eli Keene

DOWNTOWN
Planning Board Endorses Inclusionary Zoning, Rejects Temporary Building Moratorium Following Public Hearing by Maura Keene

Letter: Disappointed In Planning Board But Not Surprised by Ira Bryck

Who Plans The Future of Amherst? A Few Questions for Chris Brestrup and David Ziomek by Kitty Axelson-Berry

EVENTS
Amherst Schedules Juneteenth Community Celebration

Forum On Climate Change And Affordable Housing Slated For May 25

FEATURES
Who Plans The Future of Amherst? A Few Questions for Chris Brestrup and David Ziomek by Kitty Axelson-Berry

Almanac : Sunflecks by Stephen Braun

From Other Sources: News For And About Amherst. (#36). This Week’s Focus: The War In Gaza by Art Keene

Photo Of The Week: Cicadas Have Arrived Though Not In Western Mass, By Eli Keene

Town Manager Report For May 17, 2021

HOUSING
Planning Board Endorses Inclusionary Zoning, Rejects Temporary Building Moratorium Following Public Hearing by Maura Keene

Forum On Climate Change And Affordable Housing Slated For May 25

Issues and Analyses: A Primer on Accessory Dwelling Units by Suzannah Muspratt and Kitty Axelson-Berry

HISTORY
Permission To Demolish Several Historic Homes Approved, Proposal To Amend Zoning In Business Limited District Explained, And Discussion Of Jones Library Preservation Agreement Postponed by Hilda Greenbaum

Amherst Schedules Juneteenth Community Celebration

ISSUES & ANALYSES
Issues and Analyses: A Primer on Accessory Dwelling Units by Suzannah Muspratt and Kitty Axelson-Berry

OPINION
Public Comment: Fund Community Safety Working Group & Amherst Schools

Letter: Disappointed In Planning Board But Not Surprised by Ira Bryck

Letter: Defund The Police. Support Amherst Schools And CSWG by Marisol Pierce Bonifaz

Opinion: Love, Justice, And Climate Change: Nurturing Hope by Russ Vernon-Jones

POLICE
Public Requests Shift In Funding From Police To Community Response Program by Maura Keene

Finance Committee Debates Police Funding Options by Toni Cunningham

Public Comment: Fund Community Safety Working Group & Amherst Schools by Various Authors

Letter: Defund The Police. Support Amherst Schools And CSWG by Marisol Pierce Bonifaz

SOCIAL JUSTICE
New Lawsuit Over Wrongfully Disqualified Signatures Filed In Supreme Judicial Court by Art Keene

Council Debates Creation of African Heritage Reparations Coalition, Opposes Closure of the Gorse Children’s Center in South Hadley, and Opts Out of Aerial Mosquito Spraying by Maura Keene

Public Requests Shift In Funding From Police To Community Response Program by Maura Keene

Council Issues Race Amity Day Proclamation. Plans Race Amity Day Celebration

Amherst Schedules Juneteenth Community Celebration

Public Comment: Fund Community Safety Working Group & Amherst Schools Various Authors

From Other Sources: News For And About Amherst. (#36). This Week’s Focus: The War In Gaza by Art Keene

SCHOOLS
Demand High At Middle School Vaccination Clinic by Toni Cunningham

Amherst Education Foundation Announces 2021-2022 Excellence Grant Recipients

Public Comment: Fund Community Safety Working Group & Amherst Schools by Various Authors

Letter: Defund The Police. Support Amherst Schools And CSWG by Marisol Pierce Bonifaz

TOWN GOVERNMENT
New Lawsuit Over Wrongfully Disqualified Signatures Filed In Supreme Judicial Court by Art Keene

Board of Registrars To Hear Open Meeting Law Complaint On May 24 by Art Keene

In-Person Government Meetings May Resume June 15 by Toni Cunningham

Planning Board Endorses Inclusionary Zoning, Rejects Temporary Building Moratorium Following Public Hearing by Maura Keene

Permission To Demolish Several Historic Homes Approved, Proposal To Amend Zoning In Business Limited District Explained, And Discussion Of Jones Library Preservation Agreement Postponed by Hilda Greenbaum

Council Debates Creation of African Heritage Reparations Coalition, Opposes Closure of the Gorse Children’s Center in South Hadley, and Opts Out of Aerial Mosquito Spraying by Maura Keene

Public Requests Shift In Funding From Police To Community Response Program by Maura Keene

Finance Committee Debates Police Funding Options by Toni Cunningham

Council Issues Race Amity Day Proclamation. Plans Race Amity Day Celebration

Issues and Analyses: A Primer on Accessory Dwelling Units by Suzannah Muspratt and Kitty Axelson-Berry

Letter: Disappointed In Planning Board But Not Surprised by Ira Bryck

Who Plans The Future of Amherst? A Few Questions for Chris Brestrup and David Ziomek by Kitty Axelson-Berry

Town Manager Report For May 17, 2021