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: 28,027 (-965)
Last Week: 5405 (-1234)
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 Days: 11,092 (-570)
Last Week: 2249 (-526)

TOP FIVE MOST-READ STORIES IN MAY
1. Board Of Registrars Takes No Action On Appeal Of Signature Disqualifications. Hearing Continued To Monday by Art Keene
2. Economics In A Small College Town by Gerald Friedman and Maral Asik
3. Letter: Petitioners Represent Tyranny Of The Minority by Matthew Blumenfeld
4. Town Attorney Caught On Hot Mic In Strategy Meeting To Subvert Appeal On Jones Petition Signatures. Petitioners Move For Her Exclusion For Conflict of Interest by Art Keene
5. Updated: Lawsuit Over Wrongfully Disqualified Signatures Filed In Supreme Judicial Court by Art Keene

TOP FIVE MOST-READ STORIES LAST WEEK
1. Updated: Lawsuit Over Wrongfully Disqualified Signatures Filed In Supreme Judicial Court by Art Keene
2. Board of Registrars To Hear Open Meeting Law Complaint On May 24 by Art Keene
3. Letter: Petitioners Represent Tyranny Of The Minority by Matthew Blumenfeld
4. Planning Board Endorses Inclusionary Zoning, Rejects Temporary Building Moratorium by Maura Keene
5. 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

WHAT”S IN THIS ISSUE?

NEWLY POSTED / BREAKING NEWS
Letter: Open Letter Of Concern About The Town Attorney’s Misrepresentations To The Hampshire Superior Court by Sarah McKee

Board of Registrars Dismisses Open Meeting Law Violations Complaints by Art Keene

Opinion: Town Needs A Comprehensive Parking Plan Before Beginning Work On North Common by Michael Childs

Opinion: Love, Justice And Climate Change, A Conversation with Isioma by Russ Vernon-Jones

Opinion: How To Spot The Difference Between A Real Climate Policy And Greenwashing Guff by Damian Carrington

Letter: Integrity of Board of Registrars Is On The Line With Petitioners Complaint by John Bonifaz

ARTS
ARHS Presents The Sound Of Music June 3-5

Photo Of The Week: An Indy May Gallery by Art Keene

BUDGET
Community Safety Working Group Made To Wait 2 Hours To Join Their Own Meeting. Town Manager Proposes Spending $475k On CSWG’s $2.4M Programs by Zoe Crabtree

Finance Committee Considers Dedicated Fund For Reparations In Amherst by Art Keene

BUSINESS
The Montague Bookmill Complex and COVID by William Kaizen

COVID-19
The Montague Bookmill Complex and COVID by William Kaizen

COVID-19 Weekly Update by Art and Maura Keene

CLIMATE / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE

Opinion: Love, Justice And Climate Change, A Conversation with Isioma by Russ Vernon-Jones

Opinion: How To Spot The Difference Between A Real Climate Policy And Greenwashing Guff by Damian Carrington

Forum Explores Climate Change And Affordable Housing by Maura Keene

Almanac: First Light by Stephen Braun

Photo Of The Week: An Indy May Gallery by Art Keene

DEMOCRACY
Letter: Open Letter Of Concern About The Town Attorney’s Misrepresentations To The Hampshire Superior Court by Sarah McKee

Board of Registrars Dismisses Open Meeting Law Violations Complaints by Art Keene

Letter: Integrity of Board of Registrars Is On The Line With Petitioners Complaint by John Bonifaz

Updated: Lawsuit Over Wrongfully Disqualified Signatures Filed In Supreme Judicial Court by Art Keene

Board Of Registrars Continues Hearing On OML Violation Complaint Until June 1 by Art Keene

DOWNTOWN
CRC Rejects Temporary Downtown Building Moratorium by Art Keene

Letter: Turn East Pleasant Street Into A Pedestrian Mall by Karin Winter

EVENTS
ARHS Presents The Sound Of Music June 3-5

Town Council Proclaims LGBTQ June LGBTQ Pride Month

COVID-Safe Memorial Day Ceremony Planned

Jones Library Will Reopen June 14

Town Hall & Other Municipal Buildings Will Reopen To Public On June 1

FEATURES
Almanac: First Light by Stephen Braun

The Montague Bookmill Complex and COVID by Willian Kaizen

Photo Of The Week: An Indy May Gallery by Art Keene

Town Manager Report for May 24, 2021

HISTORIC PRESERVATION
CRC Rejects Temporary Downtown Building Moratorium by Art Keene

Issues & Analyses: How To Protect The Historic Resources Of North Pleasant Street by Suzannah Fabing Muspratt

HOUSING
Affordable Housing Experts Respond To Town’s Comprehensive Housing Plan Draft by Art and Maura Keene

Forum Explores Climate Change And Affordable Housing by Maura Keene

ISSUES & ANALYSES
Issues & Analyses: How To Protect The Historic Resources Of North Pleasant Street by Suzannah Fabing Muspratt

Issues & Analyses: A Zoning Primer – How Building Permits Are Decided by Kitty Axelson-Berry

LIBRARIES
Jones Library Will Reopen June 14

OPINION
Opinion: How To Spot The Difference Between A Real Climate Policy And Greenwashing Guff by Damian Carrington

Opinion: Love, Justice And Climate Change, A Conversation with Isioma by Russ Vernon-Jones

Opinion: Town Needs A Comprehensive Parking Plan Before Beginning Work On North Common by Michael Childs

Letter: Integrity of Board of Registrars Is On The Line With Petitioners Complaint by John Bonifaz

Letter: Turn East Pleasant Street Into A Pedestrian Mall by Karin Winter

Letter: Amherst Doesn’t Really Care About Transparency by Jennifer Page

POLICE
Community Safety Working Group Made To Wait 2 Hours To Join Their Own Meeting. Town Manager Proposes Spending $475k On CSWG’s $2.4M Programs by Zoe Crabtree

Town Council Asked To Fund Programs Supporting BIPOC Residents by Maura Keene

REPARATIONS
Finance Committee Considers Dedicated Fund For Reparations In Amherst by Art Keene

SOCIAL JUSTICE
Letter: Integrity of Board of Registrars Is On The Line With Petitioners Complaint by John Bonifaz

Updated: Lawsuit Over Wrongfully Disqualified Signatures Filed In Supreme Judicial Court by Art Keene

Finance Committee Considers Dedicated Fund For Reparations In Amherst by Art Keene

Town Council Asked To Fund Programs Supporting BIPOC Residents by Maura Keene

Town Council Proclaims LGBTQ June LGBTQ Pride Month

TOWN GOVERNMENT
Letter: Open Letter Of Concern About The Town Attorney’s Misrepresentations To The Hampshire Superior Court by Sarah McKee

Board of Registrars Dismisses Open Meeting Law Violations Complaints by Art Keene

Opinion: Town Needs A Comprehensive Parking Plan Before Beginning Work On North Common by Michael Childs

Updated: Lawsuit Over Wrongfully Disqualified Signatures Filed In Supreme Judicial Court by Art Keene

Community Safety Working Group Made To Wait 2 Hours To Join Their Own Meeting. Town Manager Proposes Spending $475k On CSWG’s $2.4M Programs by Zoe Crabtree

Land Use Hearings This Week: Zoning Board Of Appeals And Design Review Board by Hilda Greenbaum

Affordable Housing Experts Respond To Town’s Comprehensive Housing Plan Draft by Art and Maura Keene

CRC Rejects Temporary Downtown Building Moratorium by Art Keene

Board Of Registrars Continues Hearing On OML Violation Complaint Until June 1 by Art Keene

Town Council Asked To Fund Programs Supporting BIPOC Residents by Maura Keene

Council Reaffirms North Common Redesign, Endorses Roundabout For Pomeroy Village Intersection, Discusses Rezoning Of Public Parking Lot Behind CVS by Maura Keene

Town Council Proclaims LGBTQ June LGBTQ Pride Month

Town Hall & Other Municipal Buildings Will Reopen To Public On June 1

Issues & Analyses: A Zoning Primer – How Building Permits Are Decided by Kitty Axelson-Berry

Letter: Amherst Doesn’t Really Care About Transparency by Jennifer Page

Town Manager Report for May 24, 2021