What’s In This Issue?
Photo: Dreamtime
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ANALYTICS
(numbers in parentheses reflect the + or – change compared with the previous week.
Number of Unique Page Views:
Last 30 days: 32,323 (+4412)
Last Week: 9605 (-1730))
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 Days: 13,436 (+1458)
Last Week: 3845 (+651)
TOP FIVE MOST-READ STORIES LAST WEEK
1. Opinion: The Balance Of Power On The Town Council. Reflections By A Soon-To-Be-Former Councilor On How This Town Council Fails to Meet The Promises Of The Charter, Democracy, Transparency, And Public Participation. (#4) by Darcy DuMont
2. Opinion: The Toxic Politics of Amherst Forward by Art Keene
3. Letter: Thoughts On The Library by Mark Johnson
4. Proposed Amendment To Board Of Health Regulations Would Require Curbside Compost Pickup by Art Keene
5. Letter: Amherst Forward’s Unwelcome Endorsement Is An Act Of White Privilege by Gaylord Saulsberry
WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?
NEW /BREAKING
TOP FIVE MOST-READ STORIES LAST WEEK
1. Opinion: The Balance Of Power On The Town Council. Reflections By A Soon-To-Be-Former Councilor On How This Town Council Fails to Meet The Promises Of The Charter, Democracy, Transparency, And Public Participation. (#4) by Darcy DuMont
2. Opinion: The Toxic Politics of Amherst Forward by Art Keene
3. Letter: Thoughts On The Library by Mark Johnson
4. Proposed Amendment To Board Of Health Regulations Would Require Curbside Compost Pickup by Art Keene
5. Letter: Amherst Forward’s Unwelcome Endorsement Is An Act Of White Privilege by Gaylord Saulsberry
WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?
NEW /BREAKING
New Legal Filing: Jones Library Reconstruction Project Should Require A ⅔ Supermajority To Pass In Referendum
Opinion: Jones Library Expansion Threatens Town Budgets For Years To Come by Art Keene
Letter: Students Are Not Disadvantaged By New District Maps by Meg Gage
Amherst Awarded $450k In State Funds for Civilian Community Responder Initative
COVID 19 Update For The Week Of October 27, 2021 by Art and Maura Keene
Letter: Town Council Has Failed to Deliver More Democracy, Meaningful Economic Development, Intelligent Rezoning Ira Bryck
Letter: Outgoing Councilor – Judge Candidates For Council By What They Have Done And Not On What They Say by Darcy DuMont
Letter: Libraries And Schools and Taxes by Jeff Lee
CAMPUS
Letter: Students Are Not Disadvantaged By New District Maps by Meg Gage
UMass Dining Services To Hold On-the-Spot Hiring Event
CLIMATE / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
Opinion: Love, Justice And Climate Change. An Arrest While Protesting Climate Inaction by Russ Vernon-Jones
Almanac: Underworld by Stephen Braun
Photo Of The Week: New Work In Progress Beside Pond In East Leverett by Richard Sclove
CONSERVATION / RECREATION
Critical Habitat, Trails, And A Cherished Farm Conserved On The Mount Holyoke Range by Kestrel Land Trust
Letter: Conservation Commission Will Discuss Forty-Four Acre Solar Installation That Would Replace Forested Land In Amherst by Robert Bezucha
ELECTIONS / VOTING
New Legal Filing: Jones Library Reconstruction Project Should Require A ⅔ Supermajority To Pass In Referendum
Opinion: Jones Library Expansion Threatens Town Budgets For Years To Come by Art Keene
Letter: Students Are Not Disadvantaged By New District Maps by Meg Gage
Letter: Town Council Has Failed to Deliver More Democracy, Meaningful Economic Development, Intelligent Rezoning Ira Bryck
Letter: Libraries And Schools and Taxes by Jeff Lee
Letter: Outgoing Councilor – Judge Candidates For Council By What They Have Done And Not On What They Say by Darcy DuMont
Vigorous Debate Over Proposed Redistricting Plan by Maura Keene
Issues & Analyses: Candidates In Contested Races Weigh In On Social Justice by Art Keene
Election FAQ 2021
Public Comment: Redistricting For Equality An Impossible Task Under The Current Charter by Maria Kopicki
Letter: Amherst Forward’s Unwelcome Endorsement Is An Act Of White Privilege by Gaylord Saulsberry
Letter: I Support Candidates Who Are Reasonable, Fair, Curious, Strategic, And Open by Ira Bryck
Speak Up! Mock Vote For Councilor-At-Large With Ranked-Choice Voting by Jeff Lee
EVENTS
Prescription Drug Take Back Collection Day This Saturday
Seminar: Aging In Community – What It Takes
UMass Dining Services To Hold On-the-Spot Hiring Event
FEATURES
Speak Up! Mock Vote For Councilor-At-Large With Ranked-Choice Voting by Jeff Lee
Almanac: Underworld by Stephen Braun
Photo Of The Week: New Work In Progress Beside Pond In East Leverett by Richard Sclove
Town Manager Report For October 18, 2021
ISSUES & ANALYSES
Issues & Analyses: Candidates In Contested Races Weigh In On Social Justice by Art Keene
Issues & Analyses: Becoming Human (#5). How Universal Basic Income Can Help Build A Solidarity Economy by Boone Shear /Rich Whitney
LIBRARY
New Legal Filing: Jones Library Reconstruction Project Should Require A ⅔ Supermajority To Pass In Referendum
Opinion: Jones Library Expansion Threatens Town Budgets For Years To Come by Art Keene
Letter: Libraries And Schools and Taxes by Jeff Lee
Jones Library Trustees Adopt Resolution On Racism And Inclusion
Vote No — Start Over Smart Chair Interviewed On WHMP
Letter: Jones Trustees’ Anti-racism Resolution Is Self-Serving, Tone Deaf by Meg Gage
Letter: Failure To Protect Historic Documents Underscores Failings of Jones Library Leadership by Ken Rosenthal
Letter: Libraries And Schools by Allison McDonald
Letter: There Are Better Ways To Improve Our Libraries Than The Proposed Jones Expansion by Martha Spiegelman
Letter: I Plan To Vote No On The Library Project by Mohamed Ibrahim
Opinion: Progressive Coalition Board Encourages A “No” Vote On Jones Library Reconstruction by the Progressive Coalition of Amherst Board of Directors
Opinion: Why I Support The Library Expansion by Robert Pam
OPINION
Opinion: Jones Library Expansion Threatens Town Budgets For Years To Come by Art Keene
Letter: Town Council Has Failed to Deliver More Democracy, Meaningful Economic Development, Intelligent Rezoning Ira Bryck
Letter: Libraries And Schools and Taxes by Jeff Lee
Letter: Outgoing Councilor – Judge Candidates For Council By What They Have Done And Not On What They Say by Darcy DuMont
Public Comment: New Resident Sees Flawed Process In Promoting Parking Garage by Rani Parker
Public Comment: Redistricting For Equality An Impossible Task Under The Current Charter by Maria Kopicki
Letter: Jones Trustees’ Anti-racism Resolution Is Self-Serving, Tone Deaf by Meg Gage
Letter: Amherst Forward’s Unwelcome Endorsement Is An Act Of White Privilege by Gaylord Saulsberry
Letter: Failure To Protect Historic Documents Underscores Failings of Jones Library Leadership by Ken Rosenthal
Letter: Libraries And Schools by Allison McDonald
Letter: There Are Better Ways To Improve Our Libraries Than The Proposed Jones Expansion by Martha Spiegelman
Letter: I Plan To Vote No On The Library Project by Mohamed Ibrahim
Letter: I Support Candidates Who Are Reasonable, Fair, Curious, Strategic, And Open by Ira Bryck
Letter: My Opposition To The Ross/Ryan Parking Structure And My Disappointment In The Planning Board by Jay Silverstein
Letter: Conservation Commission Will Discuss Forty-Four Acre Solar Installation That Would Replace Forested Land In Amherst by Robert Bezucha
Opinion: Community Safety Working Group – Programs For Us Need To Be By Us by The Community Safety Working Group
Opinion: Progressive Coalition Board Encourages A “No” Vote On Jones Library Reconstruction by the Progressive Coalition of Amherst Board of Directors
Opinion: Why I Support The Library Expansion by Robert Pam
Opinion: Thoughtful, Deliberate (And Not Rushed) Planning. Reflections By A Soon-To-Be-Former Councilor On How This Town Council Fails to Meet The Promises Of The Charter, Democracy, Transparency, And Public Participation. (#5) by Darcy DuMont
Opinion: Love, Justice And Climate Change. An Arrest While Protesting Climate Inaction by Russ Vernon-Jones
PARKING
Planning Board Recommends Rezoning Of Town Lot Behind CVS For New Parking Garage by Maura Keene
Parking Restrictions For Lincoln Avenue Rejected By Town Council by Maura Keene
Public Comment: New Resident Sees Flawed Process In Promoting Parking Garage by Rani Parker
Letter: My Opposition To The Ross/Ryan Parking Structure And My Disappointment In The Planning Board by Jay Silverstein
Letter: Students Are Not Disadvantaged By New District Maps by Meg Gage
Amherst Awarded $450k In State Funds for Civilian Community Responder Initative
COVID 19 Update For The Week Of October 27, 2021 by Art and Maura Keene
Letter: Town Council Has Failed to Deliver More Democracy, Meaningful Economic Development, Intelligent Rezoning Ira Bryck
Letter: Outgoing Councilor – Judge Candidates For Council By What They Have Done And Not On What They Say by Darcy DuMont
Letter: Libraries And Schools and Taxes by Jeff Lee
CAMPUS
Letter: Students Are Not Disadvantaged By New District Maps by Meg Gage
UMass Dining Services To Hold On-the-Spot Hiring Event
CLIMATE / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
Opinion: Love, Justice And Climate Change. An Arrest While Protesting Climate Inaction by Russ Vernon-Jones
Almanac: Underworld by Stephen Braun
Photo Of The Week: New Work In Progress Beside Pond In East Leverett by Richard Sclove
CONSERVATION / RECREATION
Critical Habitat, Trails, And A Cherished Farm Conserved On The Mount Holyoke Range by Kestrel Land Trust
Letter: Conservation Commission Will Discuss Forty-Four Acre Solar Installation That Would Replace Forested Land In Amherst by Robert Bezucha
ELECTIONS / VOTING
Letter: Students Are Not Disadvantaged By New District Maps by Meg Gage
Letter: Town Council Has Failed to Deliver More Democracy, Meaningful Economic Development, Intelligent Rezoning Ira Bryck
Letter: Libraries And Schools and Taxes by Jeff Lee
Letter: Outgoing Councilor – Judge Candidates For Council By What They Have Done And Not On What They Say by Darcy DuMont
Vigorous Debate Over Proposed Redistricting Plan by Maura Keene
Issues & Analyses: Candidates In Contested Races Weigh In On Social Justice by Art Keene
Election FAQ 2021
Public Comment: Redistricting For Equality An Impossible Task Under The Current Charter by Maria Kopicki
Letter: Amherst Forward’s Unwelcome Endorsement Is An Act Of White Privilege by Gaylord Saulsberry
Letter: I Support Candidates Who Are Reasonable, Fair, Curious, Strategic, And Open by Ira Bryck
Speak Up! Mock Vote For Councilor-At-Large With Ranked-Choice Voting by Jeff Lee
EVENTS
Prescription Drug Take Back Collection Day This Saturday
Seminar: Aging In Community – What It Takes
UMass Dining Services To Hold On-the-Spot Hiring Event
FEATURES
Speak Up! Mock Vote For Councilor-At-Large With Ranked-Choice Voting by Jeff Lee
Almanac: Underworld by Stephen Braun
Photo Of The Week: New Work In Progress Beside Pond In East Leverett by Richard Sclove
Town Manager Report For October 18, 2021
ISSUES & ANALYSES
Issues & Analyses: Candidates In Contested Races Weigh In On Social Justice by Art Keene
Issues & Analyses: Becoming Human (#5). How Universal Basic Income Can Help Build A Solidarity Economy by Boone Shear /Rich Whitney
LIBRARY
Letter: Libraries And Schools and Taxes by Jeff Lee
Jones Library Trustees Adopt Resolution On Racism And Inclusion
Vote No — Start Over Smart Chair Interviewed On WHMP
Letter: Jones Trustees’ Anti-racism Resolution Is Self-Serving, Tone Deaf by Meg Gage
Letter: Failure To Protect Historic Documents Underscores Failings of Jones Library Leadership by Ken Rosenthal
Letter: Libraries And Schools by Allison McDonald
Letter: There Are Better Ways To Improve Our Libraries Than The Proposed Jones Expansion by Martha Spiegelman
Letter: I Plan To Vote No On The Library Project by Mohamed Ibrahim
Opinion: Progressive Coalition Board Encourages A “No” Vote On Jones Library Reconstruction by the Progressive Coalition of Amherst Board of Directors
Opinion: Why I Support The Library Expansion by Robert Pam
OPINION
Letter: Town Council Has Failed to Deliver More Democracy, Meaningful Economic Development, Intelligent Rezoning Ira Bryck
Letter: Libraries And Schools and Taxes by Jeff Lee
Letter: Outgoing Councilor – Judge Candidates For Council By What They Have Done And Not On What They Say by Darcy DuMont
Public Comment: New Resident Sees Flawed Process In Promoting Parking Garage by Rani Parker
Public Comment: Redistricting For Equality An Impossible Task Under The Current Charter by Maria Kopicki
Letter: Jones Trustees’ Anti-racism Resolution Is Self-Serving, Tone Deaf by Meg Gage
Letter: Amherst Forward’s Unwelcome Endorsement Is An Act Of White Privilege by Gaylord Saulsberry
Letter: Failure To Protect Historic Documents Underscores Failings of Jones Library Leadership by Ken Rosenthal
Letter: Libraries And Schools by Allison McDonald
Letter: There Are Better Ways To Improve Our Libraries Than The Proposed Jones Expansion by Martha Spiegelman
Letter: I Plan To Vote No On The Library Project by Mohamed Ibrahim
Letter: I Support Candidates Who Are Reasonable, Fair, Curious, Strategic, And Open by Ira Bryck
Letter: My Opposition To The Ross/Ryan Parking Structure And My Disappointment In The Planning Board by Jay Silverstein
Letter: Conservation Commission Will Discuss Forty-Four Acre Solar Installation That Would Replace Forested Land In Amherst by Robert Bezucha
Opinion: Community Safety Working Group – Programs For Us Need To Be By Us by The Community Safety Working Group
Opinion: Progressive Coalition Board Encourages A “No” Vote On Jones Library Reconstruction by the Progressive Coalition of Amherst Board of Directors
Opinion: Why I Support The Library Expansion by Robert Pam
Opinion: Thoughtful, Deliberate (And Not Rushed) Planning. Reflections By A Soon-To-Be-Former Councilor On How This Town Council Fails to Meet The Promises Of The Charter, Democracy, Transparency, And Public Participation. (#5) by Darcy DuMont
Opinion: Love, Justice And Climate Change. An Arrest While Protesting Climate Inaction by Russ Vernon-Jones
PARKING
Planning Board Recommends Rezoning Of Town Lot Behind CVS For New Parking Garage by Maura Keene
Parking Restrictions For Lincoln Avenue Rejected By Town Council by Maura Keene
Public Comment: New Resident Sees Flawed Process In Promoting Parking Garage by Rani Parker
Letter: My Opposition To The Ross/Ryan Parking Structure And My Disappointment In The Planning Board by Jay Silverstein
POLICE
Amherst Awarded $450k In State Funds for Civilian Community Responder Initative
Community Safety Working Group To Present Final Report To Town Council
Opinion: Community Safety Working Group – Programs For Us Need To Be By Us by The Community Safety Working Group
PUBLIC HEALTH
COVID 19 Update For The Week Of October 27, 2021 by Art and Maura Keene
COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shots Now Available At Town Vaccine Clinic
COVID 19 Update For The Week Of October 20, 2021 by Art and Maura Keene
Prescription Drug Take Back Collection Day This Saturday
SENIORS
Seminar: Aging In Community – What It Takes
SOCIAL JUSTICE
Community Safety Working Group To Present Final Report To Town Council
Jones Library Trustees Adopt Resolution On Racism And Inclusion
Issues & Analyses: Candidates In Contested Races Weigh In On Social Justice by Art Keene
Issues & Analyses: Becoming Human (#5). How Universal Basic Income Can Help Build A Solidarity Economy by Boone Shear /Rich Whitney
Letter: Jones Trustees’ Anti-racism Resolution Is Self-Serving, Tone Deaf by Meg Gage
Letter: Amherst Forward’s Unwelcome Endorsement Is An Act Of White Privilege by Gaylord Saulsberry
Opinion: Community Safety Working Group – Programs For Us Need To Be By Us by the Community Safety Working Group
Opinion: Love, Justice And Climate Change. An Arrest While Protesting Climate Inaction by Russ Vernon-Jones
TOWN GOVERNMENT
Amherst Awarded $450k In State Funds for Civilian Community Responder Initative
Letter: Town Council Has Failed to Deliver More Democracy, Meaningful Economic Development, Intelligent Rezoning Ira Bryck
Community Safety Working Group To Present Final Report To Town Council
Planning Board Recommends Rezoning Of Town Lot Behind CVS For New Parking Garage by Maura Keene
Parking Restrictions For Lincoln Avenue Rejected By Town Council by Maura Keene
Vigorous Debate Over Proposed Redistricting Plan by Maura Keene
Public Comment: Redistricting For Equality An Impossible Task Under The Current Charter by Maria Koppicki
Letter: My Opposition To The Ross/Ryan Parking Structure And My Disappointment In The Planning Board by Jay Silverstein
Opinion: Thoughtful, Deliberate (And Not Rushed) Planning. Reflections By A Soon-To-Be-Former Councilor On How This Town Council Fails to Meet The Promises Of The Charter, Democracy, Transparency, And Public Participation. (#5) by Darcy DuMont
Town Manager Report For October 18, 2021