What’s In This Issue?

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ANALYTICS
Good News!!! Our analytics plug-in is up and counting again after going down in a malware attack on July 6. We finally have over a months worth of data which we present below. Note that our readership has increased substantially since the summer.

Numbers in parentheses indicate change from the previous week.

Number of Unique Page Views:
Last 30 days: 63,266 (+273)
Last Week: 13,723 (-322)
Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 days: 29,527 (-571)
Last Week: 6138 (-771)

TOP FIVE MOST-READ ARTICLES LAST WEEK
1. Letter: Proposed Solar Project in North Amherst Is Bad for the Planet by Ira Bryck
2. Lecture: The Struggle for Justice in Palestine: Past, Present, and Future. (events annoucement)
3. School Committee Chairs Delay Access to Report on LGBTQ Harassment by Maria Kopicki
4. Letter: What Happened At School Committee’s Executive Session? by Jena Schwartz
5. With Project Funding Uncertain, Town Seeks Temporary Library Digs by Jeff Lee

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?
BUDGET
Interest Payments – The Library Project Cost Trustees Don’t Talk About by Jeff Lee

CAMPUS
UMass Panel on Affirmative Action In College Admissions, October 23

ELECTIONS
Personal Statements of Candidates for November Town Election compiled by the Amherst Indy
Town Council Candidates Weigh in on Legislative Priorities, Jones Borrowing, Affordable Housing, and Public Participation in Government coompiled by the Amherst Indy
School Committee Candidates Weigh in on District Priorities, Accountability, Equity, and Transparency. compiled by the Amherst Indy
School Committee Candidates Weigh in on District Priorities, Accountability, Equity, and Transparency.  compiled by the Amherst Indy
Jones Library Trustees Candidates Weigh in on Library Borrowing and Transparency compiled by the Amherst Indy
Amherst Climate Justice Alliance Releases Candidate Survey Results
The Indy’s Election Central by Art Keene
Do You Want Your Neighborhood to Remain a Family Neighborhood?  by Darcy DuMont
Letter: Local Climate Leaders Endorse Candidates Who Support Climate Action by Darcy DuMont

CLIMATE / ENERGY / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE
Amherst Climate Justice Alliance Releases Candidate Survey Results
Letter: Yet Another Fire Involving Proposed Batteries for Hickory Ridge Solar and Shutesbury Road Solar by Michael Lipinski
Letter: Local Climate Leaders Endorse Candidates Who Support Climate Action by Darcy DuMont
Opinion: Most Plastic Recycling Is Environmental Fraud by John Varner
Opinion: What Climate Doomers Get Wrong by Russ Vernon-Jones
Photo of the Week: Snapping Turtle by Darya Zelentsova

EVENTS
UMass Panel on Affirmative Action In College Admissions, October 23
Halloween Spooktacular at the Bangs Center
What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art and Maura Keene

FEATURES
Dear Reader by Art Keene
A Better World Is Possible: Building Arab/Jewish Solidarity at Hand in Hand Schools by Art Keene
Town Manager Report for October 16, 2023
Photo of the Week: Snapping Turtle by Darya Zelentsova

HISTORY / HISTORICAL PRESERVATION
Amherst Historic Commission: Jones Library Expansion Satisfies Historic Preservation Agreement by Maura Keene
Is a 200-Year-old Relic Worth Saving if Nothing of the Original Remains?   by Hilda Greenbaum

HOUSING
High Vacancy Rate at Housing Authority Units While Amherst Residents Search for Apartments by Maura Keene
Do You Want Your Neighborhood to Remain a Family Neighborhood?  by Darcy. DuMont

ISSUES & ANALYSES
Interest Payments – The Library Project Cost Trustees Don’t Talk About by Jeff Lee
Do You Want Your Neighborhood to Remain a Family Neighborhood?  by Darcy DuMont

LIBRARY
Personal Statements of Candidates for November Town Election compiled by the Amherst Indy
Jones Library Trustees Candidates Weigh in on Library Borrowing and Transparency compiled by the Amherst Indy
Amherst Historic Commission: Jones Library Expansion Satisfies Historic Preservation Agreement by Maura Keene
Interest Payments – The Library Project Cost Trustees Don’t Talk About by Jeff Lee

MEDIA
Dear Reader by Art Keene
Letter: Amherst Needs Municipal Broadband Feasibility Study by Jim Lescault

OPINION
Letter: Yet Another Fire Involving Proposed Batteries for Hickory Ridge Solar and Shutesbury Road Solar by Michael Lipinski
Letter: Local Climate Leaders Endorse Candidates Who Support Climate Action by Darcy DuMont
Letter: Amherst Needs Municipal Broadband Feasibility Study by Jim Lescault
Letter: What Happened At School Committee’s Executive Session? by Jena Schwartz
Opinion: Most Plastic Recycling Is Environmental Fraud by John Varner
Opinion: What Climate Doomers Get Wrong by Russ Vernon-Jones

PUBLIC SAFETY
Earl Miller out as CRESS Director. Town Manager Offers Reassurances on Fate of Community Responder Department by Maura Keene
CSSJC Co-Chairs Respond To The Resignation of CRESS Director Earl Miller by Allegra Clark
Letter: Yet Another Fire Involving Proposed Batteries for Hickory Ridge Solar and Shutesbury Road Solar by Michael Lipinski

PUBLIC HEALTH
Opinion: Most Plastic Recycling Is Environmental Fraud by. John Varner

SCHOOLS
School Committee Candidates Weigh in on District Priorities, Accountability, Equity, and Transparency.  compiled by the Amherst Indy
Assistant School Superintendent Doreen Cunningham Is No Longer Employed by District by Art Keene
Letter: What Happened At School Committee’s Executive Session? by Jena Schwartz

SOCIAL JUSTICE
CSSJC Co-Chairs Respond To The Resignation of CRESS Director Earl Miller by Allegra Clark
What’s Next for Reparations In Amherst? by Maura Keene
UMass Panel on Affirmative Action In College Admissions, October 23
A Better World Is Possible: Building Arab/Jewish Solidarity at Hand in Hand Schools by Art Keene

TOWN GOVERNMENT
Personal Statements of Candidates for November Town Election compiled by the Amherst Indy
Town Council Candidates Weigh in on Legislative Priorities, Jones Borrowing, Affordable Housing, and Public Participation in Government coompiled by the Amherst Indy
School Committee Candidates Weigh in on District Priorities, Accountability, Equity, and Transparency.  compiled by the Amherst Indy
Jones Library Trustees Candidates Weigh in on Library Borrowing and Transparency compiled by the Amherst Indy
Amherst Climate Justice Alliance Releases Candidate Survey Results
Earl Miller out as CRESS Director. Town Manager Offers Reassurances on Fate of Community Responder Department by Maura Keene
CSSJC Co-Chairs Respond To The Resignation of CRESS Director Earl Miller by Allegra Clark
Assistant School Superintendent Doreen Cunningham Is No Longer Employed by District by Art Keene
High Vacancy Rate at Housing Authority Units While Amherst Residents Search for Apartments by Maura Keene
Amherst Historic Commission: Jones Library Expansion Satisfies Historic Preservation Agreement by Maura Keene
Is a 200-Year-old Relic Worth Saving if Nothing of the Original Remains?   by Hilda Greenbaum
What’s Next for Reparations In Amherst? by Maura Keene
Council Passes Resolution About the War in Israel and Gaza, Bylaws on Reproductive Health Care and Specialized Stretch Building Code  by Maura Keene
Does Amherst Town Government Need a Set of Guiding Principles?  Results of a Survey by Ira Bryck
Interest Payments – The Library Project Cost Trustees Don’t Talk About by Jeff Lee
Do You Want Your Neighborhood to Remain a Family Neighborhood?  by Darcy DuMont
Letter: What Happened At School Committee’s Executive Session? by Jena Schwartz
Town Manager Report for October 16, 2023