Letter: We Disavow Jeff Lee’s Letter to NEH/DOGE
by Mickey Rathbun, Maria Kopicki, Ken Rosenthal, Anita Sarro, Peggy Matthews-Nilsen, and Arthur Keene
The following letter was sent to the editors of the Amherst Indy and the Daily Hampshire Gazette on April 23, 2025.
We write as individuals who have, to some extent or another, publicly opposed the Jones Library expansion/demolition project. We continue to have profound and valid concerns about the project including its negative impact on historic preservation, dramatic cuts to sustainability features, excessive and unknown costs, and the severe ramifications its inadequate funding will have on the town’s other needs for decades to come.
Nonetheless, we strongly disavow the letter that Jeff Lee sent to the DOGE Congressional Caucus requesting intervention against an NEH grant. Whether the letter was sent to the congressional DOGE caucus or to DOGE itself is an immaterial distinction. Engaging DOGE in any way was irresponsible and inappropriate and does not reflect our values. We also understand that the letter included some references to specific aspects of the project about which Lee expressed personal views that are not shared by many of us who oppose the project. We had no knowledge of this letter prior to its being sent and had we known of Lee’s intentions, we would have strongly advised against sending it.
We stand firm in our opposition to this particular building project and in our support of the Jones Library, but we cannot condone the action that Lee has taken.
Mickey Rathbun, Maria Kopicki, Ken Rosenthal, Anita Sarro,Peggy Matthews-Nilsen and Arthur Keene are residents of Amherst.
In an article written by Art Keene on November 22nd, 2024 the following comment was posted by Rob Kusner. Given that every comment on this page must be approved, I assume someone from the leadership team of the Indy deemed it appropriate to post. Additionally, no one listed in this post commented at that time to say that they would strongly advise against Robs suggested action. Rob comment – “Even if the Jones Libray demolition/expansion project has not yet risen to the waste, fraud or abuse of federal funds level, how ironic would it be if the proposed DoGE (Department of Government Efficiency) took interest … as a prima facie example of federal inefficiency — cc. both Elon and Vivek on the next memo?!”
Jeff researches before he writes . I have always paid attention to what he says .
Jeff and others, can say what they want they want to say . To whomever, they want to say it .
Get over it , our world is filled with uncomfortable
rhetoric.
To me this puts a spotlight exactly on the larger political situation — one in which American democracy is under attack and is absolutely failing, and the waves of shock and fear that are hitting various sectors of the population. Many make quippy comments (Rob Kusner cited above), and people take actions that in other times and political situations would have a very different valence. How insanely wrong it is to even have to worry that the Eye of Sauron might be drawn towards Amherst. And therein lies the tragedy — that a time in larger history when we all need to be building our community, and developing solidarity across differences that are now relatively speaking less significant — instead more toxic divisiveness has been fostered.
I wish Jeff Lee had not written that letter. I wish even more that the larger political culture that makes that letter so dangerous and ill-advised were different. And, I really hope the letter remains minor with no effect outside of the locals’ feelings — and that we are all able to get back to working in our various ways to fighting or fixing or helping others.