OPINION: WHAT’S THE POINT OF A PLANNING BOARD?
It’s a question that could be asked of any public board or committee in Amherst,...
Michael Greenebaum
OPINION: THE FUTURE OF THE JONES LIBRARY
I love the Jones Library. I would love to be a supporter of its plans...
Opinion: The Council at One Year -THE BURDEN OF THE CHARTER: THE VOICE OF THE PUBLIC
Amherst’s new governance charter is finishing its first year, and perhaps it is timely to...
OPINION: IT’S TIME TO STOP BEING PASSIVE ABOUT THE URBANIZATION OF DOWNTOWN AMHERST
English teachers and journalism professors have always cautioned writers not to use the passive voice...
OPINION: COUNCIL LEADERSHIP
The Amherst Town Council will be electing its president and vice-president for its second year...
OPINION: AMHERST’S PAC
On the eve of the recent town election, I received a call from an old...
OPINION: ONE TOWN, ONE PLAN?
The Town Manager’s slogan, “One Town, One Plan,” is clearly aspirational. It points to a...
AMHERST’S NEW GOVERNMENT: CHECKS AND BALANCES
James Madison sought, both in the Constitution he largely fashioned and in The Federalist essays...
DEMOCRACY IN AMHERST
Eight months in, Amherst’s Town Council is exhausted, overworked, and testy. Most of these people...
Landscape, Streetscape and Skyscape: The Aesthetics of Planning in Amherst
by Michael Greenebaum I invite readers to reflect on your walks on Amherst’s streets, your...
WHO DECIDES ABOUT PUBLIC SPACE?
This month in London, the mayor decided against allowing a new tall building, nicknamed The...
SMART GROWTH AND GOOD FIT – REFLECTIONS ON AMHERST’S DOWNTOWN
There used to be a game – perhaps there still is – with the object...