tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post5138084087787377..comments2023-10-17T22:56:42.784-04:00Comments on Only in The Republic of Amherst: Time For ChangeLarry Kelleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02614645831526190536noreply@blogger.comBlogger59125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-76530293963188554742016-03-23T20:04:25.873-04:002016-03-23T20:04:25.873-04:00Every one of our Town Meeting members can be influ...Every one of our Town Meeting members can be influenced by special interests, David. Their own! And they do so, regularly. As you are attesting to.<br /><br />And please explain how "our neighborhoods" have been defined. I've had the experience in town meeting of having my interests represented by my neighborhood "representatives" in a way completely antithetical to what I believe or want. Yet they were able to get away with it because of the power of the position. A power not really granted by "the people" because of the low threshold for attaining membership. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-56047651463994309582016-03-23T07:28:21.493-04:002016-03-23T07:28:21.493-04:00Our neighborhoods have already been defined Anonym...Our neighborhoods have already been defined Anonymous 7:18 (sorry that’s the only way I can identify you), that’s what zoning is all about. I know certain developers, looking to make a quick buck, want to change that. <br /><br />Roughly 85% of Massachusetts municipalities are either Open or Representative Town Meeting. To the contrary Anonymous 7:18, Town Meeting is the essence of democracy. One Mayor can be influenced by special interests, 240 Town Meeting members cannot be. The cure for the ills of democracy is MORE democracy not less. <br />David Marklandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-51438262312623947072016-03-23T05:46:15.884-04:002016-03-23T05:46:15.884-04:007:13 has an excellent point.
Town Meeting really i...7:13 has an excellent point.<br />Town Meeting really is 240 individual "governments", each there to protect his/her self interests. It's too big of a body for collaboration, so why bother trying? Rather then being the most democratic form of government, it's actually the most libertarian--like that Oregon wildlife refuge!<br /><br />David and Claudia are out there, claiming that are "protecting my neighborhood". Huh? I've never talked to them about my neighborhood.<br /><br />There's a whole process out there designed to protect neighborhoods, while also allow the town to sensibly grow. But the biggest thrill, for some, at Town Meeting is to shoot down a zoning article that has gone through systematic vetting. Live free or die!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-1919756521383929032016-03-22T19:53:50.887-04:002016-03-22T19:53:50.887-04:00e.g. Obama.e.g. Obama.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-67180797610694895902016-03-22T19:18:29.308-04:002016-03-22T19:18:29.308-04:00Protecting neighborhoods. What does that mean, exa...Protecting neighborhoods. What does that mean, exactly? That's what our government should be talking about. Does it mean working to keep our tax rate down so that more families can afford to live in our town? And, if so, how do we go about doing that? Does it mean creating sensible zoning to enable density (including student density) in our more populated areas of town where public services and transportation exist, in order to prevent student encroachment on more outlying neighborhoods? If so, how do we get buy-in on that premise? Does it mean building a Donald Trump-like zoning wall around each and every one of us to keep "them" out? Does it mean continuing to carry on the futile exercise of chastising the University for not housing more of their own, when they've made it clear over and over that they don't have the space or money to do so? What does it mean? <br /><br />Julia R., who is running for Charter Commission, spoke a basic truth when she said at the LWV forum, that Amherst is a "factory town". The factories we are dependent on are the University and Colleges. They bring benefits that we all rely on. They also bring challenges. We need a government structure that can figure out how to best balance those two aspects of our reality: maximizing the benefits, while minimizing the challenges. Town Meeting isn't succeeding in that effort in anywhere near as steady and comprehensive a way as is needed. And part of the reason for that is, that people like David, above, can become one of OUR collective law makers, with little more than his OWN vote, spurred on by his OWN special interest. How can that possibly be described as democratic? <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-83229241094806305492016-03-22T18:37:21.150-04:002016-03-22T18:37:21.150-04:00actually "defend all residential neighborhood...actually "defend all residential neighborhoods" = code for "BANANA"<br />BANANA = Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near AnybodyAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-40156224109113955702016-03-22T17:50:16.970-04:002016-03-22T17:50:16.970-04:00I was told the first anonymous post to mention NIM...I was told the first anonymous post to mention NIMBY loses. So sorry Scrooge McDuck. Identify yourself and I promise we will help to protect your neighborhood too.David Marklandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-48357294824629926572016-03-22T14:14:07.319-04:002016-03-22T14:14:07.319-04:00What are we? In third grade? The letter n. The...What are we? In third grade? The letter n. The letter s. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-5657665337389990642016-03-22T14:12:27.268-04:002016-03-22T14:12:27.268-04:00Pro choice. I choose life.Pro choice. I choose life.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-34937401857218497352016-03-22T12:38:07.043-04:002016-03-22T12:38:07.043-04:0010:06 "defend all residential neighborhoods&q...10:06 "defend all residential neighborhoods" = not very subtle code for "NIMBY". <br /><br />Exactly why we need townwide elected officials with true decision making power.<br /><br />Scrooge McDucknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-56439640083057137892016-03-22T10:06:21.559-04:002016-03-22T10:06:21.559-04:00As I recall one of the petitioners for the zoning ...As I recall one of the petitioners for the zoning change of said property also ran for Town Meeting but lost. Claudia ran on a platform to defend all residential neighborhoods, including yours anonymous, whoever you are.David Marklandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-42400348054961784032016-03-22T08:42:57.405-04:002016-03-22T08:42:57.405-04:00I also won't vote for Janet because she keeps ...I also won't vote for Janet because she keeps asking the same question though it has been answered several times by several different people.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-53892691164125932032016-03-22T08:37:06.667-04:002016-03-22T08:37:06.667-04:00David -- Writing style is like a fingerprint, I do...David -- Writing style is like a fingerprint, I don't think it is all the same person, but so what if it is? The majority can be (and often is) wrong -- e.g. slavery.Dr. Ednoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-90109830976389476042016-03-22T08:00:49.826-04:002016-03-22T08:00:49.826-04:00Hi David--
Just for clarification...
You and Claud...Hi David--<br />Just for clarification...<br />You and Claudia Brown campaigned for (and won a seat on) Town Meeting for the sole purpose of blocking a zoning change on a property near yours.<br />That's exactly why Town Meeting needs to go--to get rid of one issue legislators.<br /><br />--AnonymousAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-66327847637117328452016-03-22T07:04:27.132-04:002016-03-22T07:04:27.132-04:00Kudos to Janet McGowan for standing up for her con...Kudos to Janet McGowan for standing up for her convictions, as opposed to those who condemn from behind the mask of “anonymous.” It is far too easy to cast stones when you don’t have to take ownership of your words. All of these anonymous posts can be coming from one individual for all we know and therefore should be taken with a grain a salt.David Marklandnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-66313072573391109872016-03-21T23:27:57.018-04:002016-03-21T23:27:57.018-04:00Amherst For All is NOT promoting any slate of cand...Amherst For All is NOT promoting any slate of candidates. Amherst For Change is promoting a slate.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-82035449782702307602016-03-21T23:25:13.071-04:002016-03-21T23:25:13.071-04:00What the vote on the 29th is for is vote to form t...What the vote on the 29th is for is vote to form the commission and elect the commissioners. It's the commission that will make the actual recommendation. You are try in to put the cart before the horse Janet. I am a supporter of both organizations and their goals. I want the commission to study town governance and offer an alternative to what we have now. Then I'll look at the offered alternative and decide at that point whether to support it or not. That vote won't happen for about 18 months.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-30321280128150314132016-03-21T23:18:58.065-04:002016-03-21T23:18:58.065-04:00A $50 donation is also exempt from public disclosu...A $50 donation is also exempt from public disclosure. It's all donations over $50 that must be disclosed with name and address of donor.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-35223008781396016962016-03-21T19:03:28.897-04:002016-03-21T19:03:28.897-04:00Janet,
I can't believe that you keep asking th...Janet,<br />I can't believe that you keep asking the same question, over and over. Try listening. It might get you somewhere. Not everyone is as satisfied as you are with our current form of governance. A group of people who were more dissatisfied than you, went out and garnered thousands of signatures in an incredibly short period of time from others in our community who are less than satisfied. Those people are interested in forming a commission to consider ALTERNATIVES to the form of governance that you are content with. That, and that alone, is what you need to wrap your head around. Given that you don't seem able to do so, you won't be getting one of my nine votes. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-62101463628421706772016-03-21T16:45:14.222-04:002016-03-21T16:45:14.222-04:00You keep asking the same questions, Janet.
"...You keep asking the same questions, Janet.<br /><br />"Amherst for All" and "Amherst for Change" are legal organizations. They are incapable of answering your questions. Similarly, "The United States" cannot recite the pledge of allegiance.<br /><br />However, many individuals have answered your questions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-22109814732449981022016-03-21T16:27:36.526-04:002016-03-21T16:27:36.526-04:00There seems to be a lot of angry people here thoug...There seems to be a lot of angry people here though it could be just one person with multiple postings. Rape is a very heavy metaphor and very unconvincing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02988533725889408307noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-45806701326619531982016-03-21T15:32:14.343-04:002016-03-21T15:32:14.343-04:00I appreciate the comments that people and the cand...I appreciate the comments that people and the candidates for Charter Commission have posted here talking about their ideas. My question is why don't the two organizations that have formed, at considerable expense of time and money, tell us their ideas too? <br /><br />And Amherst For All spent the entire Fall collecting thousands of signatures because "Amherst is a Great Place to Live, a Great Place to Learn, a Great Place to Work, a Great Place to Visit." Obviously, this not a battle cry for a change in government--which might be why they deleted it from their website. Nor are the FB statements that AFA doesn't want to get rid of Town Meeting or the Select Board and doesn't disagree with Town Meeting votes. Why did AFA go through this great effort? Why are we all here then? If they want to go back to Open Town Meeting or to reduce the size of Town Meeting to fewer members-great-say it! Then we can talk about it. <br /><br />Amherst For Change's webpage is almost contentless, except for a button to make contributions and the list of 9 candidates they support. Really, that's it.<br /><br />I want to be on the Charter Commision to make sure that the Commission does it's work thoroughly and thoughtfully--and openly. I am committed to reaching out to Amherst residents to ask: 1) what is working well in Amherst and why? 2) what isn't working well and why? 3) what changes can make our government work better? I wouldn't think that, one week before the election that I'd be wondering how Amherst For All and Amherst For Change and their creators would answer these questions.<br /><br />Janet McGowan<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-14365788299362309892016-03-21T12:27:03.518-04:002016-03-21T12:27:03.518-04:00Meg Gage gave a very robust endorsement for "...Meg Gage gave a very robust endorsement for "strong mayor" form of government at the LWV forum. (She said something like "Amherst, like every non-profit organization, needs a strong executive director"). But she's still being endorsed by Oldahm.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-18020884204844524632016-03-21T12:03:29.097-04:002016-03-21T12:03:29.097-04:00Don't give her latitude, give her rights back....Don't give her latitude, give her rights back. We are now even compelled to make mild requests for our rights? Could you please rape me for 5 minutes in stead of 10? What happened to stopping bad things all together? How about some consequence to any official or officer that tries to make her move. How about some citizens surround the truck on that day and stop the officials from doing the crime? Nah, we will focus on this useless debate and she will still loose her rights. <br /><br />Free enterprise is the enemy of government, this is why there is a war on small business lead by town and state governments. Amherst leads this charge, it is all about the firemen and police you see. <br /><br />The political model we work under in regards to business is called regulatory capture. It is literally disgusting and those involved should be punished for their actions, but in stead, they are re-elected because most in town are actually the opposite if smart of caring. <br /><br />Be clear the new form of government in town will operate the same way, because this change is not about substance, it is about people in power, it is about them, not you. If you could just get this one food truck the right to be in business without overseers, it will have a greater effect than changing the town government, it would be an actual change. <br /><br />Free enterprise does not need oversight, especially by those the least qualified to do so. <br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5035949355013113578.post-48904646360727473102016-03-21T11:18:33.660-04:002016-03-21T11:18:33.660-04:00Speaking of permits to do business, it's so di...Speaking of permits to do business, it's so dis-heartening to see the town putting so many restrictions on the food truck that usually operates near the common. Give her a little latitude to serve her clientele! If more people go to her than "established" brick and mortar restaurants, it's because that's what they want and demand, that's what will bring them back into town, and the brick and mortar establishments will need to do something different to satisfy our demands and not expect protection through enforcement of parking by-laws. Free enterprise is supposed to work through competing models giving consumers choices. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com