Go Ask Alice...

-----Original Message-----
From: abnm@XXXXXXXXX
To: amherstAC@aol.com
Sent: Mon, 30 Apr 2007 8:27 AM
Subject: No Override Signs

I have been following the sign saga and think it’s pretty low of someone to take have taken them.

I also would not think too highly if money from my husband’s Amherst Athletic Club dues helped pay for them. If the No Override prevails I will be working on him to join me at Gold’s Gym.

Charter schools are terrific. However, the same people who send their kids there knowing it takes money away from the Amherst Public Schools might think about also supporting the education of ALL kids in any way they can. That means supporting ‘The Amherst Plan’ and not hanging the rest of us out to dry.

Alice B. XXXXX

So in spite of childish threats like this I hope and pray that today’s outcome is the most decisive in the history of local politics in The People’s Republic Of Amherst.

I suppose if Alice can afford family memberships at Gold’s Gym (their rates are significantly higher than mine) she can afford this Override. Unfortunately many folks in town, many of whom have lived here their entire lives, cannot afford this significant tax increase.

“Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”

"You can always go...downtown"

The sky is falling, the sky is falling!

As an example of just how desperate the inexperienced Overriders have become: Shouting that 'No Override' will wipe out the police department, Fire department and all the Teachers is…well, about as absurd as allowing Amherst to have 40% more money than they need next year so they can stash it in their “reserves”, thus swelling them to over $5 million!

Overrider Rage in Downtown Amherst

As a passive aggressive sparky school supporter was driving thru the downtown around high-noon Saturday she rolled down the window and leaned out shouting while shaking her fist: “You should be ashamed of yourselves!”

A split second later she rear-ended the SUV in front of her. Stan Gawle, without missing a beat (after he stopped laughing) exclaimed, “God is on our side!”

Another Dark and Stormy Night for Overriders

So last night at a joint meeting of the Select board and School Committee to appoint a replacement for Alisa Brewer (who resigned her school committee position for the more glorious job of Select person) the two Select board members—Awad and Greeney-- who broke ranks and didn’t support the Override at the Select board meeting last Monday chastised Regional School Committee Queen Elaine Brighty for spreading rumors about a top candidate (eventual winner Chrystel Romero).

Whei-Ling Greeney then went one BIG step further and asked for Brighty’s resignation from the committee she chairs.

What does this have to do with the Override you may ask? Well in any municipality in Massachusetts taxpayers know Override is synonymous with Schools (as in 'Save Our') and Ms. Brighty (one of the top contributors to ‘The Amherst Plan Committee’) has lead the charge for the Override since late Fall.

Ironically Ms. Brighty obviously had a problem with the winner Chrystel Romero and pulled (the wrong) stings in favor of runner-up Yaniris Fernandez…. who is now still available to replace Brighty.

Yet Another Override Blunder

According to the office of Campaign and Political Finance advocates cannot accept contributions or spend money until officially forming a Ballot Committee and filing that statement of organization with the Amherst Town Clerk.

The first direct mailer from ‘The Amherst Plan Committee’ carried a postmark of April 2 (with an expensive 39 cent first class stamp) yet their Ballot Committee Form filed with the Amherst Town Clerkthe carries time/date stamp of April 3’rd (a day late and many dollars short.)

Override Blunders Continue

In addition to having a fan who arrogantly breaks the law by stealing opponents lawn signs, the we-need-to-pay-more-taxes coalition also violated state law last Monday by not filing with the Amherst Town Clerk their Campaign Finance Report, due eight days prior to the May 1’st Election (a “special” election costing taxpayers $12,000 simply to hold).

Although ‘Save Amherst Schools Ballot Committee’ did file on time (as did ‘Amherst Taxpayers For Responsible Change’), the main proponent of increased taxation ‘The Amherst Plan Committee’ failed to file their disclosure report. Interestingly Rick Hood is a leader on both committees.

And by “main” committee I mean they will sponsor a giant “Signature Ad” (effective only if you have 1,500 names) in tomorrow’s Amherst Bulletin costing well in excess of $1,000.

Campaign Finance Law is kind of like the Open Meeting Law, which shines a light on activity, not on what government does but what private individuals do who wish to influence government.

If I were a pro-Override person (and obviously I'm not) I would now be wondering what else have they botched?