Those Who Fail To Learn ...

Chief Nelson, Chief Livingstone, Nancy Buffone, Jonathan Tucker, Stephanie O'Keeffe

"It's only a matter of time before somebody dies because of things we have let get out of hand," said Phil Jackson, member of the Safe & Healthy Neighborhoods Working Group and a resident of Lincoln Avenue,  a street described as being at the "tipping point" for proud old single family (four unrelated tenants) homes being converted by real estate speculators into two family (eight unrelated tenants) Party Houses.

Phil Jackson (3rd from left) makes a point 

Things have been "out of hand" for a very long time.

Take this entry from the front page of the 11/21/1990 Amherst Bulletin describing Amherst Town Meeting's reaction to the Planning Board asking if they should draft a rental registration bylaw:

 "Town Meeting instead asked the Planning Board to find ways to enforce existing zoning regulations more effectively. The substitute motion was made by Nancy Gordon. Both the Planning Board's approach and Gordon's were intended to cut down the problems of noise, unkempt property and general neighborhood disruption that sometimes occur when a number of students rent an apartment or a house that is too small for them."

Now here we are, twenty two years later, still dealing with noise, nuisance, and all the dangerous byproducts of drunken behavior by too many young adults packed into too small surroundings owned by speculators who simply don't give a damn.

Like the current controversy with gun ownership, it only takes the actions of a microscopically small minority to ruin it for the very large majority of responsible gun owners.  Just as one or two slumlords ruin it for all the legitimate, professional, honest, caring owners who make up the vast majority of rental property providers.

Select Board Chair Stephanie O'Keeffe described Safe & Healthy Neighborhood's charge:  "Trying to establish what all reasonable people would agree is a minimum baseline of safety ... including reasonable parking, compliant with occupancy limit, local property upkeep laws, as well as alcohol and nuisance laws."

And she closes with a key point:  "Inspectors need to be able to access property."

The committee will host an open public forum next week, January 22, in the Town Room, Town Hall (7:00 PM - 9:00 PM) to hear from all concerned stakeholders:  neighbors, property owners, town officials and civilized citizens who care about their town.

Safe bet the rowdy tenants causing the problems (or the slumlords who rent to them) will not show up.

Phil Jackson's Powerpoint slide

Better safe ...

District Attorney Dave Sullivan 

We all remember the good old days when you didn't have to take off your shoes while going through security to board an airplane and you could bring along your bottle of water or tube of sun tan lotion and yes, even a nail clipper with that swing out little file attached.

Or when you could walk right through the main door of your daughters' elementary school without having to await being buzzed in, and then sign in at the office, and wear a visitor ID sticker while doing a one minute chore with your child.

But times have changed.  Nineteen zealots turned civilian airliners into guided missiles, and one deranged young man with a lot of firepower and the single-minded determination to use it against innocent children, changed everything. 

So I"m not bothered in the least by the actions of Northampton police, endorsed by Northwestern District Attorney Dave Sullivan, to acquire handwriting samples of Northampton High School students for possibly identification of the perp who left a threatening (hand written) note in the school.

Less than a week after the unthinkable happened at an elementary school not all that far away.

When I first heard that a written "pledge" was used as a response to the incident I was reminded (cue rolling of eyes) of town and UMass officials and DA Dave Sullivan handing out oatmeal cookies to UMass students in the southern section of campus while the northern end exploded in a riot.

But then it became clear the pledge was simply a cover to get handwriting samples.  Kind of like something you might see in a Hollywood movie.  Only this movie did not have a Hollywood ending, as the perp is apparently still at large.

When lives are stake -- as in this case they most certainly could have been -- extraordinary measures need to be taken.  Terrorism, drunk driving, domestic abuse or child abuse: The offenders certainly don't play by any set of rules.

And they must be stopped.

Another pledge worth taking

A Lot Off The Top

 Asplundh Tree Service on the top of The Notch

The l-o-n-g promised realignment of the The Notch (Route 116/West Street) seems to be finally underway as contractors have clear cut sections near the top in preparation for the $3.1 million road straightening project, thanks to earmarks secured by outgoing Congressman John Olver, D-Mass.

The project is contiguous with the $6 million Atkins Corner double roundabout project completed this past summer.

South Hadley side of The Notch 

West side of Route 116 going up The Notch

 1333 West Street, bottom of The Notch.  Congressman John Olver's 15 acre estate

West side bottom of The Notch

Mt Holyoke State Park (cream color)

Fire & Mist

75 Chmura Road, Hadley

The second major structure fire in nine days struck this home at 75 Chmura Road, Hadley, doing serious damage ... although of the kind that can be repaired, as no injuries were reported.

Amherst Fire Department along with Deerfield, Northampton, and South Hadley assisted Hadley Fire Department in snuffing out the flames.

AFD on scene Hadley fire (photo courtesy Amherst Firefighters local 1764)

Say it ain't so, Jackie

Jackie Chan 

I have never been a huge fan of Jackie Chan, having been spoiled by seeing the greatest martial artist of all time, Bruce Lee, up on the silver screen first.  And nothing compares to the speed, grace and animal magnitism of Bruce Lee taking a physical stand. Nothing.

But I always found Mr. Chan entertaining enough in a lighthearted way, although not nearly as much as my younger daughter.  Not any more.  

Last month in a Chinese TV interview only now seeing wider circulation Chan called the United States "the most corrupt (country) in the world."

Although statistics tell a different story:  The Corruption Perception Index ranks China 80th with the US coming in far better at #19 among 174 countries (with No. #1 being the country with the least perception of corruption.)

Sure Jackie has a First Amendment right to say whatever he wants.  Well, in the United States anyway.  In China, branding that nation as "most corrupt" will get you jail time -- or run over by a tank.  

No Escape

 Equinox crossover with town seal

Since Ford discontinued the more politically correct hybrid Escape the town had to search elsewhere for a new set of wheels.  This crossover Chevy Equinox, with good gas mileage, fit the bill.  Either way, American made cars for our little all American town.

The Equinox looks a lot nicer as well than the more boxy Escape;  and the town seal -- a book and plow -- really radiates off a pristine white background.

Amherst town seal: a book and a plow

Although, the new town flag logo would also look nice.

Amherst Town Flag

Major Player Expands Empire

30 Gatehouse Road, Echo Village Apartments (24 units)

Jamie Cherewatti, aka Eagle Crest Management, branched out in a B-I-G way this week by purchasing #10 and #30 Gatehouse Road commercial complexes (business and residential) for $3 million using a new LLC, Echo Gatehouse Partners and $1.85 million in financing.

The price was well above their combined assessed value of $2.1 million, with the lions share being the 24 units of housing, a frequent destination for the Amherst Police Department.

James Cherewatti on left

 10 Gatehouse Road, commercial business condos

Cherewatti purchased the multi-use property from the original developer Gerry Gates, who with his long time business partner Dick Johnson (now deceased) built the sprawling development in the mid-1970s. 

Amherst Insurance Agency, #20 Gatehouse, is not included in the deal, although coincidentally enough that property was sold just sold last week by Ron Nathan for $700,000 to RAG Associates, aka Glenn Allan, a long time executive with the insurance business.

Amherst Insurance Agency: still your independent, locally owned full service insurance agency