Only in The Republic of Amherst

Friday, May 17, 2013

Getting A Jump On Crime

APD bike patrol practicing stair climbing Friday morning

Formation ride near Amherst Regional High School Thursday night (photo by Tom Porter)

Thursday, May 16, 2013

According to now confirmed scanner reports Amherst police bagged a perp, local resident Peter Jeffs, age 51, red handed around 2:30 p.m. on West Bay Road near the Eric Carle Museum driving a van loaded with stolen goods from a series of break-ins over the past week, some of them daring daylight deeds.

The suspect was arrested by Amherst police but turned over to Southwick PD based on probable cause in their jurisdiction. APD will issue a statement early next week. Stay tuned.

As many as a half dozen break ins, some where locked doors were kicked in, recently occurred all over Amherst as well as nearby Hadley, and not so nearby Southwick.

WGGB Ch TV reports (with great photos)

Peter Jeffs, alleged scumbag

There is still much work to do building the case, but still good to know a brash thief has been taken off our streets.

Turning Up The Heat Even More

61 Gray Street yesterday

61 Gray Street today

Yes, if everything always went as smoothly as this most recent action by the Amherst building inspection services the Rental Registration Bylaw would probably not have such broad support. But this landlord acted responsibly, in a timely manner and therefor has nothing to fear -- under either the current or newly proposed system.

The letter I received today from their trade group makes a great point: only 2% of landlords are the problem, but I take issue with the assertion that the other 98% are being "punished." Certainly 98% of the citizens of Amherst are law abiding with outright criminals a distinct minority.

If the police should install a camera to monitor a high crime area located on public property to catch the problem 2%, why should the other 98% have anything to fear?

Providing they are not doing something they shouldn't be doing.

Click to read

Be Careful What You Wish For

Henry Street, Amherst

Click title below left to read

Amherst Warrant Article #43

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Bring On The Consultants

Chancellor Subbaswamy addresses Amherst Town Meeting

If the goal of the $60,000 joint Town/Gown study is to enhance relations between the town of Amherst, founded 1759, and our largest employer UMass/Amherst, founded 1863, then we can save ourselves a lot of money as Chancellor Subbaswamy's nearly ten minute speech before Amherst Town Meeting already accomplished that.

Schmoozing with town officials just prior to town meeting start

But the real goal is to enhance relations between the town citizenry and UMass students, and that's going to take some work. And you don't build something solid and workable without planning.

The motion to spend $60,000 for the joint study, split evenly between UMass and the town, easily passed by a recorded tally vote 122-46.

UMass & Town officials huddle during tally vote count

The overwhelming nature of the vote sends a positive signal about the most controversial and most important article of this entire town meeting -- probably in a generation -- Article #29, Residential Rental Property Bylaw, which brings a permit system to the lucrative rental business.

A market driven by the presence of so very many students. That article comes up May 20.

Turning Up The Heat

11 Phillips Street (this morning)

Some of you may remember 11 Phillips Street as the house busted last fall by APD for hosting an underground bar as well as cramming 14 students into living quarters only zoned for four. Kind of a BIG difference wouldn't you say?

Well our Building Commissioner certainly thought so, and hit owner Stephan Gharabegian with a $100/day fine, racking up a $2,400 tab before coming into compliance. Better late than never.