Neverending Blarney

So the national media has its missing Malaysian Airlines flight 370 obsession while our local hometown newspaper has its Blarney Blowout preoccupation, as here we are exactly two weeks from the day and it is still a banner front page above the fold story -- with fancy graphics no less.  Yikes!

And it made the AP national wire.  

They're STILL talking about #BlarneyBlowout ?? Damn people (on both sides) it was a party, cops busted it, end of story. Let's move on.
— Spencer Lockhart (@SpencerLock) March 17, 2014

Meanwhile, the Gazette sent a reporter last night to cover what one town official described as an "intense meeting to address horrible racist incident against teacher in #AmherstMA schools" and it didn't make it into today's print edition as a stand alone article.

 Meeting last night at Jones Library  in response to latest school incident

Meanwhile, Ch 40 is reporting -- using a lone High School Junior as a source -- contents of the note:  "f you Ms. Gardner" followed by the "n-word".   So what I'm trying to confirm is which version of the n-word was it -- the five letter version that ends in A or the six letter version that ends in R?

Because after the incident six weeks ago, it apparently does make a difference.  

Was the "f" word actually spelled out or did they write it like that?  Was the message etched on a wall, mirror or bathroom stall in traditional graffiti style, or was it a note written on paper?  If so was it printed letters or cursive writing, and did they use pen, pencil, crayon or print out from a computer?

And how exactly did that young lady know the content of the note/graffiti?  Did she get it from a classmate or school officials?  Obviously APD did not release anything and school officials surely should not have.  So if she got if from a classmate, then follow it back to the original source. 

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Racism Continues @ ARHS

A cold day at Amherst Regional High School

My first inclination was to ignore the tip that arrived early this morning in my inbox because obviously the perp (not my tipster) is only looking for attention, and racial incidents in a progressive little college town like Amherst can bring w-a-y more attention than they truly deserve.

But I share Principal Jackson's frustration.  And this swift public release of information is in stark contrast to the way school officials handled the recent incident of racial bullying which didn't fit the Politically Correct profile because it was black on white.

Yes this current incident involves the same teacher of color who was targeted back in October, although school officials thought it prudent to cover it up until mid-February, releasing the shameful story during "Warrior Week".  

After this current incident, you have to wonder about the effectiveness of  "Warrior Week" -- or any of the other measures undertaken over the past six weeks.

The "N-word".  Depends who is using it?

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$2074.02

The $2,074.02 cost in overtime for the Amherst Fire Department on the day of the Blarney Blowout doesn't sound like much compared to the $13,800 OT cost incurred by Amherst Police Department.

But Chief Tim Nelson laments, "Because of that $2074.02 expense I won't be able to send some of my firefighters to training courses that are not mandatory but but would enhance their EMS skills.  That translates directly to better patient care!"

Perhaps if rowdy "college aged youth" thought their mother or grandmother would be left waiting for an ambulance because their local FD was tied up carting drunk kids to the hospital; or the EMT who does come to her assistance is a tad less trained because of budget drains caused by immature behavior, maybe they would think twice. 

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All Things Alcohol

All Things Local Cooperative Market, downtown Amherst

With a room full of cops concerned about the Blarney Blowout alcohol fueled riot looking on, the Amherst Select Board -- by unanimous vote -- issued a wine and malt off premises license to the new downtown food consignment store, All Things Local.

The cooperative market opened four months ago and already has expanded, taking 50% of the space given up by Food For Thought Books who recently raised $40,000 in a Indiegogo campaign to remodel their downsized operation and guarantee life beyond their 38th year.

Select Board Chair Stephanie O'Keeffe pointed out her board has turned down the last two requests for this category of license,  Cumberland Farms on Rt 9 and the Hess Station on Rt 116, both over concerns of high-volume sales competing with long-time nearby liquor stores.   

Select Board member Jim Wald acknowledged the irony of the board handling four liquor license issues before getting to the public hearing on Blarney Blowout, but he added that it shows how carefully the town government does oversee the licensing of liquor establishments in town.

Minimum Wage, Maximum Rejection!

Matthew Cunningham-Cook:  Nowhere to hide

By an overwhelming voice vote after only a few minutes of discussion from the floor, Amherst Town Meeting voted to "dismiss" the only article on the warrant which would have asked the State Legislature to give Amherst the power to enact a $15/hour minimum wage law.

By dismissing the article rather than simply voting no, the legislative body guaranteed there can be no voter referendum of tonight's action.  If proponents of the article collected 880 signatures by March 26 it would have forced a special election.  An election in Amherst costs taxpayers $12,000.

Umass Prof Jeanette Wicks-Lim (also involved in ARPS school peanuts ban) speaks in favor

At one point Vince O'Connor suggested a motion to refer the article to the Select Board (also referendum proof) for further study, but Chair Stephanie O'Keeffe spoke emphatically against that pointing out they already rejected the article and it's up to the proponents to do their homework.  

 Amherst Select Board voted Monday night unanimously to "not support"

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DUI Hopefuls

Two back-to-back DUI cases disposed of on Monday in Eastern Hampshire District Court gives me some hope for the future with all things alcohol.  And after the Blarney Blowout, I could use some positive news.

Both cases involved UMass grad students, so not your typical "college aged males" 18-22.   One case from an arrest back in August and the other one having just occurred over the weekend.

John Logan, age 25, made the mistake of sharing his vehicle with a loud mouthed friend, no doubt also under the influence of alcohol, who yelled out the window of the car at a female pedestrian near Amherst town center last August 18th.

When pulled over by APD Mr Logan reeked of alcohol, with glassy eyes, and admitted to having had "two beers," but he failed the Breathalyzer miserably with a .18 reading.

Mr. Logan accepted a typical 24-D plea deal:  45 day loss of license, $600 in fines, one year probation with a $65/month probation fee.

When the Judge asked the standard question:  "Where did you have your last drink" he replied "private residence."

Joseph Stadnicki, age 26, appeared with his lawyer who told the judge they would like to quickly "dispose of this matter."

The prosecution still read the charges:  Mr. Stadnicki was speeding through Amherst town center, took a wide turn onto Rt 9, swerved back and forth over over the yellow lines half-way into the other lane, then overly swerved back the other way hitting a curb.

When pulled over the officer noted the strong smell of alcohol, slurred speech, glassy eyes.  Stadnicki admitted to having consumed, "5 or 6 beers".  He failed the Field Sobriety Test and back at the station tested .10 on the Breathalyzer.

He too took the standard 24-D disposition.  When the Judge asked where he had his last drink he replied "High Horse Tavern" in town center. 

Both individuals were well dressed, polite and gave off an air of contrition.  As grad students, obviously they are into education.  I hope they learned a valuable lesson.

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$15 Minimum Wage Runaround

Amherst Select Board:  "Just say NO"

UPDATE 6:30 p.m. 
Amherst Town Counsel has concluded that even if Town Meeting passes the article and the State Legislature approves it, the powers granted to the town would then NOT apply to the University of Massachusetts, our largest employer.

Furthermore our lawyer confirms that a "motion to dismiss" if passed (majority vote) is referendum proof.  So that's what I'll do.

   Legal Advice $15/hr Min Wage

#####

UMass Labor Grad Student Matthew Cunningham-Cook is fast becoming public enemy #1 in the little college town of Amherst, which he has called home for all of seven months now.

First he collects 200 signatures to call a Special Town Meeting when it would only have taken 10 signatures to put the exact same article on the normal Annual Town Meeting which starts April 28th.



Then he skips the public discussion period last night at the Amherst Select Board meeting where they -- like the Finance Committee last week -- voted unanimously NOT to support his article, branded by one SB member as "amateurish".

Although he did send them this email at 3:47 p.m. where he now pitches a small business exemption for mom-and-pops with 50 or fewer employees.  Yes, as a long-time small business owner even at peak success I had less than half that number of employees, so it would exempt the vast majority of Amherst businesses.

   Email to SB: $15/hr Minimum Wage

But, if you whip up a big batch of poison, I'm not overly reassured that small businesses are exempt from partaking.  If it's that bad for small business, how can it be good for BIG business?

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