Blarney Blowout: A Defining Event

March 8, 2014 a date which will live in ... memory

If you asked the average citizen in Amherst (or nationwide for that matter) how this past spring party season compared to previous years in our little "college town," safe bet most people would respond that this one was the worst.

Of course that attitude would be indelibly due to the March 8 Blarney Blowout, where thousands of students went on a rampage resulting in 58 arrests, thousand of tax dollars spent on first responder overtime and vandalism repairs, and a $160,000 study commissioned by UMass Amherst.

My gut feeling -- as someone with his boots firmly on the ground these past few years -- is  this past spring was, overall, a lot quieter than last year.  Turns out I was correct.

According to APD Captain Jennifer Gundersen noise related calls for service decreased almost 30% this year versus last year, and arrests and/or $300 tickets issued for noise were down a whopping 40%.

Yes "nuisance house" arrests and/or tickets were about the same -- but that only reinforces the notion that it's a hard core tiny minority of students who cause the major problems and give all students a bad name. 

Meanwhile, in Eastern Hampshire District Court on Wednesday the Blarney Blowout arrests continue to meander their way through the system:

 Richard Leahy, age 20

Edward Estey and Richard Leahy both took plea deals offered by the prosecution.  Six months probation, $200 "restitution fee" to the Amherst Police Department (although the money will go into the town's General Fund) and a letter of apology to APD of no less than 150 words.

The public defender tried to talk Judge Mary Hurley out of the six months probation for Richard Leahy because he lives in New Jersey.

The Judge shook her head side-to-side saying rather sternly, "I saw video of the Blarney Blowout.  These kids puts their lives, the lives of police officers and others in jeopardy disrupting the community.  I think six months probation is more than a fair disposition."

The lawyer quickly agreed. 

 Edward Estey, age 23

Mighty Vince Strikes Out

Vince O'Connor

Maybe Vince O'Connor should have led off his first of four presentations with a "thank you" to Town Meeting for even allowing his first -- and by far most controversial article -- to be moved to tonight, since it came up on Monday and he was not present to present it.  

And attending a basketball game in Springfield is not exactly a great excuse not to be present. 

After about an hour of discussion O'Connor's motion to authorize the Select Board to forcefully take by eminent domain a building recently purchased by Amherst College failed in a most telling way:  Town Meeting, by a 81-72 Tally vote, supported a "Motion to Dismiss."

Even more telling, that definitive motion was made by one of the least liked members of the august body.

Next up O'Connor's resolution to support a House Bill that would allow Section 8 vouchers to count as affordable housing units to artificially keep Amherst above the 10% Subsidized Housing Inventory failed on a voice vote.

His last two articles -- tax credits for landlords with Section 8 low-income tenants and reconfiguring the Rental Bylaw Implementation Group -- would have failed outright if voted on as originally presented, but each article was saved by being "referred back to a committee." 

A nice way to send them off to die quietly (with at least a little dignity).  

Tonight's Town Meeting wrap up:   Four citizen petition articles disposed of -- all of them from Vince O'Connor. 

DUI's Coming and Going

 Evan Pollard

In Eastern Hampshire District Court this morning Evan Pollard, age 24, took a standard 24D disposition for his drunk driving arrest on an early Sunday morning (1:30 AM) April 6th.

As he was turning from Kellogg Avenue onto North Pleasant Street in the heart of the downtown police observed his vehicle cross wide over the yellow lines. And it went downhill from there:

Upon stopping him the officer smelled a strong odor of alcohol, and noted Mr. Pollard had glassy eyes, slurred speech. When performing the Field Sobriety Test he took the wrong number of steps, and used his arms to help balance while trying to stand on one foot.

Pollard also admitted to the officer he had, "a couple beers at McMurphy's." He also blew a .13 on the breathalizer back at the station.

The Public Defender told the Judge Mr. Pollard had no prior record and he has just graduated from UMass. The Judge imposed $600 in fines, 45 day loss of license, and $65/month per month probation fee for the next 12 months.

When the Judge asked where he had his last drink, Pollard replied, "McMurphy's Uptown Tavern."

Meanwhile, on Monday morning, Amherst police arrested Katherine Roberts for DUI.  

Inside Town Meeting

 

Town Manager and most of Select Board vote "No" to moving Vince O'Connor's land grab article to tonight

A couple of non binding "resolutions" passed Town Meeting Monday night -- the drone ban and let's buy a $3 million apartment complex -- but both of them were so watered down via revisions that they will have no impact whatsoever on the real world.  Not that Amherst lives in the real world.

Just as academics in our enlightened community decry the public schools "teaching to the tests," it seems Town Meeting activists are tailoring their petitions simply to pass Town Meeting.  Not a very high hurdle to clear.

The original drone article stated that "No agency of the town will operate drones capable of violating the constitutional rights of residents ..."  Since any drone is "capable" of that, the wording pretty much amounted to a ban.

But what passed Town Meeting was reworded to say nobody can operate drones, "In a manner that violates the constitutional rights of residents."  Which is kind of like saying no baseball bats will be used in a manner to purposely break the heads of residents.

Gerry Weiss significantly watered down his article from telling the Select Board to take Echo Village Apartments by eminent domain to, "It is the sense of Town Meeting" that town officials should continue to negotiate with Jamie Cherewatti for purchase of the apartment complex.

Maybe he should have just said, "Pretty please."

DUI Dishonor Roll

Liberty Lynn, age 34 

Interestingly my friends in the bricks and mortar media jumped on this scary DUI case because Liberty Lynn had a child in the car with her (as well as an Amherst homeless person, "known to the police").

But the thing about drunk drivers is they are a threat to kids everywhere because even if they are alone in their car they can all too easily crash into another vehicle filled with kids.

Liberty Lynn is the sister of Patrick Lynn who was arrested by Amherst police six weeks ago in Amherst town center for DUI -- 4th offense!

Liberty Lynn DUI part 1 by Larry Kelley

Part 2

   Liberty Lynn dui part 2

Look, Up In The Sky!

UPDATE 10:30 PM  To no great surprise Amherst Town Meeting voted overwhelmingly to ban drones on a local level and to ask our federal representatives to file legislation to stop international "targeted killings."

Meanwhile, somewhere in the bowels of Hell, Osama Bin Laden smiled.

 #####

Just as some folks in Amherst view the American flag as a "symbol of terrorism and death and fear and destruction ...," so too will drones be viewed in only a negative light. 

Yes this is Amherst, where 30 years ago we became a "nuclear free zone."

Associated Press 5/18/1984

Soon to be a, "drone free zone."




Source: CriminalJusticeDegreeHub.com

The Terrorists Win

Targeted teacher of color Carolyn Gardner -- the victim of numerous anonymous racial incidents since last October -- will not return to teach in the Amherst Regional Public School system for the rest of the school year Principal Mark Jackson announced to the entire High School student body over the public address system on Friday.

The last straw appears to have been the incident on Wednesday, when yet another anonymous note was discovered in the library with a threat about bringing a weapon into school, and the perp signed the note "Carolyn Gardner."  Amherst police determined the threat not to be "credible."

Since the anonymous notes and graffiti have been discovered in rest rooms of both genders it would appear there are multiple offenders, possibly copy cats simply wishing to get a day off from school -- especially now that the weather is nice.

I'm told students reaction was not one of anger or even excitement, but more of a somber "disappointment and shame."  Because the school system -- and the entire town -- had lost.

To a Cowardly Anon Nitwit, otherwise known as a Troll.

Only makes you wonder, who's next?