Outlier

Once again Amherst proves how out of touch from the mainstream we are, voting over 4-1 in favor of what's her name while the rest of the state went with the white guy.  Or the losing anti-casino vote (Question 3) finding favor in Amherst by almost 2-1

You have to wonder if the local CPA tax increase question (Question 5) had been decided by a statewide vote would the rest of the state have saved us from ourselves?  Of course you also have to wonder what impact the student vote had on that question passing (3624-3154).

You know, the folks who will not buy property here and deal with its burden.

At 80%, Cambridge delivers @marthacoakley's largest margin over @CharlieForGov in Mass., followed closely by Amherst at 78% #magov #mapoli
— Jason Graziadei (@JasonGraziadei) November 5, 2014

As Amherst Goes ...

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Frightening Weekend?

 Massachusetts State PD joined APD over the weekend

A combination of not-overly-great weather and a fleet of Massachusetts State Police troopers combined to keep rowdyism at bay over the Halloween weekend in our little college town.  As usual alcohol was the instigator for the vast majority of public safety responses.

Assistant Town Manager Dave Ziomek did a "ride along" on Halloween night with APD Captain Jen Gunderson and was amazed at the seamless team work on display between not only our understaffed local police and fire departments, but also their interaction with MSP and UMPD.

In Eastern Hampshire District Court on Monday Judge Payne sorted out the Amherst weekend arrests with the usual array of continuations (for more serious DUI offenses) or for Cameron Kingsbury a "Diversion" from criminal to civil where he pays the town noise bylaw fee of $300 (with the $300 "nuisance" ticket dropped), $100 court costs and four months probation.

Cameron Kingsbury, age 22, stands before Judge Payne

 

AFD arriving at Salem Place 12:25 am  for intoxicated underage male

UMPD alcohol enforcement Lincoln Avenue 11:30 PM

MSP alcohol enforcement 12:10 am

MSP alcohol enforcement 12:47 am

South East Street Speedway

Drunk driver into house @ 706 South East Street September 1

706 South East Street today:  "Barricaded in our homes"

One of the obvious problems with South East Street -- a main north/south corridor connection winding scenically through the heartland of Amherst -- is a lack of stop signs.  As in only one.

Yes, you can drive the entire six mile length from College Street to Bay Road pretty much unhindered by town installed signage.  

20 neighbors met Sunday night, appropriately enough at the Munson Memorial Library on the South East Street common, to discuss the safety concerns of the street they call home and come up with a plan to get town officials' attention on this public safety issue so something actually gets done.

 South East Street neighbors, Assistant Town Manager Ziomek (right)

Since the meeting was attended by Assistant Town Manager David Ziomek obviously they have already achieved the first goal but, as usual, the problem is getting something done about it.

Each participant was given dots to prioritize solutions

Suggestions ranged from the common sense -- lower speed limit, install more stop signs, increased police visibility, use of cameras for traffic enforcement -- to the slightly tongue in cheek:  level the steep little hill near Mill Lane which causes dangerous blind spots, or make the scenic street a toll road.

 Problem areas identified by residents of South East Street

South East Street is one of those historic old roads unchanged other than paving since the invention of the automobile.  It's time to come into the 21st century and share the road.  Safely. 

Question 5? Hell NO!

Need I say more?

For my numerous friend outside the little bubble of Amherst don't be confused by this post. You will not see a Question 5 on your state ballot today as this is an "Only in Amherst kind of thing" brought to us by aging full-time activist Vince O'Connor (need I say more).

The amount it will cost taxpayers is "only $72" they say, which is like a Marine drill instructor having you do push ups until you're about to puke and he then puts a gun to your head and demands 72 more.

The money raised by the "surcharge" (since it's voluntary they don't call it a "tax") cannot be spent on the most pressing needs this town currently has: increased staffing in our overworked public safety departments.

In fact, most of it will go towards taking properties off the tax rolls in a town where over half the property already is off the tax rolls. So just say NO.

And while your at it, in the name a fiscal responsibility, vote for Charlie Baker and return Massachusetts to the good old days of sound spending brought to you be a, gasp, Republican.

The Best Laid Plans ...

 Town Gown Steering Committee:  high ranking UMass & town officials, and other stakeholders (although Chancellor Subbaswamy was MIA)

After almost exactly one year from their inaugural meeting (10/30/13) the sprawling 24 member Town Gown Steering Committee tonight heard the "final presentation" from U3 Advisors, their $60,000 consultant charged with honing a vision for joint development of the economic and housing kind.

 Standing room only crowd for the presentation

Essentially what we got was a repackaging of the ill fated Gateway Project, another one-year endeavor that used a $30,000 consultant to put forth a vision of a grand mixed use development with student housing along the North Pleasant Street corridor, using the University's two acre parcel, the former Frat Row.  A project resulting from a public/private partnership that would house students, provided commercial amenities, and pay property taxes.

 

Former Frat Row North Pleasant Street at the "gateway" to UMass

Now called by U3 the "North Pleasant Corridor"

Mass Ave plan uses UMass parking lots and Phillips Street, the slummiest street in Amherst,  for a mixed use development

 

Current map of the North Pleasant Corridor/Gateway area

Study after study and now again this final report have concluded that Amherst does not have enough housing, driving up prices and driving out low and middle income workers. And our demographic is obviously studentcentric, reflected by the fact that Amherst has the lowest median age in the state.

You simply cannot talk about housing without including students, but when you do that -- because of the rancid reputation fostered by an irresponsible few -- neighbors bristle.

That bristle helped to kill the Gateway Project, The Retreat student housing project in North Amherst and they seem overly determined to kill the 1 East Pleasant Street project in the downtown because it dares to embrace student renters.

Simply put the town and University need to come up with a public/private partnership that can build a development to house STUDENTS without being torpedoed by the Pachecho Rule.

Amherst resident Stan Rosenberg, a proud UMass graduate and l-o-n-g-t-i-m-e unabashed cheerleader for our flaghip University, is about to become President of the Mass Senate.

Surely he can steer a bill through the legislature to get not only approval for a public/private partnership, but an equally important component to any deal:  financing. 

No more studies, no more talk.  Just do it.

Halloween Haze (Alcohol That Is)

AFD Engines Fine Arts Center awaiting ambulance to transport ETOH student 1:15 am

One can only wonder how much worse it could have been if Mother Nature had not played the role  first-responders-best-friend by providing rain right about the time parties are getting warmed up. And on Halloween, the parties are ubiquitious as pumpkins on a front porch.

 Hampshire Halloween fireworks 8:00 pm

Hampshire Halloween, the biggest event of the year for Hampshire College, was far less intoxicating than last year when AFD had six transports for ETOH.

This year AFD Chief Nelson required 2 out-of-town ambulances stage on scene, just as they did for the recent Fantazia concert at the Mullins Center.

South Hadley and Easthampton ambulances were easily able to keep up with demand, as only three patrons required transport to Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Medics on the scene also treated and released three more.

UMass, however, staggered to a new record, easily surpassing last year's 9 transports for intoxication. This year there were 13 transports, half again as many!

Interestingly male immaturity, as it often does, predominated: 12 of the 13 transports were (young) men. Another three patients (2 men, 1 woman) were treated and released for too much alcohol.

Fortunately Mother Nature continues to smile on our beleaguered first responders, as tonight promises to be the proverbial "dark and stormy night."

Just two of many ETOH incidents after midnight Halloween