I can’t help but respond to the personal and partisan attack in the Wednesday letters to the editor by Jordi Herold (“The other Iron Horse co-founder backs Narkewicz”). The Iron Horse would not exist without my entrepreneurial effort to get it started.
When Mr. Herold was a student teacher in Amherst, I had already started three businesses and when I came up with the idea for a coffeehouse where people could actually converse with each other while enjoying live music, Mr. Herold was more than happy to jump on board. I was also responsible for bringing the Horse from a “pass the hat” operation to a venue that booked major acts and sold tickets.
Though, as cited in Mr. Herold’s self-published memoir, I was only involved with the Horse for two years, those were the seminal years. I am happy that the Iron Horse lives on. The music scene in Northampton wouldn’t exist without its continued commitment to the best music and performers in the country.
I definitely will mark the Iron Horse as a major accomplishment in the revival of our city, but I haven’t stopped contributing to that work-in-progress that is our unique home. I hope to continue my record of innovation and cultural contribution as mayor of Northampton.
John Riley
Northampton
The writer is a candidate for mayor of Northampton.