Opinion

Displaying articles 2021 to 2040 out of 3185 total.

William Adams: Dirty, loud leaf blowers must go

09-01-2023 6:56 PM

As we head into leaf-blowing season, I am writing to urge the city of Northampton and Smith College to end their use of gas-powered leaf blowers, or, at a minimum, replace them with electric ones.As we face the urgent threat of the climate crisis,...


Amrita Rutter and Jane Scanlan-Emigh: Time for solar panels at ARHS

09-01-2023 6:55 PM

By AMRITA RUTTER and JANE SCANLAN-EMIGH

Amherst can’t seem to agree on solar panels. Though they are often considered the end-all and be-all of sustainable energy solutions, they rank staunchly above forested land preservation for some, and rank just as staunchly below for some.As a town,...


Guest columnist Rob Weir: Sacrifices on menu for Main Street

09-01-2023 6:55 PM

By ROB WEIR

Given the religious-like zeal for and against Northampton’s Main Street redesign, call me the resident agnostic. It thrills my utopian soul to imagine no cars downtown. But so does a pedestrians-only zone and light rail connecting Northampton to...


Guest columnist Don Baumer: The truth about Biden for president

09-01-2023 6:02 AM

By DON BAUMER

The 2024 presidential election is shaping up to be largely about the truth — who is telling it, and who isn’t. Although debate over the truthfulness of politicians is not exactly new (Richard Nixon and Bill Clinton come to mind), its prominence in the...


Sandy Milo and Claudia Lefko: Cycling to downtown dangerous

09-01-2023 6:02 AM

By SANDY MILO and CLAUDIA LEFKO

We’re neighbors — Sandy Milo (S) and Claudia Lefko (C) — writing because we have some issues and questions about Picture Main Street, the $20-plus million, three-year project to redesign downtown. We’re concerned about even greater congestion on...


Rutherford H. Platt: A preview of Main Street project?

09-01-2023 6:02 AM

A preview of Main Street project?Anyone who still supports the city and state’s multiyear year plan to reconstruct Northampton’s Main Street (“Picture Main Street”) should ruin their day by using Damon Road to get to I-91 or Coolidge Bridge.This...


09-01-2023 6:02 AM

Avoiding Main Street on bikeI frequently bike from Amherst to Northampton to pick up my daughter at preschool. It’s a lovely ride, especially during peak fall and spring.After pickup, I often like to treat her to some kind of special snack. I would...


Raymond Bradley: Need better priorities at UMass

09-01-2023 6:01 AM

Need better priorities at UMassThis week, The Athletic released its ranking of 133 college football teams. UMass placed 133rd. This is really no surprise as UMass football team has won only three out of 40 games played since 2019.Despite this...


John Varner: Our duty to get past toxic divisions

08-31-2023 8:01 AM

By JOHN VARNER

Amherst has never been short on opinionated, vocal people, but lately the tone of debate on issues has gone from spirited to dispiriting. This is a sad reflection of the trajectory of politics nationally, and it is a deeply troubling development for...


Pat Ononibaku: Demling’s blame misplaced

08-30-2023 7:46 PM

The Progressive Coalition of Amherst (PCA) rejects recent false assertions that Peter Demling makes in his letter of resignation from the School Committee, particularly that PCA is in any way responsible for the so-called climate of “vitriol,”...


08-30-2023 7:46 PM

The Gazette’s recent report of the resignation of Peter Demling from the Amherst School Committee [“School Committee resignations continue,” Aug. 6] listed two entities that Demling has accused of being the source of “non-stop personal attacks” — the...


Lois Ahrens: Gabby Thomas deserves front page

08-30-2023 7:46 PM

Let’s celebrate the good news and the outstanding accomplishments of Florence native Gabby Thomas for winning the gold medal in the 4x100 meter relay and a silver medal in the 200 meters at the 2023 World Athletics Championship in Budapest.Instead of...


Ray Ahearn: Candidates back Trump anyway

08-30-2023 7:46 PM

Really! Only two (Chris Christie and Asa Hutchinson) of the eight aspirants to become the GOP nominee for president indicated in their first debate that if their great Orangehead leader is convicted of committing a crime, they would not support him as...


Joseph Donahue: Debate not worth watching

08-30-2023 7:46 PM

I watched the first 25 minutes of the Republican debate on Fox News a week ago, but as it quickly descended into a no-holds-barred shouting match I felt there was no choice but to turn it off.Whatever rules were supposedly in force about allowed time...


Nicholas Horton: Time to act on Main Street makeover

08-30-2023 1:25 PM

Recent letters and opinion pieces in the Daily Hampshire Gazette have raised questions about the coming reconstruction of Main Street in Northampton.Many have described this as a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to ensure that downtown Northampton...


David Ball: Can’t imagine walking or biking to downtown

08-30-2023 1:25 PM

A vibrant Main Street in Northampton with lots of trees, lots of bikes and few cars — wonderful! The trouble is, it’s based on fantasy. More trees can be planted, and should be, but making it easier for bikers will only marginally reduce the number...


Martha Borawski: Recalling King Street disruptions

08-30-2023 1:25 PM

As a business and property owner in downtown Northampton and a veteran of the 1997 King Street Construction, I applaud Stephen Herrell for writing his column “Main Street redesign problematic” [July 29]. For those of you who either don’t remember or...


Ben Weil: ‘A downtown designed for people’

08-30-2023 11:41 AM

By BEN WEIL

Change is coming to Northampton’s Main Street, and I can’t wait. A downtown designed for people and not just for cars will result in a thriving, congenial place and an engine of our local economy.People come to downtown to meet each other, to dine...


Gregg Schwartz: Too much traffic for two lanes

08-30-2023 11:39 AM

By GREGG SCHWARTZ

I’ve read many articles and opinion pieces on the Main Street redesign, and I’d like to start by saying that I support making our downtown more of a destination for visitors. As someone who works downtown, it certainly can use updates, and give more...


Guest columnist Julie Spencer-Robinson: Time for a more authentic evaluation of student learning

08-30-2023 11:30 AM

By JULIE SPENCER-ROBINSON

It was wonderful to see the Gazette’s editorial page recently filled with support for the Thrive Act. This important piece of state legislation would eliminate passing the MCAS as a graduation requirement and establish a commission to recommend “a...


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Displaying articles 2021 to 2040 out of 3185 total.
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