Opinion

Columnist Olin Rose-Bardawil: American dream out of reach for many

By OLIN ROSE-BARDAWIL

We live in a society that often tells us to form opinions that neatly conform to one ideological side or the other. Yet when it comes to the most important issues, it can be unhelpful to come to such rigid conclusions. F. Scott Fitzgerald was right...

Martha Jorz: Stop supporting UMass and Raytheon

To those protesting the war and genocide in Gaza, refusing to support those institutions with monetary gifts is also an option. If we stop financially supporting and investing in those institutions that make the production of weapons of war possible...

Tony Giardina: Faith and inclusion

I am writing in response to MarielAddis’ column “Under seige from all sides,” [Gazette, April 18] where the writer bemoans Pope Francis’ recent remarks questioning gender theory and “sex changes” as “grave threats” to humanity today. Like all...

Doron Goldman: Israel's situation is complicated

In response to Nancy Grossman’s guest column [“How to keep right on going in Gaza,” Gazette, May 4], my view is as follows: Not complicated — 1) Cease-fire now 2) Hamas is a terrorist organization 3) Netanyahu is a criminal 4) Oct. 7 was a horrific...

Jeanne Horrigan: Amherst seniors grateful for ARPA support

The Amherst Senior Center is pleased to be the recipient of $2.5 million in ARPA funding, to be used for building renovations. These funds represent more than their dollar amount, they are an investment in the needs of the ever-growing population of...

John Frey: School Committee must practice prudent fiscal management

I am a Northampton public school parent who wants our schools to be funded as robustly as possible. But the arguments made by Northampton Ward 4 School Committee member Michael Stein (“Serving educational needs shouldn’t be ‘aspirational’,” Gazette,...

Guest columnist Phil Wilson: Let us pick local town officials by sortition

By PHIL WILSON

Here is a way for Northampton, Amherst, or any local town to become the cutting edge of democracy: Do away with elections.People who consciously scheme to obtain power tend to be, well … power hungry. If you don’t want narcissists and psychopaths...

Joseph Morse: So much to be thankful for

So much to be thankful for … with the war in Gaza so many other world problems have disappeared from the Gazette’s pages. No more climate crisis, no war in Ukraine, no border crisis and no starvation in Sudan. Could it really be that calls for a...

Karen Foster Cannon: Michael Stein does not speak for me

I read with interest the recent guest column by Northampton School Committee member Michael Stein, who used the word “we” on behalf of the School Committee while expressing his individual views and reasons for his vote on the Northampton school budget...

Letter: It's not Us vs Them

I have been very disappointed in the rhetoric around the school budget. The issue began when the School Committee spent one-time COVID money on ongoing costs like teacher salaries. That was a mistake on their part that is causing the current...

Guest columnist Josh Silver: Northampton school budget — Let’s start with kindness, accuracy and respect

By JOSH SILVER

The debate over Northampton school funding is the latest example of the circular firing squad of the American political left. According to the loudest voices for maximum school funding, anyone who points out that the budget recently approved by the...

Kurt Heidinger: Biden breaking law, not students

Because our president, with votes of support from our Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Edward Markey, is breaking the law, our nation is lawless; and instead of him our college students are, for demanding he obey the law, being arrested and processed as...

Kathy Gregg: You go, students!

I am full of admiration for the UMass students who are demonstrating on campus demanding that the university divest from American companies that make weapons Israel uses against Palestinians.I commend them for cooperating with the university’s demand...

Terry Mollner: A different two-state solution

There is an easy solution to the conflict between the Israelis and the Palestinians, but it necessitates as new way of thinking of a nation.The conflict is over both claiming the same land is their homeland. They could both continue to do that and...

Jennifer James: Schooling our city

What will Northampton’s future educational identity be? What is that identity now?Those charging that supporters of level funding for our city schools are simply asking for other services to be short-changed are refusing to accept that the future of...

The Mahoneys: In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week

In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, we wish to thank the Northampton teachers, paraprofessionals, service providers, staff, and administrators who continually strive to lift up students with special needs.We acknowledge the effort and hard work...

Sanjay Arwade: A great day for Amherst Youth BaseballAnother spring, another great day for Amherst Youth Baseball at Lorden Field at UMass. Once again, the Minutemen and Coach Matt Reynolds were gracious hosts, bringing more than 70 youngsters into their pregame huddle and out onto the field for the National Anthem.To top it off, the Minutemen defeated St. Joe’s as part of a weekend sweep with Amherst native and Amherst Youth Baseball alum Justin Masteralexis as the starting pitcher.The Minutemen are putting together a nice season and we encourage everyone to go out and support them at Lorden Field.Sanjay ArwadePresident, Amherst Youth Baseball

Another spring, another great day for Amherst Youth Baseball at Lorden Field at UMass. Once again, the Minutemen and Coach Matt Reynolds were gracious hosts, bringing more than 70 youngsters into their pregame huddle and out onto the field for the...

Karen Gardner: We all deserve a break

‘Up in the sky! Look! It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s Superman!Sorry Superman, it’s a bird. But not just any bird, it’s one among many that hasn’t been seen here since last fall. It’s the yearly migration of these birds back from warmer climes to our...

Letter: Early morning bullhorn obnoxious

I absolutely support the right of L3Harris protesters to picket and make their voices heard. What I don’t support is members of the group yelling through a bullhorn before 7 a.m.There are many neighbors around this plant; no doubt some are unwell or...

Steve Bloom: Guest columnist wrong about Israel

In his latest analysis of the ongoing tragedy in the Middle East, guest columnist Joe Gannon [“Sees changes for Israel,” May 4] declares “Israel’s right to exist is not in danger as a nation state. It is too powerful and has nukes. Period.” Wow,...