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As town moderator of Cummington, the following is a statement I read to open annual Town Meeting on May 2: Tonight we convene to maintain and renew a tradition of self-governance practiced for 400 years. But we meet tonight at a time when many are gravely concerned about the future of democracy in America. Many may be inclined to ask, so to be reminded, “What does democracy look like?” “Can you tell me what democracy looks like?” I would like to affirm that tonight, what we convene to do here, this tradition of town meeting — “this is what democracy looks like.” Local participatory democracy. One person, one vote.

Having watched the Planning Board meeting on April 24, I wasn’t even a little surprised to read of the approval of the huge complex of buildings on State Street. (“Planners OK five-story housing development for St. Mary’s Church site, concerns aired over Hawley Street apartment building,” Gazette, April 29). Planners seemed more concerned about the placement of dumpsters, curb cuts and space for bikes than about the massive buildings on State Street and the jail-look alike behemoth on Phillips Place. It seemed like the final nail in the coffin of any pretense about the importance of “diversity,” including economic diversity in Northampton. According to developers O’Connell and Sunwood, they are doing a community service by building 125 “market rate” apartments, with rents starting at $2,000 for a 450 square foot apartment; “market rate” meaning what the market will bear. At the hours long meeting, someone mentioned affordable housing for perhaps a minute or so. Several cities now require a percentage of new apartment buildings must be set aside for affordable housing priced below market rates. High rent cities like Boston, New York, Washington, Pittsburgh provide tax incentives to developers. Somerville and Cambridge require 20% of larger buildings be affordable. Northampton is now a high rent city. With the green light given to one and possibly two massive apartment buildings, now is the time for the mayor, City Council the planning department and candidates to begin developing plans to incorporate a percentage of affordable apartments in new projects.

How ironic that the cargo ship carrying food to Gaza that the Freedom Flotilla Coalition claims was bombed by Israel in international waters is called the “Conscience.” Has the world no conscience? How can we watch two million people starve to death? Sixty-six days of complete blockade — food, water, medicines, fuel. The health care workers of Gaza have called an emergency, as they have only two days of supplies and food left. As we celebrate Mothers’ Day, which was established as a call for peace, let us join with the mothers of Gaza to call for saving the lives of their children. Let us mourn with mothers missing their dead children. Today no one should starve to death. On a practical level, write to your elected representatives and ask them to join a diplomatic convoy to bring food to Gaza. Insist they stop approving money for arms — they need bread not bombs. Act on your conscience and feed the children. Thank you.

In my January letter to the editor, I promised I would not write another Trump letter for four years if he or she would publish that one. Since then, I have sent two others. The Gazette is forcing me to consider whether I am a habitual liar. Oh, well. Perhaps I am, but nowhere near our 100-day super-president. Today, I am thinking about the “real” effects of this man’s economic fantasies, his vaunted worldwide tariffs. We will feel them at the end of May, because by then the number of ships of Chinese goods in American ports will have declined by 30%-40%.

By JONATHAN KAHANE

My teachers all told me throughout my 22 years as a student in academia that I’m a slow learner. After 80 years I’m still trying to learn how to tie my shoes so they remain fastened for more than an hour at a time.

By JULIA BROWN

Resistance to President Donald Trump’s threat to deny billions in federal funding to universities that do not bend to his list of demands has finally gotten off the ground. Over four hundred academic leaders have signed the statement denouncing the Trump administration for its “unprecedented government overreach and political interference” in higher education.

Thank you, Joe Gannon, for speaking truth to power about MLK Jr. and the violence he stood and spoke against in this land of the so-called free (”The good doctor diagnosed our malady: spiritual death,” Gazette, May 8). And thank you, John Paradis (”White Rose legacy transcends, inspires,” Gazette, April 11) for bringing to light how dangerous truth-spreading was under Hitler. And thank you to our hometown Gazette for printing both. None of you will likely face the guillotine, as Sophie Scholl and her brother did, beheaded by the Gestapo for leafleting in 1943 Germany. Nevertheless, I am beyond grateful for the brave truths you bring to my doorstep, causing me to dress in black and to show up at the White Rose rally in Northampton on Friday.

Having called Hadley home since my family moved from Connecticut in 1988, I'm proud to announce my candidacy for the Planning Board. As a Hopkins Academy graduate and lifelong community member, my connection to our town runs deep — from working at my family's former Spruce Hill Motel to managing current business ventures on Russell Street (Route 9). Over the years, I’ve worked closely with Hadley’s Fire, Police, DPW, Building, Conservation, and Finance departments. These collaborations, along with my experience as a business owner navigating local zoning bylaws, have given me a practical understanding of how our town functions — and where it can improve. I’ve also had the opportunity to serve on Hadley’s 40R committee, gaining hands-on experience with planning and smart growth strategies designed to guide thoughtful, community-driven development.

In the name of infill, a private developer and city officials have figured out how to build a huge market rate apartment building on a narrow street of single and multi-family homes in a historic district. What an accomplishment!

By DONALD JORALEMON

Among the most unscrupulous lies repeated by the right wing is that universities and colleges are “factories of leftist ideology.” The distortions began decades ago and gained force during the 1960s as American students joined in protests against the Vietnam War and participated in the civil rights movements. In recent years conservatives have focused their attacks on diversity programs, affirmative action and “WOKE” culture to support their assault on institutions of higher education. They have pretended to be outraged by protests against the war in Gaza, claiming that universities have allowed antisemitism to run rampant. The Trump administration’s threats to cut federal research funding in an attempt to extort compliance to its demands for a governmental takeover of universities’ curricula, hiring and admissions policies is the most egregious assault on the independence of universities.

By DR. DAVID GOTTSEGEN

I was awakened this morning at 5:30 by thoughts of this administration’s destruction of our health care system, our economy, our democracy, our environment, and our friendships with allies around the world. (Many of those whom I know share these night time/early morning preoccupations.)

On the same day (May 6) columnist J.M. Sorrell declared that “Anti-Zionism is antisemitism,” the Guardian reported that Zionist leader Bezalel Smotrich announced “that ‘Gaza will be entirely destroyed’ as a result of an Israeli military victory, and that its Palestinian population will ‘leave in great numbers to third countries,” raising fears of ethnic cleansing in the occupied territory.” The same day, the Times of Israel also quoted Smotrich: “The Gazan citizens will be concentrated in the south. They will be totally despairing, understanding that there is no hope and nothing to look for in Gaza, and will be looking for relocation to begin a new life in other places.”

In her May 7 column [”Tribe of Radical Allies Against Hate (TORAAH)”], J.M. Sorrell claims to be an ally of Jews, but her type of “allyship” does immeasurable harm. Jews are not monolithic. Jews share as wide a range of ideologies as any group, including far-right authoritarianism, and are just as capable of evil. To deny this is to deny our full humanity, as Jewish Currents editor Peter Beinart points out. No group is pure. I wish it were true that victims of oppression could never themselves become victimizers, but history shows us over and over again that this is, tragically, not the case.

By ALLEN WOODS

Nearly all social thinkers (including the artificial ones of AI) emphasize that functioning, peaceful societies must agree on a group of shared meanings for communicating. These include gestures (a handshake, hug, tip of the hat, tap on the heart, etc.), images and symbols, and spoken and written words. They are “the glue that holds society together, enabling individuals to understand each other, cooperate effectively, and build a cohesive and vibrant social life.”

By BILL NEWMAN

I initially decided to not talk about this except with my family, closest friends and work colleagues who needed to know. But I changed my mind. If hearing about my experience might save someone’s life or future, well, that consideration should far outweigh any potential embarrassment or some random unkind comment. Let’s start at the end.

By DONALD JORALEMON

Among the most unscrupulous lies repeated by the right wing is that universities and colleges are “factories of leftist ideology.” The distortions began decades ago and gained force during the 1960s as American students joined in protests against the Vietnam War and participated in the civil rights movements. In recent years conservatives have focused their attacks on diversity programs, affirmative action and “WOKE” culture to support their assault on institutions of higher education. They have pretended to be outraged by protests against the war in Gaza, claiming that universities have allowed antisemitism to run rampant. The Trump administration’s threats to cut federal research funding in an attempt to extort compliance to its demands for a governmental takeover of universities’ curricula, hiring and admissions policies is the most egregious assault on the independence of universities.

At the annual Town Meeting on May 14, Town Meeting members will vote on a citizen’s petition for a Welcoming Community ordinance. This ordinance asks town officials and employees to welcome all people in our community, so that they can live positive and productive lives in South Hadley, without fear of investigation and deportation by local officials. The majority of the proposed ordinance is already aligned with Massachusetts laws and current town and police department policies.

Most of us will become disabled at some point in our lives. Whether through accident, illness, or simply old age, we will all join the largest minority in the U.S. For decades, institutionalization was standard for people with disabilities. Conditions were commonly squalid, overcrowded, and abusive.When the deinstitutionalization movement gained momentum in the 1960s and 70s, we developed support systems to help people with disabilities live on their own.

By OLIN ROSE-BARDAWIL

Last month, I was at Umass Amherst attending a Q&A with CliffeKnechtle, a pastor who has gone viral on social media in the past few months for his arguments in support of Christianity. Originally a pastor at a church in Connecticut, Knechtle is partly compelling because of how compassionately and thoughtfully he states his positions. Unlike many evangelists, he does not seem interested in forcing his faith on non-Christians but rather presenting biblical teachings and letting people wrestle with their meaning.

By ROB OKUN

Think resisting authoritarianism is too big of a lift? Think again. This spring, while the U.S. resistance movement may not be in full bloom, it is blossoming.

While elements of the Roman Catholic Church may go in different directions, there is a long history of close association between that communion and the state. Of some note, the conservative members of the current U.S. Supreme Court all have had some Catholic formation. This would school them to protect the office of the presidency regardless of who is president, as that is how Catholics are taught to navigate their church hierarchy. This approach can help parishioners to get through it if, for example, their parish priest should have an alcohol addiction.