Letter: Comment to Ken Swiatek's Letter on Zoning Proposal

Letter to the Editor04:00PM / Wednesday, March 16, 2022Print Story | Email Story

To the Editor:

Ready. Fire. Aim. That seems to be a common way of doing town business in Williamstown these days.

It may be a holdover from the Covid Crazy Days of Zoom-only discussion, where having an eye-to-eye, in-depth conversation was nearly impossible. And it is not just the Planning Board. Educating our townspeople on fact-based reasons for a proposal seems often to elude many of our public representatives. Opportunity for questioning and public comment BEFORE an idea or expensive new hire is officially put forth for a vote seems to have taken a back seat in town decision-making. And our out-dated town meeting is no place to hash out important issues. For many good reasons, the majority of eligible participants cannot participate.

Spring is a time of new beginnings. Haven't we agreed that we will make a special effort to make all voices heard? Even those who may feel or be marginalized? Understandably, our civic leaders are weary and battle-scarred. We must thank them for serving through a very challenging period. But now let them make a concerted effort to hear and value the many voices who wish to be heard on a number of critical issues facing our town. We will all be the better for it.

Donna C Wied
WIlliamstown, Mass.

Tags: zoning,

iBerkshires.com Text Ads

rk MILES Blding Materials

Are You Ready to Update Your Home? Start With rk MILES. 4 Locations (800)670-7433

www.rkmiles.com

Greylock Youth SummerFest

Come join in on the wealth building fun! August 3-8. Click for event details. Insured by NCUA.

www.greylock.org

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Letter: We Have Great Political Leaders, Let's Keep 'em

Letter to the Editor03:00PM / Thursday, August 20, 2026

To the Editor:

We are very lucky in Berkshire County. Our political leaders are the envy of voters around the nation and respected by their peers — and because of their experience, knowledge, and seniority they get stuff done for us.

Sen. Ed Markey once again faces a challenger whose entire campaign is founded on age. As WBUR in Boston observed, Moulton is running on age, but what else? Joe Kennedy had the same platform — and Massachusetts voters rejected him.

It seems to me a candidate's age is irrelevant if he's doing the job, and Ed Markey is doing his job — very well, in fact. He's no stranger to the Berkshires, and he's fighting Trump's fascist policies every single day.
He is also the Senate author of the Green New Deal legislation.

Congressman Richie Neal is in a similar fight. I've asked friends who oppose him to name one vote he's taken they disagree with, and they cannot. Remember, the great Nancy Pelosi trusted Richie and made him chair of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, which benefits us in the Berkshires as well as the nation. Richie is a powerful advocate for Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, West-East Rail, and local investment. His opponent would be a back-bencher with zero clout.

The same arguments could — and should — be made for the rest of our Democratic contingent in Boston: Gov. Maura Healey's opponent is likely to be a Boston-centric MAGA billionaire. Do you think he cares about us? Our state Sen. Paul Mark and state Reps. John Barrett, Trish Farley-Bouvier, and Leigh Davis are all tried and true progressive Beacon Hill veterans who also know how to get stuff done. And Tara Jacobs, our representative on the Governor's Council, provides a Berkshire voice on that body that has been absent since the 1950s.

This is a nation on the brink. We have serious problems, and we need serious people to deal with them. Our Democratic contingent is made up of very serious people. That's why they all have my vote. I hope they have yours, too.

Lee Harrison
Williamstown, Mass.

View Full Story