Copyright berkshireeagle
Letter: Why Pittsfield needs pragmatic, thoughtful leaders To the editor: The challenges Pittsfield faces must be dealt with care and an understanding of the nuances, rather than soundbites. This election, I am supporting Dan Elias and Heather McNeice for Pittsfield School Committee, and Sara Hathaway for city councilor at large. Having served with Elias during my time on the School Committee, he has shown his ability to understand all sides of an issue and understand the nuances that come with serving on the committee. Having served on the committee for 30 years, he brings great experience of what has worked and not worked for the district as well as much knowledge of the collective bargaining process. While some may say that we need a completely new school committee, having a committee with six new members and a mayor who has only served for two years will cause disruptions and potentially repeat mistakes that the committee has made in years past. Elias will ensure that there is a relatively smooth transition between this committee and the next. I also believe McNeice would be a great addition to the School Committee. Having had her as a teacher at Taconic, I can say with confidence that she is very passionate for Pittsfield Public Schools. She understands the complexity of the jobs and issues that face the School Committee, such as the issue of cell phones in class and the middle school restructuring project. I believe her strong passion and organizational skills will be a great benefit to this new School Committee, and potentially even as an officer of the committee. On the City Council, I believe Sara Hathaway would be a great addition. Having served as Pittsfield mayor back in the 2000s and on the School Committee for the past four years, she understands the bigger picture of how both the city and school department function. She wants to build a better relationship between the City Council and the schools, rather than the tense relationship that is present currently. She is solution-oriented, focusing on how we can address the many issues the city faces, understanding the nuances of the issues rather than trying to sound good and play to the camera. She will bring a much-needed collaborative voice to the council. William Garrity, Pittsfield Letter: Great Barrington must seek alternatives, not another tax hike To the editor: I have seen little dissent for the upcoming vote to finance a new Monument Mountain High School. As a Great Barrington homeowner, I am a no. My remarks apply only to my town. First, the design plans are impressive. And were this Cambridge or Wellesley or even Lenox, this could be an appropriate build. But here, the cost is prohibitive for many. The proposal is not slightly above the Proposition 2 1/2 limits. It blows the lid off. For us low- to middle-income homeowners, it may be the inflection point at which we can no longer afford our homes. As we deal with soaring health insurance and expiring SNAP and other benefits, the timing of the vote is particularly tone deaf. Second, public school enrollments in our area continue to decline. The underlying demographic factors will not change in several lifetimes, no matter how fast we build. As we are told that the school has reached the end of its life, we would be wise to consolidate with other schools. For example, consider sending Great Barrington to Southern Berkshire, Stockbridge to Lee, and West Stockbridge to Lenox. Explore use of the Bard campus. Do something other than breaking the backs of homeowners. Third, this prodigious increase does not exist in a vacuum. What happens when the proposed amount turns out not to be enough? And we still have toxic waste under the post office, lead in the water of many, and god knows what taxpayer expense ultimately to fix Housatonic's water woes. More money all around. Next, any rational voter must evaluate this proposal against his own experience with town services. For my family, that experience is poor. On my street zoned high density residential, a trash dump is allowed to exist within 30 feet of the river. None of my emails or calls to town staff is returned. I notice a two-tiered approach in how infrastructure gets repaired. First, to anything on "the Hill" and south or west of downtown Then, to anything else. Finally, vote by mail should be an automatic option for this important issue. Those less likely to be available in person between this hour and that hour are also those who will suffer most when the vote passes. Edward Bryan Rawls, Great Barrington Letter: Support key investments that will keep South County strong To the editor: The world feels uncertain and unsteady. Yet right now in our little corner of Massachusetts, we are in the unique position of not just stabilizing but strengthening two vital institutions in our community. Fairview Hospital has embarked on a major renovation/expansion project that is expected to be completed within the next few years. In a time when rural hospitals struggle to survive, Fairview is bucking the trend. We also have the chance to build a new Monument Mountain High School, which would be open as soon as 2029. On Nov. 4, residents of Great Barrington, Stockbridge and West Stockbridge will vote on whether to accept $61 million in state funding and a sensible long-term plan for taxpayers — a 30-year bond capped at $89 million. Health care and education are critical to the well-being of a community, and these two projects go hand-in-hand in building a bright future for South County. If we want our community to thrive, we need our hospitals and schools to thrive. If we want top-notch professionals to work in our local hospital and schools, we need facilities that will allow them to do top-notch work. Having strong community institutions like these also attracts other professionals and families — and encourages those who are already here to stay. A lot of things in the world feel out of our control, but making positive change on a local level is very much in our control. I urge you to come out and vote yes on both ballot questions regarding the high school. Every vote counts, and every yes vote helps ensure the future relevance and resilience of our community. Rebecca Gold, Great Barrington
