- Rob Kusner on Letter: Jeff Lee Speaks Truth to Power: “Hear, hear, hear!!! And this time it’s not a quip, It’s a cheer!!! Facts matter, especially when they’re inconvenient.” Apr 25, 21:55
- on The Western Mass Resistance Calendar and Supplemental Reading List: “Thanks for doing this, Art. The stand out on the overpasses today was great. It’s a good entry into the…” Apr 25, 19:52
- on Opinion: Town Council Grants Blank Check to Jones Library Expansion Project: “Well, the Office of the Attorney General did explicitly open the door for a protest when the Town executes executes…” Apr 25, 18:21
- on Town Council Defeats Proposal to Rescind Borrowing for Jones Library Expansion: Paves the Way for Town Manager to Sign Construction Contract: “Paul and Austin spoke the “magical words” and the followers followed at the April 14, 2025 special Town Council meeting.…” Apr 25, 16:49
- on Capital Spending Shortfall Anticipated for Coming Years: “Station Road does not need speed humps. I drove down the road on 4/25 and could barely reach 25mph following…” Apr 25, 15:13
- on Letter: Jeff Lee Speaks Truth to Power: ““… so it’s no wonder that he speaks truth to power.” And, no matter your position on the library plan…” Apr 25, 13:31
- on Photos of the Week: Spring in Carol Pope’s Garden: “Beauty and the peace… as always…thank you again Carol.” Apr 25, 13:08
- on The Mills and Industrial History of North Amherst, Part 2: “Just FYI: Historic Trade Demonstration: Smithy Saturday Smithy Saturday: Blacksmithing with Rick Martin & Friends and Gunsmithing with Richard Colton…” Apr 24, 19:02
- on Charter Review Committee Plans Outreach to Town Officials and Residents: “Um, hello? “Forced-choice questions”…..I am not a statistician so maybe I need to be better educated about terms like this…” Apr 24, 13:47
- on Letter: We Disavow Jeff Lee’s Letter to NEH/DOGE: “Do we live in a town where freedom is honored and respected? No, we do not! This attack on Jeff…” Apr 24, 08:22
- on Letter: Correcting the Gazette’s Misrepresentation of My Letter to the NEH: “I also would not have written the letter that Jeff Lee wrote. But I do want to note the obvious:…” Apr 24, 05:40
- on Letter: We Disavow Jeff Lee’s Letter to NEH/DOGE: “To me this puts a spotlight exactly on the larger political situation — one in which American democracy is under…” Apr 23, 21:20
- on Letter: We Disavow Jeff Lee’s Letter to NEH/DOGE: “Jeff researches before he writes . I have always paid attention to what he says . Jeff and others, can…” Apr 23, 19:46
- on Letter: Correcting the Gazette’s Misrepresentation of My Letter to the NEH: “thank you Jeff for your courageous letter regarding the financial realities of the expansion/demolition project. you more than anyone understand…” Apr 23, 19:30
- on Majority of Americans Distrust Elon Musk’s Efforts to Cut Federal Spending: “John, you are operating on misinformation stemming from an inaccurate Gazette article. If Ginny Hamilton and Scott Merzbach had been…” Apr 23, 19:15
- on Letter: We Disavow Jeff Lee’s Letter to NEH/DOGE: “In an article written by Art Keene on November 22nd, 2024 the following comment was posted by Rob Kusner. Given…” Apr 23, 19:12
- on Majority of Americans Distrust Elon Musk’s Efforts to Cut Federal Spending: “The majority of Americans apparently does NOT include Jeff Lee who has penned a note to the NEH and DOGE…” Apr 23, 10:48
- on Town Engineer Explains How Road Repairs Are Prioritized: “Route 9 is a growing public hazard. I saw an 8-man crew partially fill three of 35 potholes in front…” Apr 22, 07:07
- on Opinion: Holding Steady in Rough Seas: Thoughts on Weathering a Volatile Market: “As Christina thoughtfully advises (Magritte-like?), this is NOT meant to be advice for individual investors! However, it can be a…” Apr 21, 20:54
- on Town Council Defeats Proposal to Rescind Borrowing for Jones Library Expansion: Paves the Way for Town Manager to Sign Construction Contract: “At the beginning of this special meeting of the Town Council, fundraiser Kent Faerber, noted that ahead of the meeting,…” Apr 21, 12:22
- on The Western Mass Resistance Calendar and Supplemental Reading List: “Great work, thank you!” Apr 19, 16:53
- on Town Engineer Explains How Road Repairs Are Prioritized: “Noticeably absent from most discussions about our roads is mention of the free riding (pun intended) by UMASS. The usage…” Apr 19, 13:31
- on Public Comment: Jones Library Fiscal Assurances – How Will That Work?: “You ask a penetrating question, Ira: “Is the town in any way obligated to operate that building as a library?”…” Apr 19, 10:59
- on Town Council Defeats Proposal to Rescind Borrowing for Jones Library Expansion: Paves the Way for Town Manager to Sign Construction Contract: “We may have moved beyond “where only the H is silent” and need some new acronyms. After seeing how uncreative…” Apr 19, 10:22
- on Tips for the Beginning of Tick Season: “Spray and wear high rubber boots. If you have them use sprayed gaiters. This is quite effective in preventing tick…” Apr 19, 08:29
- on School District Responds to Mold Concerns at Amherst Regional Middle School : “Thank you school committee members and Dr. Xi for promptly addressing the root causes of the middle school water problem.…” Apr 19, 08:14
- on Town Engineer Explains How Road Repairs Are Prioritized: “So grateful for the repair of the bridge on 116 at Mill Lane. I hope they remove the rust and…” Apr 19, 07:25
- on Opinion: Town Council Grants Blank Check to Jones Library Expansion Project: ““ The people who tied the hands of future town councils will be long gone when the town is still…” Apr 18, 21:24
- on Town Council Defeats Proposal to Rescind Borrowing for Jones Library Expansion: Paves the Way for Town Manager to Sign Construction Contract: “They say that history is written by the victors. That’s perhaps why such narratives often give the impression that triumph…” Apr 17, 10:41
- on Public Comment: Jones Library Fiscal Assurances – How Will That Work?: ““ but I have to say I think the risk analysis by Amherst’s leaders was inadequate, leaving the public uninformed…” Apr 16, 13:12
- on Town Council Defeats Proposal to Rescind Borrowing for Jones Library Expansion: Paves the Way for Town Manager to Sign Construction Contract: “Angelika Kratzner’s penetrating comment calls to mind “Nero fiddling while Rome burns”! I once thought Amherst was more like Hellenic…” Apr 16, 12:02
- on Town Council Defeats Proposal to Rescind Borrowing for Jones Library Expansion: Paves the Way for Town Manager to Sign Construction Contract: “Whatever side of the issue you fall on, I think we can all be relieved that the issue is finally…” Apr 16, 09:25
- on Update: All Public Participation at Special Town Council Meeting on April 14 Will Be Virtual: “I attended yesterday’s town meeting (April 14). It left me with a profound sense of sadness that I just can’t…” Apr 15, 19:07
- on Letter: Supporting Our Library Means Walking Away from Unaffordable Expansion: “thank you Laura for such a well written response to the untenable library expansion/demolition project.” Apr 15, 09:42
- on Resistance Is Alive and Well in the United States: “Appreciating this history lesson. We carry on.” Apr 13, 09:56
- on Letter: Silence Is Not an Option: “There are more wars based upon religious identity than any other form of group identity. The best path to peace…” Apr 12, 20:07
- on Public Comment: Former Jones Treasurer Says Town Cannot Responsibly Sign a Contract for Library Expansion: “Ha! So glad you made that comment Denise. I offered it just last week in a conversation with friends. It…” Apr 12, 17:34
- on Public Comment: Former Jones Treasurer Says Town Cannot Responsibly Sign a Contract for Library Expansion: “Unfortunately, cynical minds wonder whether the unusual buildup in town reserves is being done for just such an eventuality.” Apr 12, 16:00
- on Amherst Historical Commission Postpones Vote on Jones Library MOA Approval: “Ms Walker is one of the new planning hires. I believe she is misinformed. I think the latest policy puts…” Apr 12, 13:58
- on Update: All Public Participation at Special Town Council Meeting on April 14 Will Be Virtual: “Rescind !!!!!” Apr 12, 13:31
- on The Mills and Industrial History of North Amherst, Part 2: “Yes, I remember the sash factory very well. It was torn down to be replaced by a Sunoco gas station…” Apr 12, 13:19
- on The Mills and Industrial History of North Amherst, Part 2: “Yes! I remember the iceman. Our household used the term icebox throughout my childhood, even well after we had a…” Apr 12, 13:09
- on The Mills and Industrial History of North Amherst, Part 2: “Echoing my outside-of-Philadelphia compatriot and friend, I too look forward to such a Part 3…! And I hope it will…” Apr 12, 12:49
- on Visas Revoked for 13 UMass Amherst Students. Trend Accelerates Across the Nation’s Campuses: “We acknowledge the ambiguity in the noted paragraph and have edited the text to clarify that the Guardian was not…” Apr 12, 12:38
- on Letter: National Catastrophe Makes Jones Expansion Too Risky: “Yes, dreams die hard, but this dream is not the only one being shattered by the new Administration. We need…” Apr 12, 11:44
- on Letter: National Catastrophe Makes Jones Expansion Too Risky: “Let’s call it what it is: The Amity Street Horror. The Town and Fontaine contractors are depending on change orders…” Apr 12, 11:38
- on Public Comment: Former Jones Treasurer Says Town Cannot Responsibly Sign a Contract for Library Expansion: “Thanks Bob for sticking your neck out for something you truly believe! I have asked several times what the endowment…” Apr 12, 11:27
- on Public Comment: Former Jones Treasurer Says Town Cannot Responsibly Sign a Contract for Library Expansion: “I agree, Bob. The town can not “responsibly sign a contract that commits it, not the Library, to pay the…” Apr 12, 11:12
- on Amherst Forward Girds for Library Project Funding Battle: “Thank you for this history, Jeff. I hope that Councilors will understand the financial risk for residents of continuing with…” Apr 12, 10:21
- on The Mills and Industrial History of North Amherst, Part 2: “Yes, I do remember ice being delivered to my grandparent’s kitchen outside of Philadelphia! Part 1 of Hetty’s North Amherst…” Apr 12, 09:52
- on Amherst Joins the Nation in Protesting Trump and Musk’s Assault on Democracy: “I stood out in Conway, with 350 other folks. I’m betting we all feel good about our effort, but nothing…” Apr 12, 09:27
- on Visas Revoked for 13 UMass Amherst Students. Trend Accelerates Across the Nation’s Campuses: “While I have sent a letter to the publication, I feel it is important to comment here as well. The…” Apr 12, 07:56
- on Amherst Joins the Nation in Protesting Trump and Musk’s Assault on Democracy: “#NoKingsInUSA #GOPTraitorsToDemocracy #JusticeMatters #MagaHateriotism #TrumpIsFailing #PublicEdMatters #ClimateCantWait #NoRepublicOfGilead #NoHashTags” Apr 12, 07:37
- on Letter: National Catastrophe Makes Jones Expansion Too Risky: “Well said, Meg: thanks many millions, especially for our kids and our teachers, and also for our libraries, which all…” Apr 11, 23:21
- on Letter: National Catastrophe Makes Jones Expansion Too Risky: “Thank you all for your common sense and civic sensibility.” Apr 11, 22:07
- on Letter: National Catastrophe Makes Jones Expansion Too Risky: “Reprioritize spending of Taxpayers money. Let’s end this foolishness and stop this ever expanding cost for a non-essential project. Amherst…” Apr 11, 12:20
- on Letter: National Catastrophe Makes Jones Expansion Too Risky: “Meg’s excellent letter provides a solid foundation on which both sides in the library debate can agree. I hope that…” Apr 11, 09:40
- on Letter: National Catastrophe Makes Jones Expansion Too Risky: “Regardless of whether we “love our library”, funding for this project is no longer under our control. As Meg states,…” Apr 10, 18:08
- on Letter: Amherst’s Long Failure to Comply with Preservation Law: “It is really not clear to me, as a member of the Amherst Historical Commission, and one of two members…” Apr 10, 16:04
- on Letter: Amherst’s Long Failure to Comply with Preservation Law: “The November bid documents can be accessed at the links below: Combined Bidding Specifications – https://1drv.ms/b/c/27be862e5e454acb/EctKRV4uhr4ggCcpHAAAAAAB7ezws6xXu_aAFPozjydwHg?e=8hFv4t Combined Bidding Drawings -…” Apr 10, 11:24
- on Letter: National Catastrophe Makes Jones Expansion Too Risky: “thank you Meg. a very sensible argument for why the project should be stopped.” Apr 10, 10:11
- on Letter: Amherst’s Long Failure to Comply with Preservation Law: “Does anyone have a copy of the bid documents for the Library for the bid last November? I would like…” Apr 9, 12:46
- on Letter: Town Is Not Ready To a Sign Contract for Jones Library Expansion: “Thank you, Janet, and Darcy, I certainly agree! If Massachusetts Procurement Law (Massachusetts General Laws, Ch. 30B), or a Massachusetts…” Apr 9, 11:09
- on Indy Rewind: An Introduction to Police Abolition for Amherst Residents: “Actually, Allegra, this is called the Blue Wall of Silence, and it can be quite thick.” Apr 9, 10:44
- on Indy Rewind: An Introduction to Police Abolition for Amherst Residents: “This is a perfect example of the thin blue line: one cop refuses to testify on another cops OUI charge…” Apr 9, 07:13
- on Letter: Silence Is Not an Option: “I definitely would have signed it if given that chance!” Apr 8, 17:44
- on Public Comment: We Can Both Meet the Moment By Using Reserves for a Targeted Purpose and Do the Work to Plan for the Future to Right-Size the Budget: “I agree with the argument that reserve funds should only be used for one-time not on-going budget issues. That money…” Apr 8, 17:38
- on Details of Costs/Funding of Jones Library Expansion Remain Elusive: “In today’s edition of “What will he go after next?,” we learn that the NEH is the target for evisceration…” Apr 8, 15:59
- on Public Comment: We Can Both Meet the Moment By Using Reserves for a Targeted Purpose and Do the Work to Plan for the Future to Right-Size the Budget: “I’m with you, Michelle, on organizing to find out what Amherst residents really want. We are so much more than…” Apr 8, 15:39
- on Letter: Town Is Not Ready To a Sign Contract for Jones Library Expansion: “I think it’s important to note that Joe Cook is the retired Northampton Chief Procurement Officer https://www.northamptonma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/21509/Chief-Procurement-Officer-to-Retire—February-17-2023-PDF.” Apr 7, 20:42
- on Letter: Town Is Not Ready To a Sign Contract for Jones Library Expansion: “Sara-thanks for writing this. I keep reading Joe Cook’s statements the Jones project must be rebid-and it seems no one…” Apr 7, 19:16
- on Letter: Silence Is Not an Option: “Excellent, important statement! Thank you so much for publishing this, and in its entirety! Had I been Jewish I would…” Apr 7, 17:46
- on Indy Rewind: An Introduction to Police Abolition for Amherst Residents: “I understand Mr. Pill’s points, but I’ll just say that my brother was a public defender in NYC (for his…” Apr 7, 15:19
- on Amherst Joins the Nation in Protesting Trump and Musk’s Assault on Democracy: “Thanks Art for a great article! Proud of my son too, Judy Hudson” Apr 7, 11:51
- on Amherst Joins the Nation in Protesting Trump and Musk’s Assault on Democracy: “we need a new president.” Apr 7, 11:33
- on Letter: Town Is Hurtling Toward an Obligation It Cannot Afford: “Yes, yes, yes! So well said. C’mon Town Council and Paul Brockleman. . Do the right thing for the town.…” Apr 6, 21:03
- on Details of Costs/Funding of Jones Library Expansion Remain Elusive: “Change orders are strictly limited to changes that arise after the commencement of the contract. This is from the Attorney…” Apr 6, 16:03
- on Opinion: One Year Later: Revisiting Amherst’s Resolution in Support of a Ceasefire in Gaza: “Right on Josna. Of course we need to protest what Trump is doing domestically, but like every president before him,…” Apr 6, 12:44
- on Details of Costs/Funding of Jones Library Expansion Remain Elusive: “Joe Cook has previously made the critical point above. (Comment, 4 April 2025, to INDY article, Jones Library Faces Hard…” Apr 6, 12:15
- on Details of Costs/Funding of Jones Library Expansion Remain Elusive: “The Town cannot sign a contract with a general contractor when the scope of work has changed for that general…” Apr 6, 08:59
- on Indy Rewind: An Introduction to Police Abolition for Amherst Residents: “The “thin blue line”-not sure what that is supposed to mean but as far as “defunding” the police I am…” Apr 5, 21:46
- on Details of Costs/Funding of Jones Library Expansion Remain Elusive: “Thank you to Peggy Mathews -Nilsen. It is beyond imagining that one man can sign a contract for 10s of…” Apr 5, 21:32
- on Jones Library Project Faces Hard Decisions: “Thank you, Joe, for adding a sober injection of irrefutable reality here. “No payments can be made on an illegal…” Apr 5, 12:31
- on Details of Costs/Funding of Jones Library Expansion Remain Elusive: “Thanks, Art. These are indeed unprecedented times with new, dire federal financial realities of canceled grants, program cuts, tariffs that…” Apr 5, 10:08
- on Increased Housing Density in the Cards for North Amherst: “What year did UMass build its last dormitory on campus? Capacity? Where is the data to support the need for…” Apr 5, 07:23
- on Photos of the Week: Tesla Takedown in Hadley: “Thanks for this report. We had an inspiring experience at the standout in Hadley. I’ve never witnessed such support from…” Apr 5, 07:14
- on Details of Costs/Funding of Jones Library Expansion Remain Elusive: “Being short the $1,000,000 NEH funds is just the layer of spoiled icing atop a moldering pile into which the…” Apr 4, 22:07
- on Indy Rewind: An Introduction to Police Abolition for Amherst Residents: “Please wake up to the reality of the thin blue line that stands between us largely middle class folks and…” Apr 4, 20:09
- on Increased Housing Density in the Cards for North Amherst: “Yes, you are nuts to double or triple the amount of people in that area . You can’t keep accommodating…” Apr 4, 19:25
- on Letter: Town Is Hurtling Toward an Obligation It Cannot Afford: “Dear Ira, Thank you for your words. A re evaluation of needs for our beloved library in honor of our…” Apr 4, 16:31
- on Letter: Town Is Hurtling Toward an Obligation It Cannot Afford: “Thank you, Ira. The perfect expression of exactly what so many are wanting to say. Now, if only the Town…” Apr 4, 10:08
- on Jones Library Project Faces Hard Decisions: “First a little law. 15. May a contract be awarded for a price or scope not contained in the bid?…” Apr 3, 14:28
- on Updated: Hands Off Massachusetts – Mobilization Against the Trump Musk Agendas, Saturday April 5: “10:30 on Amherst common will have a rally as well per Mindy Dombs email this morning” Apr 3, 07:37
- on Guidelines for Student Occupation of Accessory Dwelling Units to Be Explored: “If the goal of Maura Healy was to create more affordable housing, (which may be a moving target), she should…” Apr 2, 17:04
- on Introduction to the Mill Histories of North Amherst : “Thanks to everyone working on this project–Meg, Brian and all the others. This is important work and brings richness to…” Apr 2, 16:39
- on Charter Committee Continues to Plan Outreach, Explore Options : “Ira, I urge you and everyone who has concerns about how Amherst town government is conducted to not wait any…” Apr 2, 12:31
- on Charter Committee Continues to Plan Outreach, Explore Options : “Thanks to Anita Sarro’s essential but depressing reports on the meetings of this committee it is easy to become cynical…” Apr 2, 12:03
- on Town Manager Offers Vague Reassurances on Viability of Jones Library Expansion: “When the Jones expansion project is stopped, will the Library Trustees pay 50% of the $2m due to be returned…” Apr 2, 09:42
- on Charter Committee Continues to Plan Outreach, Explore Options : “perplexity.ai reads all the links in Art’s comment, above, and ranks all the opportunities for improvement for Amherst’s charter, in…” Apr 2, 09:08
- on Charter Committee Continues to Plan Outreach, Explore Options : “It is hard to fathom that given how many concerns about the town’s home rule charter have already been raised…” Apr 2, 08:42