What’s in This Issue?

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ANALYTICS
Numbers in parentheses indicate change from the previous week.

Number of Unique Page Views:
Last 30 days: 85,177 (+ 7871)
Last Week: 23,622 (+3563)

Number of Unique Sessions
Last 30 days: 56,923 (+ 6407)
Last Week 15,657 (+3535)

Number of Active Users
Last 30 Days: 39,755 (+6441)
Last Week:12,056 (+3701)

TOP FIVE MOST-READ STORIES LAST WEEK
1. Eversource Plans Clearcutting Through Eleven Towns Including Amherst by Stacey McCollough
2. Councilor Taub Raises Concerns Over ConCom Appointment Process by Maura Keene
3. Residents File Zoning Bylaw Changes for Balanced, Liveable Neighborhoods and Downtown by Amherst Indy (c/o Kitty Axelson-Berry)
4. Opinion: Amherst at a Crossroads: Housing, Parking, and Leadership by Rizwana Khan
5. What Would Zohran Do? Reflections on the Prospects for Democratic Socialism in a Small College Town by Darcy DuMont

WHAT’S IN THIS ISSUE?

ARTS

•  What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art & Maura Keene

BUDGET

•  Large Overtime Payments to Amherst Police Raise Concerns about Budget Priorities and Oversight by Art and Maura Keene
• Public Comment: State’s Charter School Funding Model is Killing Public Schools by Cathleen Mitchell
• Public Comment: Amherst Residents Will Have to Cover Jones Library Fundraising Shortfall by Anita Sarro

CAMPUS

• Views on Views: Walking The Edges  by Hetty Startup 

CLIMATE / ENERGY / ENVIRONMENT / NATURE

•  Letter: Conservation Commissioner Questions Town Manager’s Refusal to Reappoint Him by Alex Hoar
• Views on Views: Walking The Edges  by Hetty Startup
• Photos of the Week: Elusive Great Blue Heron by Susan Panlillio

DEMOCRACY

• Citizens’ Zoning Petitions Referred to Planning Board by Maura Keene
• Council Reluctantly Extends Deadline for Charter Review Committee Final Report by Maura Keene
• Western Mass Resistance Calendar and Supplemental Reading List by Art Keene
  

ELECTIONS

• Personal Statements of Candidates for Town Council for November Election by Art Keene
• Personal Statements of Candidates for School Committee for the November Town Election by Art Keene
• Conover Withdraws from District 1 Contest for Town Council by Art Keene
• Opinion: How’s Your Amherst Doing? by Lou Conover
• Opinion: To Invest in Roads, Schools, and Affordable Housing, Walker and Clark are the Right Choice for At-Large Town Council  by Julian Hynes
• Opinion: Amherst Needs Bold Leadership, Not Just Polite Caution by Rizwana Khan

EVENTS

•  Amherst Community Connections Will Host Open House October 11
• Public Forum: The Impact of Trump’s Social Policies on Our Community
• What’s Happening in Amherst? by Art & Maura Keene

FEATURES

•  Views on Views: Walking The Edges  by Hetty Startup
• Photos of the Week: Elusive Great Blue Heron by Susan Panlillio

HOUSING

•  Citizens’ Zoning Petitions Referred to Planning Board by Maura Keene
• Public Comment: Amherst Can No Longer Sustain a Year-round Population by Janet McGowan
• Public Comment: Residents Have Petitioned for Two Sensible Zoning Changes by Ira Bryck
• Public Comment: There Are Proven Ways to Stabilize Amherst’s Neighborhoods by John Varner
  

ISSUES & ANALYSES

• Large Overtime Payments to Amherst Police Raise Concerns about Budget Priorities and Oversight by Art and Maura Keene

LIBRARY

• Public Comment: Amherst Residents Will Have to Cover Jones Library Fundraising Shortfall by Anita Sarro
• Letter: Is Anyone Keeping Tabs on Jones Expansion Project Accounts? by Mickey Rathbun

\OPINION

• Public Comment: State’s Charter School Funding Model is Killing Public Schools by Cathleen Mitchell
• Public Comment: Amherst Can No Longer Sustain a Year-round Population by Janet McGowan
• Public Comment: Residents Have Petitioned for Two Sensible Zoning Changes by Ira Bryck
• Public Comment: There Are Proven Ways to Stabilize Amherst’s Neighborhoods by John Varner
• Public Comment: Amherst Residents Will Have to Cover Jones Library Fundraising Shortfall by Anita Sarro
• Letter: Conservation Commissioner Questions Town Manager’s Refusal to Reappoint Him by Alex Hoar
• Opinion: How’s Your Amherst Doing? by Lou Conover
• Opinion: To Invest in Roads, Schools, and Affordable Housing, Walker and Clark are the Right Choice for At-Large Town Council  by Julian Hynes
• Opinion: Amherst Needs Bold Leadership, Not Just Polite Caution by Rizwana Khan

PUBLIC HEALTH & SAFETY

• Large Overtime Payments to Amherst Police Raise Concerns about Budget Priorities and Oversight by Art and Maura Keene

RESOURCES

•  Western Mass Resistance Calendar and Supplemental Reading List by Art Keene
  

SCHOOLS

• Personal Statements of Candidates for School Committee for the November Town Election by Art Keene
• Public Comment: State’s Charter School Funding Model is Killing Public Schools by Cathleen Mitchell

SOCIAL & ECONOMIC JUSTICE

• Amherst Proclaims October 14 as George Floyd Day but Not Without Pushback by Maura Keene
• Public Forum: The Impact of Trump’s Social Policies on Our Community
• Public Comment: State’s Charter School Funding Model is Killing Public Schools by Cathleen Mitchell

TOWN GOVERNMENT

• Large Overtime Payments to Amherst Police Raise Concerns about Budget Priorities and Oversight by Art and Maura Keene
• Personal Statements of Candidates for Town Council for November Election by Art Keene
• Personal Statements of Candidates for School Committee for the November Town Election by Art Keene
• Citizens’ Zoning Petitions Referred to Planning Board by Maura Keene
• Council Reluctantly Extends Deadline for Charter Review Committee Final Report by Maura Keene
• Amherst Proclaims October 14 as George Floyd Day but Not Without Pushback by Maura Keene
• Conover Withdraws from District 1 Contest for Town Council by Art Keene
• Public Comment: Amherst Can No Longer Sustain a Year-round Population by Janet McGowan
• Public Comment: Residents Have Petitioned for Two Sensible Zoning Changes by Ira Bryck
• Public Comment: There Are Proven Ways to Stabilize Amherst’s Neighborhoods by Jihn Varner
• Letter: Is Anyone Keeping Tabs on Jones Expansion Project Accounts? by Mickey Rathbun
• Letter: Conservation Commissioner Questions Town Manager’s Refusal to Reappoint Him by Alex Hoar
• Opinion: How’s Your Amherst Doing? by Lou Conover
• Opinion: To Invest in Roads, Schools, and Affordable Housing, Walker and Clark are the Right Choice for At-Large Town Council  by Julian Hynes
• Opinion: Amherst Needs Bold Leadership, Not Just Polite Caution by Rizwana Khan