Opinion: To Invest in Roads, Schools, and Affordable Housing, Walker and Clark are the Right Choice for At-Large Town Council 

During our third Town Council Election since adopting a new form of government in 2018, Amherst is facing many new opportunities, as well as a few challenges. We are seeking leaders who will guide us through these times with social justice, climate action, and financial responsibility in mind. In my experience, as a young person, and resident of Amherst, I believe Ellisha Walker and Allegra Clark are well positioned to do this by addressing three major issues facing our town. They are: 

Public Education Funding 
Year after year Amherst’s school budgets mean painful reductions in services, and limited funding for new ideas, programs, and educator compensation. This series of cuts has resulted in our High School going from 9th best in the state to middle of the pack. Other towns with similar populations spend 10-15% more of their operating budgets and have successfully met school committee budget requests. While some town councilors have expressed hostility toward the School Committee requesting 6-8% yearly increases in spending, Councilor Walker has voted in steadfast support of school budget increases both on the Town Council and Finance Committee. Clark, a potential newcomer, has attended and spoken at nearly every meeting on the school budget to share her thorough reviewing of town expenses and where sensible reductions could be made in free cash, capital funding and public safety to prioritize our children’s education. 

Public Works and Infrastructure 
Another major issue is our town’s infrastructure. These problems originate from the underfunding of our Public Works Department (DPW) which has only seen its budget increased by 5% since 2020 while the general government budget has gone up over 24%. Currently, our roads are on track to become more pothole ridden and dangerous as we spend one third of what it would take to keep up with road paving, and woefully underfund the workers tasked with their upkeep, who are currently mediating a new contract in hopes of better wages. In addition, our DPW is also responsible for green infrastructure and climate resilience, a top priority for Amherst’s residents. Walker and Clark will support prioritizing the need for a new DPW facility, green infrastructure and road construction by avoiding expensive projects like those the town has recently undertaken (such as the Jones Library, a new roof at Town Hall, or nearly 2 million dollars in funding to replace functioning radios). 

Affordable Housing 
Lastly, Walker and Clark will take the issue of affordable housing from a new perspective — that of average working folks. Too often when discussing zoning regulations, and affordability requirements current councilors ask what the proposal would mean from the perspective of a developer or LLC. Walker and Clark would change this by asking about what these zoning proposals and regulations would mean from the perspective of those looking for a home in our community, rather than that of the LLC’s, Hedge Funds, and Development Corporations. In addition, both support expanding funding for the Affordable Housing Trust, and creating a town-run program to help first- time homebuyers of modest means with down payment assistance. 

If you want more affordable housing, better infrastructure and top notch public schools join me in voting at the top of the ticket for Ellisha Walker and Allegra Clark for at-large Town Council in Amherst’s Town Election on Tuesday November 4th. 

Julian Hynes is an active participant in Amherst town government, and an environmental organizer. He is currently a student at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a recent graduate of Amherst Regional High School.