Letter: Hearing on Proposed Data Center Ban Nov. 12

I am writing to make residents aware of two important opportunities to make their voice heard in the next week.

Ban Data Centers – Hearing on Thursday, November 12th at 7:00 p.m. 
Zoom Link

At our Town Council meeting on Oct 5, we voted to refer a zoning bylaw amendment to the Planning Board and the Council’s Community Resources Committee that would ban data centers in all zones in Amherst. This zoning amendment had a total of nine council sponsors (over half of the council, myself included) because we recognize the harmful impacts of data centers on host communities. Please see this document compiled by Amherst for the People for more information, including information specifically relevant to the Amherst context.

At the Planning Board/CRC hearing held on Oct. 22, members of the Planning Board and CRC discussed the possibility of recommending that this amendment be converted into a moratorium on data centers, which would allow the town time to study and create regulations around data centers. If you are against data centers in Amherst, please attend the next hearing at the Planning Board/CRC to let them know that we want a ban only. Here are some key points:

• We don’t need to waste town staff time on studying how to regulate data centers, because we don’t want them in our community.  
  
• The measure that was brought to the Planning Board and CRC to study was a ban – and it was supported by over half of the council because the people we represent also don’t want data centers in our community.

FY28 Budget Hearing – Monday, Nov. 16, 6:30 p.m. (Town Hall or Zoom)

On Monday, November 16th, the Town Council will hold a public forum on the budget for next year. It is essential that residents weigh in on their priorities now, because the Finance Committee is working on budget guidelines that the Council will vote on in early December. The Finance Committee and Town Manager always increase each department’s budget by the same percentage, which has led to major budget cuts in our schools and the chronic underfunding of CRESS, our civilian responders – among other issues. Please attend the budget hearing to make your voice heard. Equality is not the same as equity. The finance committee and the council should carefully consider the needs of each department when creating the budget guidelines. 

It’s really important to understand that if residents don’t speak out and impact the budget guidelines now, it will be very hard if not impossible to make any changes next year – even if the percent increase voted for the schools and other key departments lead to cuts.

If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me directly at canomartina@amherstma.gov

Amber Cano-Martin

Amber Cano-Martin is an Amherst Town Councilor representing District 2.