Carole,

Would you care to publish?

Last evening,10/23/2023, Stockbridge held a Special Town Meeting. 121 registered voters participated.

Stockbridge has 1,665 registered voters.

The resulting math shows that 7 percent were present to vote. This is less than 10 percent.

Apathy is the Silent Killer of Democracy. 

BTW, your piece today (In Eagle) was great!

Gary Pitney

Dear Carole,

Lynda Overlock’s plea for fairer sewer rates belies her mistaken opposition to a formerly proposed additional 1% tax on real estate transfers in excess of one million dollars.

Poor Lynda has mistaken Laura Dubester’s support of such an alternative proposal for funding a Stockbridge Affordable Housing Trust. From Lynda’s description of her small cottage there is little to no chance that her cottage would sell for over one million dollars. And so there is no chance her future sale of her family cottage would ever fall under the rubric of the proposed additional transfer tax.

I mean no disrespect but, as to Lynda’s complaint of unfair sewer fees, whatever has that to do with raising funds to promote the creation of more housing for those who service the needs of our community?

Now, we see our Governor visiting the Berkshires to promote, town by town, such a resolution to the entire state’s need to raise funds to provide decent shelter for all who live and work in the Commonwealth.

It has become so difficult to find the support services available to fix our plumbing, electrical systems, roofing, and general home maintenance. Clearly making more affordable housing available will bring in younger families, hopefully with children to increase our schools’ attendance rolls, and to provide this community with the man and woman power to get these everyday needs provided. And that is also to keep our police and fire departments fully functional, as well as all the other necessary occupations that keep us alive and well. Let’s face it, we are all aging. There is no one else to come to our rescue. We must be wise in keeping our community alive and thriving. 

I am thrilled with Governor Healey’s Affordable Homes Act, and her promotion across the Commonwealth of the statutory authority for individual towns and cities to enact such an additional 1/2% — 2% fee on the transfer of real estate interests on the excess of one million dollars.

Respectfully Submitted,

Bob Feuer