- Your Candidates:
- Select Board – Jorja Marsden
- Board of Health – Rae Williams
- Parks & Recreation Commission – Coke (Colette) Forbes
- Sewer & Water Commission – John Loiodice
- Planning Board (2 seats) – Carl Sprague and Don Chabon
- Housing Authority – James Welch
- Board of Assessors – no candidate
- Journalism Corner
- It becomes more difficult to do things we once took for granted: express an opinion, report a story, do the necessary work of a free press. Over the last year and a half, there have been consequences for journalists. Reporters deemed unfriendly to the administration have been ousted from the White House and the Pentagon. Sometimes the consequences are worse: reporters have been arrested or their homes searched.
- This government’s message seems to be: we wish to control the message. It is a difficult time to get the news out.
- Just the same, many brave souls ignore the difficulties and continue to do the job. So, what exactly is the job?
- Disseminate true accounts
- Without fear or favor
- Call a thing what it is; use its real name.
- Seek the news; do not take what is handed out and call it news.
- Many “news items” are selected to attract clicks not inform.
- To seek: ask the difficult questions; investigate, challenge contradictions, and include diverse opinions.
- Finally, defy the obstacles. Even in the best of times and the best of places, some obstacles will always be placed between the reporter and the truth.
- Never report what people say – find out if it is factually correct, and report that.
- Here, there, and everywhere in this country today, propaganda masquerading as news is rife. Conspiracy sells. Many supposed news outlets post items that are not edited or fact checked. Many articles are accepted – without question – and posted as written from government employees and elected officials.
- It is hard enough to know what to believe; at least determine what source to trust.
- Historically, the way truth gets buried has been consistent. First step in a campaign to silence and discredit a journalist or a news outlet is to call one or both too opinionated. Example: In an interview, Jim Agosta, former Chief White House correspondent for CNN and author of Enemy of the People: A Dangerous Time to Tell the Truth in America was first accused of being too opinionated and then left or was fired from CNN.
- Second step: accuse the reporter or news outlet of being a threat to national security. Example: In an effort to stop publication of the Pentagon Papers 1973-4. The Washington Post and New York Times appealed to the Supreme Court. SCOTUS ruled in favor of the press and reminded the government that a free press “serves the governed not the government.”
- Third, Seth Sern, Freedom of the Press Foundation, reminded journalists that the job is to deliver the truth to the readers without fear or favor and never give in to the best interests or corporations or individuals who financially support the news outlet.
- LWV Members and Friends, Tip O’Neil (remember him?) is often given credit for saying “All politics is local.” Whoever actually said it first, we, at the League of Women Voters of Central Berkshire County, wholeheartedly agree. We have been hard at work putting together information on your towns’ spring town meetings and local elections. Use the links on the map and other information on our on our LWV Central Berkshires website to keep up to date on our local elections. We could use your help in gathering additional information. We’d like to research candidates running for local office and add that information to our website. Can you help? Please contact us at berkshirelwv@gmail.com.
- The Affordable Housing Trust (AHT) will receive a total of $1.2 – 1.7million in 4 payments from the Vanderbilt Berkshire Estates per the Inclusionary Bylaw (See Notes from the SB below).
With the $500,000+ from the 35-37 Interlaken Development and $300,000 from Community Preservation Committee (CPC), AHT will have $2 – 2.5million dollars, an amount equal to 20% of our total municipal budget.
On other occasions, these donations to AHT have been identified as income to the Town. These donations do not come to the Town. The money goes to the AHT.
The AHT is a public entity established by Town Meeting that holds money and property independently of the municipality. Their assets and funds are outside of the municipal budget. How the land and money are disposed of is not subject to vote at Town Meeting or vote by any Town Board or Commission. How the property or money is managed, accumulated, or spent, is in the hands of the appointed AHT members. In Stockbridge, that is seven people appointed by the SB.One reason for this manner of organization was if the AHT’s purchases, sales, or rentals are not sound or well-managed, it will not negatively impact the Town’s finances or credit rating. Another reason was that it was supposed a trust could move more quickly than a government agency. Stockbridge AHT has applied for money from CPC that was not spent. Accepted a gift of property on Glendale Middle Road for affordable housing that AHT did not use and finally voted to relinquish. In three or more years, it did award some funds for emergency rent payments for those living in affordable housing. - Congratulations: Monument Mountain Regional High School ranks among the top 15 in Massachusetts’ Advanced Placement Performance. That’s not all. Ted Collins was selected to receive the William Spratt Award for Excellence in Teaching High School Social Studies. Warm wishes to our excellent High School and teachers.
All citizens interested in affordable housing, contact the SB and volunteer to be appointed to the AHT or attend meetings so your voices are heard. AHT is subject to Open Meeting Laws. - The Board of Trustees of the Austen Riggs Center, one of the nation’s leading longer-term psychiatric residential treatment centers, has selected Oscar F. Hills, MD, to serve as its next Medical Director and Chief Executive Officer. Dr. Hills will assume the role on July 1, 2026.
Founded in 1919, the Austen Riggs Center is internationally recognized for its open therapeutic community model and its emphasis on psychodynamic treatment for adults with complex mental health conditions. Dr. Hills’ appointment comes at a time of significant change in the behavioral health field, marked by post–COVID-19 consolidation among private equity–backed providers, workforce shortages, evolving reimbursement models, and shifting expectations regarding access and outcomes.
