Top-down process not Occupy's way

To the Bulletin:

Are the goals of the Occupy movement consistent with the goals of the relocalization movement? Local advocates of the pro-climate, pro-environment, anti-globalization movement, Larry Ely, Steve Randall and Rob Crowner suggest this in their column of Jan. 27. They wonder why the November Town Meeting rejected a proposal to develop a village center that, not only meets relocalization goals, but the goals of the master plan for development in Amherst as well. However, the process of reaching those goals is deeply inconsistent with the Occupy's basic concept of horizontalism.

These gentlemen also suggest that if Town Meeting had passed the rezoning article for village centers we could soon have photo voltaic solar panels, greenways and other climate friendly amenities in a walkable neighborhood plus a start on a trend toward a mode of development that intensifies construction in already developed areas rather than in environmentally important natural areas. These are worthy goals.

But the plan presented to Town Meeting was devised through a hierarchal top-down process from the planning department that mandated to the residents. At first, the planners participated in a community exercise in North Amhert to either learn neighbors' issues and concerns or to shape the desires of those neighbors toward a pre-existing plan put forward by individuals able to benefit from certain zoning changes. The residents cooperated in developing a rezoning plan that seemed acceptable to all stakeholders.

They worked through many issues with professionals and became well acquainted with planning solutions. To their surprise and dismay residents of North Amherst found the plan put forward to Town Meeting by the planning establishment was a very different plan from the one they worked on together. They learned that their efforts were the stuff of dreams.

This hierarchical method of governing is a central grievance of the Occupy movement. The experiment with horizontal government is a central organizing principle of the new global movements, from Argentina to Egypt, from Seattle and Wisconsin to Wall Street. Occupy groups in the Valley, from Greenfield to Northampton are practicing direct democracy by developing the tools of general assemblies where everyone is heard on issues, and working groups that carry out the actions agreed to in the assemblies, such as demonstrations and solutions to the nitty-gritty of community needs.

I don't think Town Meeting or Town Hall will embrace horizontalism in the near future but one thing the Occupy movement is ever alert to is the appropriation of its successes and strengths by other groups, such as the Democratic party.

The local relocalization movement should better understand this basic Occupy organizing principle before claiming that certain hierarchal government proposals are "applying Occupy principles."

Molly Turner

Amherst

Longtime librarian seeks Jones post

To the Bulletin:

Libraries and their communities face challenging times with shrinking budgets and overworked staff. Librarians know that when there are economic downturns more people seek out libraries, use their collections and request more services. But even while budgets are decreasing, costs are increasing to manage libraries, to share resources via library networks, and to provide new information formats such as e-books and devices needed to read them.

I am familiar with these challenges because I have worked in libraries for 38 years and was the director of a community college library for 33 years. As state revenues increased, we prospered. As they decreased we faltered, yet students and our community users still needed the library and its resources. We worked diligently with college administrators and with other libraries - academic, public, school and hospital - to meet the information needs of our separate, although often overlapping, constituencies.

There are many ways all of us can help our libraries.

Regionally, the Western Massachusetts Library Advocates (www.wmladvocates.org) supports all libraries and lobbies legislators and other groups to insure consistent and sufficient state funding for Western Massachusetts libraries. It is critical that our part of the state gets its fair share. Locally, you can donate to the Jones Library Annual Fund Drive or support the Friends' Valentine's Day basket fundraiser which provides additional money for books and other resources. I strongly support both these efforts.

I have lived in Amherst for 30 years, and I use the library several times a week. I can walk to the South Amherst Munson Library which has been a joy for me and my family.

In order to learn more about the Jones and its specific challenges, I have been attending the Board of Trustees meetings this year. I know how libraries operate and cooperate, and I want to work on behalf of the Jones Library. In order to do this, I have decided to run for a three-year term on the Board of Trustees so I can help maintain and strengthen the vital role the Jones Library plays in our community.

Tamson Ely

Amherst

UMass football upgrade lauded

To the Bulletin:

Enough of the nonsense about the University of Massachusetts football team and stadium.

I think it is a great move to play at the Division 1 level. The local communities, the campus and the team deserve a revamping of the stadium. With all the new construction projects taking place on campus, why can't the football stadium be included in these projects?

If a private person pledges to donate $11 million to the basketball programs, I think the university can step up and fund the remodeling of the stadium.

Here is a question for the critics who seem to be against the football program expanding: How many programs campuswide are self-funded?

In case people are not paying attention, the National Football League is extremely popular and dominating TV ratings.

Ed Kelley Jr.

Sunderland

Travel to Cuba recommended

To the Bulletin:

We have just returned from a week in Cuba sponsored by Mass Humanities. Our guide was well informed and led us on walking tours of Havana, Cienfuegos, and Trinidad, as well as talking about the history and culture of Cuba.

Hotel accommodations and food were good, sometimes very good. We visited museums and churches, talked to local officials and we saw amazing artistic performances of a young dance group, a superb choral group and our final evening, a spectacular ballet. We encourage others to visit Cuba, to see how the country has survived.

Shirley Brodigan

Amherst