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Opinion

A list of Northampton's tax rates since 1924 rests on a map of the city Thursday at the tax collector's office.JERREY ROBERTS

Reader opinions: What’s at stake in Northampton’s Prop. 2½ override vote June 25

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Northampton voters will head to the polls Tuesday to cast ballots on a proposed $2.5 million Proposition 2½ override. Mayor David J. Narkewicz says the override is needed to avoid cutting staff in city schools and the Police Department, and to shore up a budget that has suffered years of declining state aid. The question has generated lively debate on … 0

Anthony Patillo: ‘General overrides are forever’

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

NORTHAMPTON — We all want the best for Northampton. In 1988, we voted for our first general override, for $600,000. Since then, five other override referendums have faced voters — another general override in 2009 for $2 million and four debt-exclusion Proposition 2½ overrides for the JFK Middle School, Northampton High School and the fire and police station construction projects. If the June … 0

Pamela Schwartz: With override, ‘we all win more than we lose’

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

NORTHAMPTON — A yes vote on June 25 is the best choice for each of us individually and as a community. It is also our only choice if we want to continue receiving the services we expect from our city: 1. Quality public school education for Northampton’s children. Without the override, we will lose 14 school staff positions, resulting in drastic cuts to … 0

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Larry Parnass, the editor of the Gazette, has been on the newspaper's staff since 1988 as an editor, reporter and columnist.

Cue the snow globe for New Yorker writer's visit to Northampton
Jun 12, 2013 06:47PM
The making of our ‘The Cost of Choice’ series
May 23, 2013 04:20PM
Living off the woody fat of the land
Dec 26, 2012 11:57AM
Northampton's MEF seeks to expand educational reach with 'Exploded View' website
Oct 1, 2012 06:37PM
Talkback »
soccertom wrote:
02:37 PM EST

What a great find ! Thank you for tying some loose threads together for me. I graduated from Smith College SSW'83 and...(full comment)

A letter from John Hancock, Sophia Smith's ear trumpet and a half-pound key: Finds from the Hatfield Historical Museum
mlhdep wrote:
11:28 AM EST

We really DO need to have better laws defining the use of bicycles on the roads. I see them all the time...(full comment)

Hadley bicyclists’ rights case rolls on in federal court
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