To the Editor:
The Mahida Hotel proposal is bringing our community into a deeper level of engagement on issues that are important for us to evaluate and assess together: What are our values as a town, and how do we build into the future with those values thoughtfully cultivated?
I am not in favor of the current hotel proposal because I believe we can foster and benefit from a tourist economy, while not surrendering the heart of our village life to it. We undermine the strength and wellbeing of our community when we devote our key central locations (our “commons”) to serving the interests of a tourist economy (building an infrastructure that is dependent on imported wealth), rather than to the interest of deepening community connection, collaboration and support networks, local sustainability and resource sovereignty.
The center of village life best supports the health of its community when it is designed to enhance the local commerce: the connections, networks, and interactivity of its community members. European town design gives a good example of this, where the center of most villages is a car-free open market-place; a strolling, sitting, gathering space, with cafes and small parks, where the full range of diverse, multi-generational community members can mingle, converse, transact and sell their goods, and “meet, greet and eat” together. This supports a culture of connection.
The way forward is based in globally emerging trends in local, sustainable, sharing economies. Award-winning independent journalist Dr. Nafeez Ahmed wrote several weeks ago, “Just examine this [sample] of grassroots initiatives from around the world, put together in the lead-up to the Paris climate talks. They include powerful, real-world projects that are changing the lives of people on the ground right now, encompassing: local, sustainable food production; local currencies that revitalize local economies; the emergence of localized sharing economies; the rise of egalitarian workers cooperatives; a shift to clean forms of transport in rural communities; entrepreneurship for people, not to centralize profits for a few; community-owned renewable energy enterprises that benefit local economies.” Our community is, comparatively, well-rooted in these practices. And yet we still have quite a ways to go to ensure a secure future in a quickly changing global economy and climate.
It is wonderful for us to host visitors in our paradise. But let them come in a respectful way, that does not disrupt or interfere with our healthy community life. This is what attracts visitors to us: they get to experience the nourishing and refreshing pace of a healthy village. I believe one reason Great Barrington was named the “No. 1 small town to live in” has to do with our small town character. Our town is very rich in its thriving local culture. Our size allows for intimacy and connection.
I invite us to be inspired by our town’s long tradition as a pioneer in implementing future-forward ideas. We are a community filled with social innovators, thinkers, and doers. We are a community of deeply caring, generous and kind people.
Let’s be brilliant together and collaborate to find an elegant solution for the Searles School location – a solution that brings us closer together, rather than one that is dividing and distressing us. A distressed community is a compromised community. In these times of global unrest and instability we truly need to work together. Given the alarming predictions our world’s scientists and activists advise us to prepare for, we will be well-served to continue making decisions that strengthen our community bonds. Strong communities create the most real form of security. Anchored in relationships of trust and interdependence, they handle crisis and innovation with intelligence and agility.
I have heard a wonderful array of creative ideas for the Searles School lot. Let’s share them! I think it would allay concerns that saying ‘no thank you’ to the hotel would leave us stranded with a property that will remain neglected. And it will be inspiring, creative, and generative for this unfolding process.
To the great prosperity and abundance of our community!
With great care,
Maia Conty
Great Barrington
