Friday, June 20, 2025

News and Ideas Worth Sharing

Alan Chartock

Alan Chartock is the president and chief executive officer of WAMC/Northeast Public Radio, a National Public Radio affiliate, a position he has held since 1981. He was professor of political science at SUNY New Paltz and was a professor emeritus of communications at the State University of New York; and executive publisher and project director for the Legislative Gazette, a weekly newspaper staffed by college intern reporters covering New York state government.

written articles

I PUBLIUS: We are lucky to have Dr. Pier Boutin living here in Great Barrington with us

I never fail to find it amazing that here in these Berkshire hills of ours we can find extraordinary people with fascinating stories to tell. There’s probably one such person right around the corner from you.

I PUBLIUS: Great Barrington is a-changin’, not all for the better

From the department of “I Hate To Say I Told You So But I Told You So,” I did write that putting a rotary at the junction of Route 7 and State Routes 41 and 23 would end up in a chaotic mess. I was right. In fact, it seems to take forever now when it never did before.

I Publius: When you do something very stupid, all anyone can say is, “It happens”

In this week's column, Alan makes a visit to the Fairview Emergency Room and learns first-hand about the perils of walking in the pitch dark of night.

I Publius: Hay fever season

My neighborhood in the middle of Great Barrington, Massachusetts has become a home for all kinds of animals including bears and foxes.

I PUBLIUS: Freezing cold thoughts

It has been so cold lately that I am thinking of retiring and moving south.

I PUBLIUS: It’s nice to be nice

We don’t spend nearly enough time thanking the people who are kind to us.

ALAN CHARTOCK: What are they thinking?

It’s so much fun to try to get in the brains of ambitious politicians.

I Publius: U.S. Rep. Richie Neal deserves re-election

The very ambitious Morse is going for broke, making all kinds of accusations against Neal. As the old saying goes, people in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones.

Alan Chartock: Carmi Rapport, THE lawyer

I am sure that everyone reading this will know someone who has made an indelible impression on their community and their lives.

Alan Chartock: I Publius, A farewell to Carl Reiner

I have quoted liberally from “The 2000 Year Old Man” for years. Many of my friends and I have committed a good deal of his work to memory and it has become a short hand for almost every political situation. 

Alan Chartock: Liar in chief

Is there really anyone out there who would put it past Trump to try to save himself with a coup of one kind or another?

Alan Chartock: I Publius

But, of course, why should conventional beauty matter? Quite right! Somehow, we got stuck with this false premise that beauty is the most important quality a woman can possess.

Alan Chartock: Matchmaker, I’m not

I don’t want to be defensive, but if you look up my columns on Cuomo the Younger, you will see that I have always been fairly tough on the guy.

I Publius: Guardians of Lake Mansfield

The lake is so important that each of us must be responsible for reminding the town fathers and mothers about what we expect of them.

Alan Chartock: Comprehensive police reform in New York

Of course, politicians, cynical lot that they are, know that things come in waves. The police union-types have long, long memories and will be unforgiving in the future.

Alan Chartock: I Publius — Sleepless in Great Barrington

Of course, you worry a lot. You worry that Donald Trump is president of the United States and that about 38 percent of the people, including almost all of the Republicans, support this lying liar.
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