To the editor:
I support Garfield Reed’s bid to be on the Selectboard. As a senior citizen and homeowner, Garfield has resided in Great Barrington for 42 years and continues to work and volunteer in a number of community functions including leadership in the American Cancer Society’s “Relay for Life” and the Town of Great Barrington’s Affordable Housing Trust. In addition to those community efforts, Garfield has served for three years as an associate member of the Planning Board and has actively taken part in Planning Board discussions of the critical changes facing Great Barrington.
Designated as “Best Small Town” in many magazines and newspapers since 2013, Great Barrington has captured attention across America and beyond. Yet, recent proposed zoning changes are questionable, especially those that do not adhere to Smart Growth objectives outlined in our award-winning Master Plan. Since many proposals are made or recommended to the community at the Selectboard level, we must ensure that our elected officials are listening to the community, not just discouraging them because “it’s not that simple.”
Garfield Reed has shown he understands the impact of bylaw changes on the lives of individuals and families at the ground level. He is courageous and debates his points on behalf of the community, even when facing criticism. One current example concerns zoning regulations for cannabis businesses, where Garfield wants to uphold the successful and proven zoning and revenue model demonstrated by Theory Wellness, our first cannabis retailer. He supports healthy, prosperous and community-sensitive standards that work.
Theory Wellness has complied with the town’s original standards and respected our traffic, parking and broader community considerations, while providing a huge proportion of cannabis-related revenues to the town. Now that New York and Connecticut will allow adult cannabis purchases in their own states, Garfield thoughtfully raises important questions such as: Should Great Barrington push our zoning regulation beyond its original intent for the short term, only to see possible business failures and decline in revenues for the town?
Garfield Reed is capable of critical analysis, an attribute we value in educating our children. We need these attributes demonstrated on our boards. Garfield’s genial personality, open-minded willingness to listen and respect for all members of our diverse community make him a very special candidate for the Select Board.
To help ensure diversity on the Selectboard, increase healthy debate and broaden our perspective in the face of evolving social changes, please join me in supporting Garfield Reed on Tuesday, May 11th at the polls.
Sharon Gregory
Great Barrington
