“I worry about what happens to our students when their leaders lose sight of whom they serve," said Du Bois Middle School Spanish teacher Mercedes Girona. “I understand that there are budget cuts, but I feel like there needs to be a little bit more humanity."
Leigh clearly thinks that every citizen should have a voice. I believe that is her motivation — to give a voice to the town’s citizens — and not be seen as an agitator on the board. She should be supported.
In her letter Marnie Meyers writes: “A return of horseracing to Great Barrington would bring gambling elements, snarled traffic, environmental damage, and the cruel use of horses back to that wonderful town.”
In a letter to the editor, Beryl Birch writes, "... the list of horse racing woes keeps growing and public interest in horse racing is waning, primarily due to the list of more and more horse deaths in tracks around the country..
In a letter to the editor, Scott Plantier writes, "Sterling Suffolk Racecourse successfully lobbied our legislature for loophole-laden legislation (S.101 and H.13) specifically aimed at sleepy, small-town Massachusetts."
In a letter to the editor, Connor Diehl writes, "Sen. Hinds claims to be fighting what he calls "Big Money," himself being the bullhorn for big money to come into Great Barrington while simultaneously eroding at our democratic institutions."
In a letter to the editor, Collin Lovas writes, "Additionally, it’s likely going to be a nightmare for shoppers attempting to enter jammed up Route 7 when horse racing events occur."
Horse racing is no longer the "sport of kings.” It has instead become a sport of corruption, bribery, fraud, greed, and a complete lack of ethics for animals.
What type of economic development does not bring with it some aspect that some of us find unpalatable? How much are we willing to put up with in order to improve economic opportunities for ourselves and others.
We remember
racing across plains of sagebrush, bluegrass, Utah juniper and mountain mahogany.
Tearing up foothill slopes, across plateaus blissfully empty of imperious humans…
“This is a very exciting opportunity for us to help preserve and refurbish an iconic property in the heart of the Berkshires, to boost economic development in Great Barrington, continue live racing and preserve the hundreds of jobs, associated agribusinesses and working open spaces associated with the Massachusetts racing industry.”
-- Chip Tuttle, CEO of Suffolk Downs