Times have changed, but the formula remains stuck in 1949. The wealth disparities between neighboring towns simply did not exist at anything like their current scale. The founders of the regional school system could not have foreseen the inequity their formula has imposed on most towns today.
"It's a sad day for the Berkshires. I would say without hesitation that Ben Downing has been the best state senator the Berkshires has ever seen."
--- State Rep. William "Smitty" Pignatelli (D-Lenox), commenting on Sen. Ben Downing's decision not to seek election.
“The caps are there because the utility companies have insisted. Solar is a threat to their way of doing business, so they’ve decided to do everything they can to try to stop solar. Solar energy has the potential to make electricity less expensive for everybody.”
-- Ben Hellerstein, state director for Environment Massachusetts
“I figured that if I could buy it, anyone could buy it and that is bad. I was worried that somebody would buy it and redirect it to BernieSucks.com, or something like that.”
-- New Marlborough resident Paul Joffe, who had purchased www.berniesanders.com
Change is accelerating and taking us forward in ways we cannot predict. We are going to need every ounce of community spirit, every fiber of resilience, courage and compassion in the months and years ahead.
