David Keenan: Offers a promise for change

Published on October 24, 2008

When asked why he entered politics, Ralph Nader said: "The problem with not having a breaking point is that you become an intellectual slave to the least-worst option. And the problem with that is, the least-worst option keeps getting worse."

I wrote this in March 2008 as a candidate for the Select Board. Eight months later I ask the voters, what's changed? A world financial crisis and the Select Board appoints a Community Choices Facilitation Committee.

What has the Select Board done in this budget crisis to seek solution? Nothing. Create a new committee? Threaten voters with three different override options: bad, worse and even worse?

What makes life difficult in Amherst? Figuring out how to pay for heat this winter. A pothole that takes out your tire, while a circus midway is being constructed downtown. Paying twice as much for water with an extra dose of e-coli, while Town Hall buys bottled water.

Bureaucrats tell you the only way to balance the budget is to raise taxes and cut community and human services, while keeping their own positions secure and well-funded.

They tell us we have to balance the budget on the backs of the residents and homeowners instead of asking a fair share from large tax-free institutions and service users.

It's time for leadership from the Select Board.

It's time to demand that those who use services pay a fair share. It's time for transparency of our town funding. Why not make every check written by the town available on the Web for the public to see? Why not assess the town's fossil fuel use and commit to using smaller, more energy efficient vehicles?

On the national front, who's not going to vote for Obama? Locally, why are we not also seeking change and new solutions?

Here are the choices:

1. Elect rubber-stamp candidates who cow-tow to a non-elected town manager with a short-term outlook and a golden parachute? That's how we got into this mess.

2. Put our faith in a Community Choices Facilitation Committee? Does that name inspire confidence in you? If horse dung was music, this would be a whole orchestra.

3. Or do something for change. Vote for Dave, roll up your sleeves and start watching Channel 17. What have you got to lose? Lower taxes in Amherst? Real opposition to a Proposition 21/2 override? More accountability by Town Hall?

In my four-month term on the Select Board, you could look forward to my proposals and questions to the university, colleges and service users about:

1. Exploring other models of payment in lieu of taxes, such as the agreement between MIT and Cambridge.

2. Eliminating $300,000 per year in trucking charges for the incineration of high quality sludge by partnering with local resources such as UMass and Hampshire College's recycling/composting programs.

3. A plan to leverage Amherst College's $4 million gift establishing the Center for Community Engagement for the benefit of Amherst residents, all the more important as the town faces cuts in community and social services.

4. An initiative to replace the War Memorial Pool with a public-private, self-sustaining community center for kids and adults. I remember when we used to do projects like this in Amherst: Sweetser Park, Crocker Farm playground, Fort River restroom, etc. I bet I can even deliver on a real skating rink this winter in Kendrick Park.

5. Open Town Hall five days a week or pay employees only for the hours it's open to serve the public.

This ride is only for four months. If you really want change and you're worried about the future, a vote for Dave is a promise for change. Or run for Select Board yourself, next time.

David Keenan lives in Amherst and is a candidate for the Select Board.