Opinion

Teresa Amabile: Gutting USAID is disastrous

Actions by the current administration’s elected officials and unelected operatives to gut the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) are disastrous on three levels: economic, diplomatic and spiritual. These actions, justified with a litany of falsehoods from both official administration sources and right-wing influencers, will result in economic pain for many Americans.

Rich Cairn: Stretching out ‘dictator for a day’

Our new “dictator for a day” — stretching it to almost a month now — has already made less safe roads, airways, medicines, drinking water, schools, media and groceries, all while propelling eggs toward $12 a dozen.

Columnist Richard S. Bogartz: Bang a pot, become us!

Guest columnist Rudy Perkins: Mobilize opposition to taking others’ land

By RUDY PERKINS

Martin Konowitch: When should I worry and what can I do?

The current leader is a convicted felon, ultranationalist, anti-communist and anti-foreign, and is ultra pro-business. The current leader wants laws that bypass the Constitution. The current leader encouraged violence to get his way. The current leader believes in spreading lies and hate. The current leader wants to take over other nations.

Shel Horowitz: Feds won't help us, but citizen action will

Jack Tulloss’ letter, “Violence as wallpaper” [Jan. 17], makes many good points. But the author is wrong to suggest that “domestic transformation is out of the question.”

Thomas White: Real ignorance has brought us here

While guest columnist Bob Couch has a point regarding the danger of ignorance, he looks in the wrong direction [“Let’s leave ‘Age of Ignorance’ behind,” Jan. 29].

Emmett Barcalow: Acting like America’s Mussolini

Given his actions, there can be no doubt that Donald Trump is bent on increasing the power and authority of the president well beyond the limits set by the Constitution. Virtually no Republican office-holder is courageous enough to resist this usurpation of power, despite their oath to “support and defend” the Constitution.

Guest columnist Al Norman: Shutesbury and Wendell appeal seizure of our home rule

By AL NORMAN

Scott Barton: Trying to throw kindness off a cliff

In many churches this past Sunday, people heard Luke’s story where Jesus walks into his hometown synagogue and is handed the Isaiah scroll, from which he read about good news to the poor, prisoners, blind and oppressed. Everybody was impressed because he had made headlines in a neighboring town, and they wanted the same action for themselves.

: Time to get what things done?

With regard to the Jan. 30 letter ”Time to get things done,” I agree it is time to get things done. The question is what things?

Guest column: UMass protest response review was just a whitewash

By KEVIN A. YOUNG

Darcy Dumont: A year of climate wake-up calls

By DARCY DUMONT

Judi Fonsh: The lights go out

As the lights go out around us we must continue to fight and not give up, although it is so overwhelming. As I try to continue to struggle with the unbelievable assaults, as we must do, I am struck by how much energy goes into the fight — rather than the providing of services — he and his henchpeople are creating. They hope that this will wear us down, I hope it won’t, but I worry so much for those in need who live in fear and simultaneously are not provided with what they need to survive.

Guest column: Privilege and loss in LA’s Palisades

By JAMIE ROWEN

Guest columnist Peter Lambdin: On some things, there’s just no middle ground

By PETER LAMDIN

Guest column: DCR should abandon Shutesbury cutting plans

By LYNNE MAN, NANCY POLAN and DALE LABONTE

Barry De Jasu: Do people really think Trump cares about them?

Day one of the second Donald Trump presidency has passed. On it, Trump promised start helping people immediately. Let’s look at just what he did do on his first day.

Teresa Amabile: Healey’s shameful budget proposals

There is much to applaud in the budget proposal that Gov. Maura Healey released on Wednesday, such as funding to implement the state’s Student Opportunity Act, but I am alarmed that two provisions in this budget could bring real harm to some of the most vulnerable residents of our commonwealth.

Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee: Build for people and trees in Amherst

The Amherst Public Shade Tree Committee would like to express our belief that Amherst must create zoning regulations that encourage space for trees and pedestrians. and preserves frontage space adequate for mature trees in downtown and village centers. When buildings are set too close to roads — as seen downtown at apartment complexes on Triangle and Spring Streets — the resulting environment becomes harsh and unfriendly. The public sidewalks are pushed against tall buildings and there is insufficient land to support mature shade trees. Even if trees and shrubs are planted, they may not survive where the space is inadequate.