Neighbors in Northampton, I see in the opinions how much you strive to right wrongs that often take a lot of effort. It’s always easier to say there’s nothing I can do and keep complaining than to actually strive to make a change. I’m writing about how your mayor continues to act like she’s all-powerful, when in fact she was elected and can be removed. She disrespects you when she gets emotional about how much time and effort she put into wasting your money – $3 million. Saint Mary’s Church, across the street from their planned Resilience Hub, has much more parking and a large area to house people.

Another example of waste and bad decisions is this fiasco on Main Street. I have yet to read in the paper that ambulances and firefighters were even consulted. Imagine that on Main Street: an emergency call is answered by a fire truck and an ambulance trying to navigate the street, which is now narrowed and has no lane for vehicles to swerve. Whatever Main Street the mayor wants in Northampton, I’m sure it’s not the area’s main thoroughfare, it is Route 9 after all.

My hope is that despite all the problems and hardships, people can take a moment to stop and come together to stop the mayor from ruining the city, wasting money while raising taxes, which will drive out people who grew up here and deserve to retire here.

Kathleen Mortimer

Easthampton