Photo Credit: Amherst Indy
Public Participation and Public Comment:
Below are a series of publications from current Amherst Town Councilors. After the article link, please find the source, date of publication, and last names of the Councilors involved in the publication.
The Promise of the Charter: Democracy, Transparency and Public Participation, Amherst Indy (October, 2021) (Greisemer, Steinberg, Hanneke, Ryan)
Hanneke Continues to Seek Restrictions on Public Comment, Amherst Indy (March, 2023) (Hanneke)
OPINION: Town Council’s Contempt for Public Input is Undisguised, Amherst Indy (January, 2021) (Greisemer, Ryan)
Amherst Proposal to Limit Public Comments Sets Off Residents, Amherst Bulletin (March, 2023) (Hanneke)
Councilors and Residents Pan Proposal to Limit Public Comment, Amherst Indy (March, 2023) (Hanneke, Griesemer)
Suggestions Offered for Use of Remaining ARPA Funds, Steinberg Requests Review of Public Comment Rules after Extensive Public Comment, Amherst Indy (July, 2023) (Steinberg)
Hanneke Continues to Seek Restrictions on Public Comment, Amherst Indy (March, 2023) (Hanneke)
OPINION: Town Council’s Contempt for Public Input is Undisguised, Amherst Indy (January, 2021) (Greisemer, Ryan)
OPINION: Council’s Professed Goal of Open Government Remains Elusive, Amherst Indy (January, 2020)
VIDEO: Peter Tripp on Providing Public Comment at Midnight and Public Participation in General, (January, 2019) (Greisemer, with Hanneke)
Racial Equity:
Social Justice Committee Condemns Marginalization by Town Manager and Town Council, Amherst Indy (August, 2023) (Greisemer)
Open Meeting Law Complaint Targets Council President, Hampshire Gazette (December, 2022) (Greisemer)
Hanneke Abruptly Ends Discussion on Racial Incident, Defends Actions - Masslive (October, 2022) (Hanneke)
Council Meeting Ends Prematurely with Frustration and Outrage, Amherst Indy (October, 2022) (Hanneke, Greisemer)
CSSJC, Town Council Continue to Spar over Prioritizing the Needs of Amherst’s Most Vulnerable Residents, Amherst Indy (October, 2022)
A Message to Some Councilors: Lean into the Discomfort - Amherst Bulletin (October, 2022) (Hanneke, Greisemer)
Opinion: Councilors Hanneke and Greisemer Need to Reflect on Their Role in Upholding White Supremacy, Amherst Indy (October, 2022) (Greisemer, Hanneke)
Councilors Divided on Response to Community Safety Committee, Amherst Indy (October, 2022) (Hanneke, Greisemer)
Miller Requests Public Information about Town Councilor Meetings with Police, Amherst Indy (December, 2022) (Greisemer)
Massachusetts Town Creates Reparations Fund for Black Residents, AP (June, 2021) (Hanneke)
Letter: Sunrise Amherst Condemns Councilor Hanneke’s Statement On Racial Quotas - Amherst Indy (October, 2021) (Hanneke)
GOL Recommends Racial Equity Goals after Backlash, Amherst Indy (August, 2020) (Ryan)
Climate Action Publications:
Trust and Communication Issues Provide Impetus for Retreat; [Greisemer omits PFAS information relevant to Council], Amherst Indy (February, 2023) (Greisemer)
New Protocols for Setting Town Manager Goals Would Remove Specific Mandates for Climate Action, CRESS, Solid Waste and Racial Equity, Amherst Indy, (December, 2022) (Steinberg, Hanneke, Greisemer)
Amherst All In on Climate Goals; [Hanneke moves to slow adoption; Steinberg expresses concern], Hampshire Gazette (June, 2021) (Hanneke, Steinberg)
Amherst Vote to Purchase Polluting School Bus Criticized, Amherst Bulletin (Sept. 2019) (Hanneke, Greisemer, Ryan)
Amherst Bylaw to Mandate Zero Energy for Town Buildings; [Steinberg opposes], Hampshire Gazette (November, 2017) (Steinberg)
https://www.amherstindy.org/2023/01/27/griesemer-failed-to-share-information-on-proposed-state-pfas-ban-with-town-council/, Amherst Indy, (January, 2023) (Griesemer)
Zoning Publications:
Hanneke/DeAngelis Zoning Proposal [ultimately withdrawn] (Amherst Indy articles, 2023) (Hanneke, DeAngelis)
OPINION: Amherst Zoning Tweaks Would Just Open the Door, Hampshire Gazette (June, 2023) (Hanneke, DeAngelis)
Zoning Change Foes Worry about Student Housing Expansion, Amherst Bulletin (June, 2023) (Hanneke, DeAngelis)
Amherst Council Assailed As Parking Garage Advances, Amherst Bulletin (December, 2021) (Ryan, Steinberg, Greisemer, Hanneke)
Council To Meet Seven Weeks In A Row For Zoning Change Votes Before New Councilors Are Seated, Amherst Indy (November, 2021) (Greisemer, Hanneke, Ryan)
The Promise of the Charter: Thoughtful, Deliberate (and not Rushed) Planning; [Temporary Building Moratorium Thwarted], Amherst Indy (October, 2021) (Greisemer, Steinberg, Hanneke, Ryan)
Opinion: Town Council’s Contempt for Public Input is Undisguised; Jan. 2021 Zoning Package, Amherst Indy (January, 2021) (Greisemer, Ryan)
Amherst Councilors stall [steamrolling of] zoning priorities, Amherst Bulletin, (December, 2020) (Hanneke, Ryan, Greisemer)
Amherst Planning Board Veteran Pushed Out, Hampshire Gazette (September, 2020) (Greisemer, Ryan, Steinberg, Hanneke)
Opinion: CRC’s Shameful Recommendation to Not Reappoint Birtwhistle to Planning Board Should be Rejected by the Full Council, Amherst Indy (August, 2020) (Hanneke, Ryan)
Economic Justice:
Finance Committee Stalls on Councilor Compensation Proposal, Amherst Indy (June, 2023) (Greisemer, Steinberg)
Council Calls on Biden to Cancel Student Debt, Hampshire Gazette (May, 2022) (Hanneke)
General Publications:
Amherst Indy Series: Reflections of a Soon-To-Be-Former Councilor on How This Town Council Fails to Meet the Promises of the Charter (September - October, 2021)
#1, Voting and Accountability (Sept. 2021)
#2, Democracy, Transparency and Public Participation (October, 2021) (Greisemer, Steinberg, Hanneke, Ryan)
#3, Checks and Balances (October, 2021) (Greisemer)
#4, Balance of Power on the Town Council (October, 2021) (Greisemer, Hanneke, Steinberg, Ryan)
#5, Thoughtful, Deliberate (and not Rushed) Planning (October, 2021) (Greisemer, Steinberg, Hanneke, Ryan)
Residents Raise Concerns about Town Government in League of Women Voters Survey on Town Charter, Amherst Indy (May, 2023)