Vote YES! Northampton

    Campaign News

    Below are our updates about the campaign. Please check this page regularly. Also, you can find newspaper articles on the campaign or Northampton's budget crisis here.

    Campaign News: June 8

    Letter to Editor and Signature Ad Deadline TOMORROW

    The Gazette's deadline for submitting a letter to the editor on the override is TOMORROW, JUNE 9. So if you've got a draft circulating in your head (or not), it's time to put it on paper and send to opinion@gazettenet.com. Let's keep up the great work and make our YES voice loud and clear until voting day.

    The other deadline: All names that would like to be included on the signature ad must be sent to voteyesnorthampton@gmail.com by the end of tomorrow night (6/9). Please continue to forward the ad below.

    We also want to make sure you review the final text below for minor edits and clarifications.

    Please let us know if you have any problem with being listed.

    We have collected close to 500 signers already and thanks to your extraordinary response to the request for contributions, we will run a full page ad on the 13th! We've gotten the energy of a virtual rally with your names coming our way - can't wait to share that lift with you on Saturday.

    This is the last week for identifying new Yes voters. We are up to 3,700. Pick your phonebank and take an hour to call. Then carve out your hour to do Get Out the Vote calls this weekend and Monday night. We'll let you know more about that in our next email.

    With a week to go, let's pull out all the stops and make the time now. This will all be over at 8 pm next Tuesday -- let's carry the confidence that we did all we could do to win for Northampton.


    THE ADVERTISEMENT:

    HERE'S WHY WE'RE VOTING YES FOR THE OVERRIDE ON JUNE 16:

    • Northampton faces a $5 million budget gap, the largest ever, due to massive cuts in state aid and other revenue losses. The override is our only chance to prevent the worst cuts.
    • Proposition 2 1/2 limits a city's ability to raise the property tax levy more than 2.5% each year. The rate of inflation has exceeded 2.5% in 22 of the 27 years since the inception of Proposition 2 1/2 and the only safety valve for correcting the resulting shortfall is a general override.
    • Nearly all of our neighboring communities have passed multiple general overrides to keep up with inflation and maintain vital community services -- Northampton has not approved a general override in 20 years.
    • This override will raise $2 million in property taxes and will allocate the money as follows: $1 million to schools, $765,000 to city services such as police, libraries and senior services, $185,000 to Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School and $55,000 to increase the exemptions for low-income seniors.
    • At a cost of $62 per $100,000 of assessed home value (or $3.17 each week for the average homeowner), the override will:
      • Bring back 9 police officers to patrol the streets;
      • Return 15-22 teachers and aides to our public school classrooms, keeping class sizes low and educational quality high;
      • Restore funding to Northampton High School athletics and extracurricular activities at JFK MIddle School and Northampton High School;
      • Allow Forbes Library to stay open on Mondays and Saturdays;
      • Prevent seniors from losing Senior Center staff and services such as assistance with health insurance, fuel payments and escort grocery shopping;
      • Restore funding to recreational fields; and
      • So much more - go to www.voteyesnorthampton.org to find out.

    Let's all pitch in so everybody wins.
    PLEASE JOIN US IN VOTING YES ON JUNE 16.

    Campaign News: June 2

    We Did it! We met our goal for two weeks out

    We met our goal of identifying 3,000 yes voters with 2 weeks to go. Now we're on our way to 4,000 by next week.

    So many of you are doing such incredible work -- from calling, to sign painting (don't you love those YES signs greeting you everywhere you go!), to tabling at the Farmer's Market and Transfer Station, to writing those letters to the editor (such a great showing on Saturday - let's keep them coming!).

    It's not too late to join the fun. It's more important than ever. Here's what's on tap for this week and next:

    • CALLS. AND MORE CALLS. See the phonebank schedule or reply to this email to get connected to a ward captain who can give you a call sheet and a script so you can call from home. There is nothing like reaching that voter who starts out uninformed about the override and 5 minutes later is a vigorous YES. Try it. That's how we'll win.
    • The YES literature drop to targeted households will take place over this weekend, Saturday and Sunday (6/6-6/7), on a ward-coordinated basis. Reply to this email to participate. This piece is critical for reaching the voters we can't reach on the phone. Combine your exercise with the cause and join us!
    • Letters to the editor are key. Take 20 minutes and dispel a myth you've heard (use our Frequently Asked Questions if it's helpful) or simply say why winning the override matters to you. Send it to opinion@gazettenet.com.
    • Get Out The Vote calls, reminding our YES voters to vote on June 16, will begin next weekend, 6/13. Please carve out whatever time you can from Saturday, 6/13 through Monday night 6/15 to call. We'll need all hands on deck to reach every identified yes voter. As we know too well from the last override vote in 2004 when we lost by 7 votes, the Yes vote only counts if voters actually cast it.
    • Visibilities and Poll Standing. You will hear more about this next week, but consider this a heads-up for your time Monday morning and afternoon, 6/15, for stand-outs at high visibility spots in Northampton. And of course on June 16, from 7 am to when the polls close at 8 pm, we'll need two YES voters at every polling spot in the city. Think now about what time you can give.

    Right now it's all about calling. This is the time to find time when you thought you had none. Even an hour will make a difference.

    We are doing great and we are on our way to winning. But as heartening as our sea of YES signs may be, we must only push harder in these last two weeks. The quiet force of NO on this question is formidable. YES will be the Ber of the two if we connect with the voters out there who have yet to hear from us. Let's do what it takes, and win for all of Northampton.

    Campaign News: May 26

    Register by tomorrow and more!

    A few quick reminders as we hit the 3-weeks-to-go mark:

    • Tomorrow, Wed., 5/27, is the deadline to register to vote.  Voter registration forms can be obtained at the city clerk's office and can be completed up until 4:30 pm tomorrow afternoon in order to be eligible to vote on June 16.  Think of your senior high school students, your newcomers to town, whoever else is out there that may still need to register!
    • Absentee balloting is an option right now.  If you or someone you know will not be around on June 16, you can go to the clerk's office starting  NOW up until 12 noon on June 15.  For more details, click here.
    • Write your letter to the editor today.  Say in 200 words or less why the override matters to you and our community.  Click here to get started.
    • Our amazing ward captains and volunteers have produced over 300 VOTE YES! lawn signs.  Reply to this email if you live on or know someone who lives on a busy street.  We've got the signs - all we need is more right places to put them!
    • Please consider contributing to the campaign if you haven't had a chance to do so yet.  We need the funds for sign supplies and campaign literature.  Make checks payable to Vote Yes Northampton and mail to PO Box 1595, Northampton, MA 01061.
    • We're at 2,172 identified yes voters.  We should aim for 3,000 by the end of this week.  Reply to this email and we'll get you your call sheet and script or click here to find a phonebank best for you.

    Thanks and enjoy spreading YES! everywhere you go.

    P.S. Did you know that Northampton has the lowest property tax rate among comparable towns in all of western Mass?  Check out our Frequently Asked Questions for more.

    Campaign News: May 22

    3 & 1/2 weeks to go!

    We've made it to just over 2,000 identified yes voters.  That is amazing!  Thank you for your tremendous work thus far.

    And we need to double that number in two weeks' time to win.  Here's how we can do it:

    There are now over 650 people on this rapidly growing email list.  Last week, 225 of you opened up this email. If every one of you who opens this email takes a single call sheet of 45 names (plus a script to guide you) this week and next, we've done it.  Or show up at a phonebank - click here for the schedule.  If we each call for about 2 hours over the next 2 weeks, we win.  It's that simple.

    If you're not already connected with your ward captain, forget what ward you live in.  We need to think and act like a city to win.  So pick any one of the ward contacts below and call for your sheet (we are prioritizing wards 3, 4, 6 and 7 because wards 1, 2 and 5 are well-covered right now).

    Ward 3:  Mandy Gerry, mandygerry@gmail.com, 584-1915, Deb Christakos, deborah_christakos@yahoo.com, 586-7838
    Ward 4:  Dorothy Nemetz, djnemetz@aol.com, 586-2733, Rebecca Neimark, rebecca@twentysixletters.com, 584-8742
    Ward 6:  Margaret Miller, mmiller857@comcast.net, 586-5074, Heather McCreary, HSM66@comcast.net, 586-7832
    Ward 7:  Downey Meyer, downeymeyer@gmail.com, 584-0051

    Go for that call sheet NOW before you close this email.  Don't put this in the to-do pile - there is no "later" left!

    If you can't call (or even if you can), there is so much more you can do.  Here are the opportunities:

    Tabling for Vote Yes!

    Transfer Station:  8:30-12:30 this Sat and next.  Pick your one or two hour slot.  Contact Nora Israeloff at 582-0467 or norai@crocker.com.
    Farmer's Market: 8:00 - 12:00 noon this Sat. and next.  Same deal, pick your hour.  Contact Dorothy Nemetz at 586-2733 or djnemetz@aol.com
    Stop and Shop:  Who wants to do it?  Saturday is an ideal day.  If you're the one, call Jane Fleishman at 582-1294 or jane.fleishman@gmail.com

    Memorial Day
    Get patriotic and get some yes votes all at the same time.  Meet in front of Cooper's Corner at 9:15 am on Monday - we'll hand out flyers to parade-goers and be done by 10:30.  Contact Cathy Kay at 584-7603 or coopkay136@comcast.net

    Vote Yes! Lawn Sign Painting
    Have fun with a paint brush this weekend.  Join whatever party fits your schedule and bring along the kids!
    On Saturday:
    9 am to noon, 89 Florence St. (corner of Florence and Arch), contact Downey Meyer, 584-0051, downeymeyer@gmail.com
    On Sunday:
    9 am - 11 am, 387 Prospect Street (corner of Roe St.), contact Alden Bourne, 584-6716, acbourne@gmail.com
    2 pm - 4 pm, 33 Ward Avenue, contact Joanna Grand, 341-3385, jgrand@metacomet.com
    4 pm - 6 pm, 22 Columbus Avenue, contact Pam Schwartz, 586-7113, pschwartz77@gmail.com

    Meanwhile, think of who you know who is a supporter who lives on a busy street in any part of the city and email Lilly Lombard with the information so we can get a lawn sign to that person: jollypair@comcast.net, 584-0081.

    Mark your calendars now:
    The weekend of June 6-7, we will be coordinating a targeted lit drop.  Let your ward captain know (all listed below) that you're available to help.

    Beginning Thursday, June 11, we will start our Get out the Vote (GOTV) operation with calls to our identified yes voters filling as much of our days between 10 am and 8 pm as our volunteer base allows.  We will have thousands of calls to make in a short time, so we will need as many hours as you can spare between June 11 and June 16.

    Thanks for being part of this.  We are doing what we need to do to win, but we need to GO COLLECT those yes votes to get the job done.  Let's do it!

    P.S. To produce campaign materials, we need your contribution!  Every dollar counts (just like every vote!), so please mail what you can to Vote Yes Northampton, PO Box 1595, Northampton, MA 01061.
    P.P.S. Be sure to check out the latest materials on our website at http://voteyesnorthampton.org.

    All Ward Captains
    Ward 1:  Alden Bourne, acbourne@gmail.com, 584-6716; Risa Silverman, risa@schoolph.umass.edu, 586-1654
    Ward 2:  Shelley Zimbalist, szimbali@comcast.net, 586-7636, David Marlin, david@grandmarlin.com, 341-3385
    Ward 3:  Mandy Gerry, mandygerry@gmail.com, 584-1915, Deb Christakos, deborah_christakos@yahoo.com, 586-7838
    Ward 4:  Dorothy Nemetz, djnemetz@aol.com, 586-2733, Rebecca Neimark, rebecca@twentysixletters.com, 584-8742
    Ward 5:  Alex Ghiselin, aghiselin@comcast.net, 586-1849, Nora Israeloff, norai@crocker.com, 582-0467
    Ward 6:  Margaret Miller, mmiller857@comcast.net, 586-5074, Heather McCreary, HSM66@comcast.net, 586-7832
    Ward 7:  Downey Meyer, downeymeyer@gmail.com, 584-0051
    general volunteer coordinator (if you don't know what ward you're in or for any other reason): 
    Jane Fleishman, jane.fleishman@gmail.com, 582-1294

    Campaign News: May 15

    You're needed to win!

    Thanks to all of our volunteers who made the first week of phonebanking a success. We had about 28 volunteers on the phones and we're now up to almost 1,500 identified yes voters!

    While we've done some great work so far, we can only win if we do much more in the 4 weeks remaining. We need you!

    We're listing the ward captains below -- email or call them ASAP to tell them what you can do:

    • Make calls! It can be during a phonebank or from your home; over the course of 2 hours or 15 minutes at different intervals of a day or through the week; it can be 50 calls or 10 -- every single voter you reach gets us closer to winning. Carve out an hour or 10, it all adds up.
    • Join a sign-painting party! We're doing all homemade Vote Yes! lawn signs. We are making them with a unified color and message so we communicate just how B and united we are. So contact your ward captain to find out when you can join in the fun. Also let us know if you're on a visible street - we need your lawn!
    • Staff a table! We have events and regular gathering points (the Farmer's Market, the transfer station, etc.) where we need a Vote Yes! presence, information and recruitment of yes voters. Take an hour or two, connect with your community and get the word out.
    • Write a letter to the editor! Say in your own words why passing this override is so important to you and your community. Getting our letters in the Gazette is vitally important. Send them to: opinion@gazettenet.com
    • Have no time to give? Contribute! While we are running a real and inexpensive grassroots campaign, it still takes money to reach voters. Phone lists, mailings, materials for signs, and the like add up. If you want to make a difference and you cannot give any time (or even if you can), consider writing a check for $25, $50, $100 or more. The more we raise the better we will be able to get our message to the voters. Please send your check (payable to “Vote Yes! Northampton”) to P.O. Box 1595, Northampton, MA 01061. Send soon, so we can fully budget in your contribution.


    This campaign is so short. While many of us are already so busy, this campaign will end in just over 4 weeks and on June 16 we will either win or lose $2 million to maintain our city's most basic services and quality public education. This is the time to push and squeeze out that extra few hours where you thought you had none. It is worth it. And it is absolutely necessary to win.

    To volunteer, contact:

    Ward 1: Alden Bourne, acbourne@gmail.com, 584-6716; Risa Silverman, risa@schoolph.umass.edu, 586-1654
    Ward 2: Shelley Zimbalist, szimbali@comcast.net, 586-7636, David Marlin, david@grandmarlin.com, 341-3385
    Ward 3: Mandy Gerry, mandygerry@gmail.com, 584-1915, Deb Christakos, deborah_christakos@yahoo.com, 586-7838
    Ward 4: Dorothy Nemetz, djnemetz@aol.com, 586-2733, Rebecca Neimark, rebecca@twentysixletters.com, 584-8742
    Ward 5: Alex Ghiselin, aghiselin@comcast.net, 586-1849, Nora Israeloff, norai@crocker.com, 582-0467
    Ward 6: Margaret Miller, mmiller857@comcast.net, 586-5074, Heather McCreary, HSM66@comcast.net, 586-7832
    Ward 7: Downey Meyer, downeymeyer@gmail.com, 584-0051
    general volunteer coordinator (if you don't know what ward you're in or for any other reason):
    Jane Fleishman, jane.fleishman@gmail.com, 582-1294

    Campaign News: May 8

    It's a Go: Time to Call!

    The City Council voted 8-1 last night to put the override question on the ballot (Ward 7 Councilor Raymond LaBarge was the sole dissenter). Thanks for your supportive push to the Councilors and thanks to the Councilors for making this override happen.

    Now we've got a campaign to win! So many of you have been doing such great work already -- we're up to 950 identififed yes voters! -- and now we're ready for the next round.

    Before we get to the phonebank operation, a reminder: The Bay State Village Association is sponsoring a forum on the override this Tuesday, May 12, 7 pm at Feiker School on Riverside Drive. Whether or not you live in the Bay State neighborhood, we need you there!

    Now about the phonebanks: Everything you need to know is below. Pick your night, contact the ward captain, and let's get started.

    If everyone could allot 1-2 hours each week for the next 5 weeks, we will identify the 5,000 yes voters we need to win. The time is short and the stakes are high. Let's get together and start calling!

    Vote Yes! Northampton Phone Banks

    All phone banks meet from 6:30-8:30 pm on their designated day.

    Phonebanks will take place at two locations, noted below:
    Goggins Realty, 8 Main St., Florence
    Construct Builders, 36 Service Center Rd (off Pleasant St)

    If you can’t make your ward night, choose another – we share the same city!

    Schools are noted because to the extent possible we are coordinating parents to call other parents with children in the same school.

    Please contact a ward captain to sign up for where and when you can call.

    Mondays
    Ward 7 and Leeds School Parents, Goggins Realty
    Contact: Downey Meyer
    Ward 2 and Jackson Street School Parents, Construct Builders
    Contact: David Marlin

    Tuesdays
    Ward 1 and Jackson Street School Parents, Construct Builders
    Contact: Alden Bourne
    Ward 5 and JFK Middle School Parents, Goggins Realty
    Contacts: Alex Ghiselin
    Nora Israeloff

    Wednesdays
    Ward 6 and Ryan Road School Parents, Goggins Realty
    Contact: Margaret Miller
    Heather McCreary

    Thursdays
    Ward 3 and Bridge Street School Parents, Construct Builders
    Contact: Deb Christakos
    Ward 4 and Northampton High School Parents, Construct Builders
    Contact: Rebecca Neimark

    Campaign News: May 4

    This Week's Focus: Get the Override on the Ballot!

    This Thursday, May 7th, the City Council will take its second and final vote to put the override question on the ballot. If the Council does not vote this Thursday, the question will not appear on the ballot before the start of the next fiscal year on July 1st and we lose this option to raise $2 million to avoid devastating cuts.

    So, while union negotiations continue, our number one priority must be to get this question on the ballot. Our proposed message to city councilors is simple: "Let the voters decide. Vote Yes to put the override question on the ballot."

    The list of Councilors and their contact information is below. Please call or email them as soon as you can! And come to the City Council meeting this Thursday at 7:15 pm at the City Council Chambers. Your show of support for the override is extremely important.

    Meanwhile, we have identified almost 750 YES voters already! Let's get to 1,000 before we start phonebanking next week. Identify as many easy "yes" voters as you can and pass their names and home street names to voteyesnorthampton@gmail.com. In a few days, we'll tell you all about the phonebanks starting up the week of the 11th. Finally, be sure to check out www.voteyesnorthampton.org to find your ward captain and get connected to what's going on in your neighborhood.

    James Dostal, At-Large
    City Council President
    586-1390
    jmdostal@verizon.net
    Michael Bardsley, At-Large
    586-1431
    michael.bardsley@verizon.net
    Maureen Carney
    Ward 1
    584-2904
    mtcarney@comcast.net

    Paul Spector
    Ward 2
    413-250-5226
    gwanorth@aol.com

    Robert C. Reckman
    Ward 3
    584-8905
    BobReckman@aol.com
    David Narkewicz
    Ward 4
    586-7230
    dnarkewicz@comcast.net

    David A. Murphy
    Ward 5
    586-5461
    david.murphy8@comcast.net

    Marianne LaBarge
    Ward 6
    584-7937
    mlabargeward6@aol.com

    Raymond LaBarge
    Ward 7
    584-5561

    Campaign News: April 27

    First, mark your calendars for this Thursday, April 30th, 7 pm at JFK Middle School Community Room.  The Mayor and City Council are hosting a forum on the override to present the facts and answer questions.  Your presence and your comments are very important.

    Secondly, the easiest and most important thing you can do right now is identify yourselves, your friends, neighbors and co-workers who are clear yes voters and send their names and home street names to voteyesnorthampton@gmail.com.  Thanks to many of you, we already have over 500 YES voters in our database!  Let's reach 1,000 before we start our phonebanks, which will begin after the City Council's final vote to get it on the ballot on Thurs., May 7th - mark your calendars!).  If we each identify 10 voters, we're up to 5,000 voters and we've done what it takes to win -- as soon as we get them to the polls on June 16th.

    Your ward captains are listed here.  They will lead the charge on coordinating phonebanks, canvassing and all the grassroots work that is required to reach the voters in your ward.   Please send your captain an email to become part of your ward's effort.

    We're excited to provide a unifying campaign for our city.  In the face of such hard times, we have the opportunity to feel good about pulling together and taking care of ourselves and each other all at the same time.  Let's make it happen!

    Also, be sure to check out the calculator on what the override will cost you.

    Campaign News: April 17

    Vote Yes! Northampton Aims to Win Override

    Vote Yes! Northampton launched its campaign today on the heels of the City Council's first vote to put an override question on the ballot, according to Marilyn Richards, Chair of the campaign. The launch marks the start of the 35-member Vote Yes! Northampton Committee (listed below), including elected officials, community and business leaders and concerned citizens from across the city. It also includes a new website : http://voteyesnorthampton.org, which will serve as an information and organizing resource throughout the campaign.

    "The stakes in this campaign are incredibly high," Richards said. "The range and depth of our Committee reflects how critical it is to come together at this difficult time in our nation and our city and do what it takes to protect our families, our homes and our community."

    The override approved by the City Council last night must pass the Council for a final vote on May 7th before being placed on the ballot on June 16th. It would raise $2 million in property taxes with allocations of $1 million to the schools, $765,000 to city departments, including public safety, $180,000 to Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School and $55,000 for increasing the number of seniors who can qualify for exemptions. The annual cost to the average homeowner would be $162 or $3.11 each week.

    "Without this override, the Florence Fire Station would be closed much of the time," said City Council President James Dostal. "And people would lose access to their public library. And kids would lose their teachers and band and athletics and so many other fundamentals that make our education system and our city so great. If we all come together and pitch in a little, we can prevent a lot of this from happening."

    To volunteer for the Vote Yes! Northampton Campaign, contact voteyesnorthampton@gmail.com. To donate to the campaign, checks are payable to Vote Yes! Northampton and can be mailed to PO Box 1595, Northampton, MA 01061.

    Campaign News: April 14

    There is a very important meeting this Thursday, April 16th:
    City Council Meeting, City Council Chambers, where the Mayor will introduce the override.

    The meeting has a public comment period that begins at 7:15 pm.  Your presence is extremely important.  Your message of support for an override is the most important thing of all.

    At the meeting, the Mayor will introduce to the City Council for a first reading.  By law the City Council must vote two times, the first will be tonight and the second vote will happen at the next meeting in early May.  It is a $2 million proposal that includes specific allocations of how the funds will be spent:  $1 million for the schools, $765,000 for City Departments, including the police and fire departments, and libraries, $185,000 for Smith Vocational and Agricultural School and $55,000 to pay for additional property tax exemptions for qualifying seniors.  These allocation requirements become law if the override is passed.  The annual cost for the average homeowner will be $161. 

    It is critically important that people show up at the City Council meeting this Thursday to demonstrate their support for this proposal, either by speaking publicly on its behalf or simply by being physically present (we will have YES stickers for you to wear).  Check out the override page for more information on why we need an override - this will be updated with the latest proposal as soon as possible.

    With the Mayor's official introduction of the override, Vote Yes! Northampton has officially begun as an organization.

    Campaign News: April 9

    First, the Mayor will very likely introduce an override proposal at the next city council meeting on Thursday, April 16th.  Please mark your calendars now if you can!

    Secondly, we wanted to share Senator Rosenberg's guidance regarding who best to contact to advocate for more federal stimulus funds. He suggested Lieutenant Governor Tim Murray and the Governor's office (which conveniently happen to share the same contact info).  You can also contact Dr. Saeyun Lee in the Department of Education.  His contact info is below as well.  Lastly, it is always good to contact Senator Rosenberg and Representative Kocot directly to thank them for their efforts to get Northampton more funding and to let them know you're counting on them to continue to do everything they can.

    If you want to review some background on the topic,  click here to learn more about how the stimulus funds have been allocated and click here to see which communities have been allocated funds thus far.

    Take action today!  Let's do everything we can to advocate for more federal stimulus money now before the override campaign begins.  Contact one or more of the individuals listed below:

    Boston office
    Office of the Governor
    Office of the Lt. Governor
    Boston Office:
    617.725.4005
    888.870.7770 (in state)
     
    Springfield office
    Phone: 413.784.1200 
    To send an email:
    http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=gov3utilities&sid=Agov3&U=Agov3_contact_us

    Dr. Saeyun Lee
    617-979-8351
    Jeffrey.Simon@state.ma.us
    contact.stimulus@state.ma.us

    State Representative Peter Kocot
    Local: 582-6111
    StateHouse: 617-722-2210
    Rep.PeterKocot@hou.state.ma.us

    State Senator Stan Rosenberg
    Local:584-1649
    State House: 617-722-1532
    Sen.StanRosenberg@senate.state.ma.us

    Campaign News: April 6

    Here's a chance to email the governor with your questions regarding why Northampton isn't receiving any federal stimulus money for our general education fund. We are receiving funds for special education and Title 1(math and reading assistance for income eligible children), but these cannot be used to pay for regular classroom teachers and any other educational needs.

    To learn more about how the stimulus funds have been allocated, click here. To see which communities have been allocated funds thus far, click here. One of the main reasons Northampton has not received funds is because it is not considered a "growing" district. While our enrollment is technically down, the decline is so marginal right now it should be treated as stable. And obviously our need is dire.

    We will continue to provide suggested action steps on this issue when we hear back from our state legislators, Representative Kocot and Senator Rosenberg, regarding the current status of this allocation and where our energies would be most effective. As we prepare for an override campaign, we must also advocate for every other possible source of revenue.

    Campaign News: April 1

    Thursday, April 2, offers multiple opportunities to be heard and counted in support of an override. Pick one or more to make your appearance!

    6:30-8:00 pm, Jackson Street School, Community Meeting on the Budget Crisis: This meeting is a citywide opportunity to discuss the budget crisis and what we can do about it. Come join us to get educated and organized!

    7:15 pm, City Council Chambers, City Council meeting, public comment period: Another important opportunity to let the Council (and citizens via cable tv) know that there is community support for an override to save our basic services. All it takes is 15 minutes and a few words that make your point in a way that is personal to you.

    Copyright © 2009 Vote Yes! Northampton   |  All Rights Reserved

    Design by 1234.info Media Player by Jeroen Wijering | XHTML 1.0 | CSS 2.0

    .