A couple of “quick hitters” as we close out the first week of what looks to be a long, hot political summer.
The racist, Photoshopped images of Greenfield Town Councilor Penny Ricketts continue to pour in on almost a daily basis, leading one to wonder whether the person sending them fully understands how the political process actually works.
Every time one of these photos pops up, Ricketts grows in stature politically, which I’m pretty sure is the last thing Mr. Photoshop hoped would happen. Pretty much the entire community — including much of “Official Greenfield” — has flocked to Penny’s side offering support and denouncing the sender, whose identity has yet to be uncovered by police.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by the reaction,” Ricketts said. “Even people who have disagreed with me in the past have been supportive, and I can’t thank them enough.”
There are some Ricketts supporters who could have done more, it would seem. Mayor Bill Martin, who issued a strong public statement on the matter this past Monday, did not call or make any contact with Penny in the days after the story broke. That seems strange, especially when you consider that Ricketts has historically been one of the mayor’s strongest allies on the council, not to mention a personal friend.
Individual councilors certainly weren’t shy about expressing their solidarity during last Wednesday’s meeting, even though some had learned of the incident just minutes earlier. There may be a reason for Martin’s silence, but it’s not sitting well with some people, especially progressives still smarting from the mayor’s comments during the most recent election, where he suggested that racism in Greenfield was an issue largely “manufactured” for political reasons.
Unfortunately, we know of no less than seven pictures in the inbox that indicate otherwise, a reality which I suspect will, and should, be a major topic of conversation for some time to come.
Based on what we’ve read in this newspaper this week, people in these parts who actually know who he is aren’t all that thrilled with the apparent inattentiveness of 1st District Congressman Richie Neal.
But those unhappy being on Richie’s “pay no mind” should realize that he actually does have an opponent this year, and Libertarian Thomas Simmons says the frustration with Neal has been palpable during his relatively short time on the campaign trail.
“Most of the voters I’ve met don’t know him, and those that do express dissatisfaction at his inattention to the hilltowns and his penchant for working for corporate interests,” Simmons said. “Western Massachusetts needs a congressman who will actually represent Western Massachusetts, not state military contractors, insurance interests and pharmaceutical companies.”
Given that this area represents less than 3 percent of his political pie, I don’t expect Neal’s attitude to change unless the voters decide to force the issue. That’s a conversation I suspect will be had in a lot of congressional and senate districts between now and the first Tuesday in November.
Chris Collins, who worked in local radio in a number of capacities, has observed political life in Franklin County for years. He also is a former staff reporter for The Recorder and a Greenfield native.