It has been stated many times in this paper by the representatives of the Happy Valley marijuana group that there has been strong support for a marijuana facility in Bernardston. While maybe the selectboard has endorsed this proposal, but many residents are not, and I repeat, are not happy with the idea of marijuana being grown in town.
It has been quoted, “The company will bring much needed living wage jobs to town.” Please define a living wage. Are we talking $20 per hour or $10 per hour, which is what many entry-level, non-skilled jobs pay?
The company continues to imply that Bernardston has many agriculture worker “farmers” and that we are just chomping at the bit to work in a pot facility. BUNK!
Please tell us how much water will be used for hydroponic growing. Will this water be recycled? What will the Bernardston Police Department be required to do regarding patrols? Will Bernardston need an additional officer for the purpose of patrolling this facility?
The notion is that this facility will help ease the tax burden in town. Bernardston gets its taxes whether the former Bella Notte restaurant is in use or not. We now have Kringle Candle Co. here in town. Has anyone seen a significant reduction in taxes? I think not. Kringle pays 9 percent of the town’s taxes.
What impact does one think adding pot-growing in an existing tax-paying facility is going to do?
The statement of being nonprofit means that the administrators of that business can make big bucks while getting many tax breaks from Massachusetts taxpayers.
If Happy Valley is so compassionate, its representatives would stop trying to sugarcoat their venture and tell it like it is.
It is no secret that individuals want these “growing facilities” not just for medicinal purposes but in the hopes that the state will vote for recreational marijuana, as well.
There is a cigar shop in Greenfield on the corner of Federal and Hastings streets. I wonder how many cigars are sold, or is it just a fine location to have a dispensary? Hmmmmm. I wonder who owns that building.
Thomas Newton
Bernardston