On Aug.14, the Recorder wrote guidelines for letters to the editor related to the election. It stated “[W]e will not publish pieces that outright bash candidates or claim information we cannot validate.” I became very optimistic about a changed tone of election coverage with a new Recorder management team. I had very positive conversations that night about the editorial with many other municipal leaders of various political stripes. We hoped for this election would be run on positive terms, in an effort to reunite rather than divide our community.
The following day, the Recorder published a letter by Cathy Gouch, which the Recorder entitled “An endorsement for Gilmour.” Eighty percent of the letter was an attack “outright-bash[ing]” former Council President Allis and former Planning Board Chair Wedegartner.
The letter insinuated that Brickett Allis did not have the intellectual capacity to follow political debate which is a smear that is outrageous. A cursory review of the 20 years Allis has served on the council would show the editorial board that this was in-“valid” information. In fact, the Recorder’s prior editorial board praised Allis for creating a model for budgeting process that should be followed for years to come.
The same letter went on to say RoxannWedegartner was “not transparent” and “favors developers over homeowners.” What evidence does the Recorder have that Wedegartner is not transparent? For over a decade she championed homeowners on the Planning Board with progressive proposals like an accessory dwelling unit ordinance that allows seniors to age in place.
In the last paragraph, Gouch finally says she is for Gilmour because she wants to focus on climate change. I wish the Recorder would live up to their promise of political climate change.
Isaac Mass
Greenfield City Councilor at Large