These days so much is happening in our federal government, so fast, that we’re getting whiplash. How are the changes and proposed changes by the Trump administration affecting or threatening to affect people here in western Massachusetts? We need the Greenfield Recorder to increase coverage of local stories of changes.

On Feb. 8, the Boston Globe featured stories about denial of trans people’s rights in metro Boston and about the standing of ICE relative to local and state law enforcement. What is happening here relative to these and other issues? What has been the response of local institutions to restrictions on diversity, equity and inclusion?

The current federal administration has a misunderstanding about diversity, equity and inclusion programs that protect every citizen: among them white men, white women, children, people of color, people with disabilities, and those in the LGBTQ+ community. The current administration is using (a misinterpretation of) these programs as a distraction to divide us.

How about an article featuring this issue? As with all government programs, there is room for improvement. This was the job of the inspectors general, but they have been removed, so it is clear that our current administration seems uninterested in actually improving systems. The apparent slash and burn approach allows for no thoughtful vetting. What can we do in response?

One thing we can do is to tell stories about how these changes are affecting real people in real time. We need to hear from each other. Our local, state and federal representatives need to hear these stories.

We hope that the Greenfield Recorder will tell stories about people who are being affected by these changes at the local level. We hope readers will continue to share their concerns on these pages. We hope that the Recorder will follow such issues as: the price of groceries (any change?), Medicare (in jeopardy?), sending our troops to the Middle East for what sounds like a real estate deal, jobs being threatened or cut, religious groups losing funding for good works at home and abroad, the proposed privatization of education and health care, food safety, consumer protections, the Food Bank and food pantries, fuel assistance, WIC, Head Start, government refusal to renew passports on the grounds of gender identity, assistance to schools for Americans with disabilities (Title II).

These are just some of the issues.

There are immigrants among us, some here legally and some applying for legal status. Immigrants of any legal status pay taxes as U.S. citizens, yet receive limited benefits. They work for local businesses and and contribute to our economy. Contrary to misinformation, they do not vote if they are not U.S. citizens. What can you report about them and their employers?

We hope that the Recorder will increase its coverage of these important issues. We are in this together.

Joanna (Jody) Hall, Carol Lebold, Mary Link, Alexandra Osterman, Tiertza-Leah Schwartz and Victoria Worth live in Ashfield.