Letter: Homeless Housing in MCLA Dorm is NOT the Solution

Letter to the Editor08:00AM / Thursday, March 30, 2023Print Story | Email Story

To the Editor:

Initially, I was not against the idea of MCLA's president, Jamie Birge, announcing plans to open a currently empty dorm building for housing homeless families, however, the more I've talked with neighbors and friends, the more I believe it's a horrible idea.

As a direct neighbor to MCLA, I didn't have a problem with the Boardman Block being used for people in recovery once I learned about the support services provided (even though I don't believe it's an ideal companion to the students that work and live nearby and that MCLA should have had the vision to acquire it for themselves for future needs/expansion).

This current plan reinforces my long held belief that Mr. Birge has no vision for MCLA and, as a part-time resident of New Hampshire, he's not at all invested in the future of MCLA or North Adams. I question whether or not Mr. Birge has aggressively pursued all recruitment and retention opportunities and identified organizational changes to increase student admissions. That must be his No. 1 priority and I'm incredibly skeptical that it is.

If the homeless situation in North Adams is such that additional housing is needed then I am all for considering every option. However, if the homeless families would be relocated from outside the city, then I think Mr. Birge is simply looking for "easy" money. Unless all efforts are made to increase the shrinking admissions, Mr. Birge's plan seems no different than when North Adams slumlords placed newspaper ads in Troy, N.Y., years ago offering free TVs to Section 8 renters if they relocated to one of their North Adams units.

In the years since Mr. Birge has been MCLA's president, I've failed to see any evidence of passion or vision on his part to strengthen or expand the college's future legacy. Fault lies not only with him, but also with the members of the board of directors and selection committee. It's their responsibility to hold Mr. Birge accountable and to have made passion and vision for the college (and the city) top criteria for the job. It appears they've failed to do either.

By establishing a significant homeless population two blocks away from the new recovery housing, Mr. Birge would practically guarantee a continued decline in admissions and risk the future closure of the college altogether.

Again, I am in full support of identifying safe and comfortable housing for our local homeless population if that is an actual need. Such a proposal should not be situated on the campus of an already struggling college and should not be the solution for other communities' failure to address their own housing needs. If it is a local issue, then city residents should be made aware of it because I've yet to speak with any of my friends living all around the downtown area that have seen or know of a single homeless person in North Adams.

MCLA is a huge asset to the city, the county, and the state and should be treated as such. If Mr. Birge has not been able to successfully address the college's declining admissions then perhaps it's time for the fresh perspective of new leadership.

Kurt Kolok
North Adams, Mass.

Tags: homeless,

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State Fire Marshal: 'Fall Back' Into Safety

10:09AM / Wednesday, October 28, 2026

STOW, Mass. —State Fire Marshal Jon M. Davine and the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts are reminding residents to replace the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms and replace outdated alarms when they change their clocks this weekend.

"Smoke and CO alarms can save your life and protect the people you care for, but only if they're working properly," said State Fire Marshal Davine. "As we 'fall back' this weekend, please take a few minutes to check the manufacturing date on the back of your alarms, replace them if they're outdated, and put fresh alkaline batteries in the alarms that use them."

"Smoke alarms should be replaced after 10 years," said Brockton Fire Chief Brian Nardelli, who serves as president of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts. "Carbon monoxide alarms should be replaced according to the manufacturer's instructions – usually 5, 7, or 10 years, depending on the make and model."

A 2015 update to the State Fire Code requires that replacement smoke alarms in most Massachusetts homes have sealed, 10-year batteries. Now, more than 10 years later, many alarms purchased to comply with the update are at or near the end of their useful lifespans.

State Fire Marshal Davine and Chief Nardelli offered these tips for anyone replacing out-of-date single-station smoke alarms. Following these guidelines will reduce the risk of a disabled or outdated alarm failing to alert residents:

Choose photoelectric alarms from a well-known, national brand
Look for the mark of an independent testing lab like UL or Intertek/ETL
Select alarms with a sealed, long-life battery and a "hush" feature"
Alarms that meet UL Standard 217, 8th edition or later, use the latest multi-criteria technology to reduce nuisance alarms caused by cooking smoke

If your alarms are less than 10 years old and take alkaline batteries, then put in fresh batteries to be sure you're protected all winter long. And remember to test your smoke and CO alarms once a month to be sure they're working properly.

Fire and CO Hazards Rise During Heating Season

In an average year, about 54 percent of Massachusetts residential fire deaths take place between November and March, State Fire Marshal Davine said, with home heating equipment being the second-leading cause of house fires in 2025. Carbon monoxide incidents start even earlier as residents start turning up the heat for the first time since summer.

"Carbon monoxide is a leading cause of accidental poisoning, and heating equipment is the main source of carbon monoxide at home," Chief Nardelli said. "We can't see, smell, or taste carbon monoxide. Working CO alarms on every level of your home are the only way to detect this invisible killer."

Massachusetts firefighters encountered carbon monoxide hazards at about 5,000 calls last year, State Fire Marshal Davine said.

Create & Practice a Home Escape Plan

"Changes to building construction and furnishings mean we have less time to escape a fire at home than ever before," said State Fire Marshal Davine. "You could have just three minutes to get out safely."

"Working smoke alarms and a practiced home escape plan are among the most fundamental and important tools for surviving a fire," said Chief Nardelli. "Be sure everyone in the home knows what to do and where to go when the alarm sounds, including young children, older adults, and persons with disabilities."

Fire officials recommend planning two ways out of the building, the apartment, and each room if possible. Be sure to select a family meeting spot a safe distance from the building.

Senior SAFE

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