Letter: MCLA Homeless Shelter Should Have Had Public Input

To the Editor:

I question MCLA's President Birge's commitment to education and to our North Berkshire community.

"… the historic public purpose of American higher education is to respond to the needs and demands of society." President Jamie Birge, WAMC 5/10/2023

The problem of the poor and unhoused is a symptom of a decline in democratic values and income inequality. A simple change in the earned income tax credit was able to cut child poverty by about 46 percent in just a few months.

Massachusetts needs more than 200,000 new homes in order to start addressing the housing crisis. What is stopping Massachusetts from building these homes? Powerful interests who do not have a modicum of decency prevent democratic actions to address our problems. Democracy means participation and engagement. It requires leaders to inspire open and respectful dialogue to address the needs of the people.

In 2014, North Adams Regional Hospital was closed with three days notice with no public hearing. Shortly after the hospital closing, the state closed our North Adams welfare office and our North Adams employment office with no public hearing.

Richard Dassatti
North Adams, Mass. 

North Adams Label Shopper Reopens in New Location

Staff Reports11:36AM / Friday, April 10, 2026

A grand opening banner indicates the store's opening. 

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — In a matter of days, Label Shopper in the L-shaped mall moved across the parking lot into new quarters and hung out a grand opening sign. 

 

"Oh my, it's gorgeous!" said a customer walking into the bright, airy and expanded discount clothing store.

 

Label Shopper, a subsidiary of Peter Harris Clothes of Latham, N.Y., has been in downtown North Adams since 2009. It closed on Monday to move into the former Gordman's space in the former Kmart plaza. 

 

Gordmans briefly replaced Peebles until the parent company of the two brands declared bankruptcy and closed its stores in 2020. The space has been vacant until now.

 

Label Shopper's grand opening was on Thursday morning and district manager Angie Ciccone said the store had been busy, and "we're expecting the weekend to be busy."

 

The store carries name and designer brand clothing for women, children and men, women's shoes, accessories and some home decor. Ciccone noted the space was double the size of the former location. 

 

"We are are thrilled to be a part of the North Adams community. We will continue to offer the most popular designer brands at the best possible price," said Kathy Boedecker, director of operations, via email. "We had the opportunity to take over the old Gordman's space in Parkade Plaza and we seized it.