MCLA Plans Sept. 17 Constitution Day Lecture

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NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The History and Political Science Department at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts will hold its annual Constitution Day Lecture at 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 17 in Murdock Hall Room 218 on the MCLA campus.  
 
This event is free and open to the public, and a remote viewing option is available; register for online viewing at https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_2ghaDyNKTnW-8PJ3xQMcRw
 
Paul M. Collins, Jr., professor of legal studies and political science at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, will give a talk titled "Is This the Most Conservative Supreme Court in the Modern Era?"  
 
According to a press release, The additions of Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney-Barrett solidified a Supreme Court with six justices appointed by Republican presidents. While conservatives praised this development, liberals expressed fear that the Supreme Court will restrict abortion access, roll back civil rights and liberties guarantees, and expand the power of business interests. This lecture explores these possibilities, including how we as a nation got to this moment, and what to expect from the Supreme Court in the 2020s and beyond. 
 
Collins' research interests include understanding the democratic nature of the judiciary, interdisciplinary approaches to legal decision making, and social movement litigation. He has published articles in the "Journal of Empirical Legal Studies," "Journal of Law and Courts," "Journal of Politics," "Law & Social Inquiry," "Law & Society Review," "Notre Dame Law Review," "Political Research Quarterly," and other journals. 
 
He is the author of three books on the Supreme Court and is currently a member of the editorial boards of the Justice System Journal and Law & Social Inquiry, and formerly sat on the boards of Law & Society Review and Political Research Quarterly. His research and commentary have appeared in a host of popular media outlets, including CNN, the New York Times, National Law Journal, National Public Radio, San Francisco Chronicle, Time, USA Today, Voice of America, Wall Street Journal, and the Washington Post. 

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Macksey Updates on Eagle Street Demo and Myriad City Projects

By Tammy DanielsiBerkshires Staff

The back of Moderne Studio in late January. The mayor said the city had begun planning for its removal if the owner could not address the problems. 
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Moderne Studio building is coming down brick by brick on Eagle Street on the city's dime. 
 
Concerns over the failing structure's proximity to its neighbor — just a few feet — means the demolition underway is taking far longer than usual. It's also been delayed somewhat because of recent high winds and weather. 
 
The city had been making plans for the demolition a month ago because of the deterioration of the building, Mayor Jennifer Macksey told the City Council on Tuesday. The project was accelerated after the back of the 150-year-old structure collapsed on March 5
 
Initial estimates for demolition had been $190,000 to $210,000 and included asbestos removal. Those concerns have since been set aside after testing and the mayor believes that the demolition will be lower because it is not a hazardous site.
 
"We also had a lot of contractors who came to look at it for us to not want to touch it because of the proximity to the next building," she said. "Unfortunately time ran out on that property and we did have the building failure. 
 
"And it's an unfortunate situation. I think most of us who have lived here our whole lives and had our pictures taken there and remember being in the window so, you know, we were really hoping the building could be safe."
 
Macksey said the city had tried working with the owner, who could not find a contractor to demolish the building, "so we found one for him."
 
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