Letter: Accessing Benefits From Recent Climate Legislation

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To the Editor:

The Berkshire chapter of Citizens' Climate Lobby and its partners are hosting a free public forum on the evening of Monday, April 3, that will highlight recently passed climate legislation and the opportunities available to local governments and their constituents.

The Berkshire chapter of Citizens' Climate Lobby and its partners are hosting a free public forum on the evening of Monday, April 3, 2023, at the Berkshire Innovation Center, at 45 Woodlawn Ave. in Pittsfield. The event is open to the community, and the reception with appetizers will begin at 5:30 p.m., and panelists will begin at 6:15 p.m.

The panelists are Massachusetts state Sen. Paul Mark, former Undersecretary of Energy and Climate Solutions Judy Chang, Executive Director of Green Energy Consumers Alliance Larry Chretien, and Congressman Richard Neal with a brief message.

The forum, sponsored by The Berkshire Eagle, Berkshire Innovation Center, Ener-g-Save, and Citizen's Climate Lobby, will highlight recently passed climate legislation and the opportunities available to local governments and their constituents. The panelists will explain the benefits of these new laws including job creation, access to immediate rebates, generous tax credits, and more, and will appeal to businesses and individuals alike. The event will be live-streamed on Pittsfield Community Television. Moderated questions from the audience will be posed to the panel.

"I am excited to join local leaders, community members, and climate activists to discuss state and federal legislation recently signed into law and how these new policies can benefit us in the Berkshires," declared Senator Paul Mark. "Climate change is one of the most important issues we face as a state and as a nation and how we respond to this challenge and work to proactively mitigate the negative consequences is going to impact all of us in a tangible way for years to come."

Uli Nagel of Lee, liaison to Congressman Richard Neal's office, shared her concern, "Lack of snow cover in the winter is hurting our local ski resorts, and the drought-like conditions in the summer are difficult for local farmers. Events like these help educate our community; these new laws can help to slow that trend."

Christine Kelly
Sheffield, Mass. 

 

 

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Pittsfield School Committee Requests Redacted PHS Report

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The School Committee and City Council have requested a redacted report of the Pittsfield High School investigation that concluded last spring. 

On Wednesday, the committee approved member Ciara Batory's request to release the PHS investigative report with proper redactions by Feb. 18.  The previous day, City Council members made the same request, but left the deadline up to the School Committee. 

Five past and present PHS staff members were investigated for alleged misconduct, and allegations were found to be "unsupported," according to executive summaries released by the former committee. 

"The fact that the City Council has urged transparency here speaks volumes. When another elected body looks at a situation and says the public deserves answers, we should listen because trust isn't built by asking people to take our word for it," Batory said. 

"Trust is built by showing our work. Honesty will always shine, and secrecy will always create doubt." 

It was noted that the report will be heavily redacted and might provide less information than the summaries. The School Committee will review the document before it reaches the public. 

"In preparation for the meeting, I have been told by legal counsel that what will be released as a redacted version will have less information than what was in the summary report," Mayor Peter Marchetti, chair of the committee, said. 

"That's what I can share." 

Batory asserted that the district cannot move forward by asking families to trust major changes in the district, such as the middle school restructuring, "while holding information they paid for, information that directly impacts their confidence in the system that serves their children." 

"Let me be clear. I'm not asking us to be reckless," she said. "I’m asking for a redacted release, a legal release so we protect students' privacy while giving the community the truth they deserve." 

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