Playing Pepper Sept. 21, 2010

With a nod to Garry Brown of the Springfield Republican and his enduring sports column, Hitting To All Fields:

Just wondering:

• WHY Environmental Protection Agency investigations have allegedly sagged under the Obama administration.
• IF anyone thinks former Northwestern District Attorney candidate Michael Cahillane is a racist homophobe.
• IF the three Northampton City Councilors who work full time (Carney, Plassmann and Schwartz) can keep up with the rest of the self employed or not employed Councilors.
• IF additional CPA funds should be allocated to support further study of the Chesterfield Road Dam.
• WHY the city demands preservation of the Dam to be self supporting while many organizations receiving CPA grant money are not. See below for list of CPA grantees to date.
• IF Grow Food Northampton can succeed in raising enough funds to purchase 117 acres of the Bean/Allard farms.
• IF Northampton’s downtown sidewalk infrastructure can be restored.
• WHICH City Councilor will be the first to pound his/her shoe on the table in anger ala the former Soviet Union’s Nikita Khrushchev addressing the United Nations in 1960.
• IF Smith College is serious about selling its Belmont Avenue properties.
• IF Northampton Media can survive by emulating mainstream media outlets.
• IF Craigslist’s decision to eliminate its Adult Services ads will have its desired impact.
• IF Northampton’s City Council candidates will adopt foreign policy positions when running for office in the future.
• HOW much money the Iraq and Afghanistan wars have contributed to Northampton’s coffers through employers such as government contractor Kollmorgen, which pays property taxes while its employees pay federal and state income taxes. Some employees also pay property taxes in Northampton.
• WHY anti-war activists do not picket Kollmorgen.
• IF granting Tax Increment Financing plans to companies like Coca Cola is contributing to America’s obesity epidemic.
• WHAT is in store for Northampton’s regional landfill.
• IF Northampton’s City Council should begin weekly meetings and skip its summer slow-down.
• IF Councilors deserve an increase in their stipend.
• WHO is planning a mayoral candidacy in 2011.
• IF Congress really is doing a poor job and whether or not the voting Northampton public feels the same about its City Council.
• IF the Tea Party will endure and whether or not that is good for the United States and Northampton.
• IF Northampton’s bike paths will lead to new forms of economic development as well as increased public safety concerns.
• WHAT is happening with the city’s Round House parcel which was formerly slated for a Hilton Garden Inn.
• IF the redevelopment of the Three County Fairgrounds will pay the city dividends in the long run.
• HOW the untimely death of local real estate developer Doug Kohl will impact Northampton.
• IF Northampton’s Fire Department would still respond to a house fire at Ward 7 City Councilor Gene Tacy’s address.
• WOULD you eat bugs to fight climate change?
• IF the top 2% is being greedy.
• IF the price reformers pay is too much. See Washington, D.C.’s Schools Chancellor Michelle A. Rhee.
• IF Northampton officials will seriously consider the development of volunteer public safety teams like Volunteers in Police Service or Volunteer Firefighters to supplement the services of paid professional staff.

Northampton Community Preservation Committee Projects