Recently I received a press release stating that the Academy of Music Board of Trustees decided to use the Academy of Music for a screening of the presidential inauguration. The keynote speaker is to be current Northampton mayor Mary Clare Higgins, who is actively campaigning for re-election. I wonder what the Lymans would think.
According to the original deed (PDF) that bequeathed the Academy of Music to the city of Northampton (emphasis added):
"First, said granted premises shall be devoted and used solely and exclusively for the delivery of lectures, the production of concerts and operas and the impressions and delineation of the drama of the better character; and such other kindred subjects as shall be approved by the unanimous vote of the Committee or board of management hereinafter named; but said premises shall never be used for political meetings or rallies or for the distinctive presentation of party politics."
Hence the Academy of Music has not been used for the screening of presidential inaugurations in the recent past to my knowledge. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.
After interviewing a couple of my conservative friends in Northampton (yes they do exist!), they wonder had John McCain won the election whether a screening of this nature would be taking place. Interestingly, president-elect Obama won more than 80% of the vote in Northampton, so it is likely that Higgins and the self perpetuating board of trustees believe that their gamble to use a municipally owned property for partisan purposes is going to pass muster, and it probably will.
To be clear, as an independent voter I connected the arrow for Obama. I view him as a transformative figure who is more likely to reach across the aisle for the sake of establishing sound public policies that play well to the median or swing voter. Personally I believe in governing from the middle in the spirit of compromise to the extent that that is possible.
Moreover, while it was reported to the Best Practices committee Googlegroup recently that minutes and agendas to city meetings are not being posted in a timely fashion on the city website, events like the Academy of Music presidential inauguration screening seem to get plenty of attention by the Higgins administration.
