Lessons from Wyoming/May 26
Patrick White for State Representative
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Dropping off my nomination papers at the State Office Building in Springfield. Check out the amazing depression-era murals in the background.
In This Issue:
Controlling Assessment-Based Tax Increases
Releasing the Rest of River Minutes
Recognizing Our Fallen Heroes & Volunteers
Drafting My Testimony on Housatonic Water Works Rate Case
Stockbridge Mohicans
Reflections on Seasonal Residents: Mowing the Town Green Lawn
Photos from the Campaign Trail This Past Week
Controlling Assessment-Based Tax Increases
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the problem of uneven and unfair changes in assessments. To recap, if there are several high-dollar sales or rebuilds in your neighborhood or town, your own assessment can be dramatically altered. This has resulted in some folks’ taxes jumping far higher than they expected or can afford as assessments must be made at 100% fair market value. With just 30 days to pay your tax bill, a big jump in an assessment can be especially burdensome to first-time homebuyers and senior homeowners on a fixed budget.
I offered a possible solution. Wyoming just enacted legislation similar to what I proposed. They capped the growth in assessments to no more than 4% per year.
Wyoming’s Governor Gordon issued this statement when signing legislation addressing the rising property assessment rates:
“I am happy to sign this package of legislation, which provides targeted relief to taxpayers most impacted by increasing valuations, while ensuring our counties and schools are able to continue to provide the services our residents rely on. There was an identified need, and this Legislature responded to that.”
I’m glad to see I can now point to another state with a strong seasonal-resident population to validate my idea, and I will share the Wyoming solution when I get to the State House.
Folks arriving at the Stockbridge Annual Town Meeting. This is the fifth Town Meeting I've attended as a member of our Select Board.
Releasing the Rest of River Minutes
I support the release of the Rest of River minutes and will ask that it be put on the agenda of the next Stockbridge Select Board meeting. This isn’t a new position; I advocated for their release last December, soon after the disbanding of the Rest of River Committee.
You can read Leslee Bassman’s coverage in The Berkshire Edge of my position by clicking here:
https://theberkshireedge.com/stockbridge-select-board-member-patrick-white-provides-insight-into-potential-release-of-rest-of-river-committee-records/
I have always stood for transparency. The more information we all have, the better our decisions will be. The more informed you are, the better able you are to exercise your right to participate in the decision-making process.
Bass fishing on Stockbridge Bowl with Russ Belanger.
Recognizing Our Fallen Heroes & Volunteers
Throughout the county, there will be Memorial Day parades on Monday. We will remember our fallen heroes and thank our veterans for their service.
I spent some time yesterday at our War Veteran’s Memorial in Stockbridge. The asterisks by the names indicate the ones from 20th century conflicts who died in battle. I’ve listed some of their names here. Do me a favor and read them out loud.
World War I
Archie Easland
Allen Harrington
Harold Murphy
Nelson Wade
World War II
Warren Anderson
William Breed
Franklyn Downing
Milhace Forbes
Edward Forrest
Gordon Kinsella
Franklin Munn
Anthony Salvadore
Joseph Snelgrove
Richard Stephenson
Raymond Tenney
Korean War
Orville Trepania
Vietnam War
The memorial does not indicate which, if any, died while serving their country.
The Civil War Monument has its own list, and we hope to create a memorial for the brave souls who fought from Stockbridge in the Revolutionary War, where dozens perished, including many Mohicans, in service to their newly-established country.
Finally, I want to thank the many volunteers who serve on all of our towns’ Memorial Day committees. Events don’t organize themselves. Thanks for all the hard work you do to honor those who gave their lives in service to their country. It’s an honor to participate as an elected official in these ceremonies. Tomorrow, I will march alongside my friends and neighbors for the fifth time as an elected official. It is truly an honor to participate in these ceremonies. The Stockbridge parade begins at 12:15.
Korean War Monument on the Stockbridge Town Green.
Drafting My Testimony: Housatonic Water Works
I spent a significant amount of time this week working with Town Counsel to draft my testimony before the Department of Public Utilities regarding the Housatonic Water Works rate case. It is due May 30. Once finalized and posted on the DPU website, I will share it with you.
If we can hold the rates down, it will ease the burden on my constituents. I love being out on the campaign trail talking to all of you, but my top priority is doing the work I was elected to do. So, I was less visible this past week. While I am a candidate and I want to win, I am also a sitting Select Board member with a job to do.
Lilacs at the Norman Rockwell Museum grounds.
Stockbridge Mohicans
This past week I spent some time with Sherry White, the Tribal Liaison for the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans. We spent our time together brainstorming two really fun initiatives. I can’t really talk about the details yet, but I will tease them by saying they are fantastic.
Sherry leaves the Wisconsin reservation to return to the Berkshires, the Tribe’s ancestral home, approximately one week every month. I look forward to marching in the Memorial Day Parade with Sherry and her fellow tribe member Bonney Hartley. Can’t wait!
Another season upon us. Can't wait!
Reflections on Seasonal Residents: Mowing the Town Green Lawn
I got another mention in The Berkshire Edge this week. I am the CFO of the Berkshire Waldorf High School (BWHS). When it purchased Old Town Hall in Stockbridge, February 2024, it got a true historic gem and a bill for renovation estimated at over $8 million. The article in The Edge noted that this week BWHS received an anonymous donation of $4 million. We are now in striking distance of the funds required to complete the renovation.
Just like home ownership, commercial property requires work — like mowing the grass. The Stockbridge Memorial Day Parade ends right on our new front lawn, which for nearly 300 years served as the Town Green. Yikes! No one arranged to mow the lawn. No worries. Stockbridge resident Alan O’Brient volunteered to bring over his ride-around, and I brought over my push mower to do the details he couldn’t reach. I helped mow the lawn!
If that surprises you, it shouldn’t. My first job, from age 11 to 17, was mowing lawns around Stockbridge Bowl. There were a lot of lawns, but I was joined by my brother Mike, my sister Kathy, and my dad, Russ.
Most of the lawns were owned by seasonal residents. These residents put me through college — literally. Like countless kids before and since, my first jobs supported the seasonal community. For all of us, these jobs gave us spending money, paid for our first car or truck or motorcycle, and allowed us to save for our future. Thank you.
Many of these same seasonal residents support the local community in other ways. Let’s face it: there wouldn’t be a Tanglewood or a Berkshire Theatre Group or a Norman Rockwell Museum or a Naumkeag without their generosity. The seasonal residents I know contribute far more than money. They serve on town boards, on nonprofit boards, and in many other volunteer capacities.
They also bring specialized skills to the community. For example, several scientists advised Bob Jones and me on aspects of managing the PCB clean-up.
Part of the Berkshire’s secret sauce is the strong role our cultural and nonprofit institutions play in the local economy as both employers and service providers. These institutions support the for-profit tourism industry many locals rely on for employment. Let’s welcome folks back this summer with open arms. That’s not meant to minimize the challenges we face as a community, but rather to acknowledge that while some of us may be second homeowners, no one in this community should ever be treated as a second-class citizen.
Mowing the lawn in front of Old Town Hall.
Berkshire Concrete dropping off one of four truckloads of concrete for the basement of Old Town Hall. That's about 80 tons of concrete to reinforce the basement.
Wet concrete.
Some of the folks working the local jobs created by this renovation.
Hanging out with Chief Clancy Wiggum, an honorary member of our police force! I believe that's the actual jail cell door from the Arlo days.
Photos from the Campaign Trail This Past Week
Hanging out with Avie, the owner of Once Upon a Table. I take some pride in helping, as a Selectman, navigating the permitting challenges to opening her first restaurant. Ask her about that sometime!
Celebrating the one-year anniversary of Laundry Land in Great Barrington with former Selectman Ed Abrahams and owner Paula Kohler.
Attending Doggie Day at the Norman Rockwell Museum last weekend.
I love this dude.
Attending the fundraiser for Great Barrington's Railroad Street Youth Project.
About to drop off my signatures in Springfield I am on the ballot. Game on!
Thanks to Alan O'Brient for mowing the grass in anticipation of Memorial Day!
So I got jury duty, slated for the day after the Democratic Primary! Civic Duty!
Want to Learn More?
Please consider supporting my candidacy to represent you in the State House. To learn more, visit https://www.patrickwhiteberkshires.com
You can donate by clicking here:
https://secure.actblue.com/donate/patrick-3rd
Or you can mail a check to:
Patrick Thomas White Committee
81 Hawthorne Street
Lenox, MA 01240
I've reached about 35% of my goal. Thanks for any help you can provide. I am in it to win it and am running to effect real change. I'd love to have your support.
Warmly,
Patrick White
PS: You can find detailed positions on my campaign website:
https://www.patrickwhiteberkshires.com
Previous Notes
Week ending 5/17/2024
The Politics of Water. read more
Week ending 5/10/2024
Paul Revere and Smitty Pignatelli. read more
Week ending 5/3/2024
Fixing Assessments, Aging in Place, EMS. read more
Week ending 4/26/2024
Swinging for the Fences. read more
Week ending 4/19/2024
Housing - Trails - Internet - Healthcare - Singing Praise. read more
Week ending 4/12/2024
Dog Day Afternoons. read more
Week ending 4/5/2024
Remembering Searles Middle School. read more
Week ending 3/29/2024
It's all about the jobs. read more
Week ending 3/22/2024
Snow - Taxes - Childcare - Grants - School Play read more
Week ending 3/15/2024
Economic development, family farms, why just water? read more
Week ending 3/8/2024
Affordable housing, Climate Advisory Board, Multicultural Bridge, economic development, ROR filing. read more
Week ending 3/1/2024
West Stockbridge rent control brief, PCB radio interview, cancer and the river, reducing property taxes. read more
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