Smart Move

 

A pile of snow in downtown Northampton. 

 

 

Retired Nohodomer Jim Neill on Main street after the storm.

All is cozy beneath the cathedral moonscape art in the Haymarket Cafe. 

 

The entire Valley rejoiced at the news that Northampton would not commit the folly of imposing the fascist-style mandate (show your papers!) of requiring vaccine passports in order to enter most local businesses. 

 

 

That would have been an absolute disaster for a downtown that is already struggling to fill vacant store fronts. 

 

Besides being economically destructive, a vaccine mandate would also have been unscientific. As Northampton Director of Public Health Merridith O'Leary pointed out, the mandate was a solution in search of a problem, stating "The breakthrough cases are proving that the vaccine is not stopping transmission." 

So in other words, why cripple those businesses still struggling to survive by imposing a vaccine mandate that the science proves would have accomplished nothing? Now the next question is, when can we abandon the equally senseless indoor mask mandate? 

In any case, well done Northampton! 

Silent Cal, the former Mayor of Northampton and the only resident of Western Mass to be elected President, definitely would have approved. 

 

 

Here are some proud homeowners in Northfield, Massachusetts in 1898.

Gone but not forgotten.