Time to find a better solution
We doubt the homeless problem on Martha’s Vineyard is going away anytime soon. The lack of affordable housing and rental apartments has been well-documented in recent years, and even with a Housing Bank, this...
The court and the death penalty
The Supreme Court, in the week of Nov. 13, declined to hear or halt the execution of four prisoners on death row in Arizona, Texas, Oklahoma, and Alabama, respectively.This sets a record, allowing so...
Old is not historic
The Martha’s Vineyard Commission misfired when it decided to say no to the demolition of 43 Look St. in Vineyard Haven.
The house is old, built circa 1900, but in no way can anyone point...
A Frankensteinian solution
Gone are the days when you could put the carcass of a dead bird on the table and have everybody ooh and aah at the sight of the shiny, crackling, crisp skin.
Remember the Charles...
Too many cooks
The Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School building committee is likely to be unwieldy with 25 members.
While we understand the reasoning behind the committee size, we worry that it’s going to become difficult for the...
Now comes the hard part
Five years ago, the leaders of our town energy committees came together to establish an all-Island energy committee to address the climate crisis. Focused on joint projects and sharing of best practices in furthering...
Let there be lights
Watching the video of a man being struck by a Vineyard Transit Authority bus is jarring to see. We were pleased to learn that Skip Bailey was out of the hospital within a couple...
Ending affirmative action?
Like the debate over abortion rights, affirmative action in college admissions procedures is one of the most controversial political and cultural issues in the U.S. today. Most observers believe that the current super-majority of...
No question how to vote
There are two ballot questions on the Nov. 8 ballot that are specific to voters in Tisbury, and another for Oak Bluffs, and one of the four statewide ballot questions has some specific interest...
Will Martha’s Vineyard continue to ignore the future?
One year ago, this newspaper published my photo essay on the sad condition of the Island’s neglected bike and pedestrian paths, most of which have continued to deteriorate without intervention. The piece was intended...
Galibois for DA
When you go to the polls on Tuesday, Nov. 8, you’ll be asked to cast ballots on a lot of races, from governor to congressman to county commissioners.
It could be easy to overlook one...
Bad form by the church
We were disappointed to learn that Joe Capobianco, whose food distribution program we’ve featured on several occasions, was recently terminated by Good Shepherd Parish.
The church, of course, its pastor, and the Diocese of Fall...
Review is an important step
In the military, an after-action review (AAR) is an essential part of training. After a session is over, commanding officers — with the assistance of those involved in the training — assess how things went....
Empty houses on Martha’s Vineyard
Did you notice that smirk on people's faces when they said, “So you live on Martha's Vineyard. What did you think of all those immigrants they sent there?" It's a trick question. Be careful...
The court: Narrowing voting rights
The bedrock principle of a democratic order is the right to vote. When election officials restrict an eligible citizen’s voting rights, they take the first steps toward authoritarian government. This is especially true when...
Harvesting our thoughts
It’s autumn, and while we’re enjoying the cooler, drier air, we’re also ready to harvest a few thoughts on things in the news.
First, the Steamship Authority budget for 2023 and the coinciding rate hikes...
Transportation summit reports Island challenges and solutions
The recent Older Adult Transportation Summit (convened Tuesday, Sept. 20) shed a bright light on the challenges facing the Island's older adult drivers as they attempt to navigate the Island using alternate forms of...
Let’s keep things impersonal
The adult and child walking in front of me were complete strangers, people I had never seen before. The man, who looked to be in his early 30s, was casually dressed. He was holding...
Pull the plug
It remains an embarrassment for the Island that the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School Committee is suing the Oak Bluffs planning board over the board’s decision to reject a special permit that would have...
Ron DeSantis’s good fortune, Greg Abbott’s reversal
“Remember, remember always that all of us, and you and I especially, are descended from immigrants and revolutionists.” –President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, address to the Daughters of the American Revolution, 1938
Two governors, Ron DeSantis...