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By CARRIE N. BAKER

After World War II, German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller famously said, “First they came for the socialists and I did not speak out— because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out — because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out — because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak out for me.” We are watching this happen in real time with the Trump administration.

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — The City Council is once again asking the state Legislature for permission to prohibit landlords and real estate brokers from charging prospective tenants a broker’s fee to rent property in the city.

By DEB HENSON

Do you agree that it’s time for new leadership in our city? That’s why I’m running for at-large city councilor in Northampton. I want to solicit the opinions, values, and priorities of all our residents and bring your voices to the decision-making table. We can change the way our tax dollars are being spent. Please join my campaign if this notion appeals to you (www.vote4debhenson.com).

Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area offers our community the rare privilege of observing beavers in their natural habitat. Unfortunately, this privilege is now at risk. Visitors have been walking directly on beaver lodges, crushing these carefully constructed homes and forcing the animals to expend valuable energy on repairs. Also concerning, a sign explaining this harm was placed and quickly disappeared. Causing further harm, unleashed dogs disturb wildlife throughout the conservation area, despite clear regulations.

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

The Massachusetts congressional delegation is demanding answers from the federal government after hundreds of arts grants under the National Endowment for the Humanities, including dozens earmarked for institutions in the Pioneer Valley, were canceled on the seeming recommendation of billionaire Elon Musk.

When in the past I have been asked where I went to college I usually respond Boston … maybe mumble something about Cambridge. Now though, I am proud as hell to say, yes, I went to Harvard!

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — Grow Food Northampton’s Tuesday Market returns for the season today, with the market’s manager Helen Kahn emphasizing the particular urgency of buying from local farmers this year.

It is with great sadness that we learned of the passing of Dr. Melvin Hershkowitz. In the relatively short time he graced us here in Northampton so many benefited from his experience, wisdom, and largesse. While originally coming to Northampton to be close to his beloved daughter Marie, we found him engaged with so many facets of Northampton and regional life.

By JULIA BROWN

To the question why so many people voted for Donald Trump, Democrats commonly reply: ignorance or lack of information — a deficiency of facts, of the knowledge necessary to make a reasoned decision. This was my working definition of ignorance until several years ago, when I began an email exchange with a childhood friend who is a passionate Trump supporter.

By THE REV. PETER KAKOS

On Monday, April 7, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu slipped into the White House for a brisk meeting, most likely exchanging latest plans for a Palestine-cleansed Gaza (West Bank, next ), riding high on an additional $8.8 billion from Congress, to stockpile his arsenal in their relentless pursuit of the eradication of an ancient people.

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — Opposition to a proposed five-story apartment complex at the corner of Phillips Place and Hawley Street continues to mount ahead of a scheduled Planning Board meeting this week to discuss the project.

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — Hundreds of protesters descended on downtown Northampton on Saturday, shutting down traffic as they marched against actions taken by the administration of President Donald Trump.

By THE REV. ANDREA AYVAZIAN

OK, boomer.

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — City Council President Alex Jarrett will not seek a fourth term representing Ward 5 this fall, one of several developments that continue to happen ahead of the deadline to file nomination papers for the upcoming municipal election in November.

By EMILEE KLEIN

NORTHAMPTON — When Kara McElhone, executive director of child welfare nonprofit Children’s Advocacy Center of Hampshire County, searched in vain for a satellite office in Belchertown, Police Chief Kevin Pacunas personally helped her locate a place to rent.

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — The room on the second floor of the Northampton Music Center reached standing-room only on Monday night as the Northampton Cycling Club hosted a public forum on bringing a pump track to the city.

I am the treasurer for the Campaign to Elect Laurie Loisel. People presume it’s a rather boring job, and it’s not all fun, but I find it exciting because money is energy. Potential energy, to be precise. For us ordinary, non-Elon Musk types, work is converted to money, and money is transformed into things. Often those things are personal needs, like housing and food for ourselves and our families. But some money can catalyze improvements in the community and the world.

By MARILYN MARKS

During these times of political, economic, and climate turbulence, anger and alarm surge and tensions run high. In responding to our poly-crisis situation, we quickly assign blame. However, pointing the finger at Washington, D.C. and shouting “Tyranny!” is ideally balanced with uprooting the tyranny we may unknowingly carry within ourselves.

By BRYAN JERSKY

The public school meals system in the U.S. is complicated, and overseen by the federal government. I commend the Smith College students for trying to understand it and writing their article, “Fare Questions: Local school meals face healthy criticism,” published in the Gazette on March 15. But in an age of rampant misinformation, I want to provide our community with the most accurate information. Unfortunately, some facts were misrepresented and blame was misdirected. The Freshampton School Meals team works tirelessly to improve the school meals program, and we should be working together, as a community, for change.

I was pleased to see that Northampton’s City Council, and the mayor are sponsoring a special order to ban the requirement that renters pay a broker’s fee contracted by the landlord. This fee which often totals one month’s rent, is on top of what renters have to pay for first and last month’s rent, as well as a security deposit. The average rent for a 2-bed room apartment in Northampton now is around $2,000. This means that a renter would need to come up with $8,000 to afford to live in the city.

If you knew somebody who could make the markets go up or down instantaneously, could you make a lot of money? Let’s say you were the son of a person, and you ran that person’s businesses and that person could establish policies that positively affected the stock markets. Could you invest in a stock that was priced low and make a lot of money when stocks went up because of policy changes?