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This episode is an example one of those long delayed decisions that have really dogged the Greylock Glass. For five years, I’ve worked to earn the trust of you, my audience, while simultaneously trying to earn the respect of the local arts and culture elite. Now, I love the arts, I’ve been into theatre and music myself in another life, a little bit of fiction writing nowadays. I’m definitely enthusiastic about the visual arts offerings available in the area. So it only made sense that I’d cover the arts scene. But that’s where the local gatekeepers wanted it to stop.
Along the way, I discovered that if my reportage started delving into uncomfortable subjects and unflattering views of the lovely Berkshires, people in that clique of self-appointed power players were going to scratch a little mark next to my name in their address books.
If I came down on the side of the struggling, unwashed masses of working stiffs — of all colors, mind you — too hard or too often, the Greylock Glass, and yours truly, would not be on the A-list, or even the B list. I never meant to let the desperate, and very real, revenue needs of the newsroom put this show on the back burner. At least not consciously. Now I realize that the constant low-grade anxiety I was feeling over the risk of pissing off potential advertisers caused to do the exact thing I swore I’d never do — self-censor. Yeah, I just admitted to that. And only now that I’m actually saying it do I realize how sick the thought of it makes me. I don’t even want to look at myself in the mirror.
Sure, I covered a few controversial topics. Sure, I pissed off a few officials and politicians — maybe a business owner or two. But the news coverage I produced was nothing outside the window of what should be average journalistic courage at any local news outfit. And I mothballed the show that got me most excited to talk about the big issues — this one. Growl. I’m totally disgusted with myself about it.
Fortunately, every day is a new day, bringing fresh outrages to address. New corruption and sleaze to confront. And I’ve still got this microphone. And enough of my First Amendment rights to call it like I see it that Growl can pick up right where we left off. And now that I know that I’m not going to get any support from the elites around here anyway, I can take the attitude that they can go fuck themselves. And I realize now that I’m grateful that they didn’t throw me a bone on the regular. I get to see them for who they really are. And I’ll be keeping an eye on them, with press creds in my pocket and a sizable chip on my shoulder.
So let’s fire up Episode number six of Growl. My guest is Sonya Bykofsky, Berkshires delegate to the Democratic National Convention, critic of corporate control of politics, and two-time supporter of Bernie Sanders’ presidential campaign, welcome to Growl Sonya.
MA DTC/DCC Letter Regarding Alex Morse
August 28, 2020
Fellow Chairs and Democratic Committee Members:
Recent events and revelations regarding an intentional effort to influence the outcome of the Democratic Primary in Congressional District 1, by smearing Mayor Alex Morse, have raised concerns that top MA Democratic leadership may have behaved unethically. The integrity of our party leadership affects us all. Interference in a primary election – particularly in connection with a homophobic attack – is not in line with our Statement of Values.
State Committee Chair Gus Bickford has pledged to investigate the issues “after the primary,” but his alleged involvement calls into question the ability of the party to investigate itself, and the role leadership may have played. The damage already inflicted on Mayor Morse’s campaign by the actions of representatives from the Mass College Dems needs to be addressed immediately.
Here are the links to recent articles, which paint a clear picture of the questions at issue.
Note: late-breaking articles may be added to keep this list up to date.
- https://theintercept.com/2020/08/11/college-democrats-alex-morse-richard-neal/
- https://theintercept.com/2020/08/12/alex-morse-college-democrats-chats/
- https://theintercept.com/2020/08/14/alex-morse-richie-neal-state-party/
- https://www.berkshireeagle.com/stories/morse-cites-link-between-allegations-state-party-volunteer,611391
- https://www.gazettenet.com/Investigations-launched-amid-Intercept-reporting-Alex-Morse-accusations-35739691
- https://www.gazettenet.com/Democratic-Party-members-demand-investigation-possible-party-involvement-Morse-allegations-35771008
- https://theintercept.com/2020/08/17/alex-morse-massachusetts-college-democrats-destroy-records/
- https://theintercept.com/2020/08/20/alex-morse-accusations-richard-neal-record-massachusetts/
- https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/08/17/opinion/neal-v-morse-anatomy-political-attack/
- https://theintercept.com/2020/08/27/alex-morse-massachusetts-local-media/?fbclid=IwAR1MaSA9-_pS1qbg7F2ZVmsWKLBCTBcSEGJfitg3lq40rUVAERHgyKY5okQ
We stand with the Bay State Stonewall Democrats and fellow committee members in calling for an immediate, independent investigation of all individuals involved in any way in this series of events.
The full Bay State Stonewall Democrats letter can be found here: https://twitter.com/Stonewall Dems Maa/status/1294668760180285440/photo/1
This investigation should be conducted by individuals or an organization outside of the MA Democratic Party to ensure independence and transparency. And, depending on the results of the investigation, we call for the immediate resignation, censure, or recall of individuals responsible for, or with participation or knowledge of, what appears to be a breach of party bylaws.
Signed,
Chairs
Jim Thompson, Chair, Beverly City Committee
Bob Wallhagen, Chair Emeritus, Carlisle Democratic Town Committee (member, DSC)
Andrea Santos, Chair, Charlemont Democratic Committee
David Greenberg, Chair, Colrain Town Democratic Committee
Cheryl Rose, Chair, Dalton Town Democratic Committee
James T. Griffith, Chair, Dartmouth Democratic Town Committee
Stephen Linsky, Chair, Easthampton Democratic City Committee
Judith Conrad, Chair, Fall River Ward 8 Democratic Committee
Christine Noble-Droesehn, Chair, Hinsdale Town Democratic Committee
Anne Thalheimer, Chair, Holyoke Ward 3 Democratic Committee
Guy O’Donnell, Chair, Holyoke Ward 5 Democratic Committee
Kevin Towle, Chair, Lanesborough Democratic Town Committee
Sonya Bykofsky, Chair, and members of Lenox Democratic Town Committee
Barbara J. Tiner, Chair, Leverett Democratic Town Committee
Deborah Knight Snyder, Chair, Mansfield Democratic Town Committee
Sharon Matzek, Chair, Marion Democratic Town Committee
Alexander Williamson, Chair, Marlborough Ward 2 Democratic Committee
Sharon Guzik, Chair, Medford Ward 4 Democratic Committee
Bryan Cole, Chair, and members of Milford Democratic Town Committee
Jane Porter, Chair, Pelham Democratic Town committee
Frank Farkas, Chair, Pittsfield Ward 5 Democratic Committee
Ruth Suyenaga, Chair, Royalston Democratic Town Committee
Harley Keisch, Chair, Richmond Town Democratic Committee
Lorelee Stewart, Chair, Salem Ward 3 Democratic Committee
Penelope Kim, Chair, Shutesbury Town Democratic Committee
Bill Foley, Chair, South Hadley Democratic Town Committee
Susan Triolo, Chair, Sunderland Democratic Town Committee
Richard Fishman, Chair, Truro Democratic Committee
Alice Merkl, Chair, Salem Ward 2 Democratic Committee
Andrew C Hendricks, Chair, Westfield Ward 4 Democratic Committee
Jim Mahon, Chair, Williamstown Democratic Town Committee
Claire Townend, Chair, Windsor Town Democratic Committee
Robert Isadore, Chair, Yarmouth Democratic Town Committee
Other Committee members
Audrey Proctor, Amesbury Democratic City Committee
John Proctor, Amesbury Democratic City Committee
Robin Bergman, Arlington Democratic Town Committee
Lynette Culverhouse, Associate Member, Arlington Democratic Town
Jordan Weinstein, Arlington Democratic Town Committee
Edward P. Witham, Jr., Associate Member, Arlington Democratic Town Committee
Michael Lavery, Becket Town Democratic Committee
Shelley Chanler, Vice Chair Becket Democratic Town Committee
Chris Gittins, Treasurer and former Co-Chair, Bedford Democratic Town Committee
Cabell Eames, Vice Chair, Belmont Democratic Town Committee
Linda Sophia Pinti, Cambridge Ward 6 Democratic Committee
Joyce Isen, Concord Democratic Town Committee
Bridget Neale Paris, Concord Democratic Town Committee
Garret Whitney, Concord Democratic Town Committee
Jennifer Gitlitz, Secretary, Dalton Democratic Committee
Richard Johnson, Dalton Democratic Town Committee
Mary Turner, Treasurer, Dalton Democratic Town Committee
Henry Rose, Dalton Democratic Town Committee
Aileen Joachim-L’Etoile, Fall River Ward 7 Democratic City Committee
David DeSmith, Secretary, Hinsdale Town Democratic Committee
Cheri Rodriguez Jones, Holyoke Ward 5 Democratic Committee
Sarah Oelker, Holyoke Ward 5 Democratic Committee
Jason Proctor, Holyoke Ward 5 Democratic Committee
Martha Freedman, Vice Chair, Lanesborough Democratic Committee
Russell Freedman, Lanesborough Dem Committee
Andy Gordon, Lenox Town Democratic Committee
Rinaldo Del Gallo, Lenox Town Democratic Committee
Mabel Amar, Lexington Democratic Town Committee (member, DSC)
Joel Walsh, Lowell Ward 6 Democratic Committee
Anna Geoffroy, Malden Ward 2 Democratic City Committee
Warren Lynch, Vice Chair, Malden Ward 2 Democratic City Committee
Mats Holmqvist, Malden Ward 8 Democratic City Committee
Vinh Holmqvist, Malden Ward 8 Democratic City Committee
Jeffrey Taylor, Malden Ward 5 Democratic City Committee
D. Austin Horowitz, Secretary, Mansfield Democratic Town Committee
Dana Hourigan, Mansfield Democratic Town Committee
Mark Vigorito, Mansfield Democratic Town Committee
Barbara Gordon, Mansfield Democratic Town Committee
Rosalind Greenstein, Treasurer, Maynard Town Democratic Committee
Janice Jones, Maynard Town Democratic Committee
Alex Place, Milton Democratic Committee
Randal J. Divinski, member of Natick Democratic Town Committee
Bob Burke, Newton Democratic City Committee
Tom Duke, Northampton Ward 6 Democratic Committee
Vicky Smith, Pittsfield Ward 6 Democratic Committee
Allen Young, Vice Chair, Royalston Town Democratic Committee
Lynne Kellner, Royalston Democratic Town Committee
Carla Barringer Rabinowitz, Royalston Town Democratic Committee
Meryl Mandell, Treasurer, Shutesbury Deomcratic Town Committee
Michael DeChiara, Secretary, Shutesbury Democratic Town Committee
Elaine Puleo, Vice-Chair, Shutesbury Democratic Town Committee
Charles Miles, South Hadley Democratic Town Committee
Susan Newton, South Hadley Democratic Town Committee
Nate Therien, South Hadley Democratic Town Committee, Member
J. Michael Gilbreath, Wayland Town Democratic Committee
Nora A. Watts, Westborough Democratic Town Committee
Robert V. McCarthy, Weymouth Democratic Town Committee
Lyn Newkirk, Associate Member, Weymouth Democratic Town Committee
Laura Bentz, Vice Chair, Williamstown Democratic Town Committee
Parvin Hajizadeh, Williamstown Democratic Town Committee
Mark Reinhardt, Williamstown Democratic Town Committee
Keren Oberfield, Williamstown Democratic Town Committee
Jeanne Marklin, Williamstown Democratic Committee Member
Jerry Caprio, Williamstown Democratic Committee Member
Marilyn Meyers, Windsor Democratic Town Committee
Robert Meyers, Windsor Democratic Town Committee
Other Concerned Democrats
Silvia Dominguez, Arlington district 4 Town Meeting Member, Justice Democrats