Both Berkshire Greens and Berkshire Conservatives should be allowed to participate in Pittsfield civic event

Berkshire Greens Political Action Committee is appealing the decision of the Office of Cultural Development and the Third Thursday Committee to deny an application to participate in this year's Third Thursday celebrations.

On May 26, Berkshire Greens was verbally notified that 'political' groups would no longer be allowed to participate in Third Thursday. This decision affected both the application that Berkshire Greens had made on May 9 as well as the previously-approved application by Berkshire Conservatives. Both groups had been active in previous years' Third Thursday festivities.

Megan Whilden, Director of Cultural Development for the City of Pittsfield, clarified the exclusion in a May 31 e-mail to Berkshire Greens, saying that the policy has “not been finalized yet” and that the committee is “working on developing a consistent policy.”

Mark Miller of Pittsfield called Third Thursday “a large event that should be inclusive.” “It doesn't seem right to deny us a booth,” he said. “Does the City of Pittsfield really want to make such a statement – to deny booths solely because of a political agenda? Berkshire Greens, Berkshire Conservatives, and other political groups should be allowed to openly participate along with the various issue advocates, non-profit, community and religious groups that comprise the Third Thursday landscape of diverse messages.”

Darlene Baisley, of Lee, has helped the Berkshire Greens set up similar booths at an Earth Day celebration in Lee, which was sponsored by Healing Winds and at a Solstice celebration in Great Barrington, which is sponsored by Berkshire Co-Op Market. She is looking forward to helping out in Pittsfield. “Political and policy advocacy should not be an issue as long as groups and businesses that have items for sale or who are fundraising be clearly identified as people consider whether to patronize the booth. Our wraps and salads have been especially popular at other events where we have been welcome. Many people are happy to support green politics.”

Berkshire Greens has expressed willingness to meet with the City of Pittsfield and the Third Thursday Committee to discuss relevant rules of engagement, but as of today has heard nothing definitive. It has been one month since its first inquiry on May 9.

Kathy Nichol, of Berkshire Conservatives, reported today that the Berkshire Conservatives intends to continue participating in Third Thursday, saying that they may remove the banner that identifies them at the booth where the group sells smoothies.

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Berkshire Greens Political Action Committee
50 Richmond Ave. / Pittsfield MA 01201
Michael Kaplan, Chair / Wanda Boeke, Treasurer

Promoting the following values in public policy: Ecological Wisdom, Social Justice, Grassroots Democracy, Non-Violence, Decentralization, Gender Equality, Local Economies, Respect for Diversity, Personal & Global Responsibility, and Future Sustainability. This is achieved by supporting Green-Rainbow Party membership and candidate growth and by refusing the financial influence of lobbyists and from any corporate officers who hire lobbyists.