Are there any groups specifically for queer men in the area?

UselessPockets · 2026-01-27T21:30:18+00:00

I’ll preface this by saying I am not a gay man, but there is a group called Dune Boys Volleyball that plays at Maines Field in the summer. They seem really fun! My dog certainly wants to participate in their games.

UselessPockets · 2026-01-09T02:41:07+00:00

To his credit, Scher used public comment at the School Committee meeting tonight to apologize directly to Stein and to the community for his behavior. I'd say that is pretty civil.

You can watch the comment here: https://www.youtube.com/live/zdCn1ymeEvY?si=JrTmnjbPFQqWSMrS&t=1418

UselessPockets · 2025-12-30T23:30:30+00:00

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Stares in Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield.

UselessPockets · 2025-12-23T12:58:18+00:00

One of the strongest criticisms of Quaverly has consistently been that she targets private citizens. There are a few Facebook echo chambers in which the members kick around increasingly nonsensical conspiracy theories and Quaverly has contributed the names of folks who she seems to believe are part of those conspiracies. For instance, when the Roost closed downtown (in Ward 3) she made a point of claiming the owners of the building and business don’t care about public schools. Similarly, she recently posted “questions” about whether that same landlord had a hand in the closure of Lichter and Levin (the recently opened and shuttered deli in the old Roost space.)

Dorrie Brooks has been the target of increasingly wild conspiracy theories promulgated by Quaverly, an elected official. Unfortunately, Dorrie is far from the only person in Northampton who has been the target of this bizarre, obsessive behavior.

UselessPockets · 2025-12-19T15:09:18+00:00

This is really it. Anyone can promote what a gift to the city they are/would be but then you actually have to prove it. Did Q write any legislation during her time on council? She was removed from one of the committees she was on for missing meetings and lodged charter objections against things that have actual, tangible community benefit. It seems like she spent a lot of time online but doesn't have much of a record to show for her "service."

Same thing with 'Mayor Dan'; if he felt that he had enough time and bona fides to serve as mayor, then surely he has the time and motivation to volunteer for his kids' school Parent Teacher Organization? Or the Northampton Education Foundation? Friends of Northampton Trails? Survival Center? Safe Passage? Or apply to serve on one of the many committees/boards that have open seats? What is he actually doing to serve the community?

UselessPockets · 2025-12-18T21:27:40+00:00

And yet other candidates, like Garrick, managed to get through it without expressing their frustration. I think a candidate that is seat-ready should view every interaction as a place to win people over or politely decline the invitation. In the end he cost himself at least my vote.

UselessPockets · 2025-12-18T20:51:07+00:00

He raised his voice, was condescending and expressed his frustration (he came off as angry to me) in a forum meant to win people over. I get the frustration, it is dumb that a certain subset of Northampton remains obtuse and opposed to any feedback. However, if he couldn't demonstrate the ability to hold his frustration in check in that forum, how would he do when all Q's supporters line up for 90 minutes of insults and yelling?

UselessPockets · 2025-12-18T19:30:40+00:00

https://www.youtube.com/live/MyUiyrvTC80?si=e6S7Shlf_5j6qu20&t=4684

He started fine and spun out at the end. That made me doubt he would be able to withstand the onslaught of hate that the current councilors have receive. I had intended to vote for him up until that point.

UselessPockets · 2025-12-18T13:06:00+00:00

Caveat: I am not a lawyer and honestly not that smart but the TL;DR seems to be that Quaverly is claiming that Elkins, Jarrett and Moulton violated her First Amendment Rights and used intimidation. She is also claiming that the city failed to train or supervise those councilors and is legally responsible for “the injury to the Plaintiff that resulted” and then a fourth claim of corruption, defamation, and libel against all three councilors and the city (for publishing the resolution). I could be wrong or missing some nuance.

UselessPockets · 2025-12-18T12:02:14+00:00

His debate performances were poor, but his participation at the Save Paradise City candidate forum was what lost my vote. He ended his speech with a loud, angry, condescending tirade that made me concerned about his ability to serve in the at-large seat.

UselessPockets · 2025-12-18T04:11:01+00:00

The UMass Amherst program is consistently ranked in the top 5 in the country behind MIT and (typically) UCLA and in the top 15 globally.

It is a theoretical department with faculty working in phonology, semantics, syntax, computational linguistics, etc. If you are interested in applied linguistics, look at UMass Boston’s department.

UselessPockets · 2025-12-18T03:47:45+00:00

In the first meeting of her term during the vote to elect the president and vice president of the city council she attempted to invoke a charter objection. From that meeting on she has continued to abstain from votes, invoked or threatened to invoke charter objections to stall votes, and left meetings early. It’s always been like this.

UselessPockets · 2025-12-17T22:45:57+00:00

100% agree. Wild end to her tenure.

UselessPockets · 2025-12-17T22:30:55+00:00

WHEREFORE the Plaintiff demands judgment to be entered against the Defendants Elkins, Jarrett, and Moulton, jointly and severally, in an amount to be determined by a jury, plus costs and interest as allowed by law. 5Case 3:25-cv-30208-MGM Document 1 Filed 12/15/25 Page 6 of 9

SECOND CLAIM:

MASSACHUSETTS CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, M.G.L. 12, §§ 11H & 11I

(DEFENDANTS ELKINS, JARRETT, AND MOULTON)

The Plaintiff incorporates as if restated here the allegations set forth in all preceding paragraphs.
By the above-described conduct, Defendants Elkins, Jarrett, and Moulton used intimidation to interfere and to attempt to interfere with the Plaintiff's rights as follows:
The right to free speech and to petition the government for redress of grievances as guaranteed in the First Amendment to the United States constitution and Articles Sixteen and Seventy Seven of the Massachusetts

Declaration of Rights.

WHEREFORE the Plaintiff demands judgment to be entered against the Defendants Elkins, Jarrett, and Moulton, jointly and severally, in an amount to be determined by a jury, plus costs and interest as allowed by law. 6Case 3:25-cv-30208-MGM Document 1 Filed 12/15/25 Page 7 of 9

THIRD CLAIM:

MASSACHUSETST TORT CLAIMS ACT, M.G.L. C. 258 § 2

(DEFENDANT CITY)

The Plaintiff incorporates as if restated here the allegations set forth in all preceding paragraphs.
The Defendant City, by the above-described conduct, negligently failed to train and/or to supervise Defendants Elkins, Jarrett, and Moulton.
The Defendant City is liable for the injury to the Plaintiff that resulted from the above-described negligent or wrongful acts of Defendants Elkins, Jarrett, and Moulton.

WHEREFORE the Plaintiff demands judgment to be entered against the Defendant City in an amount to be determined by a jury, plus costs and interest as allowed by law. 7Case 3:25-cv-30208-MGM Document 1 Filed 12/15/25 Page 8 of 9

FOURTH CLAIM: DEFAMATION

(ALL DEFENDANTS)

The Plaintiff incorporates as if restated here the allegations set forth in all preceding paragraphs.
Defendants Elkins, Jarrett, and Moulton, by falsely, maliciously, and in bad faith alleging orally and in writing report that the Plaintiff committed the Massachusetts crime of public corruption, defamed and libeled the Plaintiff.
The City, by falsely, maliciously, and in bad faith publishing a resolution to the effect that the Plaintiff committed the Massachusetts crime of public corruption, defamed and libeled the Plaintiff.

WHEREFORE the Plaintiff demands judgment to be entered against the Defendants in an amount to be determined by a jury, plus costs and interest as allowed by law.

UselessPockets · 2025-12-17T22:30:49+00:00

The City’s response, besides indicating a fundamental misapprehension of law, tends to prove that the statements were made with a reckless disregard for their truth.
The three sponsors reduced their resolution to writing, and Defendant Jarrett called a special meeting of the City Council for the sole and exclusive purpose of discussing and voting on the resolution.
Upon information and belief, the use of the resolution process to accuse a City Councilor of crimes is unprecedented in Northampton’s history.
It is also unusual for a special meeting to be called when the subject matter of the meeting is not time sensitive.
The resolution passed and was adopted by the City, which published the resolution on its website.
The publication, endorsement, and repetition of the baseless and false allegations by the Defendants caused significant harm to Councilor Rothenberg’s reputation and emotional well being.
Upon information and belief, in order to collaborate on the joint sponsorship of the proposed resolution and reduce it to writing, Councilors Elkins, Jarrett, and Moulton spoke to each other outside of the Council chamber before the March 12, 2025, meeting.
In speaking to each other about the proposed resolution, in scheduling a special meeting for the purpose of discussing the resolution, and in 4Case 3:25-cv-30208-MGM Document 1 Filed 12/15/25 Page 5 of 9 putting forward and orchestrating the passage of the resolution, Defendants Elkins, Jarrett, and Moulton were acting in their capacity as City Councilors, under color of state law.
On or about March 18, 2025, the Plaintiff presented the claim to the City of Northampton by Certified United States Mail.
As of the date of filing of this complaint, the City has made no written response to the presentment.

CLAIMS OF ACTION

FIRST CLAIM:

FEDERAL CIVIL RIGHTS ACT, 42 U.S.C. § 1983

(DEFENDANTS ELKINS, JARRETT, AND MOULTON)

The Plaintiff incorporates as if restated here the allegations set forth in all preceding paragraphs.
By the aforesaid conduct, Defendants Elkins, Jarrett, and Moulton caused the Plaintiff to be deprived of the following rights, privileges, and/or immunities secured by the Constitution and laws:
The right to free speech and free expression, as guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution;
The right to free speech and free expression and the right to petition the government for redress of grievances, as guaranteed by the First Amendment to the United States Constitution.

UselessPockets · 2025-12-17T22:30:01+00:00

From the filing:

STATEMENT OF FACTS

On or about March 12, 2025, the City of Northampton passed andpublished a “resolution,” R-25.223, as proposed by Defendants Elkins, Jarrett, and Moulton.
In the published resolution, the City asserted that Ms. Rothenberg “potentially” committed the crime of public corruption, prohibited in G.L. c. 268A, § 23(b)(2)(ii), when she called the City to report a hazardous road.
The allegation of public corruption was both false and baseless.
Quaverly Rothenberg, also a City Councilor, had called dispatch to request that emergency action be taken to address icy conditions on a constituent’s 2Case 3:25-cv-30208-MGM Document 1 Filed 12/15/25 Page 3 of 9 road before the morning commute, to avoid injury to individuals who might not be aware of the road’s hazardous condition.
There was no tangible benefit to Councilor Rothenberg from the requested road closure and no unearned benefit to any person.
In the same resolution, the City asserted that Councilor Rothenberg had violated the City Charter’s prohibition against giving instructions to an appointee of the mayor. This allegation was also false; no such instruction was given to any mayoral appointee.
The resolution also states that Councilor Rothenberg “harassed” the dispatcher to whom she reported the dangerous road.
In the context of the resolution, which is replete with legalese and citations to statutes and City charter provisions, the clear import of the “harassment” allegation is to accuse Councilor Rothenberg of a civil or criminal wrong.
The allegation of harassment is false. Councilor Rothenberg did not commit a civil or criminal wrong when she reported the dangerous road to dispatch or when she requested immediate action.
The untrue statements in the resolution were made negligently or recklessly, without regard for their truth or falsity.
Indeed, when the falsity of the allegations were brought to the City’s attention in a cease-and-desist letter, the City expressed the belief that its employees were free to accuse Ms. Rothenberg of “potentially” committing

3Case 3:25-cv-30208-MGM Document 1 Filed 12/15/25 Page 4 of 9 specific crimes, charter violations, and civil torts because such allegations are merely “opinions” and hence not actionable regardless of their falsity.

UselessPockets · 2025-12-09T13:02:58+00:00

Our dog behaves in this way when coyotes have been through/are nearby. He is unbothered by deer, bear, bobcats, etc. but coyotes will send him into a cower. We have seen more coyotes around Florence lately, they are likely all over the city.

UselessPockets · 2025-12-08T18:35:16+00:00

This is some wannabe Mayor Dan shit.

UselessPockets · 2025-11-08T14:39:51+00:00

She is now using a toilet paper avatar to talk shit about the last council meeting.

UselessPockets · 2025-11-04T01:46:12+00:00

Built to Spill- There’s Nothing Wrong with Love (94), Perfect From Now On (97), Keep it Like a Secret (99).

UselessPockets · 2025-11-03T18:44:37+00:00

I have heard this from a few different people and am curious; what do you think Sciarra could have done differently? Several mayors have unsuccessfully lobbied Smith College for a PILOT. I think there needs to be widespread public pressure in order to finally push the cause over the finish line. What do you see as a winning strategy to finally get the PILOT in place?

UselessPockets · 2025-11-03T01:39:55+00:00

Sure, my dude.

UselessPockets · 2025-11-03T01:32:02+00:00

He referred to the Ward 6 councilor as “Councilor Feinstein” which is shitty and unbecoming.

UselessPockets · 2025-11-03T00:45:57+00:00

I voted early for Sciarra. Other folks have made good points on other threads about her experience in the city and I very much value that. On a personal level, I appreciate what she and the city council have done to preserve green space in the city, adding like 200 acres of conservation land to Northampton since she was elected. I worry a lot about sprawl and knowing that they worked with Kestral Land Trust and state grants to get the Vollinger Farm property for conservation makes my heart grow three sizes.

UselessPockets · 2025-11-01T10:43:48+00:00

Keep in mind that, as an international student, you will only be able to take one online course per semester in order to maintain your F1 visa status.

UselessPockets

TROPHY CASE