A Failure to Hear is not Evidence of a Failure to Explain, Littleton

For those of you who remain uninformed about my resignation from the Board of Selectmen a decade ago, you can click HERE to listen to the statement I recorded seven months ago in response to demands that I “explain myself” in the wake of unsuccessful efforts to disqualify my appointment to the Finance Committee. One […]

A Change in Tone, Littleton

You may have noticed, those of you who have been reading these posts, that on March 25th, they took a decidedly different tone. That’s because, on March 25th, I handed in nomination papers, and my name would be placed on the May 11th ballot. On March 25th, I became a candidate for local office. On […]

April 22nd: a Big Day, Littleton (Part II)

Yesterday the United States Supreme Court heard arguments on whether the city of Grants Pass, Oregon violates the Eight Amendment’s prohibition against “cruel and unusual punishment” by assessing a fine (a “punishment” in the form of a $295.00/night fine) to people who sleep in public places. These “law-breakers” are fellow Americans who have no home. […]

April 22nd: a Big Day, Littleton (Part I)

It’s Earth Day, an event that was first celebrated right around the time I was conceived in late April 1970. Being “good to the Earth” and giving “a hoot” were big parts of my childhood. In fact, I won the Littleton Electric Light Department’s 1979, “Stop Peaking” poster contest. If I recall, LELD was worried […]

Odds are Movies are a Better Bet, Chuck

The other day, I read that only one in three men have read a book in the last year, so it’s twice as likely you’ve not read any book, non-fiction or fiction, recently—never mind the several I shared with you. That’s cool though because I love movies too. I’m going to share with you a […]

Maybe You’re into Fiction, Instead, Chuck?

If your reading preferences lean toward fiction—and the non-fiction titles I suggested don’t pique your interest—maybe it would be better for me to let you in on some of the books (from the world of fiction) that have been shaping my thinking for the last few years. I’ll start with the big four—the ones that […]

My Debate Prep, Chuck

Hey there, Chuck, On April 24th, Littleton’s Rotary Club will be hosting its annual Candidates’ Night, to which both you and I have been warmly invited. I’ve already RSVP’ed “yes” and have confirmed that our debate is scheduled for last. Since it’s my youngest child’s last childhood birthday and because we’re a “celebrate day-of” sort […]

You Can Find Me at RHL, Littleton

If we’ve never met, and you have questions for me or about how Littleton can end local poverty by changing local policies, come to the library on any of these days: I can be reached anytime by email: jenna_koerper_brownson@yahoo.com. Or you can call or text: 978.760.0482. And since this is so short and the weather […]

The Signs of Spring, Littleton

Although the official First Day of Spring was two weeks ago, Littletonians often use other markers as evidence that the season of spring has fully arrived: daffodils blooming, trees leafing out, and lawn signs for candidates running for local office. When I ran for local office eleven years ago, I was told, “Even though lawn […]

Open Letter to Professor Matthew Desmond

Dear Matt, You may remember my emailing you last year to tell you that your book changed my life. After I finished reading your POVERTY, BY AMERICA, I learned that my hometown of Littleton, Massachusetts had (and still has) a poverty rate of 6.3%. Thanks to you and your ideas, I committed myself to doing […]

Jenna Brownson

upmarket novelist obsessed with loyalty and its inevitable betrayal