Left In Lowell

Waitilnextyr is a frequent LiL commentator.

1. Control Property Taxes (B-)
Last year it was 5.4% above inflation (property value increase). For FY’08 it is targeted at 2.5% period. This is the first budget proposed by CM Lynch and it was frugal, transparent and complete. However, the CC did request some increases to the budget, and subsequent agreements to the arena contracts add further risk to holding the line at 2.5%. More likely the increase will be in the order of 3.5-4.0% come November.

2. Expand Commercial Tax Base (D)
Some improvement with L’Energia back on the tax rolls. However, Hamilton Canal Master Plan is weak on encouraging commercial development, and there has apparently been a delay in awarding the Master Developer contract. Additional tax base could be available if the Legislature adopts the Governor’s Telecom Tax proposal; however, the council has not actively supported this legislation.

3. Put 180 Units of Affordable Housing on-line at Julian Steele (B)
First phase complete, second phase under construction. Third phase appears to be late in its planned April start.

4. Close an Acceptable Deal for Hamilton Canal Properties (B)
Property was taken by Eminent Domain, as negotiations failed. The final cost may be tied up in litigation.

5. Put 900-car Parking Garage on-line on Middlesex St (D)
Construction is going ahead, apparently on schedule, and within the increased budget. However, the budget disconnect has not been solved, and the interest expense will bump up significantly this coming year. The commercial space should be leased soon after completion of the garage, but no information has been released as yet.

6. Initiate Private Development in accordance with the JAM plan (D)
RFP out to select Master Developer, however it doesn’t prioritize commercial development. There has apparently been a delay in awarding a contract to the Master Developer, but no reason has been publicized. Apparently the State will consume about 20% of the land area with non-taxable enterprises, the new courthouse and maybe the nanotechnology center for UML. If these become the focal points for related commercial development, this would be a good strategy. Much remains to be seen before we could improve the grade here.

7. Initiate Private Development at the Hamilton Canal Properties. (I)
As with the JAM plan, progress is delayed. The council has voted to make this a priority area for zoning, so that may be the next step in development.

8. Close Loopholes in Zoning Code to Avoid Neighborhood Exploitation (C)
Some progress being made, but still too much left to ZBA judgment.

9. Eliminate “Appearance” of Conflict of Interest on Local Boards (A)
Much improved with new appointments and televised meetings. (more…)

Today on Thinking Out Loud, fellow blogger Margaret Gilsenberg will join me for a wide ranging chat about local and state politics. You can listen at 10 am on WUML, 91.5 FM, or stream it live online.

As massmarrier says on his blog, we got the chance to get in-depth with Jamie Eldridge on Tuesday night and it’s really worth a listen, because we stuck to topics a lot longer than you can in a forum and maybe teased out a few more details. I’m just going to quote him because it’s hot and I’m lazy:

On our weekly Left Ahead! podcast, we had a long session with 5th CD candidate Jamie Eldridge. You can catch the recap and grab the session here.
[…]
Jamie comes into the session at 39 minutes in. Before that you can hear the three of us in our lefty rambling glory. None of us will know if you skip ahead to the candidate portion. We ran long on this one. There are about 50 minutes with the candidate.

By the bye, he seems dreadfully alert and cheerful for 9:30 p.m. after a day of campaigning, his Boston legislative details, and what family he could get in. We did not ask about his caffeine intake.

We do cover how he expects to overcome Niki Tsongas’ presumptive advantages of name recognition and money. We pushed on health-care specifics and how he sells it in the district. He talks plainly about his grassroots efforts and what seems to be paying off for him. We hit on the dust-up involving fellow candidate Barry Finegold with the abortion notification bill. We also get into what he’d do in Congress on issues as ranging as DOMA and mass transit.

I can’t even believe that the media outlet (the Globe) who used this anecdote to demonstrate the leadership qualities (ug) of Romney wouldn’t pause and think, what the hell was he doing endangering the family dog by strapping him to the roof??

This ship (the Animal-Cruelty Ship Romney) can’t sink fast enough for me.

[Via .08 Acres. ]

Lowell City Councilor Kevin Broderick and his wife Julie are hosting a reception for residents of the Greater Lowell area to meet and greet Eileen Donoghue, candidate for the U.S. House of Representative, MA 5th District.

The gathering will be held tomorrow night, Friday, June 29 at the Broderick’s home, 175 Fairmount Street, Lowell, MA between 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. Here is the map.

Needless to say, I will be there and so will other prominent LiL contributors. The suggested donation is $20 but if you are having a cash flow problem, there is a Donoghue supporter who will be more than happy to give you a ticket.

See you tomorrow night!

The Sun’s web site reports that State Rep. Rep. Linda Dean Campbell (15th Essex/Methuen) and Methuen Mayor Bill Manzi, a fellow blogger, have joined a long list of elected public servants from the MA 5th Congressional District to endorse the candidacy of Eileen Donoghue for Congress.

Campbell and Manzi were joined by Methuen Councilor Deborah Quinn and Larry Geiordano as well as former Methuen Councilor Michael Condon and former State Senator James Jajuga in their endorsement. Of course, Senator Steven A. Baddour, (First Essex; Haverhill/Methuen) endorsed Donoghue a while ago.

As a supporter of the former Mayor of Lowell and current City Councilor, I am thrilled that elected officials of this type and from this particular town are behind her candidacy. Methuen has 27,411 registered voters, 85% of which are registered Democrat or un-enrolled. Last fall, over 50% of those registered came out to vote.

I’m off to play in the water. You all have a nice day, stay out of the heat! This is your friendly neighborhood open thread for the day.

The question that started it all at last week’s forum (the full video of which I still have yet to post, sorry, been busy looking at real estate in my spare time! but I will, I promise) in the flesh. We post, you decide.

Click To Play

Tonight we start our podcast at 8pm, and Jamie will be on at 8:30 or so. We at Left Ahead endorsed Jamie last week, though that won’t stop us from asking the tough questions. (You hear that Jamie? The tough questions!) We will try to wring as much detail on the issues we ask about as we can (since all we bloggers do is complain about the lack of such in the MSM). You can listen live to the stream, or can catch the archive afterwards! Links to do either will be found at Left Ahead.

I think it is great that there are so many candidates forum for the Massachusetts 5th Congressional District race. So far, I think there have been six that were open to the general public. Each draws a specific crowd and focus. Tomorrow night, the [Lowell] Citywide Neighborhood Council is sponsoring such a forum.

This forum will take place on Thursday, June 28 at the Wang Middle School in the Pawtucketville section of Lowell. The school is located at 365 West Meadow Road and it begins at 7:00 p.m. Here are the directions.

The sponsoring organization is made up of the various neighborhood improvement and action groups whose members are activists, advocates and knowledgeable residents of the 5th District’s largest city. All the candidates have been invited but I do not know who has confirmed.

I would strongly urge those of you who have not attended one of these forums to go. It is an excellent opportunity to evaluate a candidate’s ability to present their views and defend their positions.

Unfortunately, I will not be there. I will be attending a fund raiser for my candidate of choice, Eileen Donoghue. As we all know, June 30th is around the corner.