Left In Lowell

Tomorrow night, the Pawtucketville Citizens Council is hosting a “meet and greet” for the city council candidates, which includes a forum-like format giving the candidates the stage to make statements and answer questions. It’ll take place tomorrow, Monday, October 1st, from 7pm to 9pm at the Wang School, West Meadow Rd.

This is your first chance to get a look at the city candidates for Council. Another forum will be held on Wednesday Monday, October 22 at 7pm, at Lowell High School’s Little Theater. Candidates Night for both City Council and School Committee will be at this one, sponsored by the United Teachers of Lowell.

Was Governor Patrick’s plan produced on the back of another, flawed plan by a known shill for casinos?

That’s what this Weekly Dig article surmises, in large part because of the general sameness of both plans. The first, by Dr. Clyde Barrow, came out in March. The Gov’s plan came out, well, recently. (And seriously, read the whole article.)

Barrow’s blueprint called for “three commercial resort casinos,” to be situated in Suffolk Downs, southeastern Massachusetts and western Massachusetts. It promised that, collectively, the casinos would generate $1.5 billion in revenue and create 20,000 jobs. It recommended a 27 percent tax rate on gaming revenue, which would generate “over $400 million” in revenue for the state, half of which would be spent on local aid. It suggested that the state charge $600 million in casino licensing fees every 10 years. It also recommended that the casinos allocate 2 percent of their gross revenues to offset the costs of communities near the new casinos.

20,000 jobs…27%…$400 million…sounds familiar. Even exact.

Barrow’s numbers have been and are being called into question. One that really seems to evoke the ire of opponents (and possible allies like BMG’s David) is (bold mine):

Barrow, a highly public figure in the state’s casino debate and local journalists’ go-to person for gambling quotes, pioneered a controversial technique known as “patron origin” analysis. It consists of counting cars in casinos’ parking lots. Barrow estimates that the percentage of out-of-state license plates equals the percentages of out-of-state residents gambling at the casino, which, in turn, is equal to the percent of out-of-state money being spent there. Barrow’s research is the only apparent source for the widely-repeated statistic that Massachusetts residents spent $1.1 billion at out-of-state casinos last year, which is often used to point to more than a billion dollars of “untapped demand” for gambling in Massachusetts.

He counted cars? Even a rube like me knows there’s a whole lotta factors involved beyond that.

As much as I do like so many of this governor’s initiatives and support him on other things, I just can’t see my way to bailing him out of this one. Taking the numbers verbatim (it appears) from a single source who has been funded solely by casino proponents seems to be more than a rookie mistake to me. Sure, the numbers look great and we’d all want them to be correct, but is there any other evidence that they are? If something seems too good to be true…it probably pays to be very, very skeptical. The real question is, has Barrow realistically accounted for the costs associated with allowing casinos in MA? Even the chairman of a tribe, Donald Widdis of the Aquinnah Wampanoags, which contracted with Dr. Barrow said that “even he doesn’t trust Barrow’s methods. ‘I think his report was long on assumptions that weren’t really articulated,’ he says.” That’s from a guy who was interested in casinos.

I know being governor means having to make very big decisions (and it’s better to have someone doing that than, say, abdicating their role like past governors) but this decision appears flawed and very misinformed. Take it back. Take it all back. Let’s move on to the next battle, a more worthy one.

Just in case you missed it, the Lowell Sun has posted on its website a commentary and biography of the candidates for this year’s Lowell municipal elections.

It appears that the paper’s web site will use the same format for this year’s local elections as the one they successfully implemented for the MA-05 Congressional race. They have set up a site called City Election 2007 where articles and other information are being posted. It is a great tool; thanks Sun!

And speaking of our local paper, tomorrow night, the big three, Editor Jim Campanini, City Editor Chris Scott and City Hall Reporter Mike Lafleur are discussing the City Council and School Committee elections on Sun Talk. If you miss it, they archive the podcasts for a month.

From what I understand, so far only a couple of candidates’ forum/debaters have been set up. It would be a tragedy if the people of Lowell did not have an opportunity to hear the candidates discuss the issues we are all interested in.

WCAP radio is interviewing each candidate for about an hour; the first half hour is dedicated to questions from the two co-hosts, George Anthes and John McDonough; and the second half hour is phone calls. Unfortunately, the radio station does not have the capability to posting these interviews on their web site. Maybe they can partner with the blogger who automatically records the program and have him post it on his site.

Lynne and I are working on finalizing the questions and we will be sending them out to the candidates and the responses will be posted on this site.

Dogs and their human companions will soon have a park of their own in Lowell, raff, raff. A group of local dog lovers organized to form Lowell Unleashed. Working with the City, these dedicated individuals were able to achieve their stated mission:

…establishing a fenced in, off-leash dog park where Lowell citizens can exercise their dogs in a clean, safe environment without endangering or annoying people, property or wildlife. To develop a well-maintained space open to all dog lovers who are willing to uphold the park’s rules and regulations.

This park will not only satisfy the needs of dog-owners but also of equal importance, please the rest of us. There are too many dogs in Lowell with no place to go. The park will be located on PAWtucket Boulevard; at the old tennis court by the River, near the rotary.

In order to help pay for this park, Dog Unleashed is planning a fundraiser at JFK Civic Center, Wag-a-PAWlooza, on Sunday, October 28, 12:00 - 4:00 p.m. There are a number of activities planned, including Lowell Police K-9 Demonstration; Lowell Humane Society Adoption Parade; Agility Demonstration; Canine Costume Contest; Best Canine Trick Contest; Canine Good Citizen Certification.

Entrance is free for humans but dogs need to pay $10 and if they bring a canine friend, he/she pays $5. If you are interested, do check out their website.

Had to go to the condo association annual meeting and could not watch the regular scheduled Lowell City Council meeting so here is your open thread. The agenda was light. On the docket was the City’s Recycling Coordinator, Gunther Wellenstein.

Our condo association’s committee on recycling had him invited last week; the man knows everything there is to know about the subject. Remember this week is Recycling Week in Lowell and this Saturday you can drop off your Household Hazerdous Waste at Cawley Stadium.

The Economic Development Sub-Committee was scheduled to report on their meeting last night where they agreed to the City Manager’s and DPD’s recommendation to ask for a home rule petition to allow the City to extend leases to 20 years for the retail space on the first floor of the Hamilton Canal Garage.

And they were only three motions.

In rulings over the decades, the Supreme Court has made it clear that money equals speech. This is a conservative “market” viewpoint, largely, carried out in conservative pro-market courts. However, in yet another stunning display of IOKIYAR (It’s OK If You Are Republican), money should only equal speech if Republicans like the message.

David Shuster, subbing in for Tucker (why do people keep giving him shows? His ratings always suck) on MSNBC, hits guest Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) with the fact that Rush Limbaugh and one of his callers has used the term “Senator Betray-us” in reference to Sen. Chuck Hagel, and asks her if that was wrong too. Blackburn’s answer? “But Rush Limbaugh did not go in and buy an ad and place it with the New York Times…”

So, if you’re keeping score…buying speech is OK. Buying speech while liberal…not OK. Got it?

Elections do matter, and so do the strange requirements that often prevent people from voting. Right now, you have to register (or reregister, if you’ve moved) nearly a month (20 days) ahead of any election. There’s a bill in the state legislature to create election-day registration, such as many other states have implemented. But it’s coming up for a make-or-break committee vote soon.

It’s easy, however, to do something about it. You can write to your Rep via Act for Change, or you can click here and find your Rep’s or Senator’s info.

From Act for Change:

The Massachusetts legislature is poised to make history in the coming weeks. A bill to allow Election Day Registration (EDR) — a measure that would protect every eligible citizen’s right to vote — is about to face a do-or-die committee vote. If it passes out of committee, it will be well on its way to becoming the law of the land.

Increasing civic participation is good for our democracy. Allowing registration on Election Day makes voting easier and brings people into the electoral process who are often excluded — like students, renters, low-income people, and those who have recently moved. We need a groundswell of support for this legislation from the public to pass it into law.

So, do you love democracy? Then call or write your own Rep and Senator and (politely) ask them to help get this bill to come out of committee.

Also: A list of the members of the Joint Committee on Election Laws:
Augustus of Second Worcester - Chair
Spilka of Second Middlesex and Norfolk -Vice-Chair
Baddour of First Essex
Morrissey of Norfolk and Plymouth
Creedon of Second Plymouth and Bristol
Brown of Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex

Bradley of Hingham - Chair
Atsalis of Barnstable -Vice-Chair
Casey of Winchester
Galvin of Canton
Quinn of Dartmouth
Kujawski of Webster
Eldridge of Acton
Driscoll of Braintree
Allen of Boston
Frost of Auburn
Rogeness of Longmeadow

Some people might be cynical enough to say that government can’t really drive economic growth. But without government initiatives, how would this have happened? From the Guv’s office:

BOSTON – Monday, September 24, 2007 – Governor Deval Patrick today announced $2.4 million in state grants to the town of Andover to launch the long awaited I-93 Interchange and support the local road improvements that will support 100 new jobs and future expansion at Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and the long term economic vitality of a region that has been land locked due to the lack of accessibility. The grants, funded through the Massachusetts Opportunity Relocation and Expansion (MORE) Jobs Capital program and the Public Works Economic Development (PWED) program will help ensure that the region will have the funds necessary to support long term business relocation and/or expansion leading to economic development and job growth.

“This is an excellent example of what we can accomplish by partnering with industry and investing in our communities,” said Governor Patrick. “Wyeth has shown strong leadership in the life science industry and here in the Merrimack Valley and we need to ensure that this growth can continue throughout the region.”

The Junction I-93 Development Area is located in Andover, Wilmington and Tewksbury, MA adjacent to Interstate Route 93 between Exit 41 and Exit 42. Andover will receive $1.4 million in MORE funds and $1 million in PWED funds, which will go towards the design and construction of the highway interchange and local roads in the three municipalities. The commitment from the state makes available over $9 million in federal funds for the project.

Senator Ted Kennedy said, “This announcement means less congestion and significant new economic growth for the Merrimack Valley. I’ll continue to work with Governor Patrick and the delegation to provide the necessary federal support, so that Wyeth and the high-skilled workforce of the region can continue to grow.”

Just one question…not sure I agree that this will provide less congestion on the roads. Just sayin’. Of course, too many people getting jobs in the new area is a good problem to have…now, let’s see if we can work on public transportation and really get those carbon-spewing cars off the road.

Guess this thing is really getting off the ground.

After tomorrow I’ll be putting together the candidates’ questionnaires for the Council, School Committee, and the Regional Vocational School Committee races. I’d like to stress that I’d like more questions for the school side of things, as there are lots of great questions for the Council race already. Obviously if you think you’ve got a new one for any of the races please put it in comments or email me (some of you have done that, and thanks).

I also want to state that I reserve the right to change the wording or focus of any questions. If your question doesn’t appear verbatim as you posted it, please remember that in the end, the questionnaire has the Left in Lowell name in the header, and therefore Mimi and I are the final arbiters. That said, I don’t like making more work for myself, so it won’t likely come up often.

Judging by the article, “Putting Lowell to Work,” published in yesterday’s Sun, U. Mass Lowell Professor Robert Forrant received a lot of reaction to his participation in the Boston Globe’s article “What Renaissance.” Even his current boss, UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan, had an opinion.

Two Sundays ago when the Globe published that essay criticizing or questioning the validity of Lowell’s revitalization, we discussedit on LiL. Subsequently, we published Professor Forrant’s post in which he reiterated his basic concern about Lowell’s economy. Prof. Forrant wrote, “My point was never to denigrate what took place in the last twenty-five or so years. Instead, I want folks to consider that the condo thing and the highly successful and awfully exciting arts scene are not enough to help lift all boats throughout the city.”

In yesterday’s Sun, he reiterates that point and emphasizes that “Lowell Needs Jobs.” So, what should be done next? Here are some of his suggestions. (more…)