Left In Lowell

Tonight’s two-hour debate School Committee Candidate’s forum sponsored by the Citywide Parent Council gave me a great opportunity to learn a bit more about the incumbents and learn a lot about the challengers.

I watched the proceedings which took place at the High School, was televised on Channel 22, Lowell Educational Television. Questions came from CPC panelists, a UTEC representative, audience member and via e-mail from those of us who were watching at home. I figured the Sox were going to lose and I wanted to pay more attention to this extremely important campaign.

The participants looked relaxed so it made for an informative evening. The format gave the candidates an opportunity to answer questions in detail, rebut others’ responses, All of them were required to answer the first two questions and then the questions were directed to one individual. I did not record the forum but I took notes, so I hope that I am reading my notes properly. If I misrepresent any of the positions, I hope that I am corrected.

The first question got to the heart of the matter: The Superintendent’s performance and would you vote to renew her contract. (more…)

As David says, Ogo’s campaign keeps driving itself further into total parody territory. Ogo now appears to be blustering against the stations which are airing a Tsongas ad.

Truthfully, I saw the ad yesterday and wondered if this wasn’t going to get Idon’tknowski’s dander up, since he’s been angry before about being “misrepresented.” I didn’t know the source of the “Ogonowski called the SCHIP program harmful” part of the ad until I got on the nets today. I must say, he dug himself right into this one…since he did actually call it harmful.

SCHIP was originally intended to help poor children. Instead Congress worked to expand another big-government program that actually harms those working class children and families it was supposed to help. We all support helping poor children and families, but government seems unable to help those who need us. When I helped organize the largest airlift of aid in New Hampshire National Guard history to the victims of Hurricane Katrina, I saw firsthand how big government programs like FEMA don’t work for the American people.

His own words, from an op-ed he wrote.

Hilarious…so, children who could get insurance under this expanded plan are now harmed by the (false) “fact” that some illegal children might get it? (Since that’s a total lie, it’s moot, but besides that, the internal logic just doesn’t work). Then Idon’tknowski has the gall to say he’ll sue the TV stations who run the ad quoting his own op-ed? And it’s now Niki’s job to try to explain Ogo’s lack of logic (ie his “nuanced” position that this SCHIP bill is bad because of boogymen undocumenteds getting health care)? Give me a break.

Seriously, seriously unhinged, this one. He needs to get back to haying and leave politics for the less sensitive, more informed crowd.

Update: and he might be in violation of the FCC rules for advertising himself…it’s like this guy has no intention of winning an election.

Jackie lists the upcoming candidates’ forums for both Council and School Committee races. Far too few as far as I’m concerned…

1) For School Committee only: The Citywide Parent Council (make sure to check out their updated website, it looks great!) will host its traditional School Committee Canidates’ Forum tomorrow night - Monday, October 15, 7:00 pm, in the Little Theater at Lowell High School. This event will be televised live by Channel 22, Lowell Educational Television. Audience members can submit questions and those watching from home will be able to email questions to lowellcpc@comcast.net. This is the only forum to focus solely on the School Committee Race.

2) For City Council and School Committee: The United Teen Equality Center (UTEC) will host a candidates’ forum for both races on Thursday, October 18, 7 pm. The forum will be held at Lowell Telecommunications Center (LTC), beginning at 7 pm, and will be broadcast live.

3) For City Council and School Committee: The United Teachers of Lowell and the Merrimack Valley Labor Council will hold a forum for both races on Monday, October 22, 7 pm, in the Little Theater at Lowell High, broadcast live by LET Channel 22.

For what it’s worth, I did record the previous CC forum in Pawtucketville, but the venue was far too noisy (you moved an inch, your chair squeaked something awful) so I decided against posting it. Plus, several candidates spoke too low, or didn’t speak into the microphone, and as difficult as it was to hear them in person, it was doubly so on the recording. It didn’t seem fair to post a recording where 30% of the candidates can’t be heard.

By the way, candidates, word to the wise…if you have a mic in front of you, please speak directly into it. How can anyone decide where you stand if your voice is too quiet to be heard?

The city sent me this press release about an opening on the city’s Conservation Commission:

City of Lowell Seeks Applicants For Lowell Conservation Commission

The City of Lowell is currently seeking residents to fill openings on the Conservation Commission. The role of the Conservation Commission is to administer the Massachusetts Wetlands Protection Act and the City of Lowell Wetlands Ordinance, which oversees all development near wetlands or within a floodplain. The purpose of Lowell’s Wetland Ordinance is to protect the wetlands, related water resources, and adjoining land areas in the City by controlling activities deemed to have significant effect upon wetland values; including public or private water supply, groundwater, flood control, erosion and sedimentation control, storm damage prevention, water pollution prevention, fisheries, recreation, agriculture, aquaculture, and historic values.

“The Conservation Commission is a very important group comprised of Lowell residents who are committed to protecting Lowell’s wetlands as outlined in the City of Lowell Wetlands Ordinance,” says City Manager, Bernie Lynch. “Individuals should have an interest and or experience in conservation or environmental protection.”

Nightly meetings are required on the first and third Wednesday of every month. Applicants should send a letter of interest and a resume to the City of Lowell Human Resources Department, 375 Merrimack Street, Lowell, MA 01852.

This is a great opportunity for a Lowell resident interested in the environment to get involved. To my mind, the person who ideally should apply should be someone who doesn’t want to obstruct good human development, but who adheres to the concept that we should protect our natural resources. After all, our wetlands protect us from floods, our watershed is our source of water, and our river (update: excuse, me, rivers!) is a recreational benefit to the city. It behooves us to balance the needs of developers with the needs of our community and our environment.

The City’s web site has announced that the Department of Revenue has given the Lowell Board of “preliminary certification” on the 2008 Property Assessments. This was the triennial re-evaluation. This means that if you own property in Lowell, its 2008 assessed value is now available.

Remember, an increase does not necessarily translate into an .increase in property tax. We will find that out when the City sets the tax rate in the very near future. CM Bernie Lynch was on WCAP this morning and said he will have those figures for the City Council tomorrow night and indicated that we, the taxpayers, will be pleased with the numbers.

You can go down to City Hall this Monday and Tuesday and visit the Assessors Office or go on-line as I did. Just click to the Geographic Information System page; accept the Terms of Use; and drop down the “Find” option to select your search option; i.e. “Parcel by Owner Name.” The assessed value of my home went up 3.99%.

If you have any questions, you can call the Assessors Office at 978-970-4200. Congratulations to the Assessors, the City’s Financial Department and CM Lynch for having this information available the second week in October, as promised.