Left In Lowell

I often disagree with the views of Kendall Wallace as he presents them in his “Saturday Chat” but today is not one of those days. I am in total agreement with his assessment of the City Council race. He writes

Like it or not, the election ultimately will come down to who really supports the manager, an issue made clear for incumbents with a proposal to extend the contract of the manager. It’s less clear with challengers and even the incumbents who didn’t vote for the contract. But before this election campaign is over, it will be pretty clear just where all really stand.

We all know where the 8 incumbents stand on this issue. As for the challengers, he identifies Kristin Ross-Sitcawich, Jo-Ann Keegan, David Koch, Curtis LeMay and Dr. Lou Stylos as those who “have made strong statements indicating support for Manager Lynch.” I agree. In my discussion with those challengers and listening to them during their radio interviews, those were the views they expressed.

Wallace is right when he describes past Lowell City Council races as “popularity contests and visibility through signs, debates and political advertising.” But as he said this one is different, “…likely going to come down to the big picture — the future of the city. The voters, I think, support Lynch, support Lowell continuing to try self-improvement projects and support responsible fiscal management.”

Lowell is a city that keeps reinventing itself and this election will see the manifestation of our latest evolution. It is all about the big picture.

And as for Wallace’s views on the School Committee race, well that is an issue for another post.

I never lost electricity, sorry for the rest of you who did..

Why do people who complain about the tax rate are leading the charge to give the municipal unions a major raise?

This morning’s Globe reports that some people are naming their babies, Boston. Maybe the members of Lynne’s “Lowell Geographical Purity Police” should follow that lead.

I think the Kraft Family and the Patriots crossed the line with this Hub Stub law suit. If there are certain season ticket holders who are using their tickets to run a business, then go after them, not the guy who cannot go to one game and is trying to sell his ticket to recoup the astronomical costs of being a season ticket holder. Two weeks ago, when I went to the game, a cup of DD ice coffee sold for $5.00; at the corner DD in Lowell, it cost $1.99.

If awards were given out for political ads in the local campaigns, these are my award recipients:
Radio: City Council race, Rodney Elliott; School Committee race, Jackie Doherty
Lowell Sun web site: City Council, Kristin Ross-Sitcawich and Curtis LeMay (I like the banner ads running horizontal on top of the page; I do not care for the ads running vertical to the page); School Committee, John Leahey (love that moving school bus)
I have not yet decided on the ads in the Lowell Sun’s hard copy; so far, they are too much alike.