Left In Lowell

So far, we’re seeing five councilors (Martin, Milinazzo, A. Mercier, Elliot, Broderick) have expressed support, it needs six. Caulfield has gone to the floor to speak…

While I wait to hear him get to the point (of his support or not) can I just say, the hostility from Councilor R. Mercier was bizarre?

Well, looks like Caufield drank the kool-aide…since there IS no increase in the city budget for this new position, I do NOT get the hostility on “behalf of the taxpayer” - um, what part of “no increase in the city budget” do we not understand? Too bad, I thought Caulfield would have wanted his legacy in the city to be about actual progress…instead, he’s stonewalling and siding against the Mt. Auburn report, which everyone lauded at the time. All talk, no action, these people. That was the problem under Cox too.

Rita complained that people had spoken to the newspaper indicating their support ahead of the public meeting, but it seems to me like Kazanjian, Rita, Lenzi, Caufield all made up their minds before coming tonight. Their arguments are full of holes (except a portion of that by Lenzi, regarding the tenability of the economy right now, which is hardly relevant since no new monies will go into this new position or department, we’re spending it already on COOL). It’s hard to see where they are coming from except the telling comment by Rita - that she “doesn’t want to put that much power in the hands of one person.” She was referencing the new Director of this cultural office, however, I think you can extend that a bit. (What does she think a department head in the city does? We have lots of them. Why is this one so anathema? Does she hate efficiency in government?)

Lynch is arguing now and really hitting all the points.

It’s not a new position, it’s a shift in position. We already pay for a director of COOL and have for years, and Kazanjian is arguing about how do we know it’s going to be there next year? Oh, I dunno, because getting rid of COOL would be stupid? Considering how much it does with how little much money?

This opposition is about more than being against consolidating COOL and creating a “cabinet-level” position in the city, because if that was the only consideration, this would be a no-brainer.

Vote: goes down 5-4, because no one was swayed by logical arguments or the level of support in the city.

If I were the cultural community in Lowell, I would be angry, because this consolidation could have helped propel the efforts of each of us into actual progress. Caufield, along with his colleagues in opposition, will be remembered as the mayor who prevented an elemental piece that would legitimize the cultural movement in Lowell. For no reason that I can logically see, though there are underlying reasons I can guess at.

[Liveblog edited for grammar]

During the next couple of weeks, the City Council will be busy discussing some significant issues in Sub-Committees. These meetings are generally held prior to City Council meetings, thus a 5:30 start. Most of us are at work or on our way home. (more…)

Tomorrow night I’ll be a guest speaker on the subject of casinos at a public education regional forum at the Andover Memorial Hall Library. The forum is part of the Casino Free Mass effort. Senator Tucker will be a speaker, as will Dr. Tom Larkin, an addictions counselor from Bedford, MA.

The library is located at 3 Main St. in Andover and the forum starts at 7:00 p.m., on the 3rd floor. It’s sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Andover/North Andover.

On tonight’s Council agenda is an item from the City Manager recommending the merger of the Cultural Organization of Lowell (COOL) and the Special Events office of the City.

The Lowell Sun has a great editorial endorsing the idea and explaining the why and the wherewithal of this recommendation, which comes from the Mt. Auburn Associates report on our cultural assets. It recommends that an expanded central office for events and marketing would strengthen many of the city’s smaller cultural groups, by giving them one place to go through for those needs. This would give an expanded role to COOL and Lynch is recommending LZ Nunn, its director, to head up the new office.

From the Sun:

The proposed merger involves no additional cost to the city but is expected to pay dividends in increased marketing, improved coordination and help to extend events to include more of the downtown. One example is next weekend’s Winterfest, which for the first time will have musicians strolling through the downtown helping to encourage visitors to stop into area shops and restaurants.
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We agree with Lynch’s recommendation. Nunn is well-respected throughout the city’s cultural groups, has marketing experience and has already been striving to increase Lowell’s marketing reach to attract visitors from an ever-widening circle.

Streamlining has been a big priority of Lynch’s since he got into office, and this strikes me, as someone who’s been a part of some of these organizations who plan events, that what is lacking is a central place to turn to for marketing. It’s also like when, say, a president creates a new cabinet position; it gives greater access to the top levels of government and priority for that person’s role in government. If we want to become a premier cultural center in New England, a destination city, we need to make cultural assets a priority and make use of our resources smartly and efficiently.

If the agenda is any indication, tonight’s City Council meeting will be lengthy. Among the items to be discussed is a proposed ordinance change that will restructure and combine the City’s offices of Cultural Affairs and Special Events.

Early last year, I had attended a City Council Marketing Sub-Committee meeting where representatives from a dozen or so city-connected entities were present. It was obvious that a coordinated effort needed to be put in place so that we can realize a greater return in our marketing dollars.

Additionally, if we are serious about developing Lowell’s Creative Economy, it is necessary for the marketing and cultural efforts to be raised to a new level. The public hearing begins at 7:00 p.m.