Left In Lowell

Lowell, the City of Excuses

31 Responses to “Lowell, the City of Excuses”

1. Kpem Says:
   February 10th, 2008 at 6:40 pm

   For Bernie Lynch to sit there and say this will not cost the city money because it is already in the budget is just a major slap in the face to every tax payer.

2. Lynne Says:
   February 10th, 2008 at 7:20 pm

   I don’t understand…we pay $X for a position already. If we restructure and keep the position but bring it underneath the city government instead, we pay X plus a little bit, difference of which Lynch proposes to pay with GRANT money, which means we will pay exactly the same out of the city budget as we have been for ages (for COOL).

   But I answer your question more thoroughly here, going into your specific points of concern. Hope it helps.

3. Bob F Says:
   February 10th, 2008 at 7:23 pm

   One of the best lines in ‘the column’ was one councilor crying that he was not given a copy of the Mt Auburn plan ahead of time. What are you kidding me. This plan was available far and wide, it was embraced by theprevious Council, the issue was clearly on the agenda. You’ve got to be mighty dense not to find it for yourself if you care at all about the city and the issueand the fact thta you are on the Council. Everyone needs their hand heldbefore the Council can take up an issue. It snot like there was any secret here about what was being proposed. Lets face reality folks. Right now one of the things that is keeping Lowell from going the way of Springfield and into control by a non-elected finance control board, is the fact that so many working artists have moved here. So, lets just do everything we can, the Council majority and Zoning Commission reason, to alienate as many artists and their supporters as possible in order to do what??? With all of this, where is this group’s alternative to the development of the creative economy in the ways the Mt Auburn report suggested? Its well past time for All of the long-time members on the Council to come up with constructive ways to keep the city’s development going. This kind of mud wrestling will make all sorts of Hamilton Canal investors look away, look away, look away!!!

   And Kpem, the big slapin the face to tax payers could come when the artists’ live/work space begins to empty out and no new investment dollars come in and school children are forced to pay to play sports as is the case in other cities and towns around here.

4. Lynne Says:
   February 10th, 2008 at 7:32 pm

   Actually, what makes this really egregious in reference to not getting this report is that said persons were campaigning right in the middle of this issue. It speaks to what I’ve said about the difference between campaigning and governing; and these people never showed in the campaign an interest to actually engage in the latter. If they had, they would have come in having informed themselves of the issues facing the city council.

   But this from people whom I suspect will never thoroughly read a proposed budget before voting on it…

   And to your very excellent point, Bob, about “where is this group’s alternative to the development of the creative economy in the ways the Mt Auburn report suggested”…agreed! “This is not us putting this report on the shelf!” claimed Rita Mercier (I’m paraphrasing). Bull bloody crap. Of COURSE it was - despite the endorsement you had when the report came out - because you’re more worried about your buddies than the actual forward movement of the city!

   I also reiterate my point again that this hurts us and our reputation with developers, even if we pass it (with or without “compromise” though the compromise listed in the Sun, you’ll note, isn’t really one, it’s just a clarification in writing about what was already proposed.

5. smallfishbigpond Says:
   February 10th, 2008 at 11:19 pm

   Lynne did you really say “Central piece of the cultural economy puzzle” Maybe a bit of overstatement? Yours and Dick’s comments are the politicizing ones. “Aligning the city against the artist community” is also inflammatory. Ever think some residents of the “Destination city”, may finally be pushing back? When you have a community that’s nothing more than a destination, it’s merely just a place to come and go. Bernie said it perfectly when asked about the contrast between Lowell and Chelmsford… he replied, “Lowell has much better restaurants”.

   With the raise and restructure, will LZ be the one to stop the patron exodus leaving skid marks on their way to the connector from the Tsongas, LMA, MRT and LeLacheur Park? Ahhm, People are hesitant to establish and frequent businesses here because it’s dangerous reputation, not that it’s not art friendly! It’s in that misguided progressive push to please the developer and future investor, that led us to an empty parking garage among one of Eastern Massachusetts highest crime districts. NO shelter coordinator is going be able to keep a cap on that shaken soda bottle That again was money spent on development alone without true thought for the community.

   This cultural community run-up is not about establishment vs. artisans. It’s about out of town influence and decision making.

   Two important polarizing positions…
   Out of town school superintendent, professional, commendable job in raising ED scores. Real world, general feeling the schools are unsafe and offered no promotion from within. She didn’t desire or seek to connect with Lowell kids or faculty.

   Out of town city manager, professional and thoughtful, help to reduce spending. Real world, better opportunity for him, employee selections are thought to be Chelmsford or area based. He has no real connection to our community.

   Maybe Lowell kids can aspire to work in the city… so long as they’re the finest of applicants of the areas best and brightest? Nice message, very encouraging for the Lowell kids regulated to alternative schools or mid to lower graduate block. Guess they have little to no shot at positions from one of the areas biggest employers.

   Is that just the price of progress? Sounds like a form of privatization, a measure brought forward by Dick Howe more than once. That old school Sink or Swim mentality is outdated, as are his opinions. He often speaks about Lowell like he’s never lived here or more likely, is embarrassed to have. As far as his recited budgetary cultural items, he put the happy face them while he had the wheel from 1965-2005.

   Here’s an independent residents view with no agenda, Mercier & Caulfield are people who represent very deep roots in Lowell. Kazanjian and Lenzi as well, but happen to be well connected business owners with strong interests in them. I’m definitely not a fan of that fantastic four. Bud and Rita are out of touch with youth issues. AK has his clear self-seeking ways. Western Ave will be among a long list, he’ll have a conflict of interest in. Lenzi will have his catered share as well and they can deal with that scrutiny.

   But I’ll give them all this, they were among the top of the ballot. They represent a significant portion of the populace, who I think aren’t pleased to have their city administered by people with no idea of what it’s like to live and raise their kids in Lowell. If it’s the measured review you didn’t appreciate, I hope it’s one that continues.

   And to Mr. and Mr. Artisan… get in line with the rest of us, it’s a cultural destination city after all and you live here now, you’ll grow accustomed to stepping aside for those who don’t.

6. Tiffany Says:
   February 11th, 2008 at 9:04 am

   I’m new here and am not sure I completely understand the us against them mentality in terms of whether your from “here” or “anywhere else”. Perhaps we could start looking at issues in a broader scope. We’re part of a region- the Merrimack Valley- what’s good for one is good for all. The powers that be may be trying to market Lowell as a destination city, but in reality where are most people coming from? My guess is the communities immediately surrounding Lowell. Isn’t that the best, most stable kind of group you want to market to? Those that on any given night will frequent the local restaurants, etc.

   In other parts of the country some government services that are common to all communities-tax collection, property assessment, human services, and police protection (believe it or not) are provided by one county government, leaving the remainder, the things that make one community unique from another to be done locally. If it works other places, why can’t it work here? I’m a bit tired of all this rhetoric…who get’s to decide whether or not someone has sufficient ties to the city? Don’t people get to make that decision themselves?

   As far as last Tuesday’s vote on the Cultural Office…I wonder how the four dissenters would have voted had someone else been identified as the heir.

7. waittilnextyr Says:
   February 11th, 2008 at 1:15 pm

   That is a good suggestion to consider regionalizing certain government services, although there may be a lot of dissension as to who pays, and who receives.

   The discussion on who has sufficient “ties” to the city may be the result of inbred mentality that considers any benefit a right of birth. Hopefully that attitude will not prevail, as the strength of a community is a function of the inclusiveness of its people, ideas and expertise. With respect to the arts community, it is especially important to follow through on the commitment made to grow the City both economically and culturally.

8. Lynne Says:
   February 11th, 2008 at 1:28 pm

   smallfishbigpond: How could it not be a slap in the face of the cultural community after a few years’ hard work (task force), a $100,000 study which put this recommendation first in its list of goals, and the overwhelming support of the community itself?

   And if you are making the argument that this won’t make that much of an impact, trust me, it will. As I said, I’ve been frustrated by this lack of central emphasis on the cultural economic possibilities for years now, knowing what could be accomplished but which can’t be without an initiative like this. Successful cultural communities (like places like Rockport or Portsmouth or North Adams) are successful because they are deliberately cultivated to be so.

   This isn’t about being the only magic bullet solution, nor is it ONLY about being a destination city. First, there are parallel developments in trying to progress Lowell’s economy (nanotech, etc) and this isn’t the only emphasis. Secondarily, this sort of cultural movement affects FAR MORE than just some people coming in, visiting, and spending money, aka a “destination city.” It affects people who might decide to live here (I know it did for me and all the friends I’ve made who’ve bought downtown condos). It’ll affect people wanting to move their businesses here. A good quality of life is essential to residential AND commercial development. A creative economy is also NOT limited to art and theatre; it also includes young professionals like myself, a commercial graphic designer, or a marketing firm, or a freelance writer. All of whom can bring not only work, but also decide to live here as well.

   So you seem to have limited view of what this all means, but that doesn’t mean that this is a limited benefit. The people who seem to actively trying to misunderstand that (the GOB network) are standing in the way of making Lowell a better place to live, in many people’s opinion, not just my own.

   RE the city manager, he’s seen at so many city meetings and events, I do NOT know how you could possibly say he’s not connected to Lowell. That’s total bull, and I submit that this argument is a false idol to those who are looking for any excuse to keep the status quo. Whether that’s because they are afraid of change, or else interested in protecting their own interests to the detriment and exclusion of others, it’s still standing in the way of progress.

   I’ve said it before…YOU all invited us here. You wanted young professionals like myself and my husband to want to settle here. You invited artists and ethnically diverse businessmen. You wanted to reap the benefits of doing all this, but you want us to keep our mouths shut? I’m perfectly willing to work with the “old guard” of the city to achieve great things. Unfortunately, they are not always interested in working with us. Some of the people with deep roots here in Lowell are excited to be a part of Lowell’s future, people like Dick Howe. It’s not my fault that others have decided that closing off the city to anyone different or new is the way to go. We’re here now and we’re not going anywhere. We care about the community we live in and want to create.

   If we didn’t care, we’d let the Good Ol’ Boys do their thing, and stay away from it all.

9. Lynne Says:
   February 11th, 2008 at 1:34 pm

   Oh, RE getting top of the ballot…they got there by NOT talking about being anti-Lynch, so far as I can tell everyone was just gushing about the current city government.

   Unfortunately, people didn’t know what they were voting for, and what those people were really interested in accomplishing. Certainly the Lowell Sun’s editor tried to kibosh most of those sorts of facts and analysis from its coverage of the race. The blogs don’t have the circulation or audience that our work could get out to the masses. So that’s hogwash, that the voters really want K and Lenzi and all to continue to stonewall progress. It seems to me that what they voted for was the guy they knew, either personally or because they showed up knocking on their door. I doubt very highly that Kazanjian revealed his GOB tendencies to most of the voters he talked with. He certainly didn’t in public. Once it was shown at the beginning of the campaign that being after Lynch all the time wasn’t going to work, they changed their tune.

   And anyone who spends $70,000 on a local election for city council will get near the top of the ticket, give me a goddamned break.

10. Kpem Says:
    February 11th, 2008 at 2:12 pm

    Lynne,
    Your link for the explanation of how we were just transferring funds rather than creating a new position did not work. I am very interested in the details before making judgement. If this is already an existing position why put it under city government? I do not think the comment “Unfortunately, people didn’t know what they were voting for” is very fair just because residents did not vote the same as you.

11. Lynne Says:
    February 11th, 2008 at 3:00 pm

    I fixed the link…basically it was my answer to your questions on the other thread. (Sorry, my bad, don’t know how I screwed up the link to my other comment).

    As to voting, I’m not saying this because they voted different from me. To the contrary, I am looking at what the candidates themselves were saying during the campaign! How are voters supposed to know what the real deal is when the Sun stays pretty quiet, doesn’t cover the race in a total and honest fashion, and at the same time the candidates are, basically, lying about their real reasons for running? These guys ran because they were ticked off at the ousting of a previous city manager, they were running for retribution. They in fact declared this themselves a long time ago. (People for Lowell anyone?) But once the campaign started, suddenly, when that attitude didn’t fly, they stopped talking about it, and the Sun’s editorial leadership obliged, allowing them to obfuscate their motivations.

    The voters were tricked into this…sure, they deserve some of the blame for not really digging into who to vote for, but I wasn’t blaming them, actually.

12. Kpem Says:
    February 11th, 2008 at 3:37 pm

    Lynne,
    I read your explanation which I find interesting. I looked at the Lowell city budget and saw the cool position there for 45,900 and saw the St. Onge position there.
    Who else would be under LZ Nunn and who wanted her for this position? What monies would this dept. be administering? Would Cool be the “agency” in charge of all?
    Who does LZ and the others report to now?
    I guess I just don’t understand what making this a Govt. entity does for the arts community vs.(cool. I went on the Worcester arts site but it linked back to their economic development office. I would be intersted to find out the budgets for cities like Worceter for their arts program vs. Lowell. (I will be researching) I find the arts community to be a great benefit to any city that they reach out to and I feel we should fund them whole heartedly.

13. smallfishbigpond Says:
    February 11th, 2008 at 11:01 pm

    Hi Lynne thanks for the reply, new to the website and format. I do appreciate some of your comments. Way off base on others.

    Not sure if your trying to stay within the thread or you really feel so passionately that your single minded interest is what Lowell should be doing for the artisan community. If that’s a tenet of the cultural folk, I’m extremely disappointed. There’s more to living in a city than getting your deservedness.

    Unwashed masses. It’s what’s interpreted when you say, “You wanted us young professionals here” as if there were none before you arrived?

    I’m not declaring you should consider yourself a visitor. But your comments could be misinterpreted, as elitist in theory and a better vision for a former industrial community is to infuse it. You actually came very close to saying it was your people who even brought the culture here!

    You show your limited view of our heritage here in Lowell, siding with Dick Howe, to be polite, he’s widely though of as an snobby. I know how he loves the Spinners, so if it’s he you want on your bench, take em we’ll even throw in a player to be named later.

    We have a community identify and culture. It’s called Lowell Pride… that includes other classes of people, who care about people from Pawtucketville, Centerville, Highlands, Belvidere, Back Central, the Acre and others. CITYWIDE interest, because it’s where we grew up, our kids now play sports with our friends kids, they go to school with this one and that, or parents, friends or siblings live on the other side of the river. Not just downtown, not just in the cultural office, at special events, the COOL office, Revolving Museum, downtown businesses, LMA or the new Nanotech Center at UMASS.

    I’m not a lunatic I know these things are important but some of us are also concerned about schools, roads, gangs, river walkways, methadone clinics, shelters, garages, wastewater facilities, flood control systems, and city salaries. It doesn’t make us anti-progressive or simple to want greater attention or more resources spent on them.

    BY THE WAY… the city manager being seen at city meetings and events, it’s what we pay him to do. It doesn’t connect him to Lowell. Just because I go to a museum and look at art… doesn’t make me an artist. Having your kids walking school corridors with 4500 other students does, owning a house here, city crime, experiencing 15 homicides, paying increased city taxes, city employees forgoing raises or waiting 20 minutes to cross a bridge, so the city can progress does!

    And at what cost? I could name 50, but how about not having enough money to properly fund enough school resource officers and only ONE single DARE officer for the entire city of Lowell. Please, kidding me?

    Forgive me if my priority is not in big paper mache heads on Middle St.

    And did you actually compare us to
    Rockport, Ma- Population 5000 people?
    Portsmouth and North Adams- Population 10,000 each?

    That’s just about the number of the people mashed into the back central neighborhood!!

    I know the downtown condo people kind of live in a bubble but, you do you realize there are 120,000 other people here, don’t you?

    Progression is natural in deindustrialization but its costs and rewards should be measured. Please consider this… Lowell was a great place to live, before the Cultural Revolution began. These high priced condos as you can them are brick and mortar, built by our heritage. Families here since the 1800’s, grandparents that worked at in the mills you now live in? We owe you nothing, if fact you owe it to us as a fellow Lowellian, to step up and start pitching in. To show I’m willing to take the first step… I let you in on a secret we have here in Lowell… most people, never really even cared for Jack Kerouac.

    The councilors may be fooling you, but they’re Lowell and part of us. Take it for someone who has lived in Lowell for almost 40 years, any councilor who tells you different is blowing smoke at ya. You’re a citizen of sacrifice like the rest of us, for the betterment of Lowell Pride!

    To fight is futile and if it sends you off screaming into the night… just don’t do it on Middlesex St. near the Shelter, they’re trying to get some businesses down there!

14. Lynne Says:
    February 12th, 2008 at 12:08 am

    You really do not read this blog and it shows. You should really spend some time really reading it before you make big assumptions about how I or anyone else on this blog feels or thinks.

    Anyone who does knows that I (and the others on this blog) are very concerned advocates of ALL the classes of Lowell, including ones that the persons like Kazanjian seem to want to ignore - the poor, the homeless, or the down on their luck. Or ethnic immigrants who are so underrepresented on the City Council.

    The issue at hand was trying to make something of the economic engine in Lowell to the benefit to EVERYone. As such, yes, this is very important, for more than a few reasons, not the LEAST of which is tax revenue so we can pay for schools, police, firemen, and other things we all need.

    I don’t live in downtown, by the way. I live in a 100-year-old neighborhood that is seriously neglected by pretty much everyone in town. Most people don’t even know or remember that it exists. I have been complaining about that sort of neglect, including the sort that comes from limited city representation that hails from mostly the posh parts of town. So do not tell me that I don’t understand the issues facing neighborhoods in this city.

    But the fact remains, that there is a certain segment of this town that wants to do their business in the smoky closed back room. It is not being negative, at least not unjustifiably so, to want to shine the light of day on this sort of cronyism. It might be the way Lowell has done business for decades, but it has been what has held Lowell back, and if saying that out loud offends some people, ok, fine. I’m willing to take the hit. Know why? Because someone has to talk about how there is a different and a better way to do business, yes, even hiring so-called outsiders if they have the expertise to bring Lowell up to its potential, whether that’s taking advantage of the proximity of our colleges, or of our creative economy, or nanotech, or filling in downtown storefronts, or developing and expanding that downtown, or fixing up an Acre pothole.

    I don’t know who is the sort of person who thinks Dick Howe is a “snob,” but it’s their loss. If they don’t want to utilize the resources that are people like him, then that just shows how those people are less interested in achieving any real, lasting, and substantial goals than in adhering a parochial and insular point of view.

    And if it was not the case that the “Mills to Martinis” type of marketing campaigns were MEANT to attract new people, people who did not live here all their lives, to come and settle here, than what was it for? That is what I meant. You must be feeling pretty inadequate to project that into saying something else. You know what? Holiness does not come from having been born in Lowell, either. It also doesn’t come from people who just moved in. But the fact is, people have come and settled in, then quickly get the impression (impression? how about told to our face) to shut up and sit down…because we don’t really matter.

    I have no issue with people who were born here and are committed to Lowell. I have issue with people who were born here and are committed to Lowell who want to shut out everyone else. We just got through deciding against that path when we hired our “outsider” to manage the city - not because he was an outsider, but because he was the best resume submitted. If that “new” way of doing business disturbs the old guard, well, gee, what’s their alternative? Going back to government by friends for the benefit of friends? No way. I’ll speak out against that until I’m blue in the face.

15. Kpem Says:
    February 12th, 2008 at 12:18 am

    smallfishbigpond,
    I Completely agree with you, My kids are also in the schools, I own a house, and pay my increased propery taxes and feel annoyed to be some how considered an outsider by the condo crew. yes our city counselors really do vote for their neighbors. What people don’t understand is that Rita is the one who says hello to you at Walmart, Alan K. is a succesful business owner here which should be researched not condemned(he should be leading marketing here), and our honerable Mayor will take a phone call from anyone. This has really started to bother me on this site too. (the elite attitude).
    I do think that the artist community has been great for Lowell but when they start demanding more than the well paid positions that are already in the budget it is too much. All this city has had to offer these poor artists is affordable housing, very modest artist space (do we tax alot on these or do they take a loss?), and several salaried positions under a city manager you all seem to love. Is there or is there not a private arts counsel with a board? There is nothing that stops this group from working together without creating a department.

16. Lynne Says:
    February 12th, 2008 at 12:36 am

    Don’t you think, Kpem, that you’re being a bit dramatic here? As I said, I am not a posh downtown condo owner. Neither are most of my friends. And condo owners have kids in our schools and concerns about public safety and fixing potholes too.

    But what Rita and the others often do is pander. The homeless shelter issue, for instance - I don’t see any sort of realistic solution coming from Kazanjian, just a lot of pandering to people’s worst instincts. Or the “requiring city workers to be residents” thing. It’s nonsense, not the least of which is that it’s probably illegal, not to mention, a good way to shoot yourself in the foot. Or illegal bennies for the city’s Board members…oh, the Good Old Boys were up in arms at losing those, but they were illegal. Didn’t matter to them - they felt entitled after all these years - and those sorts of people will never be convinced on the merits of an issue if they’ve decided to be against it. (Hence the rancor coming from all sectors over the Cultural Department vote.)

    And Kazanjian is not to be commended by the way. He has serious ethics problem. So far as I can tell, it took him two weeks to make a major mistake on the Council in doing something he shouldn’t have. Anyone who thinks Kazanjian is “just a business man serving the public as city councilor” is fooling themselves. Just because someone is prominent or a big businessman in town, doesn’t mean we should all give them deference. I give my respect to people who earn it with honesty and integrity.

    It’s not elitism, it’s calling people on bullshit. I call bullshit on Mayor Bud who broke his campaign promises and his demeanor of unity and wanting to move forward and not backward. The guy needs to take his lumps, and since he’s been a Councilor for a long time, I suspect he knows better than anyone that the job comes with more than roses and accolades. If he doesn’t have that expectation, he shouldn’t be in the business of politics.

17. smallfishbigpond Says:
    February 12th, 2008 at 1:53 am

    I hate to be the one to tell you Lynne, if you’re hearing something different it’s from your own people. Alot of the residents are starting to feel the same way I do, with this City of Lights, Flowering City, Destination City, All American City, and Lot to like about Lowell thing.

    They’re some REAL issues not being administered to in the city and the promotion our cultural program is not among them right now.

18. joe Says:
    February 12th, 2008 at 10:38 am

    I’ve lived in a downtown condo, and now own a house in a neighborhood, and this divisiveness is a trick by the political insiders to maintain their own power.

    smallfish, Kpem, the people trying to get you worked up about “downtown elitists” are only doing so to distract you from the potholes in your street and the neglected apartment house on the next block. It’s called identity politics - they’re trying to get you to defend them against any criticism by pushing an us-against-them message.

19. kami Says:
    February 12th, 2008 at 10:42 am

    I’ve lived here my entire life and I just want to say “Welcome” to our new neighbors. Whether they be artists or laborers or business people. I’m glad you’re here buying condos in mill buildings that have been vacant and decaying for decades. And I’m proud that you’re here and taking a chance. You’re going to make the downtown more vibrant and exciting. Its people that will move the downtown from a weekend ghost town to a bustling area. Where there are people, restaurants will open. I am tired of the negativity from a few malcontent, long term residents directed at our new neighbors. I can say that the people I know that have lived here forever are thrilled that you’re here. Just because you were born here doesn’t mean you own the place. This is the USA where you can live where ever you’d like. And by the way, we don’t have 120,000 people according to census info. It’s about 103,000. You don’t have to be born here to get involved and have opinion about how things should be run. Our Mayor Bud “Unity” Caulfield was born and raised in Billerica. Former Mayor Eileen Donohue is originally from Holyoke. I think they both care about the City whether you agree with their politics or not. I certainly don’t agree with Bud 99.9% of the time but I think he is concerned with the future of the City. I don’t agree with the road he thinks we should take but I think he has a right to his opinion.

20. Lynne Says:
    February 12th, 2008 at 12:40 pm

    Thanks for that, kami.

    I do believe that (most) of the Good Ol’ Boy crowd have the best interests of Lowell at heart…in fact, I’ve said it before. The problem is with their methods!

    One of the biggest problems is that much of the city still doesn’t come downtown or elsewhere to enjoy the fun things the city has done. There IS a disconnect there, and it’s unfortunate, because what a lot of great resources for families and neighbors in the city.

    I think that is a sort of problem that is widespread throughout the modern world, actually. We’re fractured as a society. We don’t have so many neighborhood block parties anymore and we tend to “bowl alone.” The solution to that isn’t to stop doing the events that those residents resent, but to push for more inclusion and input from them.

    Frankly, the long commutes that most people have contribute the most to this, I think. That’s why upping the cultural assets in the community will have a ripple effect…more people will move their families and businesses here if there is a better4 standard of living here.

    The reason I can be so involved in the community and attend some of these events? I live AND work in Lowell. A while back, I railed against turning Lowell into a bedroom community and putting all our eggs in the residential development basket (which seems prescient now, giving the housing market) because when all we have is commuters, there’s no one to partake of the community’s benefits. I really do think a comprehensive approach to getting more people to live and work in the area (not just in Lowell, but at least close by) is what will be best for everyone, and a cultural economy could be a strong component of reaching that goal.

21. K-R-S Says:
    February 12th, 2008 at 12:51 pm

    Of interest, in todays’ Lowell Sun..
    http://www.lowellsun.com/editorials/ci_8239864

22. Lynne Says:
    February 12th, 2008 at 1:30 pm

    Ouch! Worth a front page…

23. littlefishbigpond Says:
    February 12th, 2008 at 1:57 pm

    Hi Kami, thank you for responding. I agree with the welcoming and the world does not begin and end in Lowell stuff. My point is not based on divisiveness. I just want the economic-commercial-promotional-development phase of the, let’s make this place someplace else, to pause for some reflection. So the issues that matter to residents who actually live here are digested, not just future recruits.

    You can be sure there’s no one directing my opinions or those of my friends. Who I think you’ll start to see will become more of a feature in the city. Also save the PolySci lesson for the kids. Which you misspeak, the aim of Identity politics is to empower the oppressed. I’m not oppressed, just annoyed at the… you owe us, we should have this.

    Please as you’ll see from my previous comments, I’ve thrown more than my share of spike strips at the BudRitaAkLenzi runaway bandwagon. I’ve known them longer and have even more reason to not like some of the things they say. I just cited their accessible and responsive.

    Wow. are you a shut in? Citing the US census for population averages in Lowell? Ever think the nervous 19yo college student/US census taker- wasn’t able to calculate all the undocumented expired visa Brazilians, West African, Dominicans, Vietnamese, Cambodians and many other residents, the US Dept of immigration can’t even keep up with!?!

    I have no problems with newbie blow-ins. It’s when they start getting pushy, like when a new sister or brother in law, who begins insisting we have ham at their house, EVERY holiday.

24. Lynne Says:
    February 12th, 2008 at 2:24 pm

    I hate to say this, but the “old place” of what once made Lowell Lowell is going and gone. There isn’t much left here in the city to keep the working-class, salt-of-the-earth union-brotherhood-like culture. It’s dying. And that’s a national trend, so there’s very little that we as a city can really do about it. It’s move on, or perish. So far, Lowell has been teetering between the two depending on the leadership.

    And what, exactly, is pushy about being passionate and not wasting years of work and private and public sector money, in moving forward with an initiative that all the economic experts agree is key? Professionalizing the promotion of the creative economy, which is what we’re talking about here, and building on what has been done before (for a couple decades now at least), is one piece of the economic puzzle for Lowell. If you think there’s other alternatives, please, propose one. In my opinion, there aren’t that many. Our cultural (ethnic, historic, and creative) assets are already halfway or most of the way cultivated. If we want to abandon that effort, what a waste it would be, and what would we develop in its stead? Go back to deserted streets and no festivals?

    As a city with a rich culture and history, we have assets that surrounding communities do not have. We would be fools not to capitalize and expand on them. We should feel lucky that we can do it, because most suburban and rural towns can’t take this route.

    And in doing so, we may well (if we do it smart) bring in businesses and residents both. It seems like a win-win to me. I still can’t understand exactly what the objections are, other than a parochial sense that “this wasn’t how it was back then.” Well, it can’t be. The world is a different place, and time and culture does not stand still.

25. kami Says:
    February 12th, 2008 at 2:56 pm

    Lynne, you’re entirely welcome. Although I don’t always agree with you on social issues I admire your willingness to put yourself out there.

    Littlefishbigpond, I am far from a shut in. I understand very well that we have transient College students and illegal aliens in our City. But what matters is the actual census count because that is driving all of our federal funding.

    But I take exception to your comments about new residents. I think they were shortsighted and parochial. Sometimes it takes something new to shine a light on what is old and outdated. Lowellians tend to act as though you can only have an opinion about Lowell if you were born here. That we’re the only ones that understand how the political system here works because we grew up with it. I just don’t happen to believe that. New residents have every right to ask for services that they feel would benefit the community. That doesn’t mean they will get what they want but they have a right to lobby just like anyone else. They’re paying taxes just like the rest of us. It’s not being pushy, it’s being involved. Maybe I like ham and want it too but I’m more worried about my obnoxious brother that always expects me to side with him just because he’s my brother.

26. Kpem Says:
    February 13th, 2008 at 12:38 am

    Sorry Lynne I always did like a good drama role. The middle class has been left out by many in Lowell lately. Right now I am not concerned about the arts infusion in Lowell, the homeless shelter, or what Alan Kazanjian is up to with his deals. I am concerned that my propety taxes are sky high (Many on the site seem to say this only happened to those making a $150,000 a year but that sure is not us) My property tax has gone up over $900 in 2 years, my daughter needs to be bussed cross city to receive the services she needs (visual impairment), and I cant make it to work on time because the traffic is so bad here. These are the issues in Lowell that the city counselors should and will take up long before they add another department to this city. Yes it has become us vs. them in this city. Some of us are fighting to get by and some of us are fighting just to fight. I have an economics degree and I am sure you are 100% correct that the arts are an important part of the long term goals of this city, but if you cant get by day to day in this city it is hard to think about the long term economic growth. So I think Mayor Bud is doing exactly what he should be. I called him with a question aboout my daughters school he got right on the phone and helped me out, When the neighborhood parks had been redone there was Rita and Alan Kazanjian at the dedications. Maybe if this COOL orginization had ever done anything to be known to the general population (come on at least by our kids in schools) or seen in the neighbrorhoods they would have had more support.

27. Mimi Says:
    February 13th, 2008 at 9:44 am

    Kpem:

    You are right, when you have a difficult time getting by day to day, it is difficult to think abou the long term economic development, therefore the future of this City.

    I applaud those City Councilors who can give you the individual time you need. In all fairness to the others, if you are not self-employed, retired or do not have extensive family obligations, it is not easy to be a public official.

    But would you agree with me that one can do “retail” constituency service and also provide the vision and lead? The two are not mutual exclusive. If the City Council does not work on the larger picture, who will?

    This whole issue has nothing to do with the arts; it has to do with the economic direction of this City. If the CM had decided to restructure an office to bring in Target, Lowes and other major retailers to Lowell, he would have been applauded.

    Let’s be honest, the concept of a Creative Economy is difficult to comprehend, then add the political factors of insiders losing some authority, you get the 5-4 vote.

28. Kpem Says:
    February 13th, 2008 at 11:19 am

    Mimi,
    I do not find the art economy hard to comprehend. I feel it is right up there with biotech, green building etc, new retail. There are enough departments doing their own thing in this city. I noticed that Worcester was used as a reference for a culture department when in fact they have a culture director but she works under the economic development departmemt not a seperate department. If we are so in favor of pooled resourses then why in fact do the Cool, Special events etc. not report to the economic development office. It seems to me that Worcester was not a good example for an independant department unless I read their budget incorrectly. They split up planning and development into two departments and instead of having a us vs them attitude (Artists vs. target) they can do real market research on what we need here. If the argument is that the artists are great for our “economy” (ok our spirit too) then that makes them go under “economic development”. A new department means more $$$ we all know that. Should LZ get a raise probably (I read her bio), should LZ get her own department nope there is enough departments in Lowell that already need streamlining. Do the artists feel they are not getting what they deserve here? What exactly is the justification for a seperate department as the position is there?

29. Mr. Lynne Says:
    February 13th, 2008 at 11:31 am

    Nobody is talking about additional $$$. All that was proposed was using the same amount of money in a way that could be more (not less) effective. In totality this wouldn’t (shouldn’t) be a big deal, but paranoid GOBers fear for their turf. Nobody proposed taking money from something else. This could (should) have been a one night ‘lets-do-this’ thing. The justification is dollar efficiency. I wish all the other functions of government would think this way.

30. waittilnextyr Says:
    February 13th, 2008 at 11:46 am

    I think the idea that Kpem offers (include the arts economy in the DPD) has some merit. After all, economic development is the primary reason the City government would involve itself in the private economy.

    However, the rejection of the proposal appears to have been based on other considerations, some of which are not in the best interests of the City, the Arts Community or the general populace.

    Let’s hope a modified proposal can be approved.

31. Kpem Says:
    February 13th, 2008 at 1:50 pm

    Lynne,
    If this is not about economic development and marketing then what is it about? A quote from you while praising Bill Martin “but Martin also placed a priority on economic development” If the idea is for pooled resourses then why not under the economic delopment office where they can work hand and hand with marketing, downtown development etc…This is an equal position in Worcester to Special events coordinator, downtown development, business assistant director, all reporting to the director of economic development. (This position was compared to Worcester and Cambridge). If you look at the Worcester budget there is an orginization chart for this department as well as a budget. Please just help me understand what creating a department that was not going to cost us anymore money would do for the city again? Why do we pay a position to LZ Nunn at all if she is not our cultural officer? This is not a $16,000 thing at all Lynne. (Is she already a full time employee of Lowell?) This is about creating more departments then are needed. Why would LZ not want to tap into the marketing, advertsing, seminar etc.. budget of the economic development office. Where does her budget come from now? Maybe this should have been brought up as a move in departments rather than creation of a new one? I admit I was ignorant on the subject but I am trying to find info. out. I do not think this is a stand alone department. I feel that the economic development office should maintain a culture website, keep the artist lofts and affordable space going, Be in charge of venues and Special events etc…

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