Left In Lowell

The Sun’s Agenda - Plain as the Nose On Your Face

by Lynne at 1:30 pm.

Mimi and Dick have already posted on the absolutely silly Column that was in today’s Sun. But I wanted to put my two cents in as well.

Isn’t it completely obvious to everyone who’s agenda the Sun is pushing here? It’s obvious that Meehan doesn’t like Lynch, for some reason, or is at least pitting himself against him in this Tsongas arena matter, and the Sun, or at least its unethical editor, is pulling for Meehan - literally, in the pages of the newspaper he controls. You know, the guy whose house Campanini purchased? Let’s take a stroll through the rantings of an editor whose tenure at the paper has been marked by baby kingmaking efforts…(bold is mine and my commentary indicated in brackets):

THE STICKY thing here, however, is how involved should the manager be in Arena Commission negotiations? By statute, the manager is not a member of the seven-member commission. His role is advisory.

It’s questionable whether Lynch should be participating in closed-door meetings with the Arena Commission, an independent instrument of city government.

This brings up an ethical issue. The city manager appoints four of the seven commissioners — the other three are appointed by the UMass Lowell chancellor — so the manager could unduly influence his appointees by the opinions he delivers in closed-door sessions where votes are taken. [Uh, duh, this is the way the Commission is set up - the two stakeholders appoint people. Who they think will best represent the interests of said stakeholder. Are you really that thick?]

At present, two commissioners are holdovers and both are the manager’s picks. One’s reappointment is five years overdue. Do you think that person, if he wants to stay on the commission, could be influenced by the manager’s participation?

Furthermore, why doesn’t Chancellor Marty Meehan get to attend closed-door meetings? The university has as much a financial stake in both the arena and LeLacheur Park as does the city, because it donated the same as the city did to build both facilities and is recognized, by statute, as a partner.

The whole column reads like some sort of joke, and if it weren’t so serious, I’d be laughing at the poor composition.

BACK TO the communication issue, the most vocal of Lynch’s critics were Kazanjian and Councilor Mike Lenzi, both of whom said they were “starving for information.”

Holy crap in hell, Lenzi (as Mimi pointed out) was the one that wanted the Council to meet less. Because governin’ is hard work, don’tcha know? And he has a business to run! Poor, poor, poor Lenzi.

Lenzi complained that he has only received three phone calls from Lynch in his 13 months on the council, a number Lynch disputed. Lenzi said he does not consider e-mail, text messages or other forms of “modern communication” an appropriate way for the manager to communicate with the council. Lenzi prefers talking over the phone or face-to-face.

Bwaaaaaaaaahahaha! No, really, OMG, I’m holding my sides in. Hilarious. So an email isn’t a communication…tell that to the Bush administration…hahahaha…

Well, Lenzi, sir, where’s your motion to go back to weekly meetings, might I ask? If you’re so starving to get your hands more dirty, then why are you avoiding governing?

What is curious about Lenzi’s comment is that he has only filed one motion — to change the City Council meeting schedule from weekly to biweekly — actually lessening the time the councilors communicate face-to-face. A majority of the council approved the measure, believing that more thorough subcommittee work could get accomplished with two weeks between council meetings.

I bet you someone other than Campanini sneaked that last paragraph in. How much you all want to put up on that bet?

[Filed under Local politics, Media] [link]

11 Responses to “The Sun’s Agenda - Plain as the Nose On Your Face”

Prince Charming Says:
January 18th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
You guys always talk about Crampy buying the house from Meehan but if you go back and find out who Meehan boughht it from, you’ll come full circle.
K-R-S Says:
January 18th, 2009 at 2:34 pm
PC, does the answer to your previous question, start w/ a “T”?
From what Lenzi has stated on camera, having those Tuesday nights free, enables him to attend business mixers to promote his business. Oh Happy Day…so glad he was able to find something else to do w/ those pesky Tuesday evenings.
BTW…how many phone calls have the CC in question made to the Mgr., if they were starving for information?
Prince Charming Says:
January 18th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
Yes it does. This man’s wife had a high position in the city at one time and helped a certain “cub reporter” get his wife a job in the same department. He’s also featured prominently in the Column as a “political source”. Sometimes, he’s mentioned by name in the Saturday Suck-up. Occasionally he’ll send in a letter to the editor, usually when the editor doesn’t write what T likes. It’s like one of those celebrity sex wheels, like Brad Pitt had sex with Jennifer and Jennifer had sex with so-and-so. By the time the circle is complete, Brad had sex with Nelson Mandela. Same principle.
Millguy09 Says:
January 18th, 2009 at 4:44 pm
What’s with all of the “cloak and dager”.. Why not just say the guys name - Bill Taupier! If you travel on East Merrimack Street enough you can often see Campi going into Taupier’s office!
Prince Charming Says:
January 18th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
Cloak and dagger is more fun. It makes people think. I figure that if they want to call him “source” on Sundays, I’m not gonna out the guy.
Fran McDougall Says:
January 19th, 2009 at 11:22 am
As an outsider peering into Lowell “polliwollitics”, I found myself, while reading yesterday’s column,I was envisioning the evil warlock of the Sun standing over a bubbling cauldron with a long spoon stirring the pot hoping that if he threw in enough innuendoes and snide remarks, he could completely undo all the strides the city has made with Lynch as its manager. Marty, if you’re part of this attack, it’s time for you to grow up and work for what’s best for the city you have quickly abandoned for Andover. Mr. T you’re no longer an integral part of the “A” team. The Sun has truly become a cartoon of a viable print media. Obama: bad, bad, bad. Now, Obama: good, good, good! Send us your maoney so that we can publish our praises. Sad,sad, sad.
Fran McDougall Says:
January 19th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Oops. Should have proof read. Oh well. I think you get the gist.
joe from Lowell Says:
January 19th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
They should change the City Seal.

Instead of “Art is the Handmaid of Human Good,” it should read “Hey, I Went to School With Your Sister.”
Prince Charming Says:
January 19th, 2009 at 6:40 pm
Joe in regards to your post, I have been kicking myself in the ass since 6:21 because I didn’t think of that.
Lynne Says:
January 20th, 2009 at 11:48 am
This is cool. I’m watching the inaugural in Arlington at the Regent Theatre with friends, which is quite full, and they just announced Obama - the crowd here stood and cheered a long time…
B~ Says:
January 20th, 2009 at 10:00 pm
500-800 million dollars will be in invested in the Hamilton Canal District. The city will need a first class hotel. Makes sense to me to put it next to the Tsongas. Could be great for conventions. Practice hockey rink? More parking? What a waste of good real estate.

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January 18, 2009

The Sun’s Agenda - Plain as the Nose On Your Face

11 Responses to “The Sun’s Agenda - Plain as the Nose On Your Face”

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