Left In Lowell

If it were not for blogs, I would never have known that the Gorham Street Fire Station was closed on Thursday, therefore the first responders came from the main station on Moody Street.

Jason comments on dickhowe.com post written by Paul regarding the Highland Street fire were of great significance. The biggest tragedy occurred to those who lost their home and belongings but what Jason wrote should wake up every Lowell resident:

Too bad the nearest Engine Company on Gorham Street, normally the first to arrive at this building, was closed yesterday. Also two of the city’s four ladder trucks were closed for repairs requiring a ladder to come from Lawrence directly to the fire and from Dracut to cover. Tewksbury also sent an engine to the scene while other towns covered Lowell.

As we know, a while back the City decided in order to save money, it will close fire stations on a rotating basis. We have got use to seeing stations closed. Now, when we drive by, we do not think twice.

The second point in Jason’s comments that concerned me was the condition of the fleet. Two of the ladders were in for repairs and a ladder truck had to come from Lawrence. If you look at the Lowell Fire Departments web site, you will notice that two of the four ladder trucks are 15 (Ladder 4/West Sixth St.) and 14 (Ladder 2/Branch St.) years old. The Engines (pumps) are just as old; three were purchased in 1994 and two in 1996.

The FY 2009 City Budget mentioned that the Capital Plan “includes the replacement of three pieces of fire apparatus (2 pumpers and 1 aerial ladder).” I am not sure if we have begun to purchase these vehicles, but I would think given the economic situation, this plan has been put on hold.

Given what occurred in Boston earlier this year, it may be a good idea for the City Council Safety Sub-Committee to ask for a full report on the conditions of our fleet. I too am as pessimistic as Jason, there isn’t the political will or the public interest to question if the Fire Department is properly equipped. And given the upcoming cut backs, this issue is going on the back burner (excuse the pun!).

After much consideration, I have decided to cancel my subscription to the Boston Globe not because I dislike the content of that newspaper; I do like it and I read it everyday. I just do not read the print copy anymore. The paper is delivered in a clear plastic bag to me very early in the morning; I take the newspaper out the plastic bag, put the paper in a recycle pile and the plastic in a recycle container.

Although I no longer read the print version, I read the web version faithfully. I also read the Sun’s and the New York Times web sites as well as numerous other old media and new media sites. I along with a growing majority of people get my news throughout the day from various sources; even with the fluff stuff that I read, I read on the internet. And as for analysis and commentary, it is all over the internet; more than I can digest.

I am a traditionalist. We have always had a newspaper in my house. Probably the majority of blog readers have stopped reading print copies of newspapers long time ago; I guess I am showing my age. It was not an easy decision because I know by eliminating my subscription, in a very, very small way, I am adding to the decline of the newspaper industry as we know it. A few weeks back, the Globe offered another buyout not only to some workers for the print edition but this time also for workers on their web site, boston.com. As we all know, it has been over a decade that newspapers have been trying to come up with a business model for their web site; and for the most part, they have not succeeded. I do not think charging a fee for a news website is going to work.

Although the major newspapers in the U.S. have closed many of their international desks, you can easily read first hand reporting from foreign media sources. And I think we will always a vibrant national media whether it be the various cable and commercial networks, weekly magazines, the major national newspapers or the big name web sites.

My concern is the local news in general and Lowell specifically. Although we have a number of blogs and the list continues to grow, we have a locally owned and operated radio station; and of course we have our local access PEG stations operated by Lowell Telecommunications Corporation, but I still rely on the Sun to get my local news. In spite of the strong-arm editorial position of the paper, the reporters do a fine job. Unfortunately, they are down to a handful of individuals. Reporters who have left the paper are not replaced; instead their beat is merged with another reporters’ or correspondents are hired to cover an event. And now, thanks to Dick I understand that due to financial problems at corporate, the staff had to take a week furlough. Ouch!

I truly appreciate professional newspaper journalists and I am concerned for the future of that occupation if it is not financially viable. Anyone who blogs, understands and recognizes the necessity of original news sources. Even if all of us who consider ourselves citizen journalists do our job, will that be enough?