Left In Lowell

I just saw the list of projects earmarked for Massachusetts in the Federal Spending Bill that was published on the Globe’s web site.

Of course the first thing I did was check to see how much of the $137M coming to Massachusetts was coming to Lowell. This is what we are scheduled to receive:

$428,000 for Lowell General Hospital, for facilities and equipment

$150,000 for the Lowell Police Department’s Law Enforcement Video Information Sharing (LEVIS) project

I read what President Obama said today regarding earmarks and this spending bill:

I am signing an imperfect omnibus bill because it’s necessary for the ongoing functions of government, and we have a lot more work to do… We can’t have Congress bogged down at this critical juncture in our economic recovery. But I also view this as a departure point for more far-reaching change.

In my discussions with Congress, we have talked about the need for further reforms to ensure that the budget process inspires trust and confidence instead of cynicism. So I believe as we move forward, we can come together around principles that prevent the abuse of earmarks….These principles begin with a simple concept: Earmarks must have a legitimate and worthy public purpose.

And I believe our President but he has a lot of work to do to get Congress to stop this practice. I do not mind spending money on programs that benefit the greater good but I am finding it hard to see the necessity to proceed with some of these projects when cities such as Lowell have infrastructure problems

We could really use the $500,000 that will go to the Provincetown Center for Coastal Studies right whale conservation studies. Heh, we would have applied it to our CSO repairs cost the same way New Bedford, Fall River, and Acushnet will apply the $750,000 they are going to receive.

This earmark list should be titled, it is not what you need it is who you know.

This morning’s Globe reports that Lowell’s teenage curfew law will be reviewed by the state’s Supreme Judicial Court.

The law has been in effect for about 15 years. It was put in place as a result of the escalating gang activities in the City. Kids were killing other kids.

According to the Globe, “ This is the first time a Massachusetts state court will rule on whether juvenile curfews are legal, and communities with curfews - including Lynn, Holyoke and Chicopee - are watching the case closely.”

This lawsuit was brought by two kids, under the age of 17, who in 2004 were out after 11:00 p.m. unaccompanied by an adult and they were arrested because they violated this City ordinance.

Although I consider myself a defender of civil liberties, I do not see any compelling reasons why someone 16 or under should have the right to walk around unaccompanied after 11:00 p.m. Where is he/she going? If they want to go to the movies, go to an earlier showing. The Globe’s article points out that the law is working and that the police does use discretion.

And what rights do we have as a community to govern ourselves as we see fit?