I would like to interject into this regularly scheduled controversy to say a few more things.
The problem I have with Arena issue isn’t so much with a deal being made, as the way it was made. Which is to say, made via that Lowell standby, the Good Ol Boy network.
I used to defend Meehan. In fact, there was quite a lot of outrage against him at various times, and on national blogs, I said some nice things about him. I still think there are things to be happy about – his voting record (with some very notable exceptions) in the House was fairly in line with the Democratic platform, and I know he is an intelligent man.
However, he is a Lowell politician through and through, and to the people who tried to tell me this, years ago, I admit to you, you were right. And there’s a fine line between ambitious and career-driven, and the sort of politics that happens in this city (and a lot in the state house) when it comes to personal loyalties driving policy, instead of the other way around.
For instance, why is Panagiotakos’ name anywhere near this? It keeps cropping up. This is same outrage as when these people (the GOBs) back a clearly unqualified friend for a public position, or for a candidacy, when obviously the reason is far more about personal loyalty than the knowledge that that person is the best person for the job.
We all use our human networks in life. Humans are social creatures, there’s no denying that. I network for my business. But I can assure you, when I accept clients via these networks, I am qualified for it. I wouldn’t accept a job where I wasn’t. And the reason I know the difference between the GOB and the people I believe deserve my support, is that those people I support wouldn’t ever offer me some largess just based on my personal connection to them. And they don’t use what they can offer to solidify anyone’s loyalty, which is, essentially, how they wind up earning mine.
The GOB network doesn’t think like this. Of course, it’s perfectly human, how they use their networks – and perfectly unethical. But just because it’s the way business has been conducted in this city for a long time, doesn’t mean it’s right, or that it’s good for the city.
I stand by what I wrote – I do not see how UML really gets any gain particularly in the foreseeable future, and I still wonder what professors UML will lay off to pay for operating this Arena, or what student fees will go up - again. The state university system, I’m sure, would not want to actually pay for the Arena, if the deal included money up front (and again, profits to pay back the city? Please. Where’s the plan? I think the city taxpayers at least deserve to know the plan for making the damn thing profitable). And I still don’t see how we can give away the land next door, that’s just dumb. I also think there’s some very interesting possibilities for redevelopment in that area – perhaps, at this point, after the recession begins to subside. And that the way the Arena was set up to be governed years ago was obviously a failed experiment. (Well, at least in so far as appointed positions can be abused by abusive people and the Arena Commission seemed unwilling to actually make hard choice between personal loyalty, and what was a correct choice, in the past.)
For people who believe that an entertainment venue can’t work for a city, I refer you to a recent one well-done – that of the Verizon arena in Manchester, NH, a fairly comparable situation to Lowell (downtown location, part of a revitalization project). I’m from that area, and I know the Elm St downtown area really well. It was an abandoned pit. But not any more. The problems with our arena have been poor oversight and poor planning, but those things don’t have to be permanent.
What I wonder is, what sorts of plans to turn around the Arena can Meehan possibly put into action, given that he himself said on the radio when he was first hired, that he’s only planning on being chancellor for perhaps 2-3 years? Everyone knows that we will soon lose a Senator, and there’s a reason Meehan kept some $4-million-odd dollars in his campaign account even when the Democrats were in need of funds in order to regain Congress three years ago, and he was verbally hammered, nationally, for not doing his part.
I’ll note a lot of people came out of the woodwork yesterday, which is interesting in and of itself. There are some good arguments (and many bad ones) regarding what should be done and stating that this is a “good” deal. My problem with the thing (besides many of the specifics) is the games that were played, and the way it evolved, and the fact that the City had to come to the negotiating table basically hobbled. It wasn’t a negotiation, it was a capitulation, before the discussion even started.
And the games. The so-called Kraft Report. The political maneuvering. It was like watching that same bad movie all over again. (You know, the one where the City Manager almost got his city put on the DoR watch list…)
[As an aside, I find these comments, in particular, to be a freaking riot. “Thank god for Campanini and the sun.” Hilarious. Anyone else remember when we had such obviously-motivated drive-by comments? Though I am not referring to the honest commenters who have taken time to explain their views.]
Again, I don’t think it’s a logical conflict for this to both be bad for UML (I refer you to the budget cuts) and bad for the city. The city is possibly being asked to give away land that potentially in the future could be part of the city’s tax rolls, and may be a key to reversing the curse. Given to the University, I’m not sure it’ll be put to similar use. And I don’t think a Division-whatever hockey team is a good legacy for a university, sorry. I think our priorities are seriously screwed up and this is not the first time I’ve been disappointed as to where a public university decided to put its money and its time. While Meehan is trying to convince us they can take on the Arena costs, he’s out there making statements that jeopardize the Nanotech center, and yes, it was his statements that caused the hubbub. If he had done things right, we would be perhaps seeing a delay on beginning the center, but its plans still solidly in place. Investment does not thrive on uncertainty, however, which is what Meehan has projected.
I don’t have a bridge to burn here. I don’t get one iota of benefit from expressing my disgust at this whole process, it doesn’t help my business (which is doing quite well on its own, thank goodness). I don’t care if Meehan, or Pangiotakos, or any of them, hate my guts. Maybe there was a time when I could have been accepted into their fold, if I had kept my mouth shut, not care about the “way things are,” and become a part of it, but I choose not to. I don’t care if I piss off every man politician of them (including my own party’s leaders)…if I see something which I think is not right, I want the freedom to say it.
No, the only thing I get from this is a sense that my government is broken, but maybe, just maybe, it can be fixed. It is not a good thing for GOBs to operate in the dark, and sunlight is the only remedy. Well, that, and that the majority of these folks aren’t much under the age of 55…
If we don’t fix things and constantly stay on our guard, we’ll wind up back with incompetent technocrats and unopened Department of Revenue audit letters. No thanks.
March 31st, 2009 at 12:38 pm
So when he runs for Teddy’s seat are you telling us you’ll vote Republican?
March 31st, 2009 at 12:43 pm
Now why the hell would I vote Republican just because I dislike a Democrat and his methods? Why would I vote for someone who has NONE of my ideals rather than someone whose ideals I can at least agree with 75% of the time? No, those battles are fought in the primary. And yes, I’m prepared to fight in the primary.
Do you have any idea how many people are going to run for that seat? There’s no guarantee that anyone, even with money advantage, has a lock on it. In fact I actually think Meehan’s chances are even, or worse, not better than. There are much higher-profile Dems in the bench than him hands down, who all could quickly ramp up fundraising and wipe out any stored money advantage.
March 31st, 2009 at 3:38 pm
Have you seen the Verizon Wireless Arena compared to the Tsongas? The Tsongas is nice but its definitely a huge step down from Manchester and thats the problem. Manchester has all the more modern amentities, like a video scoreboard, plus a lot more seats. Its no wonder why the Tsongas is having trouble attracting events.
Ultimately the goal for the hockey team is to own its own rink. They wanted a smaller arena years ago. So when Marty threatens that they might need to find somewhere else to play, its not entirely idle threats. As another commenter noted, the original plan was to build their own arena on campus. Then the city wanted to build a larger arena downtown. If the city really holds its ground, and then the River Hawks ditch the arena, then we have the City needing to capitulate to the Devils again or have no permanant tenant.
Think of it from a UML perspective, you think they have a great deal there, but it still is no way the best deal they could have had. But they played ball with the city. The city isn’t committed to improving the place. At least the University is.
And where do we see professors being laid off in this equation? That sounds like Republican scare-tactics. 1.) I don’t care how much ego Meehan has, he’s not going through all this if the University doesn’t have a plan on how to take it over. Whereever the money is coming from on the University’s side, its been worked out, because the worst part of the University of Massachusetts system is each campus can barely do anything without running it by their masters in Boston (aka Amherst).
And if this was the only thing that Marty Meehan was pushing at the University, you might have arguments about misplaced priorities but really there’s a lot more going on in the “master plan.” Obviously there was the dorm issue which we weighed in on a few months ago and then was reversed last week I believe? The new academic buildings. Nanotech was there before he got there but I still don’t hold him to blame for the money situation that all big projects in this state and the country are going through right now. And yes of course, he’s using the media to further his cause. Looks like he has a pretty good track record with that? And I don’t see how its out of the ordinary for Senator Panagiotakos to be looking out for the interests of the largest state university in his district and the interests of his hometown. Because it seems like most everyone actually involved is in favor of this deal. The CC, the CM, a lot of people on the city side as well. I think this is a matter of “Don’t trust Marty, his motives can’t be good”
I agree that it’d be nice for the public to see the actual plan. Then we can have more informed discussions. All I can really speak to is the broader idea and the arguments for or against.
And I don’t know if I’m considered one of the ones coming out of the woodwork. I dont comment too much but I read the blog all the time and think you do a great job giving the other perspective in the city of Lowell. I hate the Sun. I was very pleased to see someone call them out on their ridiculous teacher bashing. I just am offering my opinion as an alumni, brother of a student, hockey fan and Lowell resident. I really have strong connections to all the groups involved.
March 31st, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Marty will be nowhere near that race. Its all about the $$, and here he has both that and he’s 10 minutes from his family.
I don’t think the taxpayers of the city care less what the university does with the thing. They get nothing from the university in terms of taxes anyways.
Again, if Marty wants to take on the debt and try to make it work.. let him. I’d rather see the school trying to use it for their sports program than the city running an entertainment venue (and failing at it, once again, because they’re not supposed to.. never mind that they never knew how to).
There’s some big cuts coming soon.. we should dump this elephant as quick as we can.
March 31st, 2009 at 3:45 pm
You know what they say Lynne, when you start getting attacked you know you are doing something right. My perspective on this is fairly similar to yours, with a few differences.
I think the city should hold on to the arena at least until they can get out from under the Devil’s lease, which would at least give them a chance to make it profitable. Losing a million a year is certainly unacceptable in the long run, but considering what the city has already invested I don’t think waiting a couple more years to potentially turn a profit is out of the question.
As for the land next to the arena, I am completely opposed to giving it to UML, free or not. That is the last major plot of riverfront land in the city and should be sold to someone who intends on using it to build a hotel, restaurant, apartment building, or condos. That way it enhances the extended downtown area, brings in property tax revenue, and possibly brings people into the city to stay or eat. A practice rink, dorms, or academic buildings would benefit only a tiny portion of the taxpayers who would ultimately be paying for it. Also, as others have commented previously, Lowell is no longer a hockey town, and hockey does not bring in the revenue or fans that college hoops or football do, so the idea that hockey is vital to UML’s reputation as a world class university is somewhat laughable.
As for the political maneuvering, it has been as predictable as it has been depressing. I think Lynch is doing a pretty great job overall considering the shape the city was left in, and it can’t be much fun dealing with City Councilors who obviously care more about sucking up to local politicians and grandstanding than helping the city.
Finally, don’t sweat the Lowell Sun and their obvious agenda. The Sun is a pathetic, dying, rag that can barely fill twenty pages even when half of what they print is AP stories and minutes from Ayer town meetings. I would be astonished if they are around in 5 years.
This is all coming from someone who disagrees with you often, (a borderline anarchist libertarian) but realizes that you really care about this city, and not just because you stand to gain a hack job or a city council seat. Keep up the good work!
April 1st, 2009 at 8:33 am
Is Shawn a Lowellian?
April 1st, 2009 at 8:50 am
“…you stand to gain …a city council seat.” Lynne on the Lowell City Council… now there’s an idea!
April 1st, 2009 at 9:00 am
I’m basically in the BPC camp. If it’s an asset that can be shown to make money under more favorable usage contract conditions, the the act of giving it away now isn’t really an act addressing the arena so much as an act addressing cash flow. Cutting loses now would have to be more about debt than the arena’s disposition.
If the Councilors are really thinking that the arena can’t ever be profitable, let them stand up on camera and say that Paul Tsongas failed.
April 1st, 2009 at 9:48 am
“Ultimately the goal for the hockey team is to own its own rink. They wanted a smaller arena years ago. So when Marty threatens that they might need to find somewhere else to play, its not entirely idle threats.”
Great! See ya! We could actually do something better than practically give away ice time to the UML hockey team. Fine by me (though I am not against them being there, but if they want to move, so much the better). UML is NEVER going to fill those seats, even if they take over and make the hockey team their focus for the next decade.
“And where do we see professors being laid off in this equation?”
Well, you tell me where you think the money will come from then. It’s a Republican tactic to say money will magically come from somewhere and no one will have to pay (for that tax cut, that increase in military spending, whatever), but I don’t subscribe to that view.
“And I don’t know if I’m considered one of the ones coming out of the woodwork.”
You are, but I wasn’t referring to you as a “driveby”. I should have been more clear, I was referring to you when I said some of the new commenters had something useful to say.
““…you stand to gain …a city council seat.” Lynne on the Lowell City Council… now there’s an idea!”
Haha, not going to happen. How then could I take pot shots at the silliness in the Lowell Sun if I were worried about my coverage there? Also, I’d get terrible coverage there even if I spent the next five years bending over backwards with praise of them. LMAO!
“If the Councilors are really thinking that the arena can’t ever be profitable, let them stand up on camera and say that Paul Tsongas failed.”
Awesome!