Member of the reality-based community of progressive (not anonymous) Massachusetts blogs
And this game show’s first contestant: Councilor Rita Mercier.
But Rita Mercier, never one to bite her tongue, freely admits that for her it was personal. She voted to rid City Hall of Sheehan, whom she said she found to be crude and arrogant. However, she also said she never talked to Sheehan.
Bangs. Head. On. Wall. Repeatedly.
Thanks for playing, Rita, you are a winner! And by that, I mean you aren’t.
Next up, Mayor “Bud” Caulfield:
“We cut the funding, not the position,” Mayor Edward “Bud” Caulfield said last week. “I am not saying we will not restore that funding in the future.”
Whaaaaaa? Please repeat that again, but make sense this time.
Rita Mercier has complained that Sheehan never called her on any issue.
“I don’t want to bother the manager. I have always dealt with the assistants,” she said.
*BUZZER* Wrong! That is such malarkey I don’t know where to begin. First, it’s up to Lynch who gets assigned to field the questions and requests of his office. “I have always dealt with assistants.” Right. But she’s never talked to Sheehan. So obviously not “always.” OMG. I just can’t take the stupid.
And now, the Irony LIGHTING ROUND!
“I know there are a lot of campaigns being run out there,” Lenzi said last week. “But I didn’t know the manager was running a campaign.”
“I’m for Cox.” ‘Nuff said. A statement on a radio show does not a campaign make. However, bumper stickers and signs in business’ windows, that, my friends is a campaign.
Lenzi wants to remind Lynch he works for the council.
I’d like to remind Lenzi that he works for us, the people of Lowell. Not too hard, though, mind you…
Thanks to all our contestants. You win the prize for making my head explode these last two weeks. Gah!
Update: Just an additional note. You know, I highly respect Lynch for not giving his assistant the job of dealing with the bosses (the Councilors) or reporting directly to them. Lynch is the appointed manager, not Sheehan. Therefore, it’s basically giving your assistant all the political risk to hand that part of the job to them, instead of taking it on yourself. It’s potentially throwing the assistant under the bus. But the Councilors threw him under the bus instead. It’s a sad day in Lowell when the City Councilors can break the law believing there are no consequences.
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June 28th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
Seriously Lynne, that’s the best post you’ve ever had here at LiL. If you ever come up with a Hall of Fame, that one should be in it.
June 28th, 2009 at 6:02 pm
PC: honestly, also one of the easiest posts to write…like shooting fish in a barrel. It wrote itself because the statements were so goddamned outrageous and such violations of basic logic. Personally I wish it didn’t have to ever be written.
I’d rather we had smarter city councilors instead.
Sigh.
June 28th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
And Lenzi apparently decided long ago, that he didn’t want to work AS much, period…Ding, Ding!
June 28th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
Time for Caulfield,Mercier,Mercier, Kazajian and Lenzie to go. Lowell needs a higher caliber of city councilors. Too much work needs to be done and they are only in the way of progress.
June 28th, 2009 at 8:47 pm
I think picking a side in all of the local politics does not get us where we want to be. The shouts calling for the removal of certain councilors mean nothing without a better option.
Ideally, all the city councilors need to go as does Lynch and his bunch of cronies. I do not think Sheehan should have been cut out of the budget, but do you really think he was completely innocent in all of this?
June 28th, 2009 at 9:53 pm
That’s your opinion and you’re perfectly entitled. But since you just hate everyone and everything and accuse everyone of being of the same corrupt ilk, forgive me for not ever taking anything you say seriously.
June 28th, 2009 at 10:09 pm
So, the “column” takes issue w/ the fact that the city has only “managed” to “save” or put into “free cash” $400K in 3 years…Huh?… considering at the end of the tenure of the last CM-Lowell was prime for state oversight, our Moody’s (bond rating) rating was tanking faster than the Titanic, considering we had to climb out of millions in the hole, double digit increases in health insurance for employees, worry about NOT laying off CC politically connected employees..I’d consider $400K a good net in 3 years
June 28th, 2009 at 10:19 pm
At this point, given that the CC has left our CM w/ a “whole” TWO individuals (including the mgr.), pretty much ensures that the CC hands are tied as well. G’luck on that! Wow, if Lowell had a poor reputation before w/out a prof. manager (prior to this administration)..all blame will be laid at this councils feet. So much for moving our city forward. SAD and so SHORTSIGHTED!
June 28th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
Seriously, how friggin backward is Lowell, as of July 1? And this CC supposedly wants to become this boon town? And our city “leaders” wonder why we have been left in the dust to depend upon the largesse of the Feds and State Guv.
June 29th, 2009 at 6:48 am
If you want a good look at what happens when a city takes it eyes off of the sustainable economic development prize and swims in the crap waters of political intrigue and back-stabbing and the politics of personal grudges and steel-cage matches look no farther than Springfield, MA. Even after years of control by an outside Board, the city is essentially no better off than it was five years ago. Oh yes its debt has disappeared but only because the city has cut massively into the delivery of decent services to residents. Its streets need the state police on weekends, its teachers are continually put down and its schools suffer accordingly, and there is no job growth at all. However much we are excited about the many good things going on, Springfield had a lot going for it too before it took it eyes off the long-term. Now it will take many, many years to rebuild a viable downtown, grow employment in the city and region, and restore a real sense of democracy there. The bottom fell out there just like the trpa door under the hang-man’s noose. We can not afford to let a tiny handful of people rule the destiny of what still is a pretty vibrant, interesting, and culturally rich and diverse city. This requires that those of us here for the long term- neighborhood organizations, cultural institutions, educational institutions, parents with young kids in the schools, local business owners, representatives of the city’s immigrant group - work harder than hard to produce a city council and school committee reflective of the composition of the city and smart enough to understand that broad-based participaiton in the discussions needed to move us all forward is required, not the much narrower politics as usual currently on display.
Cheers!
June 29th, 2009 at 7:02 am
Shalloteer-
That’s actually the most intelligent nugget I’ve ever seen on this blog. Rita’s a nutter–we know that. But Andy just admitted to “gallows humor” which is usually reserved for the swingee not the guy who ties the knot and kicks the box. Incredibly, even after ball week, I take you completely seriously. Well. Done. Shalloteer. (Sorry for perioding all over the place.)
June 29th, 2009 at 7:18 am
Nice post.
The thing that kills me about all of this nonsense it how utterly embarrassing it all is. I’m not much of a pearl-clutcher (yet) but the actions of Lowell’s elected officials make me want to go all grandma on them - aside from being elected officials, they are (in theory) human adults who should have left this playground bully nonsense behind long ago. It’s just so embarrassing….
June 29th, 2009 at 7:42 am
Seriously Lynne, stop taking yourself so seriously.
You contribute to a dumb blog. I write a dumber blog.
You’ve seem to become the Kendall Wallace of the internet.
Blog on blog crime is about as smart incessant fighting between the factions of Lowell city councilors.
When I find something positive to write about, I’ll write it, but I’m not a cheerleader. I’m not impressed with our clowns in local government, and I’m not going to blow smoke up the asses of people doing what their supposed to do. I’ve seen a lot more about the truth in Lowell, and for a very long time. So forgive me, for seeing things a bit differently.
You seem to see these issues in black and white (just like Campanini.) Everyone is responsible for the ongoing feuds. Your beloved Bernie Lynch and Andy Sheehan, do you really think they’re perfect angels?
Your thinly veiled attacks at your disdain for the Shallot are pretty funny. Are you really interested in change in Lowell, or are you more interested in being the queen of Lowell blogs? Your actions remind me of Regina Faticanti’s actions on school committee– worried more about her cronies and self importance than the primary objective.
Don’t worry, I’m not going to waste my time blogging forever. I have better things to do.
June 29th, 2009 at 8:20 am
My problem with LowellShallot.com is that it just isn’t very useful, frankly. The purpose seems to be to throw tomatoes at everyone, under the assumption that nobody is any good for the City at all. The one exception I’ve every seen is the recent remark about Dayne. Even as such, I’m left with the impression that were Dayne to run and win, she’d just be the recipient of more tomatoes later. This kind of cynicism directed at everyone can be useful, to a point, but after a a point it isn’t very productive at all. I don’t think lowellshallot.com is interested in solutions at all. Problem is, we’ve got this City that needs a good government with solutions. Lowellshallot.com, frankly, ins’t really helping.
As for Lynch, I don’t think anyone is perfect but it sure is better since Lynch came in and helped the City avert disaster. From what I can see, his eye is on the ball and Lowell is the better for it. In this way, he has shown himself to be much much more of a solution than a problem. Since I like to see the city move forward, and he’s doing a good job as such, I’m happy to have him looking out for the City. Does this mean I’m likely to ‘blow smoke up his ass’? Hardly,… I’ll judge based on actions and consequences. Thus far he’s been fine. While he continues to be fine, I’ll be happy to judge people distracting him with irrelivant bull!$#* as part of the problem, although I’m perfectly willing to hear someone make a case it isn’t irrelevant bull@#(!.
One thing is for sure,… Lynne isn’t playing ‘Queen of the City’ at all,… she’s just pissed off and she’s doing something about it.
June 29th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Shallot, quit talking out your ego. I’m done feeding it. Good luck with your blog.
June 29th, 2009 at 10:16 am
Lynne has proven herself over the years and does not deserve a comparison to Campi or Regina. Enjoy yourself, Shallot, but don’t expect to be taken seriously.
June 29th, 2009 at 11:06 am
Mr. Lynne, I’m not going to say anything negative about coming to the defence of your lady. If the beautiful Lynne were my lady, I’d do the same. As for the ego comment… how can someone who does not exist have an ego? Satire and citizen journalism are important in a place with a moronic newspaper, but if you think I want to be taken seriously, you’re missing the point. Is the Lowell Shallot useful? Hell no. It is any less useful than Left in Lowell?
The Lowell Shallot is funnier, and that’s fine with me. I would much prefer to read Mr. Mill City than Left in Lowell most days because it makes me laugh. Do you think Left in Lowell is the New York Times or something? The Sun is still a better place for news than Left in Lowell, but your blog does have its place in the world of commentary. I read Left in Lowell, not to hear your opinions, but to hear from Prince Charming, Elenor Rigby, K-R-S, and Lucy the Dog. It is a great forum, but little more. So, give it a rest. Take a deep breath and calm down. “Good luck with your blog.” Sounds like something Rita Mercier would say.
If you really want to do something, run for city council. You’re certainly more articulate and intelligent than anyone we have now. You’d get my vote. Besides, you’d better get elected if you want to keep Bernie at his post.
June 29th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
To briefly jump in here. I find LowellShallot.com generally funny and he does seem to know the players pretty well.
My only issue with the site is that while throwing bombs at people he doesn’t really suggest solutions. Throwing bombs is easy, fixing things not so much.
Other than that I find the site funny, crude but funny.
June 29th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
I will respond this once then I will disengage. Honestly, it’s not worth my time defending myself or this blog to someone like you.
A person can judge satire just like you can judge any sort of writing. Jon Stewart is funny. Colbert is funny. I like a lot of funny things, the internet is full of things that make me laugh, I love satire and sarcasm and don’t take myself seriously, despite your assumption that I do. I do, however, take the future of Lowell seriously, and I don’t just want to point out the problems, but as ER says, find solutions. The first solution is shining the light of day, not for the sake of taking potshots at everything and everyone, but so that people have as much information to make the best judgments that they can.
Yes, you can judge satire, and humor.
I do not think your blog is funny. I have not thought you were funny since you started, even when your first posts lambasted the very people that I have problems with (it is certainly not because you went after Bernie, though I bet you’d assume so). You don’t write humor, your writing is merely petty and vicious and vindictive. If you make me have sympathy for Campanini when you go after him, we have a problem here.
I wasn’t going to even write about my dislike of your writing, ever. I was planning on just disliking it on my own and let other people judge for themselves. But you decided to judge ME without knowing a thing about me, or even reading this blog well enough to understand any of our motivations for writing it.
RE the comments about my looks, which are highly inappropriate, if you even for one second knew my husband you would retract your statements about him merely “coming to my defense.”
Then again, that’s my big problem with you. You purport to be an expert on the political situation in Lowell, but you aren’t. You make assumptions that are based on circumstantial evidence and then speak as if you have all the info. You don’t. I know that you don’t. A lot of other people know that too. That’s why I can’t take you seriously, ever. Because you pretend to speak with authority with your poison-drenched pen (or keyboard) when it’s obvious that you don’t have as much as you think you do.
Now, I’m sure this comment and this exchange between us will prompt me to be your next target for your blog. Some juvenile photoshopped baseball card whatever. (It’s not that impressive, by the way.) That’s the sort of reaction I’d expect from someone like you. Well, you have a right, within reason (ie libel), so whatever. But don’t think that the sort of writing you do automatically makes you really funny, or even really insightful. Certainly not useful to people who care about what happens this fall or in the future.
June 29th, 2009 at 1:29 pm
So, let’s agree to disagree. The Shallot is a blast. Entertaining, biting and pretty much on target. Lil is the serious, issue oriented place to discuss in a serious fashion, problems and solutions. And Dick Howe’s blog is becoming the place to talk about poetry. There’s room for all of you guys on the internet. I’d miss all of you if Regina and Taupier were to fall upon you. So c’mon guys. Make nice.
June 29th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
That’s my problem. His blog is not on target. It’s missing the target even when it’s aiming at someone who we agree deserves it.
I don’t bother to read it, it’s just not funny to me. Maybe I’m just not big on humiliation humor. *shrug*
June 29th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Nobody that knows me would ever accuse me of being a peacemaker but….you guys both perform a service to this city giving us the alternative to the Sun. I thought the purpose of blogs was to express yourself. You both do, in very different ways. From where I’m sitting you’re both right most of the time. Except this time. Let him(her) do his (her) thing and you do yours. No competition. This city needs you both. Put your big girl underwear on and be proud of what you do, for you are the Memere of them all.
June 29th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
Count me in with Lynne. I don’t think the Shallot understands the concept of parody. It certainly is nothing like The Onion which he seemingly tried to emulate. I thought the first few postings were almost funny but he seems to have become a bit too obsessed with himself. Since those first few posts I have found nothing funny. Sorry, “balls” as a source of humor is a bit sophmoric for me but hey, perhaps its big with the high school set.
So, if it isn’t funny what is it? There are the occasional tidbits of legitimate positions but mostly its crazed conspiritorial rantings that offer little in the way of merit worthy discourse. Instead they do the opposite by creating diversions from the real problems.
June 29th, 2009 at 3:48 pm
I’ve spoken my piece. I wasn’t interested in making my dislike public but when someone comes into your house and poops on your floor, I think you have a right to say something.
I think his brand of mud flinging (and poor taste photoshopping) is really not useful, but you have a right to go and read and like it if that’s your thing. I just hope people realize he or she is not as knowledgeable as they want to appear.
June 29th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
There is a long tradition where being a gadfly to the system is useful. I just find the Shallot’s brand of gadfly-ism, isn’t so much. I also don’t really find him funny either. His criticisms (if you can really call them that) have been of a ‘plague on both your houses’ variety. He doesn’t really back up the assertion that the newcomers are also GOBers. Certainly anyone who thinks Lynne is a GOBer doesn’t know her and hasn’t really be paying attention. She’d dump Lynch in a second if she thought he was pulling the same crap Cox was but with different players. I’m open to evidence, of course, but that’s not exactly why anyone goes to the shallot. He’s free to be who he is and readers are free to flock to him if they wish, but I really don’t have much use for him. If he really knew stuff and could back it up, that’d be a different story,… but that’s not his gig (at least it hasn’t been).
June 29th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
The “shallot” would like you to know that one of his comments was deleted. This was due to the fact that it bordered on sexual harassment. He tried to repost the same comment taking out a few words with ***’s, but I’m not stupid. It didn’t change the tenor or the tone of his poor choice of words.
As of right now, he is not banned. However, I don’t have infinite patience. He wants this to be public, fine. This is your warning.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
I think I’ll take that olive branch back and stick it in my - where it belongs. [edited]
June 29th, 2009 at 4:55 pm
PC: if that’s really how you feel, fine. But I don’t see why I have to like, or state that I’m OK with, something that I’m not.
Shallot: Post the same comment one more time, I don’t care how many asterisks you put in, that’ll be your last comment.
June 29th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
I learned long ago when discussing allegedly important matters with a woman to refrain from terms like ’sweety’ or referring to ‘kissing’, at least until you’ve earned it and confirmed that it’s not going to be received as an offense (and sometimes not even then). It doesn’t usually go over very well.
June 29th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Mr. Lynne sir, I did not refer to kissing anyone, nor did I use the term “sweetie.” I just want to post my response. I have no idea what is so ofensive to my latest attempt to post. Would you accept:
Well, if you’re angry just think about how pissed Kendall Wallace must be. And that my friend is the point. The [deleated] are now a little more accountable. They are looking over their shoulders, and that is a good thing. The Lowell Shallot throws a lot of tomatoes, and you don’t have to agree, but you’re listening and talking. They are listening and talking too. We sure know the Lowell Sun isn’t going to say it like it is. Blog on blog crime is pointless. [remainder deleated]
June 29th, 2009 at 5:26 pm
Truth is, I don’t remember the specifics (the post got deleted and WP doesn’t save them), but it was in that vein. The latest comment seems fine to me. It was the section that now shows “[remainder deleated]” that was the problem. I don’t recall what was under the first [deleated] off hand.
June 29th, 2009 at 5:43 pm
That’s fine. I don’t think we need to belabor the point any longer. It appears that you understand now where the boundries of civil discourse are on this blog (admittedly different than where they are on your blog).
June 29th, 2009 at 5:49 pm
If you don’t understand how your original comment was in extremely poor taste and why it was deleted, then you really don’t understand the modern world and how not to treat women. Suffice it to say, you are on probation so far as I’m concerned. You’re lucky. Mr. Lynne has advocated not just outright booting you. I was personally inclined to start just hitting the delete button every time.
Take this as a learning moment. Because otherwise, I’m not interested in going back and forth on how to not push too far on someone else’s website. You came on this blog and attack this blog, myself, and then post offensive comments, and expect it’s all OK. Well, on this blog, it’s not. Take that for what you will.
June 29th, 2009 at 6:31 pm
Wow… This “battle” is just as sophomoric as the City Council and School Committee. Some people can’t handle the humor. Jeez. The Shallot doesn’t have to call in Papa Onion to stand up for himself.
June 29th, 2009 at 6:53 pm
I’m with you Mr. Moustaches. Say no to blog on blog crime. I’m dumbfounded by this.
June 29th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
It’s really not that difficult. She found your original comment offensive. Her house. She’s not obligated to put up with it, so she didn’t. That’s all.
We have a pretty good track record of playing nice here. Whatever she’s doing, it’s worked pretty well so far.
June 29th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Like I said, I was gonna keep my mouth shut on that opinion, but it appeared to me that I either had to defend myself or let someone walk all over me.
I don’t appreciate harassment. That’s not a lack of sense of humor. That’s just plain common sense.
June 30th, 2009 at 7:06 am
I love lowellshallot. It’s so funny and sophmoric at the same time.
Lynne lighten up. It’s just a movie. You post some pretty nasty things about councilors and other politicians you don’t like. And you allow other comments through about people I find offensive. So don’t get all high and mighty. One could argue calling Rita stupid Is offensive. And that was one of your milder name calling tangents.
I don’t know what shallot wrote in his deleted posts but if you say it’s offensive you have a right to sensor. It’s your blog. But he is right this isn’t the NYT, it’s a minor blog with little to no impact. If you had more impact KRS would have finished higher than 17 or thereabouts. Which was near the bottom of the pack.
June 30th, 2009 at 8:16 am
I don’t think Lynne is under any illusions about the impact of her site. As you say, though, her house, her rules. Normally she just would have ignored they guy, but in disclosing what was going on behind the scenes there was a conversation and now you know her views on Shallot. It wasn’t her preference to air it out here, it just happened that way.
June 30th, 2009 at 8:17 am
(Grumm, Grumm, Grumm) More popcorn, please.
June 30th, 2009 at 8:35 am
(Grumm, Grumm, Grumm) More popcorn, please
my thoughts exactly. this feud is a bored lowellian cube-dweller’s dream.
June 30th, 2009 at 8:59 am
Actually, I call what she sometimes does stupid. I have never called her or anyone else anything of the kind. I attack the actions of elected officials. Not the person. Not even with the whole Cox thing, did I EVER make it personal. That’s not how I operate. That’s the big difference. Not to mention, as I said, very offensive things were deleted before they made it here. Trust me when I say it was beyond the pale.
June 30th, 2009 at 11:19 am
please tell me you’re kidding lynne. You think by saying that what a person says is stupid you’re not branding the person stupid? C’mon do you think we’re all that naive? You don’t think you’re questioning bud’s intelligence with your post? I’m not saying your observation is off base. You’re right on target. But please give us a bit more credit. If it walks like a duck and quacks like a duck, it’s a duck
June 30th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
It’s awesome when someone says “I don’t need to defend myself blah blah blah”, and then goes on to write paragraphs and paragraphs defending themselves, even going so far as to use bolded letters and caps. Pure hilarity enuses!
But seriously, reading the comments on this blog is like seeing one person throw trash on the street, then watching another person yell at them for littering…but neither one of them picks up the piece of trash.
June 30th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
LLC: I’m saying there is a clear line between the two lines of argument, yes. What others on some other blogs do is to make personal attacks that are not about the actions of a person, but attacking the person themselves. Calling someone a douchebag, for instance, versus pointing out a behavior or something they said as bad, dumb, or whatever.
I honestly could care less what other people do. But I have a standard of civility (yes, it’s not completely buttoned up and nice-nice, but there is a clear line).
Every year or so, we go through this same exact cycle. Someone comes on the blog making comments that are borderline, then eventually go way over the line. I then delete said comments and/or ban the offending parties, oftentimes with a public explanation or at least an email to the person (which I did with this person in question). Some we get some (often new) commenters who come on and say that it’s all my fault, that I’m just as bad, blah blah blah ad nauseum. Then in about a week or so we go back to actually discussing the subjects at hand and have some peace.
The fact we’re at the last stage is encouraging. This cycle tiresome, but not unprecedented. These same types of people also get really tired really quick about being called out.
mr_blonde: so you’d be OK with a harassing, accusational attack in your own house? You wouldn’t toss said person out on their keyster? Well, maybe you are a better person than I.
June 30th, 2009 at 6:10 pm
I just hope that come November we all remember that it’s time for some people to seek other worlds to populate, as follows:
Bud “Light” Caufield, a.k.a “Tinkletoes”
Alan “The Personal Agenda Avenger” Kazanjian, a.k.a. “The Tow Truck Driver”
Mike “I’ll Have What Kazanjian’s Having” Lenzi, a.k.a. “Why Do We Meet So Often?”
Rodney “Has Anyone Seen My Spine” Elliott
Armand “I’m Not Rita” Mercier, a.k.a. “What Have I Done For Me Lately?”
and, finally, the ticket-topper of the “Throw the Bums Out” list:
Rita “It’s All About the Constituents As Long As They Want What I Want” Mercier, a.k.a. “Does This Makeup Make Me Look Surprised All the Time?”