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August 29th, 2009 at 11:30 am
Wonder just how much this will color council meetings in the next few months as this unfolds, because if the Sun piece and report are anywhere near accurate it seems to me as though there are other shoes to drop here too. My experience with studying this kind of petty urban corruption is that there are quite often a handful of folks all in on the deal or who at a minimum have knowledge and look the other way.
I have mentioned Springfield before in the context of what happens when a city’s elected and appointed officials become so caught up in their own power that they believe they can violate the public trust and get away with most anything. Lots of folks saw the inside of a jail there.
So close to the election this will certainly affect things. Some voters may look at this as an outsiders attack on the city’s good name and rally behind the status quo - newcomers and those with less of an investment in the status quo may view this as a grand opportunity to toss out the rascals and their enablers, still others may jump ship if there is a wider and deeper problem and try to distance themselves from the situation.
However it plays out, lets hope the Sun’s reporters are going to stay on top of the story and let the evidence take them wherever it goes and to whomever it points out as being involved - again if there is more than one person involved.
Lastly, it is a part of the larger issue lots of people have been discussing here about what happens when there is an arrogance of power and individuals elected, appointed, and hired to serve the public believe this provides them with an entitlement to bend the rules, change election laws, and be motivated more by personal aims and objectives than doing the right thing by the taxpayers.
August 29th, 2009 at 11:49 am
I wonder if Alan was thinking of “protecting the taxpayer” when he had his personal errand boy on the city payroll, doing his bidding/business on the “taxpayers” dime.
These types of incidents only serve to validate what myself and many have been talking about for years.
A continued culture of corruptedness in this city will disallow our city from reaching its full potential.
Please (at a minimum), DON’T Re-Elect Kazanjian.
August 29th, 2009 at 12:07 pm
I believe that as $ transfers to Lowell from other citizens of the state & USA dry up the outgoing tide does expose those who most profited from such inflows. Political palms can grease and be greased most easily when the $’s passed about are from out of town. Nieces and nephews can be hired, pal inspectors can be no shows at City Hall and big shows on the loading dock, incompetence and ignorance and their terrible effect on a city can be masked when the money is pouring in from somewhere else. Real estate taxes can be made to remain artificially low appeasing a public that also is trained not to ask more of their elected officials or public servants. It is a terrible cycle of money, petty and not so petty corruption and public fear of what is and, soon enough, of any possible change to what is, so apathy and an unattractive, unwelcoming parochialism create a barrier to new ideas, new ethics, new people and to change.
But today in Lowell, the $ inflows are drying up. However powerful “our delegation”, however sycophantic their acolytes and however rapacious the hands out among the “wired in” class in the City, the game is up for the sheer face of those $’s drying up. Mimi is correct, citizens can chip away at entrenched power and do make progress, and right now the changed economic times will act to speed up the exposure of these folks. It is a great time to be involved, to press for change and, simply, to be here in Lowell.
August 29th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Bye bye Alan K.
August 29th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
K-R-S of course CC K was “protecting the taxpayer!” After all being one of the biggest developers, doesn’t that also equate to being one of the biggest *taxpayers*?
August 29th, 2009 at 2:11 pm
Anon..ummm, no. not necessarily.
August 29th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Anon… talk about rose colored glasses…
So anyone who makes money and contributes to property taxes (development or car towing) is by definition protecting the taxpayer? Therefore, that justifies them to do anything they want to, engage in conflicts of interest, encourage no show jobs and otherwise abuse the public trust? By your thinking, Nixon shouldn’t have resigned as he was a big taxpayer, thus providing the ultimate public service. Strongly suggest you rely on others to teach your kids about ethics and morality.
August 29th, 2009 at 3:18 pm
The Ames affair was an easy takedown for the Feds,but not the reason they are in Lowell. They are here to monitor the federal $ in the JAM. Federal prosecutors could care less about napping on city time. They want a corruption case involving beaucoup $ to add another notch to their belt.
August 29th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I must also add that Brians post may be wishful thinking but indicting a CC would also be concidered “notchworthy.”
August 29th, 2009 at 4:28 pm
After reading the (redacted) report methinks CC Towtruck has some ’splain’ to do! It the Accompanying Sun article Mr K “could not be reached for comment.” Question for the peanut gallery: how long can a city councilor dodge the FBI?
August 29th, 2009 at 6:19 pm
May not be all that well received - but here goes:
Rather than jump the gun me thinks we ought to keep an eye on all of this because where there is the FBI there is most often something at the end of the trail. But, rather than jump too quickly to assume anyone’s demise the evidence does matter.
Certainly the connecting dots are too good to leave alone but if any candidates think that this means they can relax and the old guard is dead like the Wicked Witch when the house fell on her, not so fast. It would not be surprising to see an argument emerge that this is all dirty tricks and that ‘real Lowellians’ should thumb their collective noses at the snoops amongst us.
Candidates must be for something and be able to state clearly why having them on the Council will make the city better and turn the city forward again after several months of craziness.
Investigations like this unfold very slowly so there may not be clear answers to the issues raised until well after the election.
It is a really big deal when the Feds change the locks on city hall folks. Lets hope the Sun’s reporters continue to chase the story; they’re off to a good start! - too bad the Globe is such a miserable shell of itself. The Globe Spotlight Team of yore, would get to the bottom of this!
August 29th, 2009 at 7:00 pm
CC Towtruck cannot dodge the FBI. If he has received a target or a subject letter from an assistant attorney gerneral he will have to lawyer-up with with an experienced councel to prepare for the grand jury. These prosecutors are renlentless. (edited mp)
August 29th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
The Boston Herald has picked up the story
August 29th, 2009 at 7:31 pm
What mp edited was an idomatic reference to a male reproductive gland and its density. Such editing diminishes posters ability to fully express and communicate.mp if they didn’t exist, you wouldn’t !
August 29th, 2009 at 8:09 pm
Gordon:
LMAO LMAO LMAO!!!!!
-mp
August 31st, 2009 at 7:39 am
Does anyone know if –councillor towtruck went to
the city clerks office this mornong and RESIGNED!!!
I Certainly hope so. !!!!
August 31st, 2009 at 12:25 pm
When is a Council Candidate going to step forward and call on councilors Kazanjian and Broderick to resign? I have sent them both an email and asked them to.
TO: Alan Kazanjian , City Councilor
Kevin Broderick , City Councilor
Gentlemen,
As a resident of this City and a concerned citizen, I am asking you both in the best interest of the City to submit your resignations as City Councilors.
Mr. Kazanjian, your employee Mr. Ames has admitted to performing work for you while on City time. Whether or not he did this at your behest or not the appearance alone of conflict of interest and potential further action by the Inspector General should convince you that a cloud of doubt will surround you and tarnish the image of all City Councilors.
Mr. Broderick, for the same reason Mr. Kazanjian should resign you also should agree to step aside. The Inspector General and FBI investigation into the dealing of the Cities Inspectional Service Dept and your father’s involvement in the business involved again cast a cloud over the City Council.
The City has worked hard over the last quarter century to rebuild its image and to achieve the status of a destination city. One that is now being overshadowed by what appears to be influence peddling and favoritism being orchestrated by members or family members of people who are in charge of running the city.
You both have campaigned on plans to improve and further the city yet you are both are now surrounded by a cloud of suspension and doubt. If you love the city as you both have professed many times, then step side and allow the investigations to be completed and resolved without the city and its citizens having to continue to live in the shadow of corruption and doubt.
Sincerely,
Gerry Nutter
August 31st, 2009 at 2:53 pm
Wait a minute - I’m not sure you are on the mark on Broderick. Not ONE story involving his father implicated him in any way. (And trust me, if the Sun had something on Broderick, they would print it posthaste - they, or rather the editor, does not like him.)
Also, I’m doing some digging, but I am not sure there’s a there there to the story the Sun keeps on repeating but not telling us anything that is a further development.
August 31st, 2009 at 3:14 pm
The fact that Mr. Broderick is a City Concilor who in theory has some say over funding and the management of the Inspectional Service Department and his Father is part of an active FBI and MA. Inspector General’s Office puts a cloud on him and what he knew or knows about permits and inspections.
He is 100% innocent of anything but anyone looking at it says hmmm a father gets Ok’s and his son is a councilor. It just looks bad.
If he holds a press conference and states that due to the look of conflict and the current investigation, he feels he needs to step aside and allow the City to move forward and when and if the investigation proves no wrongdoing by him or his dad he will run again , then he looks like a caring person who wants to but the City’s needs before his.
August 31st, 2009 at 7:43 pm
I hate to admit it but Lynne is right. I haven’t seen anything linking Councilor Broderick to anything that his fathers company is doing and the Sun has really told us nothing on this matter except that there were real estate projects done in which there was confusion about sprinklers and permits. On the other hand the Kaz stuff seems pretty complete and convincing. I’m thinking there’s probably more coming on that one.
Elmer: Had to edit the sentence about the rumor. mp
August 31st, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Think AK will stay make a point of saying its all about the money and the taxpayers?
August 31st, 2009 at 8:47 pm
The sins of the father shall not be visited upon the son. I don’t know anything about the old man, but Councilor Broderick is a square guy.
As if Bob Camacho, the Director of Inspectional Services. He’s probably happy that the GOBs won’t be able to make him keep employing deadwood.
About that “chipping away at the oligarchy” - did you notice who Ames’ lawyer is? None other than John-Cox-endorsed 2007 City Council candidate Michael Zaim.
He lost.
September 1st, 2009 at 12:24 am
I am just wondering. If the Mayor wants to give out a key to the City, does he have to check with the FBI first to make sure he had the right key?
September 1st, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Lynne is right on Councilor Broderick. We cannot hold him to task for his father’s actions, unless some proof is found. And by now, I think the Sun would have found it if they could. Councilor K on the other hand should do the right think and resign. Does he really think anyone with a lick of sense would vote for him in November? And I have a suggestion. Why can’t the city make the people in Inspectional Services or candidates for those positions ( including clerks) fill out disclosure forms listng any affiliation past or present with the political side of Lowell. Or better yet, maybe we should hire all outsiders. I think Camacho is doing the best he can with what he has been given. i.e. politically connected inspectors, not enough staff and little or no support from the Council.
September 1st, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Does he really think anyone with a lick of sense would vote for him in November? ‘
No, but he knows his base.
Why can’t the city make the people in Inspectional Services or candidates for those positions ( including clerks) fill out disclosure forms listng any affiliation past or present with the political side of Lowell.
That sounds a little too close to Monica Goodling asking applicants for civil service posts at the Justice Department what they think about George Bush and gay rights.
September 3rd, 2009 at 10:34 am
When someone post who doesn’t have all the facts then once he gets the facts he needs to step up and eat a little crow, admit his mistake and offer his apology…so here I go
Councilor Broderick, THANK YOU for taking the time to review with me the facts that the Lowell Sun is failing to make public and I apologize for publicly calling for you to resign when you or your father clearly have been vindicated of any type of wrong doing.
Instead of going off in the future I realize a call or face to face meeting with the Councilor or Councilors in question may be the better way to proceed.
September 3rd, 2009 at 1:43 pm
Apparently Mr. Campinini didn’t appreciate me requesting the letter not be published and the letter I wrote the Sun saying they should disclose all they know. Here is his response:
Gerry,
It’s funny that neither of the Brodericks or the city manager, who is a close friend of the Broderick’s, have submitted such information to us. You probably are looking at the city’s investigation, which I wouldn’t trust as far as the city manager’s trip to Chelmsford every day and back. Do you think putting women and children in apartments without fire sprinklers and occupancy permits is kosher. McBee Development did it three times. That’s as far as we know right now. It’s also funny that Kevin Broderick has convinced you – evidently that’s easy to do – but he hasn’t met with us to clear his involvement, even though he is the attorney that signs off on all his father’s business dealings.
What the state’s Inspector General issues its final report, with the FBI, we’ll see if you are singing the same song.
If it wasn’t for The Sun that brought this to the public’s attention, there wouldn’t be a probe.
I think you’ve been duped.
September 3rd, 2009 at 4:44 pm
Campi is a petty vindictive clown. “More vindictive than jealous love”- Shakespeare.. Perhaps Campi’s love for Cox has clouded his judgement.
September 3rd, 2009 at 6:12 pm
Campy’s all about fire safety all of a sudden? Please. The Lowell Sun could care less about fire protection of any kind unless its a convenient means to an end.
Then again if you don’t care about reporting fire stations are closed when buildings burn up, you had better support sprinkler systems and proper occupancy, eh?
If it wasn’t for the Sun there would be no probe? Really? More like if it wasn’t for Dean Jenkins and his company figuring it out.
September 3rd, 2009 at 11:02 pm
Campanini is the personification of unprofessionalism (see: http://www.inebriateddiscourse.com/2009/08/lowellsun_28.html)
As Gerry’s comment notes, Campy is fond of saying things like, “If it weren’t for the Sun, then [insert universally agreed upon positive development here] would not have happened.” The man thinks he and his paper are far more important than they actually are. He likes to point to the Sun’s “breaking stories” and “editorial stances” as having made the city better. Maybe there’s a degree of truth in that, but who else is going to break local news in Lowell? The Lowell Chronicle? The Lowell Tribune? Oh, that’s right. These papers don’t exist. The Sun has a monopoly on Lowell news. It’s farcical for Campy to tout his paper’s “achievements” in the face of zero competition.
As for his potshot against Lynch still living Chelmsford, that’s totally uncalled for. So the man lives in Chelmsford. Big deal. The fact is, Lynch has been the consummate professional manager since he arrived, and has had to occasionally lower himself to the level of the clowns on the City Council and old guard Lowell politics in order to do his job. No doubt Lynch has an ego, but it’s apparent to me that for him, a good ego trip is brought on by a job well done–a concept totally alien to Jester Jim Campanini.
September 4th, 2009 at 8:53 am
How many city employees (e.g, police, fire, teachers, etc.) actually live in Lowell anyway? Does Campy himself live in Lowell? To state the obvious, the residency issue is a red herring.
Frankly, if it weren’t the only game in town, no one would bother reading the Sun.