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November 6th, 2009 at 6:27 pm
Inexcusable! And you cut the SAC crowd too much slack. THat may have been the most notable event but there was apparently much more too. Further evidence of the reason it was so important to get that element out of power.
A further question is why that reporter was sent there alone by the paper. (read Campinini. It wasn’t expected that there would be hostility? And I wonder how the ECE (Ethically Challenged Editor) dealt with it. Did he defend his thuggish friends? did he rationalize their behavior?
November 6th, 2009 at 7:23 pm
I believe the issue with the frmr Mayor’s property tax increase had to with the city’s re-evaluation of the abatements that were put in place many many years ago..hence it was ruled that he was ineligible for the abatement and his home was properly assessed sans abatement
November 6th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
Why are people not calling out Tarsy Poulis? Yes he is the ex-mayor no one wants to name. He is the rude obnoxious loudmouth who used the C word. Call it like it is he is an old bitter man who now has no connections left at city hall and took it out on a poor reporter.
Shame also goes to whoever at the Sun sent this reporter there.
November 6th, 2009 at 8:21 pm
Shame on the former mayor and congrats to Lynne for maintaining a civil level of discourse—which we will need as we go forward together through this time of economic crisis. It is sad about the ex-mayor.
Regards — Cliff
November 6th, 2009 at 9:36 pm
I did not live in Lowell during the reign of Tarcy Poulios but I did see on local cable a few years back, a vintage clip of him delivering foul jokes at an annual Saint Patrick’s day breakfast. I saw in that video a very crude and disgusting man that I thankfully never had to refer to as ‘my mayor’. When I inquired with my siblings about him, they erupted into a big boooo and reinforced my observations of his obvious crude ingnorance of a self.
What I found really hard to grasp after viewing this video, was how someone like this actually was able to attain the title of Mayor of Lowell, never mind that of City Councilor.
I’m not surprised to hear that he is one of the SAC Club cronies and that he used the ‘C’ word in reference to the female reporter. He certainly was among his own on Tuesday evening down at the SAC. A thug among thugs.
November 7th, 2009 at 6:32 am
if anyone remembers tarsy his actions are no surprise, he was a jerk then as he is now, dick howe and he used to go at it all the time on the council floor mr howe wouldnt put up with his crap either, shame on the sun for sending that reporter in to the lions den alone the outcome was predictable.
November 7th, 2009 at 6:57 am
#5 is a good example of nick names use of language such as their statement “crude ingnorance of a self.” a statement laced with hatred and #4 being responsible and having civil criticism…getting a point across and showing intelligence does gets respect… Teachable moments. If these people really want to make a difference and have what everyone says they want “Professional Management” then that is what tone should be .The blogs I see that get respect have bloggers give their names…Do not squander any good progress you have made by being known as Looney in Lowell because of the constant rants laced with swears and deeeeep hatred. Step it up to the next level
November 7th, 2009 at 7:02 am
Anonymous:
I do not believe we have “constant rants laced with swears.” Yes on certain occasion, we allow some to cross that fine line but in the 5 1/2 years existence of this blog, that has been minimal.
As for the comement by observant one, “obvious crude ignorance of a self,” how would YOU characterize any man who verbally attacks a woman by using the “c” word?
November 7th, 2009 at 7:04 am
And as far as the Sun sending a woman, you guys are missing the point. She is a professional journalist, she should be able to cover any story that her male colleagues do.
The only one who should be ashamed is Mr. Poulios.
November 7th, 2009 at 8:17 am
I thought he had met his maker a long time ago. Classy old man.
November 7th, 2009 at 9:02 am
Would there be such public outrage if it was a male reporter and he was called a d***head ? Uncivil ? Of course, but would it be newsworthy ?
November 7th, 2009 at 9:04 am
Mimi i couldn’t agree more…that reporter was simply doing her job and for any man to think the “C” word is appropriate in that or any setting is simply one who doesn’t know what respect is. I’m pretty certain most would agree with me on this.
November 7th, 2009 at 10:42 am
Gordon,
It was news worthy enough for a columnist to make a note of it. Yes if it was a male reporter it also would have been worthy that an ex city official used crude langaunge. No person doing their job should be subject to that treatment whichever gender. The word itself is the crudes word possible when mentioning a female and if it was a male chances are the wording would have been much worse the D**Khead.
Mimi there is a wide perception in the City that the Sun was out to get Alan K. Sending a young female reporter into a bar/club that he owns packed with his supporters who in all likelyhood have had a few was setting her up. He/ they wanted something like this to happen. Uncle Campy has a reputation for doing things like this so that people will talk and he can feign shock and outrage.
Tarsy was Ten Thousand Times more guilty than the Sun but they have some responsibility here for knowingly sending a young female who hasn’t had a lot of experience into this enviorment.
November 7th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
An ex city official making reference to female anatomy, “I’m shocked,shocked I tell you.” If it was a male reporter, do you think he would be as offended as you seem to be ?
November 7th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
So Gordon,
Uncivil behavior on the part of anyone toward a male is ok then?
What happened to the reporter, in my humble opinion, is a symptom of just how far off the charts civil discourse has fallen in thie country. One need only watch just about any cable news show to see folks yelling over each other, calling each other names (though not as bad as this was) and in essence distorting the importance of listening and reaching workable compromise whenever possible.
As for the incident in question, to me it was also a crude expression of just how far out of favor certain kinds of politics were in this particular election. A candidate lost who many who think they are in the know believed might even top the ticket! (read Warren Shaw here) As reality sunk in, supporters of Mr. Kazanjian reacted angrily, as might be expected, and lashed out at the most convenient representation of what they believed brought their candidate down.
So much focus on this though misses the point of the election - that there are significant changes in the city’s political make-up and that several new candidates ran excellent campaigns. Even those who did not win this time, ought to be excited by the prospects of future changes in our elected leadership - maybe even under the golden dome itself, where god knows lots of cronies still roam the halls!
Enough already with worrying about what a long-time ago former mayor did in the heat of defeat.
November 7th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Once a bully, always a bully. Not much character there.
November 7th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
Gordon:
I do not know if I would have reacted as strongly if the slur was directed to a male. I do know I would have reacted; to what degree, I really do not know. But I do know that I find slurs, whether they are based on one’s sexual orientation, religion, ethnic background, race, etc… deplorable.
Since you have asked me a question, let me ask you one. If he had called your mother, wife or daughter that word, what would you have done to him?
November 7th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
If he had called your mother, wife or daughter that word, what would you have done to him? done to him?…in 2009 bullying is not acceptable to male or female and without “doing” something to somebody. Those of us who have sons do not want anyone using the “P” or “d” words towards them either . Pulling the gender card lessens the cycle of bullying. it is not good for either gender.
November 7th, 2009 at 6:20 pm
I agree Anonymous. Bullying is just that bullying - it is usually the tool of folks short on argument and intelligence who figure I’ll just get loud and act tough and win the argument.
Whether in a bar, in a classroom, on the street, in political debate, or on the TV news and talking head shows it is JUNK and should never, ever be defended or made light of. And, when bullying is utilized to degrade it is the worst and it is reflective of just how coarse our society has become.
November 7th, 2009 at 8:11 pm
Re: Bullying… Ask Regina what bullying got her!
November 7th, 2009 at 10:54 pm
Mimi,
I’m going to sleep on it and give you an answer in the morning.
November 7th, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Gordon:
As long as you are not “praying for the end of time…”
November 8th, 2009 at 10:02 am
It was noted that Kazanjian was gracious in defeat. The slur came from his friend/endorser Poulis. It reminds me of the saying “if you lay with dogs…”. Kazanjian’s apparent silence on the inappropriate outburst demonstrates two things: loyalty amongst GOB’s trumps personal integrity no matter how aggregious the act; and Lowellians got it right this time.
It is not my intention to kick Alan while he’s down. I hope he publicly denounces Poulis, and in doing so salvages dignity.
November 8th, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Mimi,
LOL.As always, I pray for the resurgence of the Left in this country, but the elections of Nixon x2 ,Reagan x2 Bush, Bush x2 have made it dificult to be hopeful. As to your thoughtful reply to my query, I would be quite upset if it were a female member of my family but I would do nothing to him. It is my view that when men use the slur in reference to women they are expressing a psychopathology that is indicative of a deep seated ambivilence concerning their feelings and relationships with the women in their lives,especiallly their mother.So,althought braking some idiots nose might make me feel better,it would only serve to reinforce some negative emotions that stem from dysfunctional mother/child relations.
That said, if the alleged incident at the SAC did occur, I would think any reporter worth her/his salt would not back away in disgust as some posters here might. Indeed, exchanges with public officials, past and present with the media are prime grist for the mill of media exposure. “You explative”, is the opening to story that no reporter should ever walk away from. Let’s hope she didn’t. If we’re lucky, her editor will allow us all to know what really took place.
OK, you can all tell me to go back to bed and sleep on it some more !
November 8th, 2009 at 2:51 pm
COUNCILORS ON Tuesday also spent considerable time complaining to City
From 2008 SUN article:
“Manager Bernie Lynch about property taxes and the city’s recent property-valuation process.
Kazanjian and Rita Mercier both complained about an senior citizen in the Acre whose bill skyrocketed. Though never mentioned by name, the resident is former Mayor Tarsy Poulios, whose assessment on his two-family home on Bowers Street rose by about $80,000 this year to $288,000. The land value alone on the 2,600-square-foot lot increased by $50,000.”
November 9th, 2009 at 9:36 am
Bob, Warren was a defender of Kazanjian and conducted a poll during his show but he doesn’t control who calls in to vote. Kaz was smart enough to have his cronies stack the deck.
November 9th, 2009 at 7:43 pm
RIL, thanks for the clarification above (26)!
November 14th, 2009 at 3:23 pm
Looking a couple of weeks later do you not feel the sentiment at the club against anyone from the Scum was justified. I found it particularly hilarious and sad that for the first time the Scum went out of its way in the column the Sunday following the election that Kazanjian had not been indicted and was not believed to be the target of the FBI investigation. Over the last two months every single story written implied either directly or by omission of the facts (usually the case) that he was about to be indicted and was the target of the FBI. Despicable yellow, cowardice journalism designed solely to mislead the electorate and like the lemmings that they are they jumped off the cliff and into the slimy webbed fingers of Sir Kendall and now the Scum once again has control of the council and the city. I just wonder why the Scum would divulge this information now, perhaps to lessen the blow when the real target of the feds is indicted, maybe a councilor who finished more toward the middle of the pack or a family member / friend.
November 14th, 2009 at 6:05 pm
Please. It’s obvious to anyone with half a brain that Kazanjian never met an ethical concept he didn’t decide to ignore.
November 14th, 2009 at 7:10 pm
Really Lynne name one. Even your precious Lowell Sun has NOW admitted despite the apparent smoke there was no fire. Unfortunately for the voters they only figured it out after the election. Anyone with half a brain which apparently you lack can see what a witch hunt and obvious smear campaign. I and all the other half brainers can only hope that Kazanjian will decide to sue that joke of a rag. Unfortunately I feel he has too much class to put his family through such an ordeal. Once again Lynne don’t let the facts get in the way of your agenda.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
OMG, seriously? How about all the times he voted on something he wasn’t supposed to, both on the ZBA and on the Council? Like the vote on the Dunkin Donuts on Dutton where his property is the PRIME abutment? That’s just one of a bunch of ethical screwups by this guy.
You need to get the stars out of your eyes, my friend.
November 15th, 2009 at 12:15 pm
And buddy, NO where in those articles previous to the election did anyone say an indictment was about to come down. It wasn’t even implied. The articles were fair, and very VERY thoroughly researched. But your defensiveness over this is pretty telling.
One more thing: You know what lost your BFF this election? It was NOT the Sun articles. It was his stupid move to fire Sheehan and eliminate the preliminary. A LOT of voters expressed a LOT of anger over that. You better face facts, kid, your guy did it to his own damn self, and now wants to blame everyone else.
That’s called denial.
November 15th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
If you don’t think those articles implied wrongdoing than you are incapable and certainly hugely unqualified to make any judgements regarding media and reporting. My God I can only hope the people reading your opinions can read between the lines better than yourself. Are you REALLY serious? I constantly read postings on this sight from yourself and many others that spoke of the obvious guilt of Kazanjian based on the reporting in the Scum. Hell you even posted and quoted from the articles. I heard many people talk about them and how its apparent he had done something wrong. Five days after the election they go out of their way to mention he is not a target, why did they not mention it earlier, do you think they just found that out in the time between election day and last Sunday, please it doesn’t pass the smell test and you know it but you don’t want to admit it. If you are going to pretend to be this pillar of objectivity and truth than you need to rethink your approach. If you want to be that voice screeching in the night from the left fine, but don’t pretend to be the former continue to be the cheerleader for the Lowell Sun and everything government run.