Left In Lowell

Just a reminder, that if you missed your chance to come find out more about renting at the new Appleton live-work affordable rental housing for artists, there’s another info session tonight, 6:30 - 8 pm, at the 119 Gallery, 119 Chelmsford Street, Lowell. From the PDF flyer:

Come to snack, sip and learn about 130 new, loft-style rental apartments designed for those who create art and those who appreciate it. Meet the people who want to help you make the Appleton Mills your next home. Find out about the Preference for Artists and how you could be moving into the building when it is completed next spring.

Can’t attend? Visit LiveAppletonMills.com or call 978.458.0588

It now has been 5 days since the Sun broke the news that the federal authorities are investigating discussions and possible financial dealings surrounding the move to keep the Lowell Registry of Motor Vehicle on Middlesex Street open. If you do not know what I am talking about, you must have been on vacation somewhere with no little or no access to the internet.

If this had been a private real estate deal none of us would care. But this concerned a rental property that involves public fund; our tax money. I do not know what occurred; who said what to whom so I will not speculate. I do not know if anyone may have committed a criminal act so I will not accuse anyone. Let the investigation proceed and run its course until it is completed. I do have to say that I am not pleased that my State Rep was asked by the FBI to come in and chat with them. I do not want my elected officials to have anything remotely to do with any police investigation.

The story has now taken an unfortunate turn; the fight between the Sun and WCAP, and the radio station’s supporters and promoters. Sorry guys but you protest too much. They did not like the way the Sun was reporting the story. In turn, the Sun reporters got defensive in today’s The Column. I would link to it but the powers-that-be think that withholding the Column from the free website is a good business decision.

I have nothing against what Warren Shaw said yesterday; his loyalty is admirable, unlike the former Mayor. What bothered me were the comments of Sam Poulten one of the owners.

While the bashing of the Sun in general and Chris Scott (City Editor and the author of the articles on the RMV/FBI investigation) in particular was taking place Poulten called in and made statement that we (Greater Lowellians, I assume) were lucky that we had another media source. Are you kidding me? There are a lot of people at ‘CAP that I like, but Poulten is not one of them. I guess I will never be invited there again.

Here are the facts. On Friday morning, the radio station newsperson reported that “WCAP has learned” that Former City Manger Joe Tully had made the following statement to the owner of the RMV building on Middlesex Street “I need $20,000 to juice the delegation.” The same thing the paper had reported that morning.

However, since the radio station learned this piece of information independent of the Sun, they should have given us additional information that would have refuted what the paper said (”Lowell resident Thomas Byrne was allegedly in Paley’s Lowell office when Tully made the statement”). They did not. So I am not sure how lucky we are that we have another media outlet. I listen to the station because I like Ted and I think Mike Flynn (morning producer) is extremely knowledgeable on a variety of issues. But the station has not lived up to my expectations when it comes to delivering original news.

Back to the Sun and its reporters, it is not a secret that this site at times has been critical of the paper, its reporting but mostly its editor. Nor it is no secret that I am friendly with some of the paper’s reporters. On this one, I am with the paper. They were not the one whose activities cause the Feds to begin the investigation and the wiretapping. What happen to the concept of personal responsibility?

If you want to read more on this issue both Gerry and Shawn have their take.

Over at Gerry Nutter’s blog an interesting and timely discussion is taking place on the Greater Lowell Technical High School Committee’s and live televised meetings.

Both Gerry and Paul Sweeney of Move Lowell Forward and a frequent contributor to the blogs attended the GLTHS meeting and addressed that School Committee.

The meetings are now taped and the recording is sent to the local access television entities of the city and the towns served by the GLTHS to be shown at a later time at the discretion of the various broadcast entities.

Last Friday we all received a press release from the Board of Directors of One Lowell informing us that Victoria Fahlberg, the Executive Director and founder of the immigrant-advocacy organization, is leaving her position. We wish Victoria the best and I am sure she will continue her community activism in one form or another.


Victoria is the fourth E.D. of a prominent non-profit in Lowell that has left or is leaving their position since the end of July. In addition to One Lowell, the Transitional Living Center on Middlesex Street, the Greater Lowell Foundation and the Boys & Girls Club will have new leadership at the helm.

It has been a week since the primary election and I have moved on but Kendall Wallace’s column last Saturday did raise an issue that should be discussed before we turned the page and that is the Chancellor’s role in the Doherty campaign.

Kendall writes: Many political followers remain suspicious about the roles either UMass Lowell Chancellor Marty Meehan, or his current and former aides, played in the Doherty campaign. Meehan denied being involved and met several times with Donoghue to reassure her he wasn’t helping Doherty. People will be watching the final campaign finance reports to see how many donations can be linked to Meehan.” I am one of those political followers.

Here is the link to Doherty’s donations list as it appears on the Mass Secretary of State website. I do not know if Meehan helped the campaign directly or indirectly but Doherty certainly benefited financially from the Meehan connection. Major Massachusetts Democratic Party , former Meehan chief of staff (now lobbyist), and university staff were generous.

News today is that Massachusetts unemployment dropped again - to 8.8%, with another 4,000 new private sector jobs. The growth is less than the gangbuster spring we saw, but with the national average heading up from 9.5% in July to 9.6% in August (particularly, from the Census shedding their workers and government cuts federal, state and local), Massachusetts is looking particularly strong comparatively.

To be honest, though things are not peachy just yet, I wouldn’t want to be Charlie Baker (or Tim Cahill) trying to tell everyone that things are going downhill - since all the numbers indicate that in MA, they aren’t. The fact is, our problems were far shallower than they had any right to be, that Massachusetts under Patrick has reversed its population decline, and our recovery is faster and sooner than the rest of the country. That’s no accident, but a result of careful, responsible, and progressive policies put in place largely by this Governor.

So, let’s finish what we started. Come really to work this Saturday at 11am at Tsongas HQ, where the Governor will attend a unity rally and then kick off a canvass.

Update: And, in a nice change of pace, as reported by johnk on BMG, the July numbers for jobs in MA were actually upwardly revised. Yes, upwardly. John also says,

To get a sense of the accomplishment for the 64,300 job gains in 2010, Massachusetts ranks 3rd in the country in the rate of job growth.

Yeah baby. Progressive policies WORK!

And prepare to work!

Governor Patrick will be here Saturday, Sept 18th for a unity rally with all our Democratic candidates. It will take place at 11 AM at the Tsongas campaign HQ, 17 Kirk St downtown.

Patrick will rally the troops ahead of a canvass scheduled for after the unity event, so, time to get fired up, ready to go! This thing is not going to win itself!

Apologies in advance for the slightly shaky cam and how dark it is. I had to hold my Evo up over my head to get a decent shot, and the lighting in there isn’t great. (I suppose if I thought I’d have the battery life for sure, I’d have turned on the LED flashes…)

Update: Dick’s post.

An open thread and live blogging thread.

So far they are saying 2:1 for Eileen in Lowell, that she is winning Westford and Groton.

Also, Cobblestones is filling up fast!

Just spotted Rep Arciero, Mayor Milinazzo, C. Roderick, C. Murphy, C. Mendonca, C. Descouteaux. Also SC Jim Leary.

Also, there isn’t a spot left on the floor, it’s so crowded.

And Bill Martin.

9:21 - Word is, Eileen win every precinct in the district save one.

Sorry, busy chatting. Eileen spoke, I got video, will post later.

FYI just found SC Jackie Doherty (no relation). Also CM Lynch.

Here’s SC Connie Martin and her sister Leslie. :

Official #s from Lowell…

Patrick: 4371; Murray: 4635; Coakley: 4841; Galvin: 4820;

Treasurer race: Grossman: 2635 to Murphy: 2936;

Auditors race: Bump: 2765 to Glodis: 1810 to Lake: 986. Tsongas: 4891.

Gov’s Council race: Devaney: 1191 to Belanger: 3988.

State Senate…drum roll please…Donoghue: 4241 to Doherty: 2387.

Got a nice postcard with an invite to Lowell Open Studios weekend (Sept 25/26 11am-5pm), and a special Brush Gallery Jazz Brunch on Sunday Sept 26 during Open Studios, from 11am to 2pm. Alas, I am going to miss this event, but will you all please go and enjoy it in my stead? And let me know how it is? It sounds lovely.

And as stated, Lowell Open Studios is that whole weekend, so it’s your chance to check out the city’s artists all over! You can find a list of participating studios at the website for Open Studios.

And please, consider aiming to buy some art or crafts that weekend. There is plenty to fall in love with at Open Studios, and our artists need our support. It’s all well and good to be an audience, but buyers are better.