Left In Lowell

(A silly reference to the minor league baseball system.)

The Patrick administration is announcing that, for the first time in this state’s history, a state bond program is rated at triple A.

Governor Deval Patrick, Treasurer Timothy Cahill and Legislative leaders today announced that the Commonwealth’s Accelerated Bridge Program bonds have been awarded the highest possible credit rating by two major rating agencies. Both Moody’s (Aaa) and Standard & Poor’s (AAA) assigned the Program’s triple-A credit ratings.

Over the life of the Accelerated Bridge Program, the triple-A ratings will save the Commonwealth an estimated $60 million in interest costs, and allow the state to continue to make critical investments in infrastructure at a lower cost to taxpayers.

“It is welcome news today that these rating agencies have assigned the Accelerated Bridge Program bonds the highest possible credit rating,” said Governor Patrick. “This is further proof that our strategy for finding new efficiencies in state government and investing in our broken infrastructure at record levels is paying
off. We will continue to manage state finances in a fiscally responsible way, as we have throughout these challenging times, in order to maintain our rating and our ability to make these much-needed investments.”

It’s really a shame that the election is over. I’d love to see Charlie Baker twisting himself in knots trying to spin this as a negative.

Thanks to the Governor for saving the Commonwealth a lot of money, and for beginning the process of fixing our long-neglected infrastructure. Not only is this of benefit to our economy because these bridges are essential to the movement of people and goods, but it is also important for public safety, and for keeping our Commonwealth’s good construction jobs. Win-win all around!

Our condolences to the family of James DiPaola. (Link).

This past week Lowell Sun Editor Jim Campanini wrote a piece about the state of his newspaper emphasizing that in spite of the overall industry decline in readership, newspapers like the Sun with “reinvented multimedia operations…are growing audiences.”

The editor is referring to the paper’s e-edition, web site, on-line videos and their app for mobile devices. But what interested me the most about that piece was the introduction of the newer members to the staff, specifically three of them.

The first is Erin Smith whose assignment includes the Greater Lowell Technical High School; second is Chris Camire who has been promoted to State House Reporter. The Sun has not had a reporter at the State House since Matt Murphy left in earlier this fall to go over to the State House News Service. The Sun has been carrying Matt’s articles written for his new employer. I am not sure if that will continue now that Camire will be there.

And last but definitely not least, in my opinion, is the appointment of Lyle Moran to cover along with Jen Myers, the political side of the City. However, I hope the editor continues to give the more complex assignments to Jen while Lyle is getting used to the City’s political topography.

Lyle’s previous assignment was covering the 5th Congressional District race for the paper. There were quite a few people who did not like the coverage the paper gave that race; some saw it as biased against Congresswoman Niki Tsongas. But the way I look at it; I wander if he reported the story he was told to report. If he did, he will quickly need to learn to push back. He is a good writer and to date I like the reporting he has done from City Hall as I did with Mike LaFleur and I do with Jen Myers.

I am glad the Sun was able to replenish its ranks after the exodus that occurred a few months ago.

Fellow blogger Gerry Nutter confirmed yesterday morning what he had previously hinted or implied, that he is a candidate for a seat on the Greater Lowell Technical High School Committee. Nutter was on John McDonough’s TV show, the LTC cable public affair program, City Life. (BTW all broadcast on LTC are archived; link for the Friday program is available on justin.tv.

Two of the 4 Lowell representative on the GLTHS are up for re-election. As of today, the two Michael Lenzi and Chairman David Laferriere have not announced that they are running nor have announced that they are not. I think Gerry has an excellent chance and it is a good move to announce early.

I think he might run a Patrick Murphy type of campaign; use social network sites. a web site and utilize free media to advance his candidacy. This model is a low-budget campaign that requires a lot of work but Gerry and his extended family should be able to implement such a campaign.

I know elections are about 12 months away but I like it when challengers announce early and do not let the rumor mill circulate their name without a firm denial or strong affirmation on their part. I guess these people may use the paper and other media outlets to launch their trial balloon. Incumbents need to announce their intentions as soon as they have decided so those who

In addition to Gerry, there are two other candidates for next year’s municipal elections: Paul Belly, who confirmed his candidacy for the Lowell City Council on his facebook account and Matt Viera, who also announced through facebook.

I know elections are about 12 months away but I like it when challengers announce early and do not let the rumor mill circulate their name without a firm denial or strong affirmation on their part. I guess these people may use the paper and other media outlets to launch their trial balloon. On the other hand, incumbents need to announce their intentions so that possible challengers can weigh their options.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, and I hope you are planning to spend a nice time with family and friends.

Things as you all probably know are very, very busy for me, with teaching and running a business, so following political news and posting has been difficult. So on the blog front, I am thankful today for my coblogger Mimi, who has continued to post on local issues and kept the blog light on.

So what are you thankful for this holiday season, and how are you spending it? As for me, it’s back to prepping for a hoard of family and friends descending on us tomorrow (about 18 of them), so back to my hidey hole I go!

Anytime you see a standing-room only crowd at a City Council meeting and an agenda item is moved out of order, you know you are going to be in for a long night. The emotionally-charged discussion on CC Patrick Murphy’s lasted well over 2 1/2 hours. What occurred last night could have taken place without the name calling, hysteria, fear-mongering and misinformation

By now, you may have read the front page Lowell Sun article authored by one of the newer members of the Sun staff, Lyle Moran, who is now on the Lowell beat. And you may have read Gerry’s rant but if you watched part of the 3 1/2 hour marathon meeting, and if you are a Lowell taxpayer, you must be wandering will this City Council ever come up with a plan to control our health care expenses and stick with it.

I do agree that the City Manager should have directly communicated with the retired municipal employees and explain to them in detail what may happen but to imply that he and those City Councilor members who voted to ask for a home rule petition to control our out-of-control, escalating expenses, and the Lowell taxpayers who support them are heartless and do not care about the retirees is simply a lie.

I found it a bit ironic that one of the refrains heard last night, was that by the to ask for that home rule petition, the power would rest with one individual; i.e the CM. But that power already does rest with one individual. He is the President of the City’s largest municipal union.

The motion passed and the City Manager will present a report at a later date. And if City Councilor Rita Mercier goes through with her announcement that she will introduce a motion next week to rescind the City Council’s July vote, and if that passes, then I guess we are back to trying to figure out how to control our healthcare costs.

If you did not have a chance to watch the meeting, I would strongly recommend that you watch that portion. LTC rebroadcasts the meetings on Channel 10 throughout the week, including tonight at 11:00 p.m.

All of the City Councilor spoke, some more than others; some were more measured than others. Here is a 10-minute clip that features some of the City Councilors (F. Descoteaux; R. Elliott; J. Mendonca and K. Broderick) comments:

As reported in yesterday’s breaking news section of the Lowell Sun, former City Councilor Alan Kazanjian has been cleared by DA Gerry Leone regarding the inspectional department issues that surfaced last year.

Chris Scott, who wrote some of the investigative stories on the City’s Inspection Department authored the story that appears in today’s Sun.

Of interest, besides Kazanjian’s clearance of any wrongdoing, was the issuance of a public clearance letter and DA Leone coming to the Sun’s office to visit with the reporter and editorial staff.

The Sun also published the DA’s letter in which Leone wrote “Our criminal investigation revealed evidence about practices and protocols of persons, including licensed individuals employed in the City Department of Inspectional Services, and others. Although not rising to the level required for criminal prosecution, information concerning the actions of these individuals may be appropriate for consideration by the Board of the Division…”

The entire Inspectional Services Department has been reorganized under new leadership. It is essential that the CIty Manager assures all of us that those “individuals” referred to in Leone’s letter no longer work for the City.

Already there has been a lot said on other blogs and the radio about the Sun and the blogsphere in general and this blog in particular. I for one believe that all elected officials should be held to the highest standard. Accusing the Sun and Chris Scott of “character assassination” begs the question: What should have the reporter done? Not cover the story? One thing about Chris, he is an equal opportunity investigative reporter. When he writes about someone you like, he is terrible. When he writes about someone you do not like, he is great.

I have only written on letter to the editor and it had to do with a story he had written. The letter was published. Inasmuch as I dislike the editorial position of the paper, I do not know what we will do without a local newspaper.

I am not going to repeat in detail what led to the events of 2009. I want to turn the page and move forward as I imagine the Kazanjian family does.

Lowell needs to focus on other issues such as the attempted robbery in the middle of the day of a woman who was doing her laundry; in the process her husband gets shot in front of their kids. It happened at 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon off Middlesex Street.

We should also be concerned about the currency war but there is nothing we can do about that just suffer from the consequences of the political maneuvering.

In case you have not noticed, the City Council is taking less time to conduct its weekly meetings. I think there are a number of factors: Mayor Jim Milinazzo runs a tight ship and moves the discussion along; the majority of the members on this Council practice economy of words; and a lot of the “heavy” discussion takes place in the Sub-Committee meetings.

So the meetings now have more of a business atmosphere.

At last night’s City Council meeting, it was CC Patrick Murphy’s motion, “Council consider Home Rule Petition to lower voting age to 17 for Municipal Elections,” that has created a buzz not only in the press, Sun and WCAP this morning but also on facebook. Gerry Nutter also commented on his blog, here is the link.

Here is a 9 minute video clip of the discussion. [Edit - the video is after the flip, so we can stop the autoplay on the home page.] (more…)

*facepalm*

I didn’t think it could get more ridiculous. I was wrong. I am sorry.

A Valley community’s decision to change the way trash is picked up provided further proof of how deeply the nation’s anti-government, “tea party”-fueled sentiment is running.

A decision by the Fountain Hills Town Council to hire a single trash hauler and begin a curbside recycling program has been met with angry protests from residents who accuse town leaders of overstepping their bounds and taking a leap toward socialism.

Some even likened it to “Obamacare” for garbage, calling it “trashcare.”

An Arizona website affiliated with the Alexandria, Va.,-based Campaign for Liberty, azc4l.com, features an intimidating, cigar-chomping man standing in front of the town’s famous fountain next to a story about the issue.

And last week, a flier was circulated around Fountain Hills with an ominous icon and the phrase, “The Hills Will Have Eyes,” and that claimed the “Fountain Hills Green Police” checked residents’ garbage and recyclables, and as a result, “you are wanted for questioning.”

On Thursday, a divided council approved a five-year contract with Allied Waste Services to be the single hauler and begin a recycling program. Residents currently can choose among five haulers and the town has no curbside recycling.

***

Councilwoman Ginny Dickey, who also supported the measure, said she felt that her motivations were especially questioned because she is the only Democratic council member and worked for seven years at the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

“It seems counterintuitive, but in order for this proposal to pass, I believe I had to downplay the benefits of recycling,” she said. “When ideology prevents rational discussion of a really pretty mundane topic, trash, there is no perspective. Everything is suspect, which paralyzes us.”

Satire is officially dead, dead, dead.

[Via Balloon Juice via dkos.]

To even mention (or hedge a question) on the concept of shutting down government and defaulting on our debt as a political tactic to get what you want is going three bridges too far. Yet, that is exactly what Republican House leadership is saying. They will hold hostage our fragile but progressing recovery, in the name of scoring political points. Incredible:

Cantor Refuses To Take Government Shutdown Or Default On U.S. Debt Off The Table

In an interview with Fox News Sunday this morning, Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA), the #2 Republican in the House, threatened to take the nation’s economy hostage if President Obama does not comply with House GOPers’ as yet undefined demands. When asked if he would take a government shutdown on forcing the United States to default on its debt off the table, Cantor responded that it would somehow be President Obama’s fault if House Republicans press this agenda:

QUESTION: Are you willing to say right now we’re not going to let the country go into default, and we won’t allow a government shutdown?

CANTOR: Chris, look at this now. The chief executive, the president, is as responsible as any in terms of running this government. The president has a responsibility, as much or more so than Congress, to make sure that we are continuing to function in a way that the people want.

The entire security of the world economy hinges on government-backed debt. The “Full Faith and Credit of the United States of America” is not just a term bandied about by elite economists. It is the backbone of our entire economy, and the economy, now, of an interconnected world. It was shocking back when Bush said that Social Security debt was “just IOUs” - they aren’t, they are the same debt bonds that China, or Europe, or businesses buy, backed by the Full Faith and Credit of the United States of America. That default would have caused severe crisis with our debtors - just as defaulting on our debt to other nations and businesses would destroy our economy now. Imagine calling up your mortgage company and telling them you intend not to pay anything back. Now, imagine the value of your entire existence plunging right after you do this. This is essentially what Cantor is threatening to do.

To even hint at default in the offering as a political tactic is to jeopardize our entire national interest. It is treasonous. This is who you elected, America. Let’s hope this doesn’t come to pass, or you can kiss the jobs recovery goodbye.

Addendum - remember, Reagan said he doesn’t negotiate with terrorists and hostage takers. So, what is this, then??

Addendum II - Also recall, Congress appropriates funds. By saying “the president has a responsibility, as much or more so than Congress, to make sure that we are continuing to function in a way that the people want” is to state that you abdicate getting the funds appropriated to cover the debt at your convenience - the President has no say on enacting the budget except to sign. This is obviously a threat for him to capitulate to what they demand, or else.