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January 22nd, 2011 at 9:41 pm
Gerry is a boob and I wish someone would give him a job so we wouldn’t have to deal with him anymore. That said, the paper is going after those who can raise funds. Milinazzo and Martin raise some good money and the paper will make them spend it to refute any imaginary charges that it makes. It costs the Sun next to nothing to conjure up this stuff but if you want to knock it down, ya gotta buy ads.
January 23rd, 2011 at 7:29 am
DUH…to quote you Lynne,,in an Open Gov,,.let the people hear it,,we are smart enough to know bullshit when we hear it…we hear a lot of it,,,again Gov thinking they are smarter than the peasants…if he is wrong then we need to hear what is he saying that is so wrong? why not let us hear it?…You should interview him just to hear what his spin is and let us decide….
Please do not use the moniker “anonymous”. It is confusing. Choose a name. And also Lynne did not write this post, I did. MP
January 23rd, 2011 at 7:39 am
I let anonymous post his/her comments because I wanted to answer. The individual who wanted to address the Council has already spoken in front of the City Council at a Sub-Committee meeting where the entire Council was present.
I cannot locate the video of that meeting on the internet. I will work on getting it and post it so anyone who wants to hear his proposal can.
The real issue is that a Chair of the Sub-Committee reported to the full Council, they took a vote directing the City Manager to follow a particular plan. A few weeks later, a City Councilor who does not sit on that Sub-Committee wants to have an individual to address the full Council on that issue again.
January 23rd, 2011 at 9:02 am
Hmm. I thought that all residents have a right to be heard and to address the council? http://www.lowellma.gov/depts/clerk/faq#howcanispeak (thanks to whoever posted this on the topix board)
January 23rd, 2011 at 9:23 am
Spindle:
Yes, all residents and non-residents have the right to address the Council. And on many occasion we have had residents speak about oak trees, fluoride in the water, traffic issues, infrastructure problems, etc… They just need to stay on topic. All we have to do is sign up to be added to the agenda, that’s all.
However, this was a motion that was introduced by a City Councilor which required the majority of the City Council to approve it before it went forward.
It is sad that instead of discussing the City’s strategic plan, which was presented last week, we are discussing this topic. As much as I rant against the Sun, I do have to admit that we have to react to the narrative that they chose to put forward.
I hope later on to post on the 30-page Strategic Plans. These are the kinds of issues we need to focus on as citizens to make sure that Lowell stays on the right track and keeps moving forward.
My suggestion to the Sun, they should interview Mr. Burke and post that video on their site. If they are so concerned about civic duty and free speech, that would be a great public service.
January 23rd, 2011 at 11:35 am
Please pay attention to the bylines, people, geez. It’s not that hard. You know…before attacking people that had nothing to do with anything. (That shows me that “anonymous” who cannot even pick a nickname doesn’t frequent this blog, or know much about it.) Also it would help if your comment was actually coherent…and don’t tell me who or what to interview or talk about. Start your own blog. Or call the waaahbulance. Either way, attacking me for not talking to this guy is like telling a volunteer hospital worker they didn’t do enough to save that ER patient that came in while they weren’t there. Yeesh.
OK, mocking of silly attacks aside, reading the context of this and the *other*, coherent commentary, I can only conclude that once again, the Sun has manufactured an attack - no surprise really. Since the reelection campaign is nearly in full swing. Too bad they’re so transparent most readers can see through it - and will ignore them. It was obviously a political motion by said councilor.
And no offense to fellow blogger Gerry, but seriously, you have to do a little more digging before taking a Lowell Sun editorial at face value. Haven’t you been burned by such things in the past before?
I was so hoping Bud would decide it was time to retire…but it appears he is looking to score political points, which means, likely, a run at reelection. He is losing more credibility the further off the rails he goes…
January 23rd, 2011 at 11:37 am
BTW if we let every crank and crackpot on the CC floor at all times they want to be there…we’d never get anything done.
Oh, wait.
(Yes, I know that is a marginally acceptable joke. But I am really sick of this crap, which is a waste of our time.)
January 23rd, 2011 at 11:40 am
Lynne, Bud sold his soul many moons ago to the paper. He was desperate for reelection when a young upstart almost knocked him out in the primary. A little wheelin’ and dealin’ later, the upstart got his jock knocked off in the paper and Bud’s been carrying water for them ever since. He’s going nowhere. It wouldn’t surprise me if he topped Rita next time around.
January 23rd, 2011 at 11:49 am
I dunno, I think I would still bet against that. But certainly, the era for bloviating is coming to a close…eventually…I don’t think he gets reelected for his ranting and raving and weird attacks. I think he gets reelected for name recognition and his lifelong voter gladhandling, which I will admit he’s very good at.
But seriously, he long ago went into “you kids get off my lawn!” territory. That’s me being charitable…
January 23rd, 2011 at 12:37 pm
If you check the state site for donations, you will not find my name on Bud and Rita’s disclosure. And I do not vote for them, either.
However, it is to your own detriment to scoff them with abandon. As of the time of this post, they are the craftiest folks on the Council. The vote totals testify loudly.
So, how can that be undone? Should it be undone?
Well, take heart in the margin of support going to Franky in 2009. That is a good starting point.
January 23rd, 2011 at 2:55 pm
I just say em like I see em. I’m not going to sugar coat it, sorry. If you actually listen to what they say on a regular basis, it’s a lot of bull*** followed by crazy points of view.
But yes, they are clever in that they gladhandle people well, and inefficiently adhere to a “come to us and we’ll hand off your little problem to the city administration so that I can get credit with you for it” manner of governing. Me, personally, I prefer to hand off my pothole requests directly to the department in charge of potholes, or via the administration responsible for it, so that it goes done faster, and only go to the city councilors in the event that I cannot get something done in a reasonable time, for the pressure they can exert.
January 23rd, 2011 at 3:07 pm
does that speak to their gladhanding skills, or does it speak more to our ignorance as an electorate?
January 23rd, 2011 at 4:34 pm
No, I will say they really are good at it. The old way of doing business, that is. I think it’s less about voter ignorance and more about an attitude of governing that we no longer hold. But it’s ingrained in the older crowd, and I think they expect this as much as the oldtimer councilors expect to deliver it. And that is the core of their constituency as well.
I will, however, make the judgment call that such a way of governing isn’t that great - it’s a little (sometimes a lot) prone to GOBism and favoritism, and certainly inefficient, as you are adding a middle man to every minor process and more micromanagement to city government. It’s one thing in Plan E municipal governance to have the CM report to the City Council and held accountable; it’s another level of inefficiency all together to have every little request by citizens be marching orders from one of 9 city councilors. Thank goodness there’s only two people on the Council still practicing this way. Of course, if a constituent *comes* to a councilor with a problem I would expect them to help, but generally, the rest of them don’t seek out to personally take credit for fixing every pothole.
January 23rd, 2011 at 4:47 pm
Jack found this video of Martin addressing the issue:
Watch live video from jackmitchell01850 on Justin.tv
January 24th, 2011 at 9:21 am
For eff’s sake. HOW long has McDonough been following city politics??? It’s not like he’s some sort of newbie. Good lord. HE should know better that you a citizen cannot randomly decide “I’ll speak on XYZ this week just by registering to speak on a non-agenda item.” He KNOWS better.
As Martin says, there’s a PROCESS - like, if you want an issue to come up, you go to a Councilor and get them to sponsor a motion, or you go the CM and ask the same. Either of those members of city government can then put it on as a motion, and you can sign up to speak. If every Tom Dick and Harry could expound on whatever they liked whenever they liked, then WTF is the point of having a process, a City Council, or anything??
Talk about literally making an issue out of NOthing. If you don’t like the way that’s done, John, take it up with the Mass General Laws. Freakin A!
January 24th, 2011 at 9:31 am
Doesn’t matter - Nutter and the Sun don’t like it so process be damned.
January 24th, 2011 at 11:13 am
(By the way for those not in the know, “freakin A” is an expression of exasperation - like, “freakin A it’s cold out here!”. Maybe it’s a NH thing.)
January 24th, 2011 at 2:45 pm
freakin A is NH, Lowell is somewhat different.
January 24th, 2011 at 3:27 pm
Hilarious!!! When the scum mentions Bud it is usually in a condecending manner just as you do. As for ignoring Bill Martin wake me when he actually DOES ANYTHING. He has always been in the Scums pocket and always will be. Jim Milinazzo was torpedoed by Kendall years ago as LHA director for one reason and one reason only to grease the skids for Robert Downey Jr. to take his place, yet Jim (backbone) sells his soul to get elected don’t worry he will be fine. The Scum singlhandedly got Frankie elected. Do I need to go on? Oh yeah I can’t wait to see who St. Hilaire trades up to save what is left of his hyde. Can you say Grove St. I do agree with you that they will stir the pot to generate add revenue.
P.S. everyone please read Michell Malkin in today’s sun it will certainly sicken and hopefully openyoureyes.
January 24th, 2011 at 3:34 pm
No, freakin A is also a Lowell thing, although maybe from days past.
January 24th, 2011 at 4:18 pm
“Hilarious!!!”
The forced-laughter thing just makes you look like you’re trying too hard.
“P.S. everyone please read Michell Malkin in today’s sun it will certainly sicken”
Michelle Malkin always sickens me.
January 24th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
openyoureyes:
When Bud mentions anything it is ALWAYS in a condecending manner! It doesn’t matter what he is speaking about or who, its nothing but negativity. He stopped bringing anything positive to Lowell years ago.
Frankie? I don’t recall hearing her speak once! I voted for her, but between all of her whispering secrets to Bud Im not sure what to think about her. She, is by far, the only “mystery” councilor we have.
Michelle Malkin? As they say in the Acre, she’s “aight”! Ill take Cal over her anyday.
January 24th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
As to this actual “issue”, I do not even see it as one. Does anyone really believe that someone can wave a magical wand and the 70 million bucks will appear? If it was that easy, or worth the time, Bernie or the majority of the council would have done so already. Technically that money may be owed, but collecting it isn’t as easy as so many seem to think. It would take years and who knows how much it would actually cost the city to even go about in collecting those funds. And who knows how much of that 70 million we would actually be able to collect.
If Im not mistaken, isn’t each foreclosed property dealt with on an individual basis?
Im not expert on these real estate laws, far from it, but common sense dictates if there was 70 million bucks sitting there with Lowell’s name on it, Lowell would pounced on it a long time ago.
Im sure Burke is well intentioned and I applaud him for coming forward and offering his opinions and ideas. We are ALL in debt folks, and will be for some time. Any ideas on raising revenue should be heard, and Burke’s was. Burke addressed the sub committee on this matter. I also heard he presented his ideas and proposals to the city manager. What else does he want?
People often make the mistake that although you have the right to free speech, you do not have the right to be heard!
January 24th, 2011 at 6:22 pm
Getting back to the topic at hand, then, the bottom line is that the topic the speaker wanted to discuss wasn’t on the agenda? If that is the case, then I can see why he wasn’t allowed to speak. I guess that I missed that point somewhere. Freaking A.
January 25th, 2011 at 5:24 am
Look carefully at the Sun today. The managing editor,M.K. Guzda, wrote a piece about the paper’s new commenting system.
But in that piece were some pretty damning comments about how the Sun handled one particular story. She admitted her reporters were involved in “shallow reporting” and reported some facts incorrectly.
I’m not sure when this new managing editor arrived, but do some googling and find out that, unlike most of the Sun editors, she has an actual journalism resume that isn’t based in Lowell and in the Sun culture.
Perhaps this explains why the former managing editor was banished to Fitchburg. And since the story about the new commenting system, and the mea cupla about lousy reporting, comes from her and not Campanini, it looks increasingly like the Campanini era at our local newspaper is coming to an ignoble end. I’ll bet that he’s close to being a mere figurehead.
If she’s taking on the vitriol, as the paper puts it, found in the comments, will it be long before she reforms the biased reporting, inconsistent coverage and “column mentions for scoops” that have been part of the Sun landscape for generations?
We can only hope.
January 25th, 2011 at 5:33 am
P.S. for the complete background, google her real name, M. Kathleen Guzda Struck or Kathleen Struck.
January 25th, 2011 at 8:18 am
SunEDay:
I agree with you. The open letter from the new Managing Editor to the Sun readership was revealing. For those who have not read it, here is the link: http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_17182329.
Maybe the Campanini era is not coming to an end but will be held to a higher standard; already I can see changes at the Sun, including the facebook presence and now the change from Topix to Disqus.
January 25th, 2011 at 8:56 am
Maybe Mimi can buy this bridge I have for sale…..
January 25th, 2011 at 10:59 am
I will hold out hope but not hold my breath. Because there’s just as much a chance the new editor will get tossed out on her keyster if she shakes things up too much. But, anything is better than what we have now, and the sort of reporting that has been suppressed or directed by Campy. Nevermind the editorials.
But I wish her well, in that sort of “good luck with THAT” sort of way…
I’d love to be able to take out a subscription to the Sun. *shrug*