Left In Lowell

This picture was taken at the corner of Foundry and Boston streets. As you can see someone dumped all of their garbage and junk on a city street. I think that parcel is owned by the City but I am not sure. Anyway, that is how I read the GIS map on the city website.

For a long time there was a drop-off box for used clothing. One of those large, yellow metal containers. The operative word here is clothes. But every month, when it was moving time, landlords and tenants would use this spot as their personal garbage dumpster.

I thought that now that the container had been removed, the corner would be free of this visual pollution. But I was wrong, as you can see. How long have the abutting residents, who put so much time and effort to keep their properties clean, have to put up with this garbage, (literally and figuratively)?

The cowardly deed is done a night making it almost impossible for the criminals to be caught. Maybe the City can put a camera up there and finally catch one of those criminals. It not only effects the neighborhoods quality of life but the impact of indiscriminate dumping of garbage is a form of the broken window theory; maintaining a clean environment is essential to safe and healthy community.

Meanwhile, I will be on the lookout and if I ever catch one of those guys, watch out!

UPDATE: The garbage has been removed. Thank-you Ms. Kendra Amaral, of the City’s
Development Services Division, and DPW. I am still on the look out for that criminal who is polluting our City.

I am sitting here watching Bernie Lynch on City Life. He just dropped a little bomb. Something about how, in previous administration(s), tax increases that weren’t approved by the City Council in the June budget processes where submitted to the State in the following November.

Unfortunately, there is now no easy way to capture that moment and present it here for discussion. That is because, since the big move and upgrades, LTC hasn’t been using Justin.tv for online video archiving. That is very inconvenient and I am here to whine.

No really. This is no small thing. Lowell is blessed with a certain blending of small contributions that add up to make a true difference. First we have City Life. Here, local hosts invite electeds and “persons of interest” on to sit and discuss various topics. To me it is fascinating to hear these unvarnished discussions. Further, we do not rely on others to present their objective reporting of the words. On City Life, we can see and hear for ourselves. “Straight from the horse’s mouth,” as it were. Well, depending on the guest, the end of the horse is a subjective thing. ;v)

Then come the blogs. We bloggers regularly watch, and also appear, on City Life. It is a point of reference in local politics and culture. From what is said, we can spin off commentary and facilitate a dialogue. I personally think this has great value and endeavor to maximize it’s potential.

For example, here is a juicy moment that I feel is very pertinent.

Republican Committeeman Jeff Wilson yearns to use local elections to build the MAGOP farm team. He sees the practice of keeping “party” out of local elections is a form of supression used by the majority party, which in MA is the Democrats.

Without the online video archiving feature on Justin.tv, this moment, and others of interest, are lost in the ether. As is the moment of Bernie saying that a past CM may have ignored his bosses.

Or, worse. ?

I hope this griping helps my friend Mimi work towards solving this problem. We have discussed the matter, but she just may need some formal and public complaining, to bring to LTC’s shakers and movers.

Hey LTC. I want. I want. I need. I need.

Update: A point of clarity. My desire is not for “Justin.tv” proper, but for the capability the software presents. If it is replaced with like, kind or better? Perfect.

Friend of the blog (and my friend) Kim Scott has officially entered the race for School Committee (as notated by Jack previously). But it’s not really official until Jen Myers writes you up in the Lowell Sun.

Scott says the greatest strength she can bring to the committee, in addition to an understanding of finance, is the perspective of an elementary-school parent.

“I can see up close what is happening in my daughters’ school,” she said. “I’ve been able to build a relationship with staff that is built on mutual respect; that leads to trust. From there, I’ve learned from the staff about their needs and concerns, plus the needs of the school’s students.”

Scott is treasurer of the Pyne Arts PTO and a member of the Citywide Parent Council. This spring, she served on the search committee for both the Pyne Arts principal and the superintendent of schools. She also serves on the city’s Solid Waste and Recycling Advisory Committee.

Her top goal if elected, she said, would be to make sure the district sets realistic — yet ambitious — goals.

Welcome to the race, Kim, and I expect really good things from you!

(HT to Jack on FB for the link to the article. Credit where it’s due! )

This week’s City Council has an extensive agenda. Remember, the City Council is on its summer schedule (2nd and 4th Tuesday) and let’s not forget it is the beginning of the election season. I guarantee that it will be a long night; unfortunately, I am out of town so I will not be able to watch it live but I will watch the replay.

City Councilor Rodney Elliott has a number of motions including “Manager provide copies of applications/resumes of applicants for Boards/Commission Positions.” I had written about this issue before but I think it needs to be revisited since the CC will now take a formal vote.

As I had previously stated, I believe this to be a Sun-driven “controversy.” You can check out their website and search their archives to see how many times they have written about the “application/resume” issue. And as we all know, they submitted an FOI request to the Administration for the names. The request was denied and now is in the hands of the Secretary of State, I think. If you look at the chronology of this recent issue, you will see its genesis is on the Sun’s pages and not on the City Council floor.

But back to the City Council, two weeks ago the Manager and CC Elliott had a back-and-forth on the “releasing” of this information. Here is a video clip (courtesy of LTC’s website):

The “vote” referred to by CC Elliott may never have taken place. I did not find any record of it and more importantly, City Clerk Dick Johnson was quoted in the paper saying there was no vote. However, back in 2005, there was a request from certain City Councilors to receive all applications and resumes. I think it is necessary to review what led to that CC to make this request and then evaluate if the same conditions exist today.

First and foremost, back in 2005 those sitting on the regulatory and advisory boards had the option of receiving the same health package and benefit that City employees did. And many of them took full advantage. Today, all they get is a nominal stipend, a heathy thank-you and the satisfaction that for a few years, they have donated their time and effort to helping the City.

Secondly, back in 2005 when CC Kevin Broderick joined the City Council, he had to vacate his position on the Planning Board. The City Manager back then brought forth a name and the CC was under the impression that there was just one other applicant. Later on they learned through the newspaper, that a much more qualified individual had applied. That individual who had moved to Lowell from Andover had a great resume: “a master’s degree in urban and regional planning; worked as and economic-development and telecom specialist for the city of Newton who had about a decade of planning experience, including time spent working for the Massachusetts Office of Business Development.” (Lowell Sun, The Column, September 18, 2005). That person was not even given the courtesy of a phone call never mind an interview.

Third: Back in 2005 - 2006, there were many hold-over appointments, not just a few months but years. The CC was getting anxious and was pressing the then City Manager to bring the names to the City Council floor for a re-appointment vote.

So is the situation the same today? What has occurred in the past few months to make this an “issue?” Have we had problems with the appointees in the past 5 years? I am sure we have had some dissatisfied residents, builders, investors, developers and business owners because they did not like the way the vote went; I am one of them. I have appeared in front of the ZBA and the Planning Board and I found those members to be professional and fair. Has there been any concerns about the behavior of any of the Board members? I do no think so. Also, I think if they was an individual who had a great resume and the City Manager did not bring their name forward and brought someone else’s, I would think the Sun would have leaked their name just as they did back in 2005. What we have here is the confluence of the municipal election and the Sun’s desire to keep sticking their fingers in the CM’s eye.

So having said all this, I think the CM should give the CC the applications but in Executive Session. It is not worth the fight. There are CC members who think challenging the CM shows independence. That may be true but on some occasions, it is mere political grandstanding.

A more formal announcement will roll out soon, but I’m just too excited not to blog this.

Talked to Kim, last night at the “blogger meetup.” She said she was going to run. But, now it’s official. She has pulled papers and is getting things in order.

We are blessed to have some great choices.

The election year barrage of questions directed at the City Manager, coupled with my concerns about the objectiveness of the local paper, has been giving me agida. Like the kind I get from anchovy on an otherwise fine pizza.

When the Livingston Ave kabuki took the stage, I may have erred in positioning top chatter, Kendall Wallace, at the head of the Hayashi. Had I looked just one week back in the archive, my vision would have been that much clearer. To flesh out a “pro-Plan E city government” assertion, a contrast was derived between Lowell and Lawrence:

There are lots of reasons why one place prospers and another stumbles, but one of the big differences is the form of government and the caliber of the people at the top.

In this derivation, the private sector in Lawrence is applauded:

Lawrence, despite the fact it has better highway access than Lowell, despite the fact its old mill buildings were in better shape than Lowell’s, has struggled to lift itself out of the decline.
All that said, all is not gloom and doom. Chelmsford resident Sal Lupoli has done a remarkable job with the development of some of the old mills in Lawrence. And Bob Ansin has just reinstituted his mill redevelopment project in the old Wood Mill in South Lawrence. These are two good developers who have invested in the community and do quality work.

And that just may be. Certainly there is serious third party validation, coming from Beacon Hill:

Gov. Deval Patrick singled out businessman Salvatore Lupoli as “a powerful force” who is helping his administration achieve its main goal of creating new jobs.
“He’s been a wonderful partner of ours,” Patrick said in an interview last night after helping the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce honor Lupoli during its annual dinner.

But, ever the cheerleader (self-admitted), the editorial goes on to set things firmly in Lowell’s favor:

But how does that compare to the re-development of the Lowell mills that was highlighted last week in a 48-page section in The Sun? The Lawrence projects basically pale by comparison.

The affirmation of Lowell’s deserved pride is conjured at the expense of a well used villain. Bashing the Mayor of Lawrence IS the proverbial fish in the barrel:

Lowell, way back in the 1940s, changed from a strong mayor form of government to a professional city manager form and took the leader of the city administration out of elective politics. I think that has been a major difference between Lowell and Lawrence.
And that was long before Mayor Willie Lantigua.
The embattled mayor and the embarrassing news stories that go with his troubles may have set the city back a decade.

Unfortunately, even more recently, the Mayor’s reputation causes collateral damage to the aforementioned “powerful force.”

A first round of subpoenas in a multi-jurisdictional probe of Mayor William Lantigua’s administration have been served to businesses and individuals with alleged knowledge of Lantigua’s political fund-raising efforts.
A spokesman for Sal Lupoli, the owner of Salvatore’s restaurant and function facility at Lawrence’s Riverwalk, confirmed a subpoena from the state’s Office of Campaign and Political Finance was served to a restaurant manager there at 5 p.m. yesterday.

*running finger behind collar*

The Plan E government is preferred. On top of that, I’ll add, the performance/data driven process that steers its course is better yet! Why?
*lean in please* - *whisper* …. Because the vig is smaller.

Your taste may vary. Maybe you prefer, as Bob Hatem described on Tuesday’s City Life, “politics of personality.” You know, the kind of government that runs like High School daze. And during elections, we choose the Prom King, Prom Queen and their Court. And the staff is made up of loyal jesters.

I’m getting agida, just thinking about it.

This could be fun. Also, evil and mean. Because I pass by the former location of Dharma Buns like every day to go to the post office…

But anyway, a homegrown MA franchise built by two UMass Amherst students over a decade ago, Wings Over, is coming to Lowell at that location. (The Sun article is here but when I went there, I got two stupid popups so fair warning - I don’t recommend clicking through unless you want to be annoyed).

Welcome to downtown, Wings Over Lowell, I wish you the best of luck, and as someone who loves BBQ flavors…well, I’m certain to be stopping by as soon as you open. Mmmmm. There goes my promise to myself to eat out less…

Update: Via Facebook, I found another new restaurant downtown too…Babylon Restaurant, Middle Eastern cuisine, and this enterprise is the new joint business of several families from a new emerging ethnicity in our city - Iraqi. So cool! (Their facebook page.)

I pillaged this from next door.

Blogger meet-up Thursday night

by DickH
This coming Thursday night, from 6 to 8 pm, all bloggers, blog readers, and everyone else is invited to Gary’s Ice Cream at 131 Gorham Street in East Chelmsford to enjoy ice cream and each other’s company. There’s no agenda, no sign-in table; just show up and chat.

A bonus will be the presence of Greg Page who’s flown all the way back from Afghanistan to attend. Well, maybe he returned for other reasons and it’s a coincidence that he’s here for this event. Whatever the case, it will be great to see Greg and everyone else. Please try to attend.

I’m thinking all media is social. Some is broadcast at you, so one side is quite passive. But then what happens? We talk about the broadcast. It takes on a life of its own, as we discuss. Newspapers are keen on this. They know that when you fold the paper and put it down, what you say next on the matter will incorporate what they proposed. The more gifted newsies leave a little something for everyone, knowing most readers take what they like and leave the rest.

That leads me to the latest Saturday Chat. Wallace covers all the bases. He heaps praise upon the CM, while dropping a velvet shiv or two for others to pick up and use.

Praise: I have followed Bernie Lynch since his days in Chelmsford and admire what he has done in clearing up the city’s financial mess.
Velvet shiv: If Lynch ends up with strong supporters in the next election, he could likely be here as long as he wants

Wait a sec, the praise was boobytrapped. “his days in Chelmsford?” My Mr. Wallace, you are crafty. ;v)

The speculation on the durability of the CM’s tenure will lead to whisper slogans, like, “If we don’t change the Council, we will NEVER get rid of Bernie.” Just like the whispers that he is “the tin man” come from subtle assertions like, … my neighbors get totally frustrated with a less-than-sympathetic response to their plight from city officials.. .

I know, I know, the “tin man” meme erupted as a protest to the CM’s effort to wean the retired teachers off of Master Medical. That was said months ago.

All media is social.

My distinguished colleague Cliff Krieger of the blog Right-Side-of-Lowell is also here at the convention (they’ll let anyone in these days!) and you should check out his excellent and prolific coverage.

Hi and welcome to Cliff! Hope you are enjoying yourself!