Left In Lowell

‘Twas the night of Halloween,
And in all the streets
the branches and debris
were frustrating the treats.

All little ghosties and ghoulies
were kept from their rounds
of their neighborhoods darkened
from trees that came down.

Their costumes they hung
back in closet halls.
In hopes that their city
would reschedule their hauls.

“It must be some trick,”
they thought to themselves.
“It sure can’t be time
for us to see elves.”

But soon they forgot
that they missed out on Twix.
They pulled on their snow boots,
and went out in the mix.

They built up their snowman,
and snowball fights led.
They slid down the hills
on the sled from the shed.

Their parents breathed sighs.
Did they escape the worst fate?
Would the holiday pass
without sugar highs great?

Alas, not to be.
The city decided
in its infinite wisdom
that candy bars be provided.

Still there was a postponement
of the rush to eat chocolate.
A week extra off
to prepare for the racket.

That is, if there’s any
little “fun size” treats left.
If the parents don’t eat it
in dark, desperate theft.

Merry Halloween everyone! Hope all of our readers still without power get it back soon, and that you don’t, in the desperation of all this darkness and cold, eat it all up before next Sunday.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DATE: October 31, 2011
CONTACT: Bernie Lynch, City Manager
(978) 674-1000

CITY IN POST-STORM OPERATIONS

Following this weekend’s freak mid-fall snowstorm, City officials have put in place sheltering and debris removal plans.

Public Works crews along with contractors have been removing tree limbs that have fallen in the public way that are not near downed power lines.

“We urge residents to use caution until all wires have been repaired and debris removed,” said City Manager Bernie Lynch. “Our first priority is to make our roads and sidewalks safe and to provide shelter for our residents who have lost power. As we move forward we are also making arrangements to help residents dispose of fallen tree limbs.”

(more…)

We all know that word of mouth is a great way to help a small, insignificant thing become a big deal, the lastest fad. However, when you need that fad to catch on in a hurry, like at the close of an election season, you enlist the traditional media.

When the tradmeds “talk,” they intend for you to hear or read specific points. Those points are designed to combine with other considerations that you will hear bandied about in familiar campaign circles.

Let’s take a look at the promotional activities, by WCAP and The Sun, around John MacDonald’s “bus tour.” Let’s begin with Lowell’s loudest chatter:

… today’s citywide bus tour by John MacDonald and his supporters to try to increase voter turnout is new and different.

(more…)

In case you didn’t know, trick or treating has been postponed in just about every community including Lowell’s (originally scheduled for tonight). I guess having kids slipping up and down icy sidewalks in costume didn’t appeal! Not to mention all the outages still going on. (Pawtucketville, I’m looking at YOU!)

Via Facebook and Jen Meyers, here’s some info on the rescheduling:
Lowell - postponed until Sunday, Nov. 6.
Dracut - postponed until Saturday, Nov. 5.
Tyngsboro - postponed until Sunday, Nov. 6.
Chelmsford - cancelled (what, no candy for Chelmsfordian kids? Mean! Mean!)
Tewksbury - at parent’s discretion.

Presumably times have not changed (Lowell was supposed to go from 6 to 8 if I am remembering correctly). Ah yes, here’s the CM’s blog post on the subject. 6 - 8 next Sunday it is.

I am certain the entirety of the children of New England are in apoplectic fits not being able to get their sugar rush today. Hopefully your parents are good enough to bring you around next weekend!

I am baffled by Lowell Councilor Rodney Elliott’s latest tactic in his continous criticism of the efforts of the City administration led by the Manager, Bernie Lynch. I am referring to the two motions he submitted to this coming meeting’s agenda.

Request the City Mgr./City Solicitor get an opinion from the Ethics Commission on hiring process for Treasurer.

Request the City Council adopt residency requirement for city employees similar to the City of Boston Ordinance.

I do not understand it. Didn’t his vote two years ago interfering with the Plan E form of government and removing the funding for Assistant to the City Manager, Andy Sheehan contribute to Elliott finishing 9th? I think so.

So here we are two years later and Councilor Elliott is basically doing the same thing that was done two years ago, this time going after the CFO and the Treasurer’s appointment. Who is the political strategist that is giving him this advice?

If the Councilor was so interested in the selection process, why didn’t he raise the issue at the beginning as opposed to after the appointment was made? I am not sure what he is trying to accomplish by introducing the politically-charged motion, residency requirements for City employees, on the agenda a week before election. I think he already has the support of that certain voting group that has this philosophy, so what will this motion at the 11th hour accomplish? I am not adverse to having a discussion on the issue but to have it 7 days before election reaks of political maneuvering.

I am not sure how much the constant good press he has been receiving from the Sun is influencing his evaluation of the political landscape. In case you have not noticed, he has become the go-to-guy for Sun City Hall reporter, Lyle Moran. For the past 3 months, he has been mentioned in 81 Sun articles/columns. For the same period in 2009, there were only 28 artices where he was mentioned.

The lone wolf act works he you are able to convince your colleagues that your course of action is the correct one. If all you end up doing is sounding like an obstructionist who cannot form a consensus or build a coalition, your influence and effectiveness is nil.

Poking away at the QWERTY pad of my Blackberry Curve. On lower Coburn St., we have power. That means we have essentials, like heat, lights, food & shower. We bundle with Comcast for phone, TV & Intertubes. That is busted. We can’t really whine, if our biggest gripe is “Where will we watch the Pats?”

Please check in and let us know how you and your neighbors are doing. If you have a link that will let us know where the outages are and the repair schedules, that would be pissa.

Please check on your elderly neighbors. We are in this together, folks.

Please commune on this Open Thread.

I have more questions than answers. My Socratic muse drives me.

- Are the terms now public? Some of the terms were shared on WCAP. Was that a “breach” or a “Press Release.”

- The SC and UTL leadership have come to terms. Those terms must be disclosed to the membership for an up or down vote. If the rank and file can know the terms, why can’t we? Or, can we?

- If one term is 1.5% pay raise to start “immediately”, if they hit June of 2012 with no long term accord; does the current contract come back or has the SC just handed the membership a floor of 1.5%? I’m going to guess that the deal reached, if accepted by the membership, will exist in perpetuity until a 2012 deal is struck. Or 2013, 2014 …..

- Will the UTL now turn its attention on the City Manager and City Council? Really, how could UTL leadership bind its membership to a long term deal without having the “bookends” set on their health care costs?

- Did the SC miss an opportunity to stake the UTL down on wages, allowing potential health care savings to come back to taxpayers?

- Does the City Council really think they will get to play with savings on the School side, captured by “plan design,” as they see fit? Like give it back to the taxpayers?

The SC is not coached by Bill Belechick. The UTL has a better game plan. I’m not going out on a limb to say this punt was the best play available, for both sides.

Now we turn to Bernie Lynch and the importance of the City Council election.

Update: I’m rescinding my football metaphor and substituting a golf ball. Did the School Committee chip it forward into the rough, the fairway or deeper into the woods? You play the ball where it lays.

Saw this on facebook:

Connie Martin Lowell-Schools
Home from mediation with good news for a change!!! Took a great deal of work from both sides but we did finally reach an agreement. Happy to be moving on to new challenges for the Lowell School Committee.

Update: I received an e-mail from Jackie Doherty at 2:38am. She wrote to thank me for coming to the public hearing, last night. To end on a happier note, she closed with this:

“Also, a quick six hours later we had with an agreement with the UTL …“

*Attention All Lowell Campaigns*

Leave it to the the business wizards over at The Sun, to mix editorials written by candidate supporters with the stories written by Lowell reporters. At a casual glance, you’d think The Sun was lauding John MacDonald. I’d laugh, but it is rather pathetic.

Note: Any campaign that desires to mimic MacD’s “good fortune,” avail yourself of a Lowellian to provide the fluff.

*Bubble Alert*

School Committee member Jackie Doherty has opted to take her medicine in a public meeting:Tonight, 6:30 at the Rogers School.

If you can’t attend, stay tuned.

Update, 19:10: Quick meeting. Seemed relaxed, but I wasn’t in the hot seat. I did record it on my cellie, but I’m not sure how to get the video off of the phone. Derp They call the meeting to order. Jackie Doherty read a prepared statement. Basically an apology with caveats. I’m sure she IS sorry, but there was a whole “The Devil made me do it” twist.

Leary, Conway and Laraba made short remarks. Leary effectively cautioned the danger of these sorts of actions, but offered forgiveness. Laraba was more … stern. She seemed to be driving home the severity of this and breaches, in general. Not pleasant, but I’d say necessary. This wasn’t a whitewash. Conway urged the Committee to move forward and forge ahead with the contract negotiations.

There were several members of the public there, including Bob Gignac and Kim Scott. Union leadership, as well as an assortment of others that seemed normal in the room. If that means anything.

The Sun’s Jen Myers was there, so look for something on this evening from her. How’s that for some sick blog/tradmed liasing, Jen?