Left In Lowell

Lynne, “Tone Deaf” is a complement!

The Blog of Record reports:

Commissioner Walter Bayliss said the board does not believe the 2 a.m. closing hour has caused the string of crime in downtown. Bar-goers naturally congregate in a city such as Lowell, and the downtown is a typical destination, Bayliss said. Downtown bar and crime issues have gone in cycles over the years, and sometimes the community pushed for the License Commission to allow bars to extend business hours, he said.

But, if curtailing business hours is what the community wants, the commission is willing to do it with a condition: the City Council’s call for it.

“If (the City Council has) got the nerve to do it, we’ve got the nerve to do it,” Bayliss said.

Why is the License Commission hiding under the City Council’s skirt? Looks to me like the LC doesn’t want to perform their duties.

License Commission

The License Commission adopts rules and regulations for licenses and license activity that address matters of local interst in compliance with the laws of the Commonwealth, and is the local authority for licenses effecting alcoholic beverages, public amusements, common victualler (food), second hand motor vehicles and entertainment. Three (3) members are appointed to a six (6) year term. Diverse political party representation is required. (MGL Ch. 4 s.12) Two (2) year prior residency also required. City Council Confirmation is required. Statute Reference: MGL C.428 Acts 1894; MGL C.138 s.10 .

To see for yourself how arrogant and obstinant Wally Bayliss is acting, please click here.

Bayliss won’t do his job, unless the Council gives him political cover. Who’s got nerve?

After last night, after what is being reported as “an 82 percent increase in violence and disorder around downtown bars since the beginning of 2011,” you still hear malarkey from the License Commission like this:

Weicker said all complaints about downtown come from the same four residents.

*facepalm* And maybe the patrons and employees beaten all to shit, too, maybe? They can’t make the meetings, some of them are still in the hospital.

“The License Commission cannot be out on the street at 2 in the morning,” Akashian said, adding more police should be downtown if crime is increasing.

Maybe it OUGHT to spend some time examining the goddamned problem. Oh, I’m sorry, you think you are above staying awake a couple nights in a month to personally take a look at the problem. Of course, your sleep is so much more important than property, life, and health of our downtown residents, business owners, and customers.

Weicker said incidents appear to be concentrated in some sections of the downtown, including the Enterprise parking lot near where the beating took place. Weicker said Duncan may be trying to shift the blame to the commission.

Yes, it must be George Duncan’s fault…for having a BANK downTOWN. He’s to blame for trying to run a reputable establishment with windows that aren’t broken! Dear me!

Please. Someone get me an aspirin.

What is the Commission waiting for? For the next drunken bar brawl/riot to land at their meeting doorstep at 3pm in the afternoon?? All of you, all three of you, you should be too ashamed to be walking around this city.

PS - Kad also had a rant about the same article. I think it’s safe to say he’s as astounded by the words coming from the License Commission as I am…

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I’m sure you have heard by now. (The Sun in its infinite incompetence likes to move their links around and let the previous one die. Link edited - Lynne)

Let’s all take a deep breath and consider our next steps carefully. The City has acted:

The challenge we face, as a community, is that events have been escalating and rhetoric is as heated, as the finger pointing. We have to be better going forward.

Starting with the residents of Lowell, we need to carefully craft a sustainable solution that all the stakeholders can find acceptable. No one “party” will get all that they desire, as we have several competing interests. It is upon our civic leaders to lead by example and gingerly walk this process to a fair outcome. So, as the Zen Master says, “Empty your cup.”

Please bring something to the table on this Open Thread