Left In Lowell

Lowell’s been struggling to get a handle on labelling the different political factions that grace our home town. The challenge is made more difficult by so many pols that straddle the lines between disparate special interests. Such an awkward balancing act is the plague of local pols, as everyone is close to them to some degree. Those that do it well, go far. For example, former State Senator Stephen Panagiotakos has a broad swath of Lowell’s political scene covered. His ‘counsel’ is taken/received from very opposite ends of Lowell’s political spectrum. This sort of political capital is hard to come by.

So, earlier today, I was chatting local politics with one of my favourite grassroots activists. He remarked how I seemed to be enjoying myself, here. We talked about the different factions in Lowell and some of the personalities that are prominent in each. When I prodded about a faction that ran closer to the “Nangle brand,” he quipped, “They will never have a chance with the Left in Lowell crowd.”
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The “HEY! LOOK AT ME!!!!!” crowd is about to embark on a full blown grandstanding jamboree, I’m told. Gerry Nutter got wind of it and now it’s blowing my way, too. We are in for a motion from Councilor Elliott, in the near future, proposing that a charter change be put on the ballot. You can count on Councilor Ditto to second Elliott’s offering.

There is some history to this effort. From 1993:
(h/t Dick Howe, Jr.)

Question 2 - Do you support a change in the city charter to provide for an elected mayor as chief executive instead of an appointed city manager? Yes-10,0441. No-6,760.

That question was put on a city election ballot, as a non-binding resolution. But, it never went any further because after 5 Council incumbents were displaced, the appetite for upheaval diminished. (Funny how that works? Huh?)

Also, another question, that year, showed only a slight edge towards a desire to rid Lowell of Plan E.

Question 1 - Do you support keeping the present Plan E form of government? Yes-8,234. No-8,779.

Should anyone assert that Lowell, circa 1993, has any sort of ‘mandate,’ they should take a few data points into account. (more…)

After the 2012 election, it didn’t take long for me to brag about how we routed Scott Brown: Groundgame (h/t Andrew Howe & Ariela Gragg, et al)

This map is a screen grab from The Boston Globe:

Excuse me, … I can’t stop chuckling. *deep breath* Anyways, let’s look at what happened in Lowell. (more…)

Update: Greg Page digs into this ruse, using analytical tools As Greg Page says, “Stylometry basically involves looking at patterns in someone’s linguistic style in order to determine authorship — it has been used to look at everything from Shakespeare to the Federalist Papers to anonymous letters in corporations.”

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I have to scratch my head on this one, folks. Below the fold is a cover letter that accompanied a packet of dated info. It was sent out to media outlets. In the packet, on a stray page, was my name and address. The whole thing reeks of the combination of petty Lowell politics and an unhealthy fetish with 1970’s crime drama. Think “Quincy, M.D.” or “Columbo.”

Why anyone, or cabal, would try to frame me for issuing such a silly screed is beyond my comprehension. Maybe you can help me out? I scanned the original document and used MS Paint to add red underlines.

There are 4 things to take note of: 1) The use of my ‘blog vanacular.’ Note the inclusion of modern references to the current drama. 2) The attempt to paint Bernie Lynch and me as conjoined in an effort to defeat a common foe. (Like everyone driving down Rte 93S at 7:30 am are all going to the same place.) 3) The promulgation that I, little ol’ Jackie, sees myself as a political demigod. 4) The odd reference to some forthcoming revelation, via the Library.

Dear readers, please pity the author of this note. They have their ass, soooo twisted in a knot, that they laboured to craft this clumsy deception. That is not to excuse the ugly intent and the heinous attempt to smear my name. (I can ruin my own reputation, thank you.)

All I can figure is that whatever pies I currently have my digits stuffed in, I have struck several nerves.

For those of you rowing in the same direction as me, take heart. The advantage is clearly ours. For those of you defending the defunct ways of a by-gone political error, you folks should really think about your ‘comrades in arms.’ For sure, your crew, is feeble and flailing. Especially, if the note below is any indication.

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Obviously, the GLTHS’s Supt. Santoro wants to go out in a hail of rhetorical barbs:

To imply that I somehow want to influence this hire is not only ludicrous but reflects the level of paranoia and need for control on the part of those who have been critical of this administration (me, in particular) and is a clear indication of the lack of understanding for how the process works as well as the importance of maximizing the potential for the BEST person we can get by staying competitive with other districts.

I’d like to thank the Supt for her service. Wishing her the warmest Arrivederci. Also, maybe a suggestion that she doesn’t embarrass those that have had her back, all this time, by being ‘untoward.’

That said, let’s not lose perspective on the whole, who hires during a transition period? We’ve been down this road before.
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Let me start with the glad chatter. I’ve pulled out some key phrases from Wallace’s nudge, regarding the departure of Headmaster Rozmairek and the selection of the next.

But for whatever reason, he and Superintendent of Schools Jean Franco decided a change was in order.

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People had confidence their youngsters could get a great education and experience a slice of what the real America is like with the incredible mix of minorities in the Kirk Street school.

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With all that as a backdrop, the decision on who becomes the next headmaster of this historic facility is one of those watershed issues that will impact the future of Lowell for a long time.

This will be the biggest decision of Franco’s career thus far, and it will be part of her legacy as head of the city’s school system.

It is, basically, her call.

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It’s critical that key positions are filled with proven dedicated people who will fight for the best for their students.

I’ve had a chance to work with Franco, and I’m sure she will guide the process to the best possible conclusion.

The first line I selected, floors me. Wallace’s has been actively lobbying for Rozmairek’s ouster since the errant Headmaster started screwing with the Distinguished Alumni cadre. Wallace is an activist. Who just so happens to have the loudest voice in the City, at his disposal. I refer to it as the ‘Blog of Record.’ So deft at wielding this instrument is Wallace, that pols tremble and kowtow; while the current Editor in Chief convulses in an effort to try to make a puny facsimile of Wallace’s prowess with the pen.

Suffice to say, Wallace’s fingerprints, via whisper campaign, helped spell the end of Rozmairek tenure. Just ask the Headmaster. What does he have to lose?

My second selection is only intended to make note of Wallace’s reminder of the High School’s current address. This point will echo.

Next, we start to get to the meat of Wallace’s enterprise: “It is, basically, her call.” By a show of hands, who believes Wallace means this? I cannot fathom the breadth of latitude that Wallace is implying by the use of the word, “basically.” I am convinced it means that the decision is clear, that there is only one plausible selection. That Wallace and his acolytes need only gather to consult Supt. Franco, steering her to the proper conclusion.

Please note the echo: “.. this historic facility ..”

Last, the closer. The fulcrum of Wallace’s assertion are the words “.. proven dedicated .. .” By this, I take Wallace to mean - vetted insider. And by that, I mean Brian Martin.
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Why aren’t the GLTHS meeting episodes available for us to watch on LTC, at our convenience?

The episodes are aired on LTC’s CH.99. You can watch them when they air, but only then.

Why are the GLTHS School Committee public meetings not available in the LTC video archives?

The next time you call a GLTHS School Committee member, y’know, to tell them “Mary Jo Has Got To Go!”, please ask them to get the meeting videos archived on LTC. Wouldn’t it be nice to check in on them, when the schedule works for us?

If LTC can air them, then they have the video data to stream it. I’m betting LTC would archive the meeting, if they could. Who knows what’s up?

Take a gander:

It should go without saying, I’m nervous about this School Committee meeting behind closed doors with that Superintendent. If it makes you nervous too, make yourself feel better and give the School Committee members a call. Their contact info is here. While you’re chatting with Ray Boutin, please be sure to give him mad props for the motion above. (When I texted him, he said the Agenda was going to be amended, as it should be a co-motion with Erik Gitschier.)
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I’ve been told that the people who really call the shots in Lowell don’t run for City Council or School Committee because they are too busy moving the ball.

Maybe you don’t know these folks, but Kendall Wallace sure does:

What would we have done without people like George Behrakis, Elkin McCallum, the Demoulas family, Gil Campbell, Jack Reilly, Gerry Wallace, John Chemaly, George Duncan, Mark Cochran, Jack O’Connor, Jock Pearson, Norm Deschene and Dick Donahue?

I’m sure this list is shy, but where else should we look? Let’s start here.

So often in politics, there are tiny rooms filled with large elephants. Yet, no one will say a goddamned thing.

And so the powers that be have anointed Congressman Ed Markey as the next U.S. Senator from Massachusetts, issuing a well choreographed series of endorsements to his new candidacy to replace John Kerry. Why, even the future Secretary of State got into the act, issuing a statement that sounded like an endorsement. (Probably written by the wordmasters over at Foggy Bottom for the ever so diplomatic Secretary of State in waiting.)
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Just a couple of observations on the “process”. It is not clear to me that Ed Markey is the right answer to the question on who has the best shot to hold the seat for Democrats. But far smarter people, with access to data, have determined that he is, so let us concede the point. Nonetheless what has happened here is an injustice to Capuano, Lynch, Downing, and whoever else was thinking about running. I do not come at this question as a “process” diehard, as some of my good Democratic friends do. I like to win, and I like to see things move, and on that basis I understand what happened. But Capuano, Lynch, and Downing deserved better than what they got. And I am fascinated by the utter lack of consistency of some of those in the liberal blogosphere, who have been devoted to “process” and “democracy”, who now turn a blind eye to what is nothing short of putting the fix in. It will just be a bit more difficult to raise objections in the future when it happens with a different set of candidates.

Finally it is worth noting that one pretty big footprint lies on the back of Governor Deval Patrick, who went from a key player in the selection process to an after thought. Since the Markey move the Governor has been marginalized, with the Washington folks just blowing right by him. The Governor is used to doing the big footing, but in this case the role has been reversed.

Thank you, Mayor Bill Manzi.
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