Live Blog!
I think this is the second to last meeting for the CC. I do not think they will meet Christmas week and New Year’s week. They usually don’t. Of course, unless you have issues with DOR and you have to be calling for a number of special meetings. Yes, [...]
Tonight during the City Council’s weekly meeting, a public hearing will take (7:00 p.m.) place so that the Lowell taxpayers can have their say on the Minimum Residential Factor for Fiscal 2010.” The City Council will decide what percentage of the revenue generated from real estate [...]
Is there a controversy regarding Lowell’s Christmas/Holiday lights? I am not talking about the secular versus religious issue but the one about the new lights in downtown Lowell.
There has been some talk on WCAP’s morning show, Dennis Shaughnessey had an article in yesterdays’ Lowell Sun quoting Greater Lowell [...]
Thanks Jack for the link. City Councilor Rita Mercier and City-Councilor Elect Patrick Murphy have co-signed and issued a letter endorsing Senate Candidate Michael Capuano. They join a number of poltically-active Lowellians, including Lynne, who are supporting the Congressman.
Speaking of Lynne’s endorsement, Capuano has a long list of newspaper [...]
Yesterday’s Lowell Sun’s “The Column” had a few paragraphs on City Manager Bernie Lynch’s plans to ask the City Council to reinstate the position of Assistant to the City Manager. I am not going to review the whole history, we all know what happened. But just in case, here is [...]
Prior to tonight’s light-agenda City Council meeting, there isn’t a single Council motion, the Finance Sub-Committee will meet at 5:30 p.m . to discuss how to adjust the FY 2010 budget.
According to a Jen Myers’ article in yesterday’s Sun, the gap is about $264,000. But the key to [...]
Just in case you did not see it, today’s edition of the Boston Sunday Globe features a story on Lowell. The article, “ Flurry of projects broadening Lowell’s cultural vista” written by Globe Correspondent Karen Sackowtiz focuses on recent activities that contribute to the city’s overall economic, social and [...]
According to a Christopher Scott story in today’s Sun, “City Councilor Jim Milinazzo has the five votes needed to become mayor on Jan. 4, and then some.”
Scott reports that CC Milinazzo has the supports of CCs K. Broderick, B. Martin and CC-elects F. Descoteaux, J. Mendonca and P. Murphy. [...]
Yesterday in New York City, a police car assisting Vice President Joe Biden’s motorcade collided with another vehicle. And on Monday, a sheriff’s vehicle escorting Biden’s motorcade in New Mexico was hit by a car that went around the police vehicles blocking the intersection.
Coincidence? I think not. A [...]
A friend who lives in Lowell sent me this link to a LGBT blog towleroad . This past weekend in Puerto Rico a 19-year-old gay man, Jorge Steven Lopez Mercado was murdered, his body was partially burned, his head decapitated and his limb dismembered. The story was disturbing on [...]
In Lowell civic life, that is. If the answer is yes, here is your chance. The City is seeking volunteers for the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC). The committee is responsible for reviewing grant applications and recommending funding allocations to the City Manager for the HUD programs, CDBG (Community Development [...]
This week’s City Council packet contained a 3-page [pages 5 - 7] memo from the City’s Chief Financial Officer, Tom Moses, to City Manager Bernie Lynch regarding the status of the FY 2010 Budget. It is a realistic picture and not a pretty one.
The City Council’s Finance Sub-committee [...]
According to a memo from City Manager Bernie Lynch to the City Council, available on the City’s web site on the 11.10.09 CC Packet page, we have a new ambulance contract which will bring close to $230,000 in revenue this fiscal year. The contract calls for a 6.5% annual [...]
Today, after reading a Letter-to-the-Editor in today’s Sun asking President Barack Obama to “Leave the salutes to our military men and women”, I immediately contacted one of Lowell’s combat veterans I know (yes, I know a few) Cliff Krieger. I figured since the President is the Commander [...]
I was flabbergasted when I read mrmillcity’s blog post today. I did not want to believe that it was true. But yes, the information is accurate. The Mark of mrmillcity commented on Dan Phelps’ column in yesterday’s Sun, regarding the election results. Phelps wrote “… a female reporter [...]
Almost two years ago to the day, the editor of the Sun, Jim Campanini (JC I) couldn’t wait to let us bloggers have it because in his opinion the 2007 municipal election vindicated his friend, John Cox (JC II), the previous City Manager. (I would link to it but as [...]
If you want to use the Lowell sewer connection, construct your building in Lowell, not Chelmsford.
Today’s Lowell Sun has a lengthy, investigative article, written by Chris Scott, on the new building located at 190 Middlesex Street constructed by Kazanjian Enterprises and currently owned by a Dracut couple.
A new [...]
Patrick Murphy, the Lowell City Council candidate has been invited to participate in a panel discussion at , at the University of Massachusetts, Lowell on “Government Representation and Diversity in Lowell.” The discussion will be held tomorrow, Tuesday, October 13 and begin at 6:00 p..m. Murphy will be [...]
Those of you who know me know that I am an Armenian-American. And those of you who are my facebook friend know that I have spent two of the past three Saturdays in New York City demonstrating against the signing of a diplomatic protocol between the current government of Armenia [...]
Yesterday morning during his regular Thursday morning appearance on WCAP, political commentator and radio host Warren Shaw discussed the upcoming Lowell municipal election. He characterized the interest has limited and thought that the incumbents will most likely be elected.
As I had stated in a previous post, last night there were [...]
Thanks to Lynne who attended the Centraville Neighborhood Action Group Candidate Forum on September 21, 2009 to video tape it and the LTC productions staff that edited the video, you now have an opportunity to watch the City Council candidates express their views and positions on the issues at [...]
We have been made aware of a number of campaign fundraising events this week.
City Councilor Kevin Broderick’s committee will be hosting his event at Garcia Brogans on Thursday, October 8, 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
There will be a fundraiser for City Councilor candidate Joe Mendonca at the offices of Gallagher [...]
If you read yesterday’s Sun article “Club loses license for 17 days” written by Dennis Shaughnessey, you may be asking yourself what was License Commissioner and City Council Candidate, Ray Weicker thinking.
And this what the reporter wrote:
A troubled nightclub in the Centralville section of the city has [...]
I was not happy that the Governor and the majority of the Democratic-controlled Massachusetts legislature decided to change the rules in mid-stream for obvious political reasons. That Senate seat should have been left empty until the people had an opportunity to vote
And by the way, this has nothing to do [...]
You know those people who do not understand the concept of a cross walk when they are walking downtown, well they are back. You can easily spot them because they are usually wearing a back pack, either listening to their MP3, talking on the phone or texting. I am impressed [...]
City Councilor Challenger Joe Mendonca’s campaign committee is hosting a fundraiser this week:
Date: Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Time: 7 – 9 p.m.
Location: Portuguese American Center on Charles Street
Requested Contribution: $25
E-mail: joe@Mendonca.org
Web: www.Mendonca.org
[...]This past Wednesday, I had the pleasure to meet City Council Challenger, Fred Doyle. I say pleasure because the guy is not only hilarious but a real throwback. I attended a gathering for City Councilor Kevin Broderick hosted by a couple who lives on Christian Hill and Mr. Doyle was [...]
Lowell blogger, kad barma at Choosing a Soundtrack, post on yesterday’s Globe story, “Recycling doubles, but many left out/City program excludes apartment dwellers” speaks to a lot of us who live in condos.
I believe his comments are a direct response to those made to the Globe by [...]
As Lynne mentioned, we have been busy and not had much opportunity to blog. For the next day or so, I will be playing catch up.
In case you did not notice, Channel 7 (WHDH TV) was in town this week to report on Ernest “Sandy” Ames, the recently dismmissed [...]
Both Lynne and I have been extremely busy and have not had a chance to post campaign notices in a timely manner. Sorry for the delay!
Jose Gabriel is having his Campaign Kick-Off Party tonight, Wednesday, September 16 a the Portuguese American Center (the Blues Club) on located at 59 Charles [...]
This morning as I opened up the Lowell Sun on-line, and searched for the Column, this is what I found:
The Column, a look behind-the-scenes at local and state politics, can be read in the print editions of The Sunday Sun, and in the Sun’s Electronic Edition.
For home delivery, visit [...]
Well, the wait is over. Last night City Councilor Alan Kazanjian made a public statement on the Sandy Ames controversy. Using a “point of personal privilege” he chose to answer the questions raised in the Lowell Sun editorial.
As Dick mentioned in his blog, the Sun’s “website posted the verbatim [...]
On a previous blog entry, Paul Marion posted in the comment section, Chancellor Marty Meehan’s statement on his decision not to run for the open Massachusetts Senate seat. I thought it deserves its own post.
After careful consideration and many conversations with my family and close supporters, I have decided not [...]
It has now been almost 3 days and I have somewhat calmed down. I am referring to the agenda-driven, politically motivated, comments made during last Friday’s edition of WCAP’s “man on the street” segment. The primary target of the 10-minute diatribe: City Councilor Jim Milinazzo; the secondary target: [...]
It will be exactly a month on Wednesday that news broke out that City Plumbing and Gas Inspector, Ernest Ames, was caught napping on the dock of a business owned by City Councilor Alan Kazanjian. And as they say the rest is (current) history.
During his weekly Thursday morning appearance on [...]
Both Dick and Jackie have already posted on the only challenger in this year’s School Committee race. Alison Laraba was also featured in a Jen Myers’ article in the Sun, properly titled, ” Where are the School Board Candidates?”Laraba, who has a business background, is a mother [...]
If you have a few minutes read the Report on the dismissal of Ernest Ames, the recently dismissed City Plumbing and Gas Inspector. It is available on the Sun’s website as a pdf file.
The details and conclusions in City Solicitor Christine O’Connor’s 10-page report are disturbing even for the [...]
A friend of mine reminded me that although some City Councilors questioned City Manager Bernie Lynch on the potential budget shortfall, no one has presented a motion for tomorrow’s night meeting.
In case you are not following, the Lowell FY 2010 Budget has an estimated revenue of $450,000 that is to [...]
As Cliff pointed out in an earlier comment, City Council challenger Frankie Descoteaux has issued her first You Tube campaign video. Here it is. I like it. I hope others join her and Challenger Patrick Murphy who has already done a couple of You Tube campaign messages:
Lynne and others were on Channel 5 but Lowell’s plumbing and gas inspector and CM Bernie Lynch were on Channel 7.
Meanwhile the Sun’s website has updated its reporting of the story and confirms that ” The city’s chief plumbing and gas fitting inspector has been placed on paid [...]
It looks like we will not have a preliminary municipal election this year. According to the Matt Murphy article in today’s Sun, Lowell state delegation “ decided to back a petition to waive the run-off. “ I think it will be political difficult for the Governor to oppose them.
As [...]
The Lowell Sun is reporting in today’s edition that they received a “photograph in which City Plumbing Inspector Ernest ‘Sandy” Ames appears to be sleeping, possibly during work hours, on the loading dock at [City Councilor Alan] Kazanjian’s Used Auto Parts on Dutton Street.”
According to the article the [...]
The agenda of tonight’s City Council meeting features two motions on quality of life issues:
“Manager have the Solicitor investigate possibility of instituting local ordinance banning use/possession of marijuana on public property.”
“Manager have the Police Chief Address escalating prostitution problem on Middlesex/Jackson/Appleton Streets.”
The marijuana motion is in response to [...]
On Tuesday, those of you who read the Sun on line saw a story on their “breaking news” that a new political action committee, Move Lowell Forward PAC was formed. (The breaking news story has been “archived” and is no longer avaiable).
This morning’s The Column had a civil and friendly tone; I am sure the absence of the editor’s name in the list of contributors was the primary reason.
And as far as the content, one of the sentences immediately caught my attention:
“[Former Mayor and City Councilor Eileen} Donoghue’s name [...]
From the beginning of this term, CC Alan Kazanjian asserted himself. I do not know if he intended to become leader of a coalition but that is where he finds himself today. As we review the motions, actions and public comments of the six, we see that the freshman Councilor [...]
The City Council will soon (August 11th) reverse the decision they took last year by a vote 6-3 (R. Mercier; K. Broderick; and R. Elliott voting against) to change their meeting schedule from weekly to bi-weekly(forthnightly definition; not the twice a week one) . At the time the [...]
I just read mrmillcity’s post on the Gates/Crowley incident. And this is what The Mark has to say (I think about us):
Cambridge Police take up for one of their own, oh and this cop doesn’t plan on voting for Democrat in 2012. Any one else wonder why the local [...]
With all of the City’s attention focused on The Festival, a significant op-ed piece in last Firday’s Lowell Sun, written by Lowell Police Superintendent Kenneth Lavallee, did not receive the focus it deserves . In his article, titled “The role of police in immigration enforcement,” Lavallee clearly [...]
I never wanted LiL to be the story. That is why I regret that Councilor Rita Mercier chose to use the City Council meeting to lash out at anonymous commentators on blogs. I think a discussion on this topic is fair and necessary but mixing it up with the election [...]
On his blog, Dick has a concise report and analysis of yesterday’s City Council vote (5-3) to eliminate this year’s primary in order to save the City about $40,000. He writes:
Whether having a primary helps or hurts
incumbents is open to debate. One argument says a primary can [...]
The Lowell City Council will hold a special meeting this coming Tuesday, July 21st to discuss CC A. Kazanjian’s motion on the number of candidates that will “necessitate a Primary.”
Back in March 24th, Kazanjian had made a motion to “Initiate action for Charter Change as it relates to [...]
As we discussed in a previous post, last night certain City Councilors were so concerned about saving Lowell taxpayers some money that they were aggressively pushing for us to once again suspend Primary Elections, if we have a couple of more candidates than our City Charter requires, I thought I [...]
City Councilor Jim Milinazzo will be interviewed tomorrow morning, on WCAP 980 AM. CC Milinazzo’s segment will take place during the regular schedule bloggers’ segment. I am sure Mark at mrmillcity.com will join me and happily give up this week radio appearance for this important interview.
I am sure [...]
Today’s edition of the Sun’s The Column reports that a few more Lowell residents have “jumped” in the race for the City Council. They are David Koch, who ran 2 years ago; David is President of the Back Central Neighborhood Association; Jose Gabriel (the Sun had spelled his [...]
Well, a courageous leader has emerged. Jen Myers (new link here)is reporting on the Sun’s web site that City Councilor Jim Milinazzo has filed a motion requesting an “independent investigation into last month’s vote by the majority of the Council to eliminate the assistant to the city [...]
It has been over a month now since the City Council took that ominous vote. Since then, here at LiL, we have had and will continue to have a spirited discussion on all aspects of the issue; especially regarding the future of this City Manager if the make-up [...]
I am glad Paul at dickhowe.com wrote a post that indirectly counters some of the issues raised in Frank Phillips’ article in the Globe regarding the movie industry in Massachusetts. But I still have my doubts about the economic advantage. I believe that is a major social benefit [...]
Today’s Dan Phelps’ column calls out the Cox crowd as he did in a couple of years ago. Here is the link to Lynne’s post on that column.
Phelps writes about the firing/layoff/not funding the position of Assistant to the City Manager Andy Sheehan:
They [the CC members who voted [...]
This morning while doing my bi-weekly sting on WCAP, we touched upon the upcoming City Council race. Ted , Jack and I were discussing the branding of the challengers as “unknowns.” We all agreed that was not the case.
I am concerned that some may try to minimize the potential of [...]
In a previous post on the City Council meeting, a few commentators discussed J. Dayne Lamb’s speech to the CC regarding the Budget in general and the CC’s decision not to fund the position of Assistant to the City Manager.
She spoke for those of us who want this City to [...]
This morning WCAP (980 AM) Morning Show interviewed Andy Sheehan, the Assistant to the City Manager, regarding the recent City Council action, which in effect fired him. You can call it what you will, they, who did not have the authority to do it, fired him. That’s my opinion [...]
I usually write on the City Council meetings after the meeting at the conclusion; sort of giving my views on what happened.
Since I know what is going to happen tonight, not sure how, I am taking a pass. I think it will be more of the same from the sextet.
This [...]
According to the City Council agenda, CC Jim Milinazzo has filed a “motion of reconsideration” on the motion filed by CC A. Kazanjian to reduce/eliminate the position of Assistant to the City Manager. I do not know if there are enough votes to reconsider this motion and overturn [...]
To those of us who follow the antics of the editor of the Sun were not surprised with some of the comments that appeared in today’s the Column. And how do I know which paragraphs were his, well he was on Warren Shaw’s Saturday radio show on WCAP [...]
I am travelling out of town on business so I learned of the CC Budget Meeting on the breaking news section of the Sun .
So out of a budget that comes close to $300 million, they decided the Assistant to the City Manager was the only position that was [...]
The City of Lowell FY 2010 Proposed Budget is on-line as promised. (If you are going to downloaded, please note the pdf file it is 1.1 MB and 134 pages.)
First of all, I think CM Bernie Lynch and CFO Tom Moses did a tremendous job in presenting these spreadsheets [...]
Tomorrow night’s City Council meeting has a light agenda; well, if you can call introduction of the FY 2010 Budget light. But there is a Sub-Committee meeting scheduled; it is the Public Safety Sub-Committee (J. Milinazzo, Chair; R. Elliott; A. Kazanjian) meeting and the topic: Dangerous and Vicious Dogs. [...]
According to some sources, tomorrow is the day the City announces which employees are being laid off. Lowell City Manager Bernie Lynch will be presenting his budget at next week; the names of the employees who have been retained will appear in the Budget. So those whose name will not [...]
When I heard Superintendent Chris Augusta Scott mention that as a cost savings measures she is considering moving the School Dept Admin offices from rental space downtown (Bon Marche Building) to City-owned property (Rogers School), I knew she was going to cause a stir. It’s great to have an outsider [...]
This month, Left in Lowell celebrated its fourth birthday (born: May 13, 2005). In blog years, that is middle age.
Here is the link to Lynn’s inaugural blog where she states LiL’s mission “I think Lowell is a great city with lots of potential, but also a lot of problems. [...]
Now that I know how to find The Column on the Sun’s web site, I was surprised to see the title of this Sunday’s edition: “The Latest Buzz: City Manager Murphy.” The Murphy is Lowell State Representative Kevin Murphy; the City Manager refers to the position currently [...]
School Committeewoman and fellow blogger, Jackie Doherty will be on Warren Shaw’s radio show (980 AM, tomorrow morning (9:00 a.m.) to continue their debate on the role of the school committees. I am sure that they will also discuss the upcoming budget cuts. In addition to lay-off, the [...]
There was a couple of good things that came out of the City Council meeting on Tuesday. One was the question posed by CC Bill Martin on the street work that has been going on in Gorham and Plain streets area of the City; around the cemeteries.
Those of us [...]
How can you tell the campaign season has begun? You had to watch the City Councilor (some of them anyway) sucking up to the union; they vote. The problem was that 5 seasonal employees were hired to cut grass at a total cost of $15,000. CM Bernie Lynch had failed [...]
Fellow-bloggers shallot and mrmillcity have already weighed in on the new web site, lowell.org and they both are critical.
This new web site is the official marketing site for the City of Lowell. There are other commercial web sites, such as lowell.com, a privately owned and operated site, [...]
Why hire a spokesperson if he/she is not going to talk to the press? The Sun’s Sunday Column reported that back on May 8th, they asked Sheriff James DiPaola’s spokesman Michael Hartigan a number of questions regarding Middlesex County Sheriff Department employee and Lowell School Committee person Regina [...]
On her blog, Jackie answered the Warren Shaw-authored op-ed piece in Saturday’s Sun, “Does the school board model need an overhaul?”
Shaw , the long-time WCAP radio host, political commentator and former Dracut town official has been advocating for a while that the current election system and [...]
I just read Frank Rich’s op-ed piece in Sunday’s New York Times “The American Press on Suicide Watch” in which Rich makes the point that if we want to receive news in whatever format, we will need to pay for it, otherwise journalism will cease to exist.
He writes “… [...]
Yesterday morning after finishing my bi-monthly “blogger’s spot” on WCAP, I ran into Officer Tim Golden who was there to promote a summer program for kids of Lowell: the Student Police Academy. I never knew such a program existed. What a great idea!
The program runs for 3 weeks from 8:30 [...]
I watched parts of the School Committee meeting last night. As I had stated in a previous post,, the City Council Chambers were filled with cafeteria workers who were there to protest the School Administration’s issuance of an RFP to gather information in preparation for the budget discussion.
I [...]
Tonight’s Lowell School Committee promises to be drama filled even by the standards of this mercurial group. Unfortunately, the agenda for this meeting is not available on their web site so I cannot link to it.
First there was the attempt by the School Administration to try to save some [...]
As Sean of Dracutforum pointed out, recent rating information show that 980 WCAP’s listenership has increased to 35-40,000. I am in total agreement with him when he says “The concept of local interest, local hosts, local sports and promoting the communities is the direction radio must go [...]
While most were focusing on “the flu” the Lowell Sun carried an article about an alleged threat from School Committee person Regina Faticanti against Lowell School Superintendent Chris Augusta Scott.
A special School Committee meeting was scheduled then postponed. On Wednesday, when the Superintendent was at WCAP during [...]
Perhaps today’s press conference will signal the end of the invasion of the Boston media. They know no boundaries. Regarding the misfortunate the two young boys from Lowell who caught the flu, everyone in a position of authority, the parents, the school, the doctors, health department acted responsibly. [...]
Fellow Lowell Blogger and U. Mass Lowell official, Paul Marion posted this press release in the comment section. I think it deserves its own post.
UMass Lowell today made a major announcement regarding the future of the Doubletree Hotel in Lowell. The University released a report describing plans to transform [...]
