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tetris
Advanced Member
1480 Posts |
Posted - 07/19/2008 : 7:10:23 PM
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Unless the planning board receives some compelling information from any of the abutters or someone else who can prove that they are directly affected by it in a negative manner, I see a favorable recommendation being sent back for the discontinuance of the portion of Fourth Street. It has apparently happened twice before; why not this time? When the city council meets in August, I'm sure that there will be some more debate on the issue. But in the end, I'm pretty sure that it will probably pass, perhaps by the narrowest of margins. (Funny how those things work out that way.)
I'm sure that there are some (maybe most) that will disagree with me, but it's probably the right thing to do. If it is not approved, I sure that Thibeault will have the city back in court tying up the property in a lengthy and costly series of court proceedings that the city most likely can not win. They agreed to sell him the property six years ago; they voted favorably twice to discontinue Fourth Street already to complete the deal. What legal basis do they have for denying this transaction at this time? We may believe that Thibeault is the anti-Christ and our belief in that may be stronger than ever before but how does that hold up in court as a reason to stop this deal? Yes, we have problem with him at his other business but what real bearing does that have on this legally separate transaction. I'm sorry but I am just being pragmatic and I see holding up the sale of the old city yards as a losing proposition for the taxpayers of this city.
On the other hand, something does need to be done immediately to start moving the piles off of the Wood Waste property. I would suggest that the Board of Health should get involved but I don't know if the preliminary injunction that the DEP already has against Wood Waste will make that possible. Does anyone still think it was a good idea for the City Council to take most of the summer off? The audio equipment replacement issue was a lame justification; I'm sure that it could have been worked around, if necessary. |
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massdee
Moderator
4242 Posts |
Posted - 07/19/2008 : 10:20:37 PM
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| Tetris, I agree with you about the city council taking the summer off. There is just too much going on for them not to be in session. I am afraid the Wood Waste issue will come to a head before the city council is back in session. I can just imagine Wood Waste and lower Broadway going before the Board of Appeals before the summer is over. I'm sorry, I don't trust Thibeault or the Administration. |
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tetris
Advanced Member
1480 Posts |
Posted - 07/24/2008 : 11:36:55 PM
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Tidbits and questions from this week's Advocate:
They ran the same press release as the Independent about the Mayor signing the purchase and sales agreement for the Devens School. They have settled on 19 units and continuing to house the existing tenants. I would assume that any planning/zoning bord public hearing(s) will take place between now and the actual closing. Makes sense to me.
The following comes from an article on the discontinuance of Fourth Street:
"On Thursday July 17 Mayor DeMaria, at the urging of the city council, held a formal walking tour of an unused portion of Fourth Street. The tour allowed Planning Board members to view a section of Fourth Street, which the city is currently proposing to discontinue. In attendance, Mayor DeMaria, Alderman Jason Marcus, Council President Lorrie Bruno and Councilor Rosemary Miller."
Three members out of 25? Doesn't sound much like an "urging" to me.
Later in the article, the following statement appears:
"Under the proposed ordinance the city will discontinue the paper street so potential developers of the property will have direct access to the parkway."
I don't believe that the portion of Fourth Street that is being discontinued will give the site direct access to the parkway. The minimal access that Fourth Street gives to the parkway is on the portion that is not being discontinued. Before we go any further, as I have posted before, I'm all for this discontinuance. However, one of the issues that I hope is allowed to be addressed at next week's public hearing is some idea about how adequate access to and from the parkway from the city yard parcel will be provided.
The article says that the planning board meeting is at 7:00 PM; the legal notice in last week's paper said the public hearing is at 7:30 PM. Let's hope things work out right; I don't want to see this messed up again.
On a quick side note, I think that the Advocate needs to work some on its punctuation skills.
In an article about the reconstruction of lower Broadway, I found the following statement to be interesting:
"The Mayor pointed to the heavy volume of trucks coming in and out of Bartlett Street"
Not sure whose error it is, but, shouldn't that be Beacham Street?
Does anybody know anything the grant that the city got from the Department of Public Health for the "Walks and Talks" program? How much money does it take to run a one hour a day, three day a week walking program? After the article about the pothole machine, things like this just make you wonder.
There was more information about the National Night Out in Everett on August 5th. It will be held at Rec Center from 6 PM to 9PM. There will be free giveaways, a Q&A session with the Everett PD, a self defense demonstration, child ID fingerprint kits, a coloring contest for kids, a K9 unit demonstration and a pie eating contest. There will also be music, hot dogs, Richie's slush and popcorn. The motto for the national campaign appaers to be "Give Neighborhood Crime & Drugs A Going Away Party"; a local addition appears to be "Say Hello to your neighbor & say goodbye to crime". |
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tetris
Advanced Member
1480 Posts |
Posted - 07/31/2008 : 7:19:38 PM
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| The Advocate didn't contain much more than the usual "press release" stories this week. The only original thing in the paper this week was a favorable commentary on Senator Galluccio. There was no coverage of the planning board meeting. |
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tetris
Advanced Member
1480 Posts |
Posted - 08/07/2008 : 10:55:50 PM
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From this week's Advocate
The Sounds of Everett
Wayne's a pain... but, he knows how to win!
Wayne's a pain... but in a political way. He's out on the street everyday shaking hands with everyone in sight. Wayne will thank you, at least ten times before he let's go of your hand. His political personality never changes, he's in love with everyone. And speaking of hands. Stat has his hands full with Wayne. Rep. Smith seems to be cocky... almost as if he's ignoring Matewsky (except on a few occasions), probably thinking he has enough of a following to squeak out an election win. Meanwhile back to "Wayne's World"... Matewsky is on top of his game with absentee ballots, lawn signs and visibility. No doubt, Wayne is experienced at the political game. I'm sure that Rep. Smith knows that Wayne is the main reason he was elected to the State House. But, the break between the two pals is irreversible, at least that's what the two competitors are saying. They can't stand each other... so, it's a bitter campaign that could probably pick up steam over the next six weeks.
On Wednesday of this week, Wayne and his very capable campaign manager Nick Saia were seen unloading signs from the back of Matewsky's car for a stand-in at Dunkin Donuts on Broadway. About four blocks away, at Hosmer and Broadway, were Stat's son and daughter holding signs. Stat was no where to be seen. Smith doesn't seem to have a committee of supporters, while Matewsky seems to have a small army at his beckon call.
Well folks, the entire election for state rep. will come to a conclusion on Sept. 16 because Stat and Wayne are both democrats. It's a primary where the winner takes all.
Stat is now staying clear of Matewsky when Wayne is on the street campaigning. Sometime this month, there will be a hearing in Malden District Court on Matewsky's complaint against Stat. Wayne says that he didn't want to file a police complaint but he alledges Smith kept threatening him... and Wayne wanted to put a stop to it.
So, my guess is at this point in time, that the Reps. race is a horse race... and, will probably end up on Sept. 16 in a photo finish. Wayne is confident. Stat is cocky. The voters are split. Who has the edge? Who knows? But, you can never count out Matewsky in an election. |
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tetris
Advanced Member
1480 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2008 : 12:59:03 PM
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A smattering of stuff from this week's Advocate:
Page 1
Smith told to stay away from Matewsky
By The Advocate
On Tuesday of this week, a hearing was held before the clerk-magistrate of the Malden District Court on the police complaint of Ald.-at-large Wayne A. Matewsky who charged that Rep. Stat Smith made serious threats to him on two occasions while campaigning. At the conclusion of the hearing, the clerk-magistrate ordered Smith to stay away from his opponent Ald. Matewsky for 90 days. After the 90 days, without incident, the complaint will be dismissed. Both candidates agreed with the decision. Ald. Matewsky was represented by prominent local attorney Albert Farese, Sr., and attorney and State Representative Eugene Flaherty, who is also chairman of the Judiciary Committee represented Smith.
Page 2
Sounds of Everett
Hanlon takes another fall
Now that's incredible but it could have been incredibly worse! Now we hear that former mayor John Hanlon slipped from the back of a rented truck while loading ballot vaults as a volunteer, with the help of his sidekick, Red Doyle. I guess the city clerk's office needed help...and, out of the shadows came Hanlon and Doyle. From what we hear...Hanlon's fall cost him six broken ribs and possibly kidney damage. Someone close to the scene told me that Hanlon's out of the hospital but will need about six months of rehab to get back to normal. I guess Hanlon couldn't sit still long enough to count his cashed pension check and count his blessings that he's no longer mayor... and so are the taxpayers of Everett. The vaults were being moved to the various polling places around the city to store the ballot boxes permanently. The good news is Red Doyle didn't slip. The bad new is that Hanlon's injuries may cost the taxpayers. It's a good thing Doyle didn't have his arm around his buddy Hanlon when he took the tumble. Hey Hanlon and Doyle - sounds like the name of a comedy team. But, the jokes on us when and if the city gets sued for damages.
In the speaker's pocket
House Speaker Sal DiMasi recently sponsored a fundraiser for freshmen legislators at $500 a pop. Rep Stat Smith is listed on the invitation as one of the guests to reap the benefits. The speaker of course, rules the roost, while sponsoring fundraisers to help keep his "votes" in office. When you are obligated, you lose the "mind of your own" when it comes to voting for legislation. Of course, the big ticket money for these fundraisers come from the lobbyists via special interests. If you play ball with speaker, he'll take care of your political pocketbook. I guess it's hard not to be in the pocket of the speaker - after he fills your till. I get the feeling that Matewsky will continue to be his own man in government. DiMasi won't like it - but the people will. After all, they're the only one's who really count. Maybe it's Smith and DiMasi's money versus Matewsky.
How about National Night In
Now that National Night Out in Everett is over, how about a National Night In... because everyone's afraid to go out. Every inner city in the state, including Everett, are wearing out the police. You can tell the EPD has their hands full. Even during the daytime hours the cruisers are flying up and down Broadway. To be a cop in this day and age is no bargain. Drugs are the big problem. It's sad.
Page 3
What happened to Buonomo?
Middlesex Register of Probate John Buonomo's recent arrest by the state police is a real shocker. Don't get me wrong, I've always liked John Buonomo... but, something went wrong, and no one that knows him, knows why. I've asked around... they tell me he doesn't drink or smoke... that he's straight-laced... and, a responsible father of two young children. John was divorced a while back but retained custody of the kids. At $120,000 a year and a re-election assured for another six years, what is John's problem? Don't know or I'd tell you. We'll have to wait and see what develops.
In addition to the above articles, it appears that political advertising season has finally really begun. The paper had two ads for Matewsky on the first five pages. The first one was to encourage people to register to vote; the second one was for a BBQ fundraiser he is holding. So, still no real discussion of any issues. Something about the first one caught my eye though. If you looked at it quickly and weren't up on Everett politics, you might get the impression that Matewsky is already "Your State Representative". Intentional or not, I thought that this was really smart given the advantage that an incumbent usually has in these elections.
Lastly, it appears that our friend Mr. Carlisle has returned from wherever he has been. I've heard conflicting stories; not sure which to believe. There's a legal notice in the paper from the purchasing office for fire alarm and sprinkler testing signed by "Clayton Carlisle, Chief Procurement Officer". The last set of legal notice from the purchasing office had been signed by the mayor. Make of that what you will. |
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kimmy
Member
31 Posts |
 Posted - 08/16/2008 : 2:08:20 PM
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| I read the advocate yesterday and that man is turning in to a rag again. I think the editor gets off on anything that has to do with John Hanlon. The editor has problems and all city notices are going to him not a good thing. That was a cruel article. I heard what happened the man was only trying to help because he had that class license. It's done like that all the time. Both guys running for state rep seems like good guys but did either one say how they will do the job better. Clayton Carlisle is not the purchasing officer he has not been sworn in. He cant sign chief anything until he is sworn in. |
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tetris
Advanced Member
1480 Posts |
Posted - 08/16/2008 : 5:51:31 PM
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Tails has already commented in another thread about the disparity in Advocate's lead article of how each of the candidates was referred to. I noticed that as well. In addition, I thought that it was interesting that the article had a beginning and an ending but no real middle. What happened at the hearing? I also thought the article was trying to say something without actually saying it when it mentioned that Representative Smith's lawyer is also the chairman of the Judiciary Committee.
Last summer and fall, I was one of the many Hanlon bashers posting on this board. However, now is not the time to take shot at the guy. I'm glad that one of the papers finally picked on the story. However, if they felt it was necessary to do a commentary on the story, wouldn't a better option have been to focus on the fact that the city apparently does not have any policies in place that would prevent something like this from happening in the first place?
So, if/when Wayne gets elected to the State Legislature, he's not going to caught up in the staus quo up there. That's great! I hope the city and its citizens will be happy when the city's state aid starts to dry up too. I'm just as disgusted as anybody by what goes on up at the State House but, if you don't play the game, you will certainly lose. Anybody got any ideas on how we can fix that? After we clean that up, the Federal government can be next in line.
National Night In? About as close as you'll get to one of the local papers to admit that there is a growing crime problem in this city.
John Buonomo? I don't get it either. The guy is pretty much set for life and he gets greedy for just a little bit more? The thing that I find most interesting is that it seems that he might have know there was a chance that he might screw up sooner or later. Why else would he get his pension transferred from the State to the Somerville Retirement Board as stated in the Howie Carr column I posted in the Herald thread last night?
Kimmy, I actually had to go look this up on city web site in the June 9th Board of Alderman Meeting report. At that meeting, Mr. Carlisle was given a two month, temporary appointment as chief purchasing officer pending the ruling of the State Ethics Commission. So the validity of that title depends on how technical you want to be. Normally, I'd interpret a two month appointment given on June 9th to either be effective for sixty days or until August 9th. However, no one took into consideration that the City Council would be taking such a long break when they determined how long this appointment should be. I'm willing to be a little forgiving in this case, although, if someone took the contrary position, I'd have a hard time defending mine. I definitely want to see this issue resolved, one way or another, at the next BOA meeting though or then I will have a problem. It's likely that this won't have happened if the City Council had not gone so long without meetings. Each body of the City Council needs to have a regularly scheduled meeting at least once a month, period. |
Edited by - tetris on 08/16/2008 5:55:28 PM |
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arthur
Senior Member
209 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2008 : 01:15:17 AM
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| did eveyone get the advocate? they finally put the names of the people who owe monies to the city of everett and norman st.wins the gold |
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tetris
Advanced Member
1480 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2008 : 07:49:25 AM
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| Bob Shea's troubles continue as he made the list. It's funny how many of these properties are listed as "0" whatever street or are listed with no street number at all. Between almost seven pages of these listings and seven pages of school department advertising, it seems as if the Advocate had a very profitable week. |
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Citizen Kane
Moderator
1082 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2008 : 6:57:58 PM
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| Which is all that really matters to any of them, Tetris. |
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tetris
Advanced Member
1480 Posts |
Posted - 08/22/2008 : 9:06:26 PM
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| Couldn't agree more Citizen. Even the ax that some of them have to grind, especially the Advocate, are probably more of a function of money than anything else. |
Edited by - tetris on 08/22/2008 9:07:13 PM |
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charm
Senior Member
189 Posts |
Posted - 08/28/2008 : 10:03:28 PM
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| look under august 22 arrest log |
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EverettsPride
Advanced Member
1140 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2008 : 11:28:37 AM
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disgusting
Sally |
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tetris
Advanced Member
1480 Posts |
Posted - 08/29/2008 : 5:05:10 PM
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Some other comments on this week's Advocate.
One comment on the anti-Smith commentary. Stephanie currently represents Ward 3, not Ward 5.
Did the opening of schools really need to be the paper's lead story two weeks in a row? I guess when the school department is one of your main sources of revenue it does.
I've taken a lot of shots lately at the local papers for printing press releases verbatim as news "stories". This week, I'm going in the opposite direction. Earlier in the week, I read a "story" in at least one, if not both, of the other papers about Senator Galluccio and Representative Smith working to override a veto of a $150,000 earmark for the Fire Department Hazmat team. The same "story" appeared in the Advocate this week but without any mention of Representative Smith. The Advocate took a shot at the Independent this week for only telling part of the Stephanie Smith story. Doesn't the Advocate also deserve a shot for manipulating a press release so that only the part of the story that they want told gets out there?
O.K., we get it, The Advocate is supporting Wayne Matewsky for State Representative. Matewsky's main political ads have been running only in this paper. Ka-ching. Stat's other main nemesis in political life, FFF, pays a great deal of the Advocate's freight. Ka-ching, Ka-ching! As the old saying goes, politics makes strange bedfellows. In Matewsky's latest ad, he promises to resign his alderman's seat if elected as state representative. I wonder if that promise might make a few more strange alliances? Only time will tell.
On a side note, I think that Matewsky's main political ads have been very good. I feel that they have been very professional looking and get across their points very effectively; but, they also have a familiar feel to them. It's probably not to much of a stretch to figure out where they are probably coming from.
The last piece of the Matewsky Advocate that I'll comment on this week is a picture of Matewsky and McKinnon congratulating the new councilor, D.J. Napolitano. It made me feel like I needed a shower. Isn't there any hope for the future of politics in this city? BTW, Leo, I'm no Tim Gunn but, horizontal and vertical stripes at the same time is not a good look for you. |
Edited by - tetris on 08/29/2008 5:08:07 PM |
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Everett Advocate Newspaper
