| Author |
 Topic  |
|
Tails
Administrator
1757 Posts |
 Posted - 04/25/2009 : 10:34:51 AM
|
quote:
Originally posted by tetris
From this week's Advocate mailbag:
Firefighters Union fears budget cuts jeopardize community and firefighters
Open letter to our elected officials,
I was in attendance at the common council meeting last night (4-21-09), and a very important piece was sent to the Finance Committee. The piece on the agenda was concerning using Reserve Funds to advert possible layoffs on the Fire Department. It was quickly sent to committee with no discussion . This piece originated from the Safety Committee Meeting, which was held on April 15th, 2009. I have received the minutes from that Safety Committee Meeting and I would recommend for each of you to take the time and read those minutes before your next Finance Committee Meeting. The reason for this is some of you were not present at this meeting. The minutes do leave out some important points that were discussed that evening, but our Chief made some important comments, along with our membership. One comment made by Chief Butler that can not be ignored is "Any reduction would jeopardize the community and firefighters". I was at this meeting and the Chief also stated how the citizens and firefighters would be at a higher risk of safety if these excessive cuts were made. As I stated at the meeting, our budget has already been cut with the retirement of six brothers along with a position that has not been filled. This will leave us with 99 firefighters starting in May. Before Prop. 2 1/2 (back in 1980) we had roughly 150 firefighters, so as you can see, we still have not recovered from those times. As a Finance Committee, you must know our city is financially strong, with possibility of more revenue in our city every day and how sound out three (3) Reserve Funds are currently, (Stabilization Fund = Over $8,000,000, Free Cash = Over $5,000,000, and a Reserve Fund = Over $1,000,000). The City of Everett has roughly $15,000,000 sitting in a "rainy day account" for these specific times. Our Chief and the union has stated the importance of man power on the fire department, which keeps our changing city the safest it can be at all times. If these extra cuts are made, WE are making our city a less safe place to live and raise a family, along with endangering our firefighters on each time they roll out the door.
If you have any questions or would like to discuss anything else, please feel free to call me (617-908-6768) or via e-mail. Thank you for your time and dedication to the City of Everett now and in the future.
Respectfully,
Craig Hardy
President Local 1656, IAFF
Everett Firefighters
I didn't understand the way sending this piece to finance committee was done so quickly and without discussion. Wasn't this Leo's piece, and the way other people jump all over it, and knowing this is a sensitive nature to everyone was very disrespectful. |
 |
|
|
OuttaHere
Member
23 Posts |
 Posted - 04/25/2009 : 6:30:48 PM
|
 ......"before Prop 2 1/2 we had 150 Firefighters"......!150! for a rotten berg the size of a postage stamp!....All I can manage to say is 'THANK YOU BARBRA ANDERSON!!!! U ROCK! |
|
|
|
Tails
Administrator
1757 Posts |
Posted - 04/25/2009 : 9:06:35 PM
|
| Who's Barbara Anderson? |
|
|
|
tetris
Advanced Member
1480 Posts |
Posted - 04/26/2009 : 11:23:23 AM
|
Tails,
Barbara Anderson is the Exectutive Director of Citizens for Limited Taxation, the group that was the driving force benind Proposition 2 1/2. |
|
|
|
tetris
Advanced Member
1480 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2009 : 7:53:09 PM
|
From this week's Advocate:
A future "voter" joins the DeMaria Family
Mayor Carlo DeMaria, Jr., is certainly beaming this week and with good reason - his lovely wife, Stacey, gave birth to their third child Monday afternoon, a healthy 8 pound, 10 ounce baby girl. The new arrival, named Alexandra Rose joins brother Carlo III and sister Caroline. Best wishes to the First Family. |
|
|
|
waterboy
Member
23 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2009 : 9:29:23 PM
|
| sarni's husband arrest again advocate police blog it's sad you think they would of kept it out of the paper. |
|
|
|
socks
Member
20 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2009 : 10:42:05 PM
|
"it's sad you think they would of kept it out of the paper"
It shouldn't be posted here either. |
|
|
|
Ellen
Senior Member
173 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2009 : 11:00:16 PM
|
| Why not? She is an elected official! They should not get special preference! |
|
|
|
tetris
Advanced Member
1480 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2009 : 07:07:03 AM
|
One of the two cover stories from this week's Advocate (the other one was about Alderman Nuzzo "reading the riot act" to the owner of Medrano Auto Repair) and a related piece of commentary, also from the Advocate:
Smith votes with Republicans on State House sales tax plan
By the Advocate
State Rep. Stephen "Stat" Smith (D-Everett) bucked the Democratic leadership in the House earlier this week by voting against the proposed hike in the state sales tax that Speaker Robert DeLeo claims is essential because of the deepening state deficit.
The House voted 108-51 on Monday to raise the sales tax from 5% to 6.25%. If the Senate concurs - and if the proposal withstands a possible veto by the governor - the new sales tax is expected to raise a whopping $900 million in extra revenue in the next fiscal year.
Speaker DeLeo explained that the jump in the sales tax would negate the need to implement any of the new taxes and also toll increases that Gov. Deval Patrick has proposed.
Representative Smith was one of 35 Democrats who crossed party lines and voted with the House's 16 Republicans against Speaker DeLeo's sales tax proposal. The fact that Smith went against DeLeo, however, shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone because the local state solon supported DeLeo's arch rival John Rogers in the recent showdown for the speakership.
Even with the extra revenue that the new sales tax would generate, the House budget still relies on $1.2 billion in cuts to help close an estimated $3.6 billion budget gap next fiscal year.
But the gap would have been gigantically greater - and would have caused even more damaging "local aid" cuts - if Smith and the Republicans had been successful in killing the sales tax proposal.
The 108-51 margin by which the sales tax increase passed the House is "veto proof" if House members remain firm in their positions (107 votes are needed to override a possible veto by the governor).
In an email sent to all House members before Monday night's roll-call vote, Gov. Patrick had threatened legislators with a veto.
In a related matter, Speaker DeLeo has promised that the House will take up Governor Patrick's plan next month to allow municipalities to raise their own taxes on meals, lodging and telecommunications equipment.
And the related commentary:
Sales tax - no, Pay raise - yes
Well folks, there's Rep. Static Smith turning Republican to vote with the Republicans against House Speaker DeLeo's sales tax proposal. Maybe Static would rather vote for an obscene increase in the gasoline tax or meals tax. If Static's vote with the Republicans was successful - forget more state aid for the local communities. But then again, in his attempt to look as if he's a champion of the taxpayers - Static didn't hesitate to pocket the 5.5% pay raises for members of the House of Representatives. Whose pocket is Static really looking out for? His own, of course. |
|
|
|
tetris
Advanced Member
1480 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2009 : 07:23:26 AM
|
One of two "Advocate Commentary"'s from this week's paper.
Mayor puts end to Wood Waste controversy
For years, Wood Waste has been a thorn in the side of the local city government -- and a real tough neighbor for residents to live near.
And for many years, city hall promised to remedy the situation. But instead of making things better, politics seemed to intervene and get in the way of progress...and the situation got worse.
It was considered to be "good politics" to "go after" Wood Waste. The local company became a "whipping boy" for some local "pols" looking for a headline in the papers.
There were charges and counter-charges. There were threats of legal actions and actual lawsuits...and when Wood Waste's owner ended up with the winning bid for the old city yard property, the situation between Wood Waste's owner and city hall became more tense. And when the Hanlon administration tried to cancel the sale of the former city yard parcels, things got really ugly.
And then Carlo DeMaria was elected mayor a year and a half ago.
He came into the mayor's office with an open mind. He vowed to work with Wood Waste for a resolution that would be good for the city and wouldn't put the company out of business, like many other "pols" were advocating.
In a word, he promised to be fair.
And in less than two years, Carlo DeMaria was able to do what his predecessors in the mayor's office couldn't do -- he is getting the ugly and unhealthy piles of debris removed not only from the Wood Waste site, but from the city itself.
In the process, Wood Waste now will be constructing an indoor facility to house its operation...and its owner remains the developer of the old city yard land that, we're confident, will some day in the future -- when the economy straightens out -- will enhance the Parkway area and will add much needed revenue to the city coffers.
Mayor DeMaria and his administration worked hard -- very hard -- to get this done. It wasn't easy. He had to convince DEP officials of the city's plight. He had to work with the attorney general's office. He had to put together a coalition of elected officials to carry the city's message to the State House. And he developed a local team to work effectively with Wood Waste, starting with board of health chief Deb O'Neill, who did yeoman work.
In the end, we have a court order that will ensure that the Wood Waste piles will be gone within the next 100 days or so. That's great news for the residents of the area and the citizens of Everett at-large.
The mayor and his administration are to be commended for taking on this huge challenge and successfully meeting the test.
William Thibeault should also get a pat on the back. He's a shrewd businessman, and he's also a good guy -- he just didn't like the politics that was being played at his expense over the years. Given a fair chance, we expect him to be a top-notch corporate neighbor in the city from here on in.
Fortunately for Mr. Thibeault and other developers who may want to do business in Everett, Carlo DeMaria is now the mayor. He's a fair-minded guy, who only cares about the city's people and their future.
And we're all the better for it. |
|
|
|
tetris
Advanced Member
1480 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2009 : 09:10:15 AM
|
The second "Advocate Commentary"'s from this week's paper:
Napolitano's proposal just doesn't make sense
For the past several years, as city budgets have been stretched tighter and tighter to cover all of our community's needs, it seems that all budgetary discussions in city council chambers inevitably wind up with the caveat: "Let's get some extra money from the school department's budget...they always have money in their budget!"
Granted it is much easier for the council to pass the buck to the school committee instead of rolling up their own sleeves and trimming one or more city budgets to find funds. It is hard work to make any budget balance, and it is even harder to face voters when a popular project has to be cut in favor of a more pressing need.
However, there is no more pressing need than providing for the safety of Everett's children when they go to and from school day after day. That's a function that can't be delayed or go without funds, in our opinion.
In the city council meeting Monday night, Councillor Peter A. Napolitano asked that the funding of the Crossing Guard program be placed on the school committee agenda for "reconsideration in the interest of working together and better serving our community."
Councillor Napolitano was certainly misguided in his request for "reconsideration," because the Crossing Guard program has NEVER been paid for out of school department funds!
While federal government guidelines for funding this program are admittedly broad, responsibility for training and maintaining the Crossing Guard program in Everett has ALWAYS been the job of our local law enforcement officials.
We have to agree with the logic that the police department is in charge of controlling traffic and insuring safety when children are traveling to and from Everett Public Schools. Remember when we were growing up and our neighborhood police officer stopped traffic for us to cross?
Originally, the Crossing Guard program was suggested to the city and towns as an economical alternative to using police officers who were urgently needed elsewhere to maintain order in larger cities like Everett. This program has worked extremely well because the law enforcement administration understands how to train guards to direct traffic in all types of situations and in all types of weather.
Unfortunately, Councillor Napolitano would rather have the school committee layoff more teachers and use those funds to pay for a new program for crossing guards, instead of doing the hard work of trimming the police department's budget to keep this program funded.
Our advice to Councillor Napolitano is that he should do his homework first instead of having a "knee jerk" reaction of using money earmarked for schools to solve the council's budget problems.
He certainly should have read the council's budgets from past years. If he had, he would have known which programs were funded by which department budgets and he would not have requested a department to "reconsider" funding a program it never had in its budget.
He should have also considered the additional (and considerable) start-up cost of developing a new crossing guard program administered by a new department. We believe that a more cost-effective solution would be to find ways to pay for the existing program now successfully administered by the police department.
Mr. Napolitano was also misguided to make his request "in the interest of working together." His request, if followed, would pit the police department against the school department as both struggle to keep their respective funding and Everett's school children would be caught in the middle.
What he proposing could result in a budget war between city departments, and it could mobilize community action groups against the change in funding. This is hardly "in the interest of working together and better serving our community."
We have to ask ourselves, does the city really need more fiscal problems in this terrible economic climate?
The school department can balance its budget in the face of this present economic crisis. We believe that our councillors can find a way to balance their budgets, too, and not always at the expense of the school department.
Mr. Napolitano, we suggest that you sweat a little more, burn the midnight oil if necessary, and find a way to fund the crossing guard program out of the city's law enforcement budget.
It is clear to us that the crossing guard program is such a public safety issue. As such, it belongs under the administration of the police department and it makes sense to fund the program with that department's budget.
It does not make sense to disrupt the school department budget to fund this program, especially when they have no experience in administering this type of program.
Mr. Napolitano, it's time to stop using our city's children as scapegoats. We understand that children don't vote. But their parents do. |
|
|
|
Tails
Administrator
1757 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2009 : 09:37:54 AM
|
Oh yes, I saw the rag too, and once again these are typical Jim Mitchell spins with facts that are less than accurate. What an absolute waste of paper.
Think Green! Before printing ask yourself, do I really need a hard copy? |
|
|
|
tetris
Advanced Member
1480 Posts |
Posted - 05/08/2009 : 8:18:20 PM
|
From this week's Advocate, a couple of items from the Sounds of Everett column:
No "jumping jacks" for Simonelli
Ward 2 Councilman Stephen Simonelli, who's been hammering away at the Wood Waste controversy for months upon months, just couldn't accept the fact this week that the city -- in concert with the attorney-general and DEP officials -- got a court ruling that will see the local piles of debris eliminated by the end of the year.. You would think that he'd be overjoyed, but no, he kept criticizing the mayor, causing Mayor DeMaria to quip that "I'm surprised Councillor Simonelli isn't doing jumping jacks." Simonelli was like a little kid who had his ball stolen and was whining -- he's losing the issue that he's that he's been grandstanding on for so long. Simonelli kept up his ranting criticism of the administration -- to the point that Council President Millie Cardello had to warn him to stop "badgering" the mayor and board of health chief Deb O'Neil, the two local officials most responsible for getting the DEP and AG Coakley to press the issue in court. Things got even more ridiculous when Simonelli actually patted himself on the back, proclaiming that he ought to be recognized for all he had done to focus on the Wood Waste issue. Remember, self-praise is no praise at all.
Silence on layoff alternatives is deafening
At this week's common council meeting, different members bemoaned the fact that layoffs loom and may even impact the police and fire departments. They pass resolutions calling on the mayor to "put a plan into effect to save police and fire department jobs ." That's laudable, but easier said than done. No one wants to see any of our protective forces laid off, and that includes the mayor. But since both the police and fire department face a million dollar reduction in operating funds, where is the two million dollars coming from to advert layoffs? Council members have been strangely silent in offering cuts elsewhere in the budget, but unless two million dollars is cut from somewhere else -- or unless some new revenue stream is found to take up the slack -- it's going to be next to impossible to avoid layoffs. Making speeches to gain favor with the members of the police and fire departments may be the political thing to do, but it's not accomplishing much, except to raise false hope. |
|
|
|
tetris
Advanced Member
1480 Posts |
Posted - 05/15/2009 : 05:40:14 AM
|
From this week's Advocate mailbag:
Napolitano responds to commentary
To the editor,
I would like to comment on an editorial that appeared in your newspaper and I would like the opportunity to respond. The editorial which some of you may have missed slammed me for having the audacity to request that the School Committee reconsider taking over the funding of the School Crossing Guard program to ease some of the financial burden on our Police Department. "What about the children!" You would think that I was asking to use the funds for earmarked for our children for personal use. There is a bigger picture here.
The Commonwealth has severely cut Local Aid especially in regards to Public Safety. I have sat through both Public Safety and Finance Committee meetings where we listened to our valiant Police Officers and Firemen plead with the City Council to find ways to minimize lay-offs of our public safety personnel. Aside from reviewing the cuts that the administration will have to make and the City Council will not officially see until we receive our Budget books later this week, it is prudent to explore all options especially ones that the Schools directly benefit from like the School Crossing Guard program which is funded by the Everett Police. In the bigger picture it is always about the children. The children have the right to arrive to school safely. They have the right to a quality education. They also have the right to live in a safe neighborhoods and not fear for their safety or that of their family or friends. Besides the school crossing guard program, the Everett Police maintain a liaison officer at the High School as well as manage many other school programs, programs that will take a hit if too many of our Police Officers are laid-off. I made a simple request and if the School Committee is unable to consider acting on that request while trying to maintain the quality of our education here in Everett, I am sure that they will relay that information in a professional manner back to the City Council, but the time for old squabbles should be put behind us. We will all have to work together and think out of the box to get through the coming tough times together for the sake of all our children.
Sincerely,
Peter A. Napolitano
Common Council, Ward One |
|
|
|
Wildfire132
Member
23 Posts |
Posted - 05/15/2009 : 11:25:44 AM
|
| Good for him and a good reply. I'm sick of those unsigned editorial pieces in the Independent & Advocate slamming anyone who questions FF. I wonder if the Schools can apply FF's air conditioner and lumber for his kitchen to the school net spending. By the way I see that there is a reply from the Superintendent already about Napolitano's request. Did I miss something? Didn't he ask the School Committee to reconsider? When did the School Committee meet to form a reply? Just more from the Gepppetto of the Everett School system. |
|
|
|
Topic |
|
|
|
Everett Advocate Newspaper
