“CrossOver” on WCCM 1110
Remember that?
My show was about current, local issues and interviews with newsmakers, politicians and yes, candidates looking for your votes.
I keep hearing over and over the cry that there’s no information about the candidates for next month’s elections in English. Well, you earned it!
I tried to provide information in English on a weekly basis and the abuse I coped with was so intense that I couldn’t handle it anymore. The constant attacks, accusations and insults proved to be too much for me. Even Lou Blasi, who was at the controls, said on the air that I was biased in my opinions.
Have you ever heard of differences of opinions? The only ones “allowed” to be heard were from one side and if it wasn’t like mine, it’s because I was on the wrong one. There was no intelligent exchange because that audience rejected me by giving me the “Lantiguista” label once I said that I would not apologize for being his friend for over 26 years. I am a loyal friend and it has nothing to do with his politics.
There is so much hatred in this community that it is the cause for the increase of Spanish-speaking candidates’ lack of interest in reaching out to the other side. They fear rejection as much as I felt it so, why try? You are becoming a minority in your own turf and, I’ll repeat it, you earned it!
School Building Committee
Mayor Dan Rivera is looking for volunteers to take part in the Oliver School’s “School Building Committee.”
According to the city’s webpage, “Applicants with expertise and experience should apply immediately. This committee will work with the School Department for the City of Lawrence in conjunction with the Massachusetts School Building Association (MSBA) on all phases of the design and building process as the LPS and MSBA work together to redesign and rehabilitate the Oliver School facility located at 233 Haverhill Street in downtown Lawrence. Members of the local community who have experience with architecture, engineering and /or construction experience, are knowledgeable in educational mission, or have other specific expertise which would add to the project are encouraged to apply.”
Mayor on crime
I attended the swearing-in ceremony of the police officers last Saturday to see if Mayor Rivera would make a comment, as expected, about the improvements obtained in public safety since the city hired 23 new officers this year.
He didn’t disappoint me. “The stats have never been lower,” he said in his poorly drafted speech. He didn’t have much to say and limited it to some brief comments and that magical quote. He must’ve pulled it from his hat because the shootings continue on a daily basis, assaults are commonplace and robberies are happening everywhere. Of course, police doesn’t respond, it’s not published, the police log shows nothing so, it never happened.
It has to be an imaginary quote because last week I mentioned that according to www.neighborhoodscout.com Lawrence went up to #17 in 2017 Crime Index. They measure the danger level between 1 and 100 with 100 being the safest level in the country. For example, this is how Lawrence compares to the national averages:
Lawrence Property crimes
Burglary Theft Auto theft
Total 334 907 648
Rate per 1,000
4.16 11.30 8.06
U.S. property crimes
4.91 17.75 2.20
(Notice that Auto Theft is the only one higher than the US average)
Lawrence Violent crimes
Murder Rape Robbery Assault
Total 5 26 210 450
Rate per 1,000
0.06 0.32 2.62 5.61
U.S. violent crimes
0.05 0.39 1.02 2.38
(Notice that Rape is the only one lower than the US average)
Your chances of becoming a victim of a violent crime in Lawrence is 1 in 116 while in Massachusetts it is 1 in 256.
The safest are is the Mt. Vernon St. neighborhood and the worst area y around Lawrence St. and Walnut St.
At that pace, soon we’ll be in the #1 category.
