House Speaker Paul Ryan in Lawrence
Mayor Dan Rivera missed a great opportunity with Speaker Ryan’s visit by not playing both ends in the middle. He is a Democrat but he is also the mayor of this sad city loaded with problems.
He didn’t join the Speaker in his tour of the New Balance plant or was present during his speech because he was with the demonstrators across the street.
He missed the opportunity of explaining what ails Lawrence most and get the President’s ear – hopefully.
He also missed the opportunity of doing politics at its best for his constituents. Instead, Rivera practically refused meeting with the Speaker, sitting for a photo opp and coming up with the excuse of having to go put out a fire. They never spoke about anything.
By the way, one of the demonstrators had a hand-made sign saying, “BOYCOTT NEW BALANCE.” None of the organizers, city officials or politicians present told him to put it down. That’s the level of ignorance of these fanatics.
Kendrys was lost at the meeting
The recent showdown at City Hall which attracted so many people in protest for the sale of marijuana in Lawrence also brought discussions about its benefits and harmful effects. I don’t know if Council President Kendrys Vasquez was intimidated by the crowd or he was not listening to what they were saying but that should not have been allowed to last four hours.
The decision to be made that night was if the public approved the sale of marijuana in Lawrence or if it should be banned. A simple “yes” or “no” was all that was necessary. Some out-of-towners took 20 and 30 minutes to read statements as to its medical benefits. Medical use of marijuana has been approved for a couple of years and there are dispensaries where it could be purchased with a doctor’s prescription. I know of someone who used to buy it in Lowell (legally) before he died of cancer. The weed helped him cope and I was happy knowing it helped him.
Being the council president, he had the authority to clarify the purpose of the evening but he was afraid to act.
Marijuana Advertising
When we started publishing Rumbo 21 years ago, we made a rule never to accept ads from cigarette makers or any type of liquor, which at that time was permitted. The reason for that was that we wanted to bring out the best of our community through our publication and we still feel very strongly that smoking and alcohol are damaging to our health and wellbeing. Also, they are a poor example for children to follow.
So, following that pattern, Alberto and I have decided not to accept any advertising for recreational marijuana if and when it becomes available.
Excerpts of previous statements
It is very interesting that people read my column and interpret it any which way they want. That’s why I put everything in writing; you can go back and read it over and over again or ask somebody to read it for you.
One of those illiterates recently misquoted what I wrote regarding the mayor’s expenditures at the radio stations. I didn’t hear it so I cannot respond but I thought it appropriate to repeat what I said on June 15th. Don’t believe what you hear; read it yourself.
Has anyone heard a political commercial on the radio about the mayor’s reelection campaign? Of course not! He doesn’t have any. That’s why it puzzled me seeing so much money going to radio ads at Costa Communications and La Mega (WLLH 1400 AM).
Last year, Mayor Rivera paid over $7,100 (maybe more) to Costa Communications when he only has a weekly show there. I don’t know how much the station is charging him but I hear that the going rate is $75-$100, which doesn’t add up to that sum at the end of the year. Thus far this year, he paid Costa $1,625 on March 16; he has paid $300 on April 10 to Conexión Deportiva for the Saturday show and Luis Reyes several small amounts for radio production.
By the way, the laws require that when a radio show is paid for by the candidate, it should air the disclaimer that it is so, just like the line at the bottom of newspaper ads saying, “This ad is paid for by the Campaign to Elect…” This is heavily fined by the Office of Campaign and Political Finance and the Attorney General’s Office.
At La Mega, he paid $600 on April 24 and another $1,200 on May 25 so far this year. In his report to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance (www.ocpf.us) he calls them “radio ads” but now we know they are not. Please check it out and you’ll have the work cut out for yourself for hours and days non-stop.
Job requirements
When I write about people hired by this administration without qualifications for their jobs, my intention is only trying to go “by the book” and how the law demands.
I remember in the 70s working in the Chelsea School Department, how any Spanish-speaking people with some education were hired to work as full-time teachers in the bilingual program. They were given waivers every year and the opportunity to go to school and become certified through a great program at Boston University, paid for by the State.
In the mid-90s I came to work in the School Department in Lawrence and that was the practice, still. I know of a woman who worked for 17 years, a good teacher, but never took the time to go to school and revalidate her teaching credentials from her native country. She was furious when Superintendent James F. Scully finally let her go.
Back then, it was very difficult finding Latino professionals in many areas and companies were very willing to bend the rules in order to fulfill the requirements of equal opportunities.
Today, it is unacceptable due to the overwhelming amount of well-educated people in our midst, including Lawrence residents. Young people are graduating and coming back to the city and can’t find a job suitable to their interests and education.
That being said, it is to be expected that the City of Lawrence would select the best qualified candidates with the appropriate credentials for the job they are applying for; after all, Mayor Dan Rivera promised it would be that way.
Among the employees mentioned in the past, I don’t know them personally and my references were always based on qualifications and fairness.
John Pica, Treasurer – Didn’t even have an Associate’s degree and should be under a criminal investigation for lying to a government office with a fake resume.
Theodoro Rosario, City Engineer – Had a bachelor’s in agronomy and a Master’s in Marketing but was not a civil engineer. In more than two years on the job, he never took the time to take an engineering course that would qualify him for “the test.”
Wendy Luzón, Neigborhood Planner – The job requires a Master’s degree in City Planning but only has a high school diploma. Like Pica, she should be under a criminal investigation for lying to a government office with a fake resume; instead, she has the mayor’s blessings.
Jessica Valentin, Librarian – Has a Bachelor’s degree and a Master’s in Environmental Sciences. The job requires a Master’s degree in Library Sciences. She was told that she has to take courses leading to that degree but in all the months on the job, she has not registered anywhere to start studying for that. She is well-educated and might be a lovely person but doesn’t belong at the public library.
Vilma Martinez Dominguez, Community Development Director – Requires a Master’s degree in Community Development, Urban Planning or Public Administration. Vilma has a Bachelor’s degree in Health and Human Services and a Certificate in Non-Profit Practice.
Everybody loves Vilma and I think the world of her as a worker. We don’t socialize together but I interviewed her on the radio a few times through the years and followed her work at the YWCA which earned her the respect of everyone who has dealt with her. What I stated is based on her credentials for her job.
