Welcome to Paradise
The Boston television stations and newspapers seem to have forgotten about Lawrence but on Thursday, August 14, they showed up again for Mayor Dan Rivera’s press conference on what he called “Pavegate.”
It’s been a long time since they lined up in front of City Hall and the Court House, covering the latest scandal, a violent act or even a murder. They used to pick up their news from the local newspaper and since we have a new administration, nothing ever happens in Lawrence.
People ask me if our city really has changed because they don’t see it plastered in the news as before. They really believe that the bad news was all related to former mayor William Lantigua. Now that he’s gone from City Hall, the city has improved its image. Then, I got it! They came back because the mayor was talking about Lantigua and Lantigua is always news!
The truth is that we began the year with a rash of bank robberies as recent as just weeks ago. Someone was arrested after an armed robbery at a convenience store and the police believe that he is responsible for many others in recent times in the area.
One week ago, two men were shot to death near my house and the week before, two others were shot and they are still in a Boston hospital in serious condition.
But, according to the media, nothing happens in Lawrence. I firmly believe that the reason is because it would reflect negatively on the new mayor. Also, we don’t have a police chief calling them even before the police reports are written up to grant them an interview.
Noise sentence
Many residents of this city welcomed with joy the court’s decision to sentence a woman to eighteen months in jail for harassing her neighbors. The Methuen resident made life impossible for a young couple in the condominium downstairs from hers with loud music all night long and banging heavy objects on the floor. They could barely sleep a couple of hours each night and at one point, had to rent an apartment someplace else so that the wife could study for school.
There was happiness in Lawrence because that was a teaching moment to the noise-makers here. Loud music and house parties at all hours of the night are everywhere in spite of having laws on the books and the police seem to be inadequate to control it. Now that one judge is willing to follow the law, it’s time to buckle down and obey.
NNO and Carmen Ortiz
We had the very pleasant surprise with Carmen Ortiz’s visit to Campagnone Common as part of the first night festivities of National Night Out. The U.S. District Attorney for Massachusetts is no stranger to Lawrence. She has been among us many times always serving as a leader and role model to our community.
Lantigua’s retirement
Boston Herald published an article on August 9 announcing that former Mayor William Lantigua will be allowed to collect his $17,336 annual retirement. The state law preventing public employees from combining jobs held at the same time was signed on January 1, 2014. That was the case with Mr. Lantigua who served as mayor and state representative for a total of 33 days.
Based on that law, the Public Employee Retirement Administration Commission denied his request but it was later discovered that an amendment to that law stipulated a grace period of 60 days. That came to benefit other employees in similar situations.
The article ends saying that, should he be elected state representative, Lantigua will be able to continue collecting his retirement besides his $61,133 salary.
Moran’s interns
On page 10 we have a press release from State Representative Frank A. Moran who helped four Lawrence students by working as interns in his office at the State House in a program sponsored by the State House. I recommend that you read it.
Upon checking with other local politicians, State Representative Diana DiZoglio had one student. “We’ve had the pleasure of having Grace Stanton of Haverhill intern in our State House office this summer. She will be a senior this fall at Haverhill High and has done an absolutely fantastic job this summer,” said Rep. DiZoglio.
State Representative Marcos Devers didn’t respond to our message requesting that information but I was told that he did not have any interns.
