Depending on friends
Mayor Dan Rivera has contracted the services of Kopelman and Paige to review the elections results this year. This was the law firm supervising the results of the recount election in 2013 and later the authors of a formal investigation in the Elections Department.
The exhaustive report issued on November 20, 2014 outlined incidents occurred during the November 4, 2014 Elections. There were major problems to be addressed according to them but rather than provide proper training, allocate the necessary funding or hire competent personnel, the only change was firing Rafael Tejeda.
My comments are not meant to defend Mr. Tejeda in any way but to point out the mistake that was made by not bringing a knowledgeable replacement or provide proper training. The solution to the ills of the department was to get rid of the only person available to educate the community and be the best conduit of information the city has had.
I wonder about the intelligence of city leaders when they didn’t see what was coming for the next election period by failing to plan. By simply blaming the people doing the work, we solve nothing.
I know that non-Spanish-speakers will react to my comments very differently from the rest of the community. Do you remember what I have been saying for many years, “Our city is divided by language?” The Spanish-speaking community is inundated with music and novellas on radio and television. It is to everyone’s benefit to educate them, inform them and help them make wise decisions not just brush them off for its being “their decision.”
That was the role of Mr. Tejeda at city hall. He was always available to speak to anyone and clarify doubts from voters. Radio programs depended on him at this time of the year. I encountered people who had no idea that Election Day is on a Thursday instead of Tuesday, let alone where they should vote.
I was harshly criticized last week for suggesting that Rafael Tejeda should be available during this period. All I was hoping for was having somebody there who knows what needs to be done. City Clerk Bill Maloney is always running around from polling place to polling place on Election Day and the office will be manned by Frandy Matos who has not been there long enough and Ruben Perez who started in May and has not had any experience going through this process.
The only one left with experience was Richard Reyes and he left the office as an emergency and no one had any idea if or when he would be back. Fortunately, he was out for a week and came back on Tuesday, just in time to provide some knowledge to that office at this crucial time.
I can bet on the recommendation this report will bring.
Dr. Trilla was fired
Last week we reported on an issue happening in the Haverhill Public Schools with the suspension of Dr. Graciela Trilla, the director of the English Learners Education Program. Dr. Trilla was suspended with pay and no reason given, so a group of parents filled the School Committee Chamber at their regular meeting showing their support for her.
Well, this week we heard that she has been fired by Superintendent James Scully and the community continues without an explanation or the communications they expected prior to the beginning of the school year.
Calling the cops on Devers
You would think that Marcos Devers knows the rules when it comes to campaigning! During the Feast last Friday night, the organizers had to call the police because one of his campaign fanatics was standing next to him with a blow horn.
He was told to stop because he did not have a permit for that but, when he continued vociferating, a police officer came to make him understand.
That also applies to anyone running around the streets in a car using a megaphone to encourage residents to vote.
But, what the heck! This is Lawrence where laws and ordinances are broken on a daily basis and neither the police nor Inspectional Services make sure they are respected. We also have rules for political signs and the entire city looks like a trash can with multiple signs in a dwelling or a corner.
I won’t mention the noise ordinance. The police say that the music blaring from cars passing by is difficult to fine but, what about coming from the homes imposing on the entire neighborhood?
We should not expect the Elections Department to function properly because apparently, city officials thrive on chaos.
Facebook – no details
I have mentioned in the past that I don’t like Facebook because I don’t find anything useful. Most of the time, when a photo catches my attention, there’s no information as to who they are, where it was taken or what they were doing at that time. What’s the sense of looking?
