The Viloria-Paulino case
Essex County District Attorney Jonathan Blodgett finally put Mayor Daniel Rivera in his place.
Angel Taveras, the attorney leading a committee of four people assigned to the Lee Manuel Viloria Paulino’s case sent a letter to Mayor Rivera explaining that they could no longer continue with the investigation because District Attorney Blodgett has blocked the police department from responding to their questions.
And rightfully so! We have a judicial system in charge of investigations of this sort, namely the Lawrence Police Department and the District Attorney’s office. The mayor, in his desire of making up for the lack of attention given to Lee’s disappearance for almost two weeks, named this commission to perform an independent investigation. Perhaps his motivation was the lack of confidence in our police department; I don’t know which of the two reasons is correct, but Mayor Rivera had no right to overreach their authority.
I agree that this investigation is taking too long and we are anxious to find out who else was involved. Blodgett’s assessment that it may take years to find out is unacceptable because all guilty parties may well be out of the country by then.
Lowell St. bridge “suicide”
A couple of weeks ago a young man committed suicide by jumping off the Lowell St. bridge – or so they thought. When he was taken to the medical examiner, it was discovered that he had been shot in the head.
The only reason we heard about this case is because someone wrote about it on Facebook and there were some witnesses who claimed to have heard shots fired. Meanwhile, there is not an official word from anyone or in the news.
That’s right: Crime is down!
Hispanic Week and alcohol
We understand the financial struggles of Hispanic Week every year and can empathize with their fund-raising efforts. This year, the idea of bringing the beer truck inside the park, making it more accessible to patrons has awaken a series of arguments worthy of discussion.
Hispanic Week has become comfortable with raising some money through the sale of beer and count with that money for sure each year. Most organizations that I am familiar with are constantly looking for money all year long, either encouraging and accepting donations or holding different events with that end in mind.
I have made many suggestions to this group through the year but, because they come from me, someone who criticizes them sharply when they deserve it, so they are ignored. They fail to understand that I am not their friend; I run a newspaper who owes the truth to this community.
When the festival ends, they know the dates for the coming year and should start planning right away, as soon as they are finished settling the finances and paying that year’s bills. By the fall, they should be able to start having events to cover expenses for the following year but we don’t hear anything from them until well passed the winter. By then, they realize the enormous task ahead and panic sets in. Thank goodness for that sure money from beer sales!
By the way, their board of directors has no authority to prohibit anyone from using the Campagnone Common.
The organizers of the cultural nights that are part of Hispanic Week are responsible for finding a place to celebrate and the board of directors have never interfered with that decision.
If the Puerto Rican and Dominican Nights choose to hold them there, they should request permission from the City Council as they have done for so many years.
Alcohol today/marihuana tomorrow
In this country of laws and non-discrimination, we must be very careful of not falling into the intolerance trap which some people are so willing to drag into court.
This year, Hispanic Week is facing criticisms for allowing beer sales to be conducted inside the Campagnone Common, instead of the usual dispensary across the street in the Senior Center’s parking lot. The reason is not that the complainers are non-drinkers but the example it sets for our young generation. We instill in them the idea that fun cannot be had unless there is alcohol involved.
This controversy has shown how lenient we have become with the issue and I just want to point out a potential problem. Start thinking right now how you are going to handle it!
Marihuana sale for recreational purposes was approved in Massachusetts. At this time, there are still some issues being discussed with this new regulation but it is the law. Let’s say that by next year the dust has settled and vendors can request a booth during Hispanic Week to make sales. What is the appropriate response? No, because marihuana is a drug. No, because this is a family event. No, because our community doesn’t believe in the use of marihuana. No, because the City of Lawrence voted against that new law. All wrong!
Budget cuts for CPB and NPR
Congress will be discussing eliminating funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. They operate Channels 2 and 44 and National Public Radio runs WBUR-FM in Boston of the 1,500 radio and television stations all over the country under the banner that they produce good quality programming because they can concentrate on that instead of selling commercials to support the stations.
This year’s appropriation request is for $446 million and, while we all agree that their programming is superb, why can’t they go out and look for ways to increase the revenues they already receive from corporate sponsors, foundations, and members while hustling for advertisers like everyone else? After all, if they produce such good quality programs, they should be an easy sale.
In 1986 President Ronald Reagan deregulated the means of communications because we had many choices for information and it was no longer required to offer “equal time” to opposing view. When the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was created, we didn’t have this many choices and the government wanted to assure that the public would get unbiased information. That has changed and we have immediate reporting of news as it happens and a plethora of differences of opinions on radio and television to come to our own conclusions.
I think that this reasoning has come of age and it doesn’t sound so irrational to eliminate the funding. President Reagan would have done the same.
While Congress is toying with the idea of canceling the Corporation for Public Broadcasting’s budget, I found out that the Department of Education recently instructed the nation’s public schools to incorporate the “experiences, perspective and words of Muslim people into the curriculum” of public schools. The DOE is also financing Islamic education programs on Public Broadcasting stations.
Let’s not forget that Christians are not allowed to pray in public schools.
