Last week’s City Council meeting
I had to watch that meeting twice in order to absorb everything that went on that night. One reason was that I was waiting for the discussion on the residency requirement and they dealt with it at the beginning. It was so brief that I missed that they had tabled it.
They also discussed the purchase of the DiAdamo buildings at 237-255 Essex St. for $3.5 million. There was not much argument about that because councilors realized by now that it was the best way to go.
The offer to buy the building should have been made before the school department moved out creating all the expenses connected with the move, the lawyers and the rental at 60 Island St. Then, the purchase of the other building at 370 Essex St., the $8 million loan and another half-million dollars to design it. After the judge’s decision that the city should pay $2.6 million to Carmine DiAdamo, it became clear that the mayor had fouled up by being too hotheaded.
That $8 million loan can now be used to pay DiAdamo and renovate the building. I’m only curious as to who will benefit from the sale of the 370 Essex St. building.
Complaint against Elections Department
The Foundation for Transparency in Government Political Action Committee filed a complaint against the City of Lawrence, the City Clerk and the Board of Registrars requesting an investigation on the way the Elections Department operates.
This is separate from the previous complaint filed in Superior Court looking for approval of more than 3,000 signatures that were rejected as a result of the recall.
We have been aware of the myriad of problems involved in the Elections Department through the years and I believe that this investigation is long overdue. This is something that will affect future administrations.
Officer Green back in court
Last January Lawrence Police Officer William Green had a hearing at Haverhill District Court on a complaint that he belly bumped Officer Ivan Melendez following an argument. Officer Melendez was summoned but failed to appear in court so the case was dismissed. Hours later, at the request of the city, it was reinstated and the new hearing took place on April 11 at Haverhill District Court again. The trial will take place on May 10.
Officer Green is confident that this harassment is as a result of his involvement with the recall petition against the mayor.
New schools
Having worked in the school system many years ago, I am familiar with the conditions of the Oliver and Leahy schools. Beautiful buildings, indeed! Similar to the old Wetherbee School before it was rebuilt and Mayor Rivera now wants to renovate these two schools at a cost of $34 million that he hopes to get from the state and a $20 million loan that we must incur.
As much as I would like them to be restored like the Wetherbee, getting into more debt scares me. We are still paying for loans to build 3 or 4 schools, the water plant, the stadium, the road repairs, etc. Is it wise to get in deeper right now?
The mayor is also planning to spend $67 million for 27 projects to be built over 5 years costing the taxpayers $31 million. Part of that plan is raising property taxes to the levy of 2.5% for five consecutive years.
I am for progress but, at what price? During Senator Elizabeth Warren’s visit to Greater Lawrence Community Action Council last week, one of the main concerns was the high cost of rents and the middle class flight. When people can afford to buy a home they are either forced to charge those incredibly high rents or move out. Can this poor community afford tax increases for five years and get into more liability?
The City Council will be having a hearing on all of that on April 19.
Trash It Out
Sometimes it’s hard taking criticisms. Jose Ayala has been criticized during a meeting of the City Council for his Facebook page Trash It Out. DPW Supervisor Lance Hamill was upset and said, “This person only drives around the city taking pictures and posting them.”
That’s right, he does! Thank you, Jose Ayala, for caring about our city.
Sheriff Cousins’ job
A few days ago I was approached by William Castro of Methuen because he wants to come on my radio show “CrossOver” on WCCM to clarify something. I will be inviting him later on as the race for the position becomes a little more heated but I want to explain what he is talking about.
The local newspaper in English keeps portraying him as a correctional officer when in fact he is an investigator working for the DEA for the past 11 years.
I wonder if there is a purpose for downgrading someone’s position.
Dominican Elections – in Lawrence
Next month, the Dominican Republic will be holding presidential elections and Dominicans in the United States and gearing to vote for their favorite candidate. Until not long ago they had to travel home in order to vote but it has become easier now that they can vote right here.
In previous years, the Lawrence Senior Center was utilized as a voting place but this year all the districts will have a table at the North Common Education Complex (the former high school building). According to City Attorney Charles Boddy, municipal buildings are available to residents as a way to exercise their freedom of speech.
Lawrence drug scene
You may want to read the front page story in The New York Times of March 25, 2016 titled Heroin Epidemic Is Yielding to a Deadlier Cousin: Fentanyl. The Attorney General’s comment is that Lawrence is New England’s source for drugs.
There doesn’t seem to be any effort being put forth to eradicate or at least deal with this epidemic. True that it is not only in Lawrence – it’s a national problem – but do you see anything being done? There is a general news black-out as a way to control it.
Sincere advice
22-year-old newly elected Haverhill City Councilor Andy Vargas is very ambitious. He seems to be everywhere, involved in so many things and you can tell that the intentions are good. But, when he talks about doing business in Cuba, he shows his naïveté. Cuba has nothing to offer to Haverhill.
Andy is very idealistic and his knowledge of Cuba stems from his visit to the island with a school group two years ago. We are happy for the changes that this will bring to the Cuban people but it’s all going to be one way – only Cuba will benefit from what the United States has to offer.
There is no market in Cuba for Southwick so, what are you planning to do? Export more jobs for cheaper labor? I would suggest to stick to being a city councilor and learn as much as you can about local politics because you have a brilliant future ahead.
