Message for Council President Vasquez
It has been sad and disappointing reading about Jorge De Jesus’ suspension from Inspectional Services under suspicion of illegally selling certificates to serve food. I am saddened because he is a personal friend of ours but if we are not going to cover that as a news item it is because that is not the type of newspaper we are.
In fact, I knew about it before it hit the media because his supervisor Pat Ruiz, aware of our relationship, called me to let me know. I have to admit that Keith Eddings did a very professional job for the Eagle-Tribune investigating the whole issue. What more could we add to that? The investigation by city officials and the Tribune continues.
Now Council President Kendrys Vasquez is asking Jose Ayala that we both should investigate. He complained to Mr. Ayala that I investigate everything but this case, insinuating that I don’t do it because of the friendship between us. I want to remind him that we don’t probe civil or criminal cases that are being dealt with by the authorities. We report on unfairness and we investigate things that are being overlooked (covered up) by city officials such as councilors accepting illegal gifts and the Pacific Mills disgrace. I would love to hear a comment from our council president on that!
Anonymous letter
Speaking of investigations, I recently received an anonymous letter asking me to look into another sale by the mayor. It attempts at making the connection between the actions of City Councilor Estela Reyes and a private individual.
I never give credence to anyone who cannot come forth denouncing something and hides behind anonymity but this time it deserves a reminder to all. If I know who is providing the information I can determine if I am being used for an evil purpose or if the person is sincere. Because the Reyes issue is still recent, I’m not going to jump on anything just because it appears to be another wrongdoing by the mayor. Besides, the people involved in this case are not politicians.
Give me more details and your name and I’ll be glad to look into it.
Marcos on state budget
On July 8, 2016 we published a press release from Senator Barbara L’Italien with the results of the legislative spending plan for next year listing the organization receiving funding within her district.
Then, Governor Charlie Baker cut $440,000 for 15 non-profits and $1 million for the Lawrence Police Department. The legislature held an all-day Senate-House Conference on Saturday, July 23rd trying to restore funding to some of the organizations across the state although none of them were in the district represented by Senator L’Italien.
Meanwhile, last Saturday, the 23rd, when our senators and representatives were fighting for us, Marcos Devers was on the radio all morning. He did show up at the State House in the afternoon.
This past weekend, the legislators decided to meet again on Saturday and Sunday trying to undo the governor’s damage to our area and Marcos showed up both full days.
And speaking of Devers…
Last Friday we attended a meeting of the Lawrence Partnership where many positive things for Lawrencians were discussed when suddenly, at the end of the program he found the need to explain his business.
I don’t know what his diatribe about his engineering business and the fact that he has four architects working for him had to do with anything and some people I spoke to afterwards were puzzled. I knew that was directed to me!
Perhaps he just wanted everyone to know that he runs a business and has people working for him, including one man whom he said he pays $40,000 a year. I wonder if he’s from Lawrence because the goal of the Lawrence Partnership is finding jobs for Lawrencians.
Susan Santos for City Council
City Councilor Nilka Alvarez-Rodriguez has been missing many meetings as a result of health complications including a recent heart procedure. Some people more concerned with having the city council functioning at full capacity than the wellbeing of one individual, are asking for her resignation from that body.
For the past few weeks she has been performing her duties from a hospital bed and later from rehab even if unable to attend the meetings and fortunately, she will be at home probably as you are reading this.
Since municipal elections are not until a year from now, I wonder why Susan Santos could not wait until Councilor Alvarez-Rodriguez’s health had improved and visited her at the hospital to announce her plans. Susan Santos along and her husband Rev. Jose A. Santos lead Ministerio Apostolico Jesucristo es El Senor Inc. at 96 East Haverhill St. in Lawrence.
“I wanted her to know that several people have suggested that I run for her seat,” Ms. Santos told me on the telephone.
At the question of who has made that suggestion she just replied, “Friends, people in the administration… I don’t want to say who they are.”
Pacific Mills update
It has been very difficult gathering information on the status of the Pacific Mills building located at 300 Canal St. in Lawrence because city officials do not seem to know what is going on.
A few days ago, when administrators from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) visited brownfield sites along with city dignitaries, Alberto Suris tried asking them about Pacific Mills and the lady was less then pleasant brushing him off. She later called me and gave me the name of the person in the communications department who could respond.
Well, it took me a couple of weeks calling and emailing until I received this answer from Dave Deegan, Media Relations at the US EPA, New England Regional Office: “While EPA cannot currently provide detailed comment on any potential EPA role in this property, the Agency does confirm that in our perspective, the matter is unresolved and ongoing. When we have any information to share we will be sure to get it to you. Further, I’ll do my very best to keep you informed when or if there are further developments.”
The contamination in the basement issue is “unresolved and ongoing” contrary of the response I received from Inspectional Services that it was resolved because they are already renting apartments.
Thanks to a confidential informant who notified MassDEP, Tim Dame visited Building 3 where the informant told him he would find the contaminated debris.
Removing asbestos, lead, arsenic, cadmium and any solid waste is very expensive. Burying it under a site that will be occupied by families is criminal, indeed.
The EPA is still considering a range of actions, including a potential audit of all of Brady-Sullivan’s converted mills in New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts.
These are some of the unscrupulous developers doing business in this city.
We cannot continue to allow this abuse against our community and our families. It is time to ask MassDEP, EPA, OSHA, and the state’s Department of Health and Human Services to come, inspect and approve ALL the buildings Mayor Rivera announced that will be converted into housing.
My personal thought about Brady-Sullivan is that he should be forbidden to do business in Massachusetts and preferably in Lawrence until he is cleared of the charges against him.
