Rivera on WBZ Radio
Mayor Rivera was interviewed by Dan Rae on WBZ 1030 AM last week. I began to feel sorry for him because Dan Rae was so unprepared capitalizing only on the news breaking that afternoon about the curfew:
The feeling didn’t last long. Among the senseless question he was asked was why he is running again in a city with so many problems. His response was that he “enjoys the job because it’s very fulfilling being able to change people’s lives.” That’s when he lost me.
I wanted to call in and tell the audience that he changed lives every Christmas when he lays off people earning close to minimum wage inflicting pain on the entire family.
He changes people’s lives at City Hall when he tells them to get out of the elevator because he rides alone. That accounts for the low morale among employees. He barks orders, swearing and is very disrespectful to everyone at City Hall.
Dan Rae should have done his homework and he would have found there’s enough material to ask. Things like the $300 fines to disabled people with appropriate handicapped plates in their out-of-state cars. Also, the millions of dollars spent each year in expensive attorneys defending him of lawsuits.
When Mr. Rae asked about the curfew that was enforced that afternoon, Danny denied it is a curfew even though the police chief called it that on his press release and the article on the Eagle-Tribune used the same word. Apparently, they didn’t get together earlier to agree on what to call it. By the way, Lawrence has 31 parks and only 6 police officers working at night. How can they possible prevent anyone performing a dastardly deed at any time? If a neighbor should call after seeing someone violating the curfew in a park, by the time they respond the criminal is gone. Talk about putting a Band-Aid to a problem!
The situation is so dire in Lawrence that the State Police and the Sheriff Department have a heavy presence during the weekends. Last Saturday, October 29, 16 marked law enforcement vehicles went by near the area of Ferry and E. Haverhill at 12:35 a.m. in a space of 2 to 3 minutes. All the vehicles (at least 6 or 7 were State Police and the rest, Lawrence and Sheriff’s Department plus canine) were going at high speed with lights activated.
Minutes later some vehicles were seen rapidly driving with blue lights on down peripheral streets (William, Harriman, Ridge Rd.) Most vehicles were seen leaving the area by 1 am, a few with lights on. The next morning we found out there was a shooting on Kendall St. and someone was hit.
Do you think they are going to watch what’s going on in public parks when the violence is really on the streets?
They don’t even have time to investigate crimes. I recently posted two pictures of teenagers who were missing saying that apparently, Lawrence Police has not learned anything from the Lee Manuel Viloria Paulino’s case. They are not doing anything to find these young people and simply posted them on the LPD Twitter account. They expect the public’s cooperation in finding them. The question is not whether or not they are still missing. They are probably back at home. My criticism is about the system used to do police work.
This will probably turn into another lawsuit for which we all will have to pay. After 18 years working at Lawrence Public Library, Kemal was placed on leave with pay a couple of month ago but he was never told the reasons. Then, he was notified that if he didn’t resign by October 30th, he would be fired. The hearing with the Friends of the Library is scheduled for November 9th and they will make his dismissal official.
Kemal was Assistant Director under Maureen Nimmo and when she became ill, he took over as Acting Director of the Library for 14 months. Some qualified employees, of whom he was one, applied for the permanent position but instead it was given to Jessica Valentin. They say that she is a very nice lady but unqualified to be librarian. Within a few months, he was out and will be fired soon.
I mentioned earlier “inflicting pain.” Well, this is one more case in which a family man with small children will be thrown out in the street with no salary or health insurance. The worst part is he doesn’t know why.
Absentee ballots
People complain about certain city councilors picking up absentee ballots from the elderly and asking them just to sign them because they will fill it out for them.
That process leaves a great deal to be desired when it comes to human decency and honorability, arousing all kinds of suspicions.
These graphics show the tactic used by Dan Rivera to make sure absentee ballots are returned. He even sends them the postage stamp and is willing to pick it up from their homes. Not necessarily illegal but very distasteful.
What we should have is an educational campaign lasting all year long on many issues that will teach residents how to make Lawrence better, not just a slogan but a real effort because we have newcomers arriving at all times who need to learn. I can think of trash pick-up and recycling but the most important of all is how our government works and the elections process.
But we have radio stations ill prepared to that task and we are saturated with music and entertainment and two local television stations that won’t allow any education/information to get through, maintaining this community in a level of ignorance not seen anywhere else. It is the government’s job to ensure that learning process if we are to succeed.
