New police officers
Last week I mentioned that there are seven new recruits at the Police Academy two of which are Latinos. Well, Mayor Dan Rivera corrected me saying that we really have eight. There’s a Methuen officer who is transferring to Lawrence and now that makes it eight new officers and for that reason, he is not at the Academy.
Lantigua on La Mega
For the past couple of weeks, former mayor Wiliam Lantigua has appeared on “Fuego Cruzado” a radio show hosted by Jose Alfonso Garcia, Nazario Esquea and Santiago Matias on WLLH-AM 1400 from 12 to 2 pm on Sundays.
Lantigua was allowed to talk openly for over one hour each time and he even said to one of the show hosts when he tried to ask him a question, “I was invited here; let me talk.”
After that, all three of them very meekly kept silence until he was done with his diatribe.
That is not the role of the media, particularly during election time. This is the reason why the public has no respect for Spanish-language programs. They don’t take on heavy subjects or ask the important questions – perhaps because they favor that candidate and treat him with silk gloves.
In CrossOver, Nunzio DiMarca and I invited several politicians; some of them didn’t even acknowledge my telephone calls and emails. They knew they risked being asked about unpleasant or sensitive issues (always pertaining to the campaign and never about their personal life) and it was best to avoid an interview with us.
A good example was Doris Rodriguez, candidate for State Senate for the 2nd District. She finally agreed to come to the Spanish-language show on a Saturday and was supposed to be there again on Tuesday, this time in English. Well, she never showed even though I told her that I wouldn’t be there that day. Once the show had started and she confirmed that Nunzio and Lou Blasi were alone in the studio, she called with the excuse that she had to bring her daughter to school. CrossOver is from 10 to 11 am.
Her reason for staying away, I’m sure, it was because I took issue with the fact that she calls herself an attorney and I argued that she attended law school but has not passed the bar exam and she is not an attorney. Passing the bar exam and being sworn in is what officially makes her an attorney so she cannot work as such.
She also has been crediting herself with bringing to the City of Lawrence 3 million dollars when she worked for the Sullivan Administration. Again, I told her that writing the proposal that was later accepted doesn’t give her the right to claim it as an accomplishment. Most non-profit agencies have a person just to write proposals but they cannot take credit for bringing the funds since it doesn’t depend of them. That’s their job!
That’s why she didn’t show.
Doris Rodriguez has enough to be proud of including her professional background and education. She doesn’t need to exaggerate or lie to get elected.
I listen to political advertisements on radio and television in English and Spanish and have come to the conclusion that the politicians and producers of the ads believe that most people are idiots, don’t pay attention to the content or just don’t care. Sometimes, they offer to do things that are beyond their control. If it sounds convincing, chances are that they will add a few votes to the candidate – whether or not it is true what they are saying. Besides, people forget too easily.
Case and point, District E City Councilor Eileen O’Connor Bernal recorded a message supporting Marcos Devers in which she said that he has brought a lot of money to the city. I wrote to her requesting that list for publication and she told me to get it from Mr. Devers or Mark Iannello, the city’s chief financial officer. Knowing that Devers would not comply, I spoke to Mr. Iannello and he said there is no way of knowing if any of the moneys coming to the city as grants had anything to do with him.
When I mentioned to Ms. Bernal Mr. Iannello’s response, she said that she could not get it to me in time for this publication. If I do receive it, I’ll publish it next week.
My insistence on this subject is because the Legislature’s webpage shows all the bills sponsored by senators and representatives and, while others have a long list, Devers’ shows only six. He always considers tagging his name to a bill sponsored by other politicians as his own although that other office and their legislative aides are the ones investigating and researching the issues before presenting it to the full court.
People should be made responsible for what they say on the radio and, instead of saying that I am attacking anyone, ask the same questions and investigate if I am right or not.
Should I tell you who I’m voting for?
I always said ‘It’s one of your businesses.’ The vote is secret and if someone doesn’t want to make it public, they have the right not to be asked. That’s the reason for Rumbo never endorsing candidates; we give you information so that you can make up your mind.
Local candidates and community leaders have been pressured to admit who they support in the upcoming elections and I wonder what’s behind that. One reason could be to belittle and insult them for their choice because we see that constantly.
Another one could be to allow the public to decide whom to favor depending on their answers. If candidate A is backing candidate B when they think he should be supporting C, they won’t for A no matter how qualified or competent he or she might be.
That’s crazy! How far are we going to carry our fanaticism! I don’t believe people should be forced by public opinion to declare or takes sides.
