Should Citizen be heard? Not all according to Councilor Bill Martin
Posted: January 22, 2011 Filed under: Politics 27 Comments »
Because the SUN highlighted and reminded me of this and anything done by the SUN, Kendall or Jim Campanni is bad, this post will have people saying I am a BOO Bird, carrying the Sun’s water, echoing them blah blah blah..I actually made notes on the meeting but with everthing going on in the school dept. I forgot it until I read the Editorial today so that is may disclaimer…now onto the topic
Lost in the Murphy – St. Hilaire – Supt. Scott stories this week was the result of a Council motion by Councilors Caulfield / Mercier that Req. Council allow Sean Burke address CC re:Plan for vacant/foreclosed homes.
The Sun today in one of the better Editorials I have read takes the Council to task for NOT allowing a resident of the city to address the Council.
Just has the Sun states : It’s the first time in 20 years we’ve seen a Lowell citizen silenced.
We have heard citizens Mark Goldman and Pat O’Connor addresses the Council on a wide range of issues almost on a bi-weekly basis, yet this gentleman who has a concern that the City isn’t collecting all the revenue possible that could be used to lower property taxes, is shut out.
Last week in my Sunday notes I mentioned ” few weeks ago the City Manager mentioned he and the CFO have met with Mr. Burke and while they listened didn’t think his numbers worked. Could this be a case of someone trying to go around the Manager direct to the Council because they didn’t like the city administration’s position?
Apparently Councilor Bill Martin sure thought so and made no bones about his opinion of Mr. Burke. The Sun highlights his comments ” Martin called Burke’s financial numbers “hogwash” — even though Burke never had a chance to disclose them. Martin further dissed Burke: “Not all ideas are treated equally or should be treated equally.”
I am surprised at that statement by Councilor Martin. It seems to be saying that if I have an idea that disagrees with his and I request to speak on it, he will vote NOT to allow me to be heard. I hope my buddy Jack Mitchell and his Charter Changers take note of that. Based on Councilor Martins’ comments, your chance of getting any changes heard by his rules sub-committee or the entire council are slim if they involve term limits or district representation or any idea he would be opposed to simply because he believes “Not all ideas are treated equally or should be treated equally.”
It sends a negative and arrogant message to the citizens of Lowell not only that Councilor Martin would state such an idea on the Council floor but that a majority of councilors Mayor Jim Milinazzo, Kevin Broderick, Joe Mendonca and Patrick Murphy would agree.
Some will just say that Mr. Burke was doing end around the Manager and going to the Council. Others will say that Mayor Jim Milinazzo, Kevin Broderick and Bill Martin are just doing what the Manager wants and not letting someone who has opposing views speak. Others (especially my friend George on City Life) will say that City Solicitor Christine O’Connor runs the city and the Councilors were just following her advise.
No matter what the logic I believe that the Council and especially former Mayor Bill Martin have sent the average citizen a message. If we don’t like your position we will not listen to you or provide you the chance to address the Council. That type of “open government” isn’t what most are looking for and yet until today no one has made a noise about it.
Why do I think if Bud, Rita or Rodney had said the same things BLOGGERS and others would be all over them for censorship but because it was Bill Martin he gets a pass? It wasn’t like Mr. Burke was yelling fire in a crowded theater, he just wanted to use his experience and as a concerned citizen share his knowledge. I knew last week it would be an interesting discussion and thought that he might be silenced but didn’t expect such an attack. I made the statement ” No one asked but I’d let him speak then refer the matter to the finance sub-committee for review and recommendation.” but the gang of five would not allow that.
Can we expect Bill Martin to ban Pat O’Connor, Paul Belley, Fred Doyle or any other candidate from addressing the Council going forward because he believes “Not all ideas are treated equally or should be treated equally.” So he will choose which ones the citizens get to hear???
Censorship and denying a Citizen the right to speak isn’t fair no matter who is doing it and the Council and Bill Martin should know better.
As always in this town, there’s a story behind the story. Burke was recommended and sent to Bernie by the State Reps as a way to help the city deal with an ever growing problem its not having much success with. Of course, since the idea belonged to Golden, Nangle and Murphy, the manager and his puppets don’t want to accept it.
You’re right in that there is usually a story behind the story. Unfortunately you are wrong in this specific case.
Seriously, where do you come up with this stuff?
Ask the key players yourself if you don’t believe me Dave. The Manager has a phone number and email address. Representative Golden has a phone number and email address. You could even find Burke’s with a little digging. Ask them directly if the State Rep suggested city hall hear Burke out.
Unless your eyes don’t really want to see the truth because it would blur that pretty little picture you have of a professional manager who has a terrible relationship with ALL THREE state reps responsible for bringing home the bacon. At least he has Eileen now, or he’d still be “0-for-4″ in his relationships on Beacon Hill.
Apparently you have to be “interesting” before you can address the Council. Personally – if they can – Sean Burke should be allowed to as well. I was under the impression that by law ( or is that Plan E) anyone could register to speakin advance and had to be alloted the 5 minutes whether the Council wanted to listen or not.
Had he registered to speak, they would have had to let him do so. That is how the others you cite got to the podium.
If the SUN feels his story has merit, let them dedicate space in their paper to provide his case to the public. I would like to see how he will save the city $70M!
[...] Burke to address the City Council regarding a plan for vacant/foreclosed homes.” Today, both Gerry Nutter and the Lowell Sun editorial have written critically of the council majority for not allowing Burke [...]
Shouldn’t the puppet councilors be as interested in the guy’s proposal as the Sun is? Just saying…………
Why hasn’t the Sun brought this individual in to talk about his proposal? If his proposal is profitable, wouldn’t it be appealing to all communities within the Sun’s distribution area (all of them, communities facing similar revenue issues)??
Gerry, don’t you dizzy yourself worrying about us “Charter changers.” I have no doubt that the Rules S/C is a level playing field. But watch for yourself. Bill Martin brought up the subject himself on Friday’s City Life: http://www.justin.tv/jackmitchell01850/b/278063805
Better yet, he contributed to a lengthy discussion about the “hogwash,” the procedure for petitioning the Council and the proper use of the People’s time.
http://www.justin.tv/jackmitchell01850/b/278065307
I’m going to take John Zimini side on this, “There are times when you have to draw a line in the sand or you’d be sitting there all day long.”
“If we don’t like your position we will not listen to you or provide you the chance to address the Council. That type of “open government” isn’t what most are looking for and yet until today no one has made a noise about it.”
Gerry are you serious about this one? This guy is a salesman and it takes one to know one. He would be a very bad one in my oppinion. He presented his little theory and no one was “buying” so instead of doing some more research and coming forward with a good product he grabs on to two vulnerable members and shows his desperation. In sales we learn not to bite the hand that feeds you and this man chomped it right off. I have won and lost bids myself with the city of Lowell and if we start letting unhappy sales people pander to the committee for business we will never get anything done. I am guessing that this company is not as successful as some would think because this is just a desperate move on his behalf. Next time I lose a bid I will call Bud and Rita too and ask them to make a motion. Bill Martin did an excellent job responding to this on the video Jack posted.
I don’t care what he is, if he is a citizen of this city he has the right to addresss the Council. Mark Goldman addresses the Council nearly every week and says NOTHING , If Bill Martin decieds that he is tired of listening, should he be blackballed too? Where does the line get drwan and who draws it?
As a taxpayer, I have a right or two, as well. One being that my elected officials conduct the People’s business with due diligence. Lowell does not need every yahoo up at the podium. Let your imagination run wild with this, Gerry. Every Tuesday night, we could have “open mic” night.
This whole thing is classic ‘anti-incumbent, populace outrage” schtick. Burke, the “victim” is wronged by the “big gubmint.” That is hogwash.
Burke is looking to make a deal in which he profits. Fine by me. But he must get past the gatekeepers. The ones we elected and the ones our electeds appointed and their staff.
Populace pandering is low brow electioneering. Lowellians are rightfully nervous about the coming year or two. Burke comes along, like the pied piper playing a happy tune. A majority of the professional folks that we have in place to separate shit from shinola have turned a deaf ear. Case closed? Hardly!
Here comes the Sun. But some of us know better, like your ol’ pal Prince Charming:
(At LiL) … That said, the paper is going after those who can raise funds. Milinazzo and Martin raise some good money and the paper will make them spend it to refute any imaginary charges that it makes. It costs the Sun next to nothing to conjure up this stuff but if you want to knock it down, ya gotta buy ads.
Read the rest here.
Gerry, by my vote and volunteering, I’ve sent Councilors to the Council chambers to conduct our business, the People’s business. Are they perfect? Who is? But this is a case where they got it right.
And kudos the Martin for wearing his heart on his sleeve. He spoke frankly, picking up Mercier’s term “hogwash” and taking it to the hoop.
I’d like to see more Councilors incensed when the People’s business is deferred and critical time wasted.
I see too much of kabuki on Tuesdays. Maybe professional wrestling is a better metaphor. On Tuesdays, I see stuff that looks like running the city. It’s exciting. There is lots of energy and flair.
Or is it more like a sugar rush?
You have not listened – he didn’t register to speak, but rather thought he would get on through a council motion. It failed!
Let’s look behind the story a little bit. First Mr Burke is allowed to address the relevant subcommittee. That subcommittee decides his idea is NOT worth moving to the full Council. Second, Mr Burke goes to the City Manager. The CM decides Mr Burke’s idea is NOT worth moving to the full Council. So does Mr Burke go back and maybe rework his idea addressing any concerns noted by either the subcommittee or the CM? NOPE! He decides to approach his buddies on the Council, Rita and Bud, to try to get his ideas (hogwash?) in front of the TV cameras. Those of us with greater than an 8th grade education know that the TV-watching public are gullible–just look at the hogwash the networks try to shove down our throats not to mention the infomercials that flood the cable channels in off-hours! Bill Martin in the video noted above calls the bluff of all those MadMen who think none of us graduated from kindergarten never mind 8th grade!
Where do you get your information from?!? Mr. Burke never had an opportunity to address a subcommittee. If yes, please provide the names and the dates. Then the city manager probably listened to Burke’s plan just long enough to adopt it as his own and ultimately fail. Get your facts straight.
Bringing home the bacon, RiN? Are you serious? They haven’t been able to bring home the bacon since they supported the wrong guy for speaker a few years ago and were shoved in some crappy offices. They’re lightweights. And for your information the CM did hear Mr. Burke out…he’s a snake oil salesman who cannot back up anything he says.
Who is to say I haven’t called up the CM, or anybody else relevant to the discussion? Heck, for all you know I might talk to the CM every day.
In your daily calls, did you ask the CM what I told you to ask?
BTW, I’m not saying what the CM is doing isn’t the right thing. But because it was Golden who first pitched the idea, he decided to shoot this guy down then adopt almost the exact same plan. Its all about who gets the credit.
As for bringing home the bacon, boy are you in for a rude awakening now that the former State Senator, another who the CM didn’t see much use for, is gone. Our delegation has miraculously delivered a plan for an entire new downtown in the midst of this economic nightmare. They kept a registry in town. They’re bringing in money for schools and cops that most other communities in the state could only dream of. (I’ll include Tsongas in the credit for much of this too)
Yet somehow, because they don’t like your boy you find fault with them. Interesting. Thankfully, when Bernie is on to his nexs stepping stone, those who REALLY benefited this city will still live here and continue to help it.
so you’re suggesting that golden and burke had the original idea and lynch just lifted the plan and called it his own? Dude…that’s a pretty shabby attempt at creative writing.
The money for schools and cops is formula-based and had nothing to do with our weak delegation. Take time to research this stuff. Then again, I only moved to Lowell five years ago so I couldn’t possibly know what I’m talking about.
But…they were indispensable in bringing an early showing of The Fighter to Lowell, so that must count for something.
Did I mention schools and police Dave? Stop spinning off into directions to suit your argument. I specifically mentioned the Hamilton Canal District. You might have heard of it. Lord knows your boy Bernie brings it up every chance he gets, though he had absolutely nothing to do with the plan or the funding for it. How about keeping the registry in town? The delegation had nothing to do with that, right.
You should pay a little more attention. You sure haven’t learned much in 5 years. Oh, that’s right. You wouldn’t realize that the city of lowell didn’t begin when the savior from Chelmsford arrived.
“They’re bringing in money for schools and cops that most other communities in the state could only dream of. (I’ll include Tsongas in the credit for much of this too)”
That’s not your quote? How can anyone take your arguments seriously when you can’t remember what you wrote a few hours ago?
While we’re at it Dave, tell me one city you know of where the ENTIRE delegation did not get along with the City Manager. Just one. Perhaps Golden is a jerk. Or Murphy, or Nangle or even Panagiotakos. But all four? Or is it more likely that the person with the problem is the one guy who couldn’t get along with any of them?
We have covered this before, RIN. In public they fall all over each other with compliments for the CM. Why would the delegation lie to us?
Seems you have an ax to grind. Or is it more like a wedge?
I go to ribbon cuttings, just to feel the love.
You think they have a good relationship Jack? You’re kidding, right?
Yes Dave, sorry I forgot what I wrote yesterday. Point is the same though. You refuse to acknowledge the effectiveness of our delegation. They not liberal enough for you?
Huh, they don’t get along with him because he doesn’t work with them as much as his predecessor Cox, or Martin, or Johnson, or anyone else. BTW, Johnson was not a Lowell guy either.
The one constant in Lowell, and the one reason we are not Lawrence, is because there’s always been great cooperation between the delegation and the city managers. That has eroded under Lynch and it does not bode well for the future despite all the rosy projections about how the artists are going to save the city and reinvent it. They’ll be gone like the mill girls soon enough, probably as soon as the subsidized housing money disappears. Lord knows the poor saps who opened businesses relying on their “economic impact” have started dropping one at a time. Soon, it’ll be the artists themselves joining Dharma Buns and going buh bye.
RIN,
You did mention schools and police. May want to read what you are writing or ranting. And, Lynch does talk about Hamilton District and everytime I’ve heard him he gives credit to others for getting it going. Going all the way back to Martin. And he has given credit to the Govenor, Niki Tsongas and the state legislators for helping with the funding. But its mostly a priovately funded project led by Trinity which I believe the City picked while Lynch was City Manager. In fact, I’ve heard that Trinity was picked over other firms that were connected to Panagiatakos. Not sure the project would be where it is without Trinity. So lets give the City credit for that.
Not sure Lynch is the saviour from Chelmsford but the guy has done good stuff so lets recognize t and move on. As far as the ENTIRE delegation goes is it him who can’t get along with them or them that can’t get along with him. Maybe becauise he isn’t business as usual, or maybe he replaced their buddy.
Mr. Burke wasn’t really “allowed” to speak in November (I attended this meeting), and it was my understanding that he was invited to comment on the Development Services Division’s plan. Furthermore, before he could go into detail with anything, Councilor Martin cut him off for whatever reason.
Why are we passing blame upon either Mr. Burke or the CC when the real criminals are the various national banks with their failure to comply with the 2008 City Ordinance? Why do they get a pass in all of this, while the rest of us have to face paying higher taxes and suffer the consequences of having a vacant or abandoned house on every street? If there’s money out there to be collected, who cares how it’s done, and if it’s 70 million or 10 million or 2 million, what difference does it make? Let’s just get it done and stop blaming the wrong people. If a nonprofit wants to assist the city and then reinvest what it collects into fixing up homes in our neighborhoods, then why not allow them?
If you look on Facebook, you will see that this nonprofit or not-for-profit is called Beneficial Urban Development Solutions (could not find a website though). From what I read on their whatever you call it, it’s sounds like a great idea and perhaps we need to give it a shot.
Let’s put aside the politics for once and try to do something that is actually good for the city and the people of this city. If the city’s DSD can perform these tasks on their own, then so be it. Thus far, it appears they have not been able to, but I cannot blame them for this. It seems like a daunting task. However, if they cannot do it for whatever reason, then let’s give the nonprofit a chance. If the nonprofit says there is money out there and they are offering to collect it with no cost to the City of Lowell, what’s the problem here? honestly.
Seriously, the more we bicker about who is right and who is wrong, the more the national banks get away with not only stealing our homes, and ruining our neighborhoods without any consequences.
I live next to a foreclosure and there are 3 that I am aware of on my street. The city Councilors need to leave city hall and have a field trip to some of these neglected properties. I think if they saw it first hand, they would take this issue more seriously. If this nonprofit (Beneficial solutions) can really do what it says, then as a voter I support giving them a chance. If it wasn’t for them it appears our city councilors would have continued to ignore this problem.
It seems like there’s some astroturfing going on here. That aside, Councilor Murphy lives near foreclosures, and walks–even now in the winter–from the Gorham St. Firehouse to City Hall each meeting, and walks to neighborhood meetings throughout the city. He sees the problem properties. On January 11th, he proposed this motion: http://bit.ly/eU93LK seeking to lower vacancy rates, to incentivize the purchase and renovation of foreclosed or problem properties, and to increase the valuations of surrounding housing. Hopefully, the city comes back with a response that recognizes the potential of such a program to address this problem. I’m in favor of this realistic approach, rather than somehow hoping the city is going to be able to collect $100,000 of fees out of a property that might be valued at $95,000. It’s an absurd notion.