Jenn Myers has the WCAP Salvation Army Radiothon Story but also has a very interesting front page story titled Popping vitamin D? Not so fast . Many families in this area have been told to take Vitamin D this year and this story raises questions about whether the need is really that great.
Rita Savard has a nice story about Bringing comfort to court Debbie Hovanasian has an uplifting story IN THE PINK about Centralville United Methodist Church, Pastor Jackie Trotter Dove, please also remember the SUN Santa Fund and the good work they do assisting families in need. Pick up, subscribe to the e-edition or home delivery of the regional paper that covers the Greater Lowell Area the SUN!
The Political Column:
Rehashes the Geary appointment (set to be confirmed Tuesday Night) as City Clerk and whether he can make the changes that are required in that office.
Reminds us that the License Commission and members Bayliss, Akashian and Weiker belive they know what is best for their meetings and when the time works best for them and won’t allow suggestions or directions from the Council, Manager or Solictor. Nothing like a little ARROGANCE to make yourself feel important.
Points out the Manager took what many feel was an unnecessary shot at former councilor Alan Kazanjian in his 19 page written response about the situation at the Lowell Housing Authority and how that upset some councilors and Mr. Kazanjian.
A few other things…
Gotta wonder if the Manager taking a shot at Alan K is retribution for the attacks he has received at the hands of Fred Doyle. The people who bankrolled Doyle and fed him the information on the Housing situation like to dish it out but get angered by retaliation.
A very funny and far-fetched (in my opinion) scenario involving the City Manager’s position was presented to me this past week. It explained that the Doyle attacks were aimed at trying to force the Manager out and opening the door for….Not Pany or Murphy but another elected official whose dad was known to be close to Doyle. Yes someone actually was tossing out the idea that this person would be interested in becoming the next City Manager and Doyle was attacking the Manager on his behalf…discuss among yourselves.
Will City Councilor’s Bill Martin or Kevin Broderick make their choice for Mayor publicly known before the January swearing in ceremony? They still have not responded to my email asking about their choice or timetable.
Lyle Moran may have unintentionally upset a resident when he was doing his job and trying to get a story about uninspected units at the Lowell Housing Authority. Apparently one door he knocked on the mother didn’t speak english fluently and he asked her children to translate. Supposedly the women was upset about the line of questions and fearing she would lose her apt. called the LHA office to explain. To me this was much ado about nothing but some saw it as a chance to spank the young reporter. I may on occasion refer to him has Rodney’s Press Secretary but in this case it appears he was just trying to do his job and get a story.
Lynne Lupien, Left in Lowell Blogger and a fundraiser supporter of Gov. Patrick, Elizabeth Warren and State Sen. Eileen Donoghue wrote in my view such a vile and hate filled attack on the Salvation Army in a response to fellow LIL Blogger Jack Mitchell who was kind enough to share a Post at my request to help raise money for the Salvation Army that I have to wonder if someone so full of hate at a group trying to help local residence in need during the holiday season actually represents or reflects in any way the people she endorses? How does Gov. Patrick, Sen. Eileen Donoghue or Elizabeth Warren feel about these comments and do they support this type of attack? Especially sickening to me was Mr. Lynne’s comment (really that is how her husband refers to himself) who went so far as to compare the Salvation Army to Hamas.
What does the local Democratic Leadership (G.L.A.D) have to say about a fellow democrat who is raising funds for Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren making such a vile attack on an organization that is working to help people in times of need? Are they in agreement?
I have emailed Gov Patrick, Elizabeth Warren, Eilleen Donoghue and Marie Sweeney of G.L.A.D to ask for a formal statement to that question which I will post on my BLOG.
I have also copied several Boston area tv,radio and newspapers to see if they may have better luck than me in getting a respone from Warren or the Governor.
Since Lynne chose to make this political, let’s see what these Democrats who she supports, endorses and raises funds for have to say about such a vile attack.
Generally it makes no sense to get into a battle with such a minor player, but i think, you are doing the right thing here Gerry..it will be interesting to see if these Democrats are going to distance themselves from the comments and the authors
We can talk about their response on SML next weekend
And again thanks to you and the rest of our very dedicated group, lots of greater Lowell families will have a much happier Christmas this year
Awkward.
I may not believe in the Salvation Army, but I do believe in you, Gerry, and all of those that committed to this labor of love. I believe that our community can not garauntee perfection in any of the local charities, but that we are committed enough to maximize the good. I believe that our community has accepted The Salvation Army, imperfect, as a friend. I can honor that choice.
It would be foolish of me to assert that any person or all associated to any one of these imperfect charites are somehow, themselves, broken.
I’d like to offer some political advice to those looking for Lynne’s head. Let it go. At a minimum, take it underground. The more this flails in the public eye, the worse it gets for everybody.
Lynne will not relent under whatever oppressive political force you can bring to bear. She will not be deterred by being marked a political leper. The usually treatments that would bend our Will, and I include myself here, won’t work on Lynne. I’d bet, it will only cause her to double down.
I respect and admire what happened yesterday. Please listen to me.
Yes Jack, but your friend Lynne is the first to attack a Republican based on blatanly vile comments by one of their supporters or campaign contributors. You have been known to make the same “guilt by association” judgments. Therefore, what’s good for the goose is good for the gander, no?
Frankly, I won’t dignify her and her you know what whipped husband’s hateful comments. All I’ll say to anyone is, please read Paul Belley’s thoughts on the same post. It’s the most rational thing ever said on that blog.
Jack she did the same thing to Mike Hayden when he made his crazy comments.
I sorta agree with Jack, but would love to hear the responses, and cannot help but recognized that there is not one respected official in the area that was not out there supporting the Salvation Army these last couple weeks.
I would not, however, fear any sort of Lupien “Will”. Its a one woman show of a leftist talking down to the rest of us. Who’s afraid of that?
Marry Christmas to all, and God Bless (even Lynne).
I read it too
…and this came to mind
“i discovered that my obsession for having each thing in the right place, each subject at the right time, each word in the right style, was not the well-deserved reward of an ordered mind, but just the opposite: a complete system of pretense invented by me to hide the disorder of my nature.”
― Gabriel García Márquez
…discuss amongst yourselves ….
Gerry, I hope you will let this post go through.
I think this is rapidly degenerating into something it shouldn’t. Lots of people were and are out there supporting the Salvation Army. I’ve even been known to be a pinch hitter when a bell ringer was needed.
Yes, there was a great turnout, and everyone wants to be seen supporting the SA, because of what they do. However, lets not twist the facts, nor politicize this any more than necessary.
Yes, the SA helps the needy, so long as they are either HETEROSEXUAL, or the children of HETEROSEXUALS. If you’re a homosexual in need, or the children of homosexuals, or [gasp] a homosexual teen, they don’t want to have anything to do with you. This is a well known fact, and is something that people should be aware of. At its root, the SA is a a conservative christian religious organization, hence the “salvation” in their name. Ultimately, it is their perrogitive to choose how they want to spend their charitable receipts, and any of their “captains” will tell you that they are NOT allowed to spend a penny on anything related to any homosexual groups.
Some may choose to donate more as a result of this fact. Some may choose to donate less. The SA will argue that choosing to donate less will only hurt the needy – ommitting that it would have only helped the straight needy.
Like it or not, this is what Lynne was pointing out on LIL. It has nothing to do with the Democrats, or the Republicans, or the Conservatives or the Liberals. It has to do with getting the facts out there so that people can choose wisely as to where their charitable contributions should go.
Personally, I take serious issue with their condemnation of the gay community, and lack of support. Don’t tell me that a gay homeless person deserves less love and charity than a straight one. So, why then do I go out in the cold and ring the bell? Because the SA has helped my and my family, and it is my way of giving back. I don’t think that makes me a hipocrate – I think it just makes me even.
It is easy to hide behind a facade of giving and good will towards mankind, but that doesn’t mean their tactics and policides are unquestionable.
Jonathan,
I have no issue with her views she has the right to think and say what she wants, I just think she could have waited or ignored posting them until after the radiothon. Her Blog, her rules I just thought her timing sucked and there was no need to attack other than to try to get reaction and she achieved her wish.
I am concerned as a life long Democrat that people may think her views in some ways are those of the candidates she endorses, supports and raise money for and want them to say otherwise.
Now Gerry, you know Democrats, especially Lowell Democrats are very open minded about such things as endorsing and supporting.
Dave Nangle told WCAP listeners that Scott Brown was “one of us” and that Brown “deserved” to go back to DC.
I’ll bet you $10,000 that no one says a cross word.
@ Jack,
Some insight from an old guy at the bar last night… when you bet $10,000 on a sure thing, it’s called a sucker’s bet… only a sucker takes you up on it.
Anyone who needs help from the Army gets it.
There are no questions regarding sexual orientation, or church membership, skin color on intake or referrals.
Ask the people of Pawtucketville, as Paul Belley rightly pointed out.
All the issues regarding homosexuality end up referring to their intent not to be forced to employ people who are living a sinful life. They are a church after all.
And by sinful life, they mean anyone .. either hetero or homosexual, who are having “relations” outside of marriage, they don’t discriminate there either.
They fight in courts, and lobby governments, to protect their rights in that matter.
As a church, the first amendment protects them to worship as they please and believe what they choose.
But as to the services they provide, thier mission requires that all service be performed without discrimination for all.
This is NOT true, and this is from personal experience. Enough said.
Gerry – can’t wait to see what Kazanjian does next. ‘Cause I do think he is stewing and will act when ready.
The Lic Com – Bayliss is always saying more people need to turn out – it would be a lot easier if they met like the other boards do – after work.
I was waiting for Milinazzo to gavel down Doyle last Tuesday. Tnat gavel is one of the things that hurt him at election.
As for Lynne – I haven’t read her blog much lately. She has been sounding rabid
on some issues and if she does not turn it down a few notches. – she will hurt the Democrats.
As you said no charity is perfect. The Salvation Army does more good than any perceived harm. In Lynne’s honor I dumped an extra 5$ in the kettle today. I’ll let you know if I get banned.
The Salvation Army has been lauded for it’s charitable work in helping those in need for more years than most of us have been around.
Like all organizations it is made up of people,some of whom may make wrong choices or discisions.
If a fault lies at the door of the Salvation Army then history tells us it will be corrected.
I suggest that Lynne Lupien, reevaluate her postion, after all it has been reported that the Salavtion Army helps close to thirty million people.
A fact that most of us admire.
Perhaps her time would be better spent promoting canidates for political office that would serve the the broard spectrum, rather than the narrow view of the far left.
Tom O’Brien
Lynne Lupien is a rabid coward of a person After attacking the Salvation Army people are starting to see how bad she really is. If you do not agree with her she just comes after you and is vicious She accused me of wanting Spanish children to die in a fire because I objected to the exit signs the DOE put up in one room of the Voke School that happened to be my wife’s class room. My only regret is that I did not sue her at the time
Slanderous attacks, don’t change the facts about the Salvation Army.
I’m sorry but where did Lynne make “hateful comments” or decide to make it political? I’ve had many many disagreements with her and the way she presents her arguments, but in this case, I don’t see anything particularly vicious or out of line. Mr. Lynne mentioned Hamas which probably derailed the argument somewhat, but the context he mentioned was legit. People who receive charity from an organization are going to have better feelings and defend that organization. Nobody said Salvation Army was as bad as Hamas. Nobody attacked anybody who helped people in Lowell or volunteered or raised funds in Lowell. They criticized the overarching organization.
First of all, I have donated and volunteered for the Salvation Army many times. I do think they do good work. But it’s also important to have a fuller picture and bring attention to their faults as well as their good deeds.
For a thought excercise, I just like to change the discrimination in question. If the organization refused to serve members of a certain race, would the defenders be defending it? If the organization refused to serve members of a certain faith–especially your faith. Would you be defending them on that front? If excercising their freedom of religion was to deny you services unless you change something you cannot change, would you be supporting them? If the answer is no, then I can only assume you think anti-gay discrimination is ok. If the answer is yes, then I can only assume you are lying.