PLEASE! BE Respectful and Careful of Motorcyclist. My 21 year old was involved in an accident Friday in Billerica when someone driving a car thought they could cut across the road in front of him. It took 3 hours of surgery yesterday to repair his broken leg. Thank God he had a full DOT helmet on including the face shield and saved him from more serious head and face injury. I know a lot of motorcycle riders so PLEASE be CAREFUL!
Not back to blogging regularly (and in all likelihood will be 2-3 times a week going forward at best) but here’s a few observations from the past few weeks that I thought I’d share:
Boy has politics changed in Lowell. It used to be only a State Senator or maybe a State Rep. had a fulltime Press Aide. Now in Lowell we have a Mayor and a City Councilor who not only have full-time press aides but the Taxpayers are paying for the Mayor’s while the Lowell Sun is paying for the Councilor’s.
Hate to tell the Mayor and his cult like following but the SUN still reaches a much greater audience then all the combined Lowell Blogs and Facebook page.
I like Jen Myers and I will never be anywhere near the writer she is but you have to admit that the BLOG Room 50 has the appearance of a City sponsored Blog. In today’s SUN in the political column they have her stating IN AN EMAIL DATED Sept. 25: “I DO WRITE IT FROM THE MAYORS OFFICE IN MY CAPACITY AS MAYORAL AIDE”
I don’t believe a candidate for council or school committee can film an ad in the council chamber or in front of the Manager’s office nor can one make a campaign announcement inside City Hall, so how can a city employee who states she runs a “personal” Blog when the Mayor wants to attack his fellow Councilors, use the Mayor’s Office photo, the tag line Alive, unique and inspiring tales from the Office of the Mayor, Lowell, Massachusetts and her city email address to promote her boss an elected official and NOT be in Conflict of Interest and Fairness?
To me it is a clear attempt to mislead the public by using the picture of the office, the tag line Alive, unique and inspiring tales from the Office of the Mayor an her work email address. , THE FACT SHE ADMITS TO WRITING IT ON CITY TIME to her former Employer and then States She doesn’t when it is used for a Political Attack by her Boss certainly highlights a conflict. In which case is she lying and to who? Her former Employer or the Public? If Rita Mercier or Rodney Elliot were the Mayor and doing this, I’m willing to bet that the Manager’s/Murphy supporters would be up in arms.
This might be seen has a conflict of interest and deceptive practice by the State Ethic Commission and I would not be surprised to see them weighing in on it.
UMass Lowell owns the Inn and Conference Center, they opened the bar inside and students over 21 (The Legal Drinking AGE) have access to it..SHOCKING! What’s the big deal?? Should they just let the student drink in downtown Lowell Bars instead? What will the outcry be when ULOWELL Crossing opens up with a Food Court that not only students but the public will have access to? That Marty is hurting the restaurants in Lowell? You want a College Town..This is what you get!
The Superintendent at Greater Lowell must love the fact that if she is even considering something, she now cannot inform all School Committee members until she makes a final decision unless she wants it printed in the SUN. Considering changing the Supt. Diner should be a non story but a Lowell member just has to tell the Sun everything. Bet the Dean of Discipline loved someone leaking that one so the Sun could bring him into it!
If she doesn’t ask or inform the committee she’s wrong if she informs them before reaching a conclusion it gets sent it to the SUN. Tell me how this behavior is for the kids and is anything but harmful and petty. A Committee member should hear ALL the facts before running to the press just to try and make the Superintendent look bad.
I take it that Victor Olsen isn’t a Salesman in his full-time occupation. You really can’t sell something by threatening something else if your first item isn’t granted. Greater Lowell School Com¬mittee Chairman Victor Olsen, of Dracut, noted to Tyngsboro officials that if the member communities rejected the renovation proj¬ect, the school can still assess towns for needed upgrades to the building. Because those projects wouldn’t be reimbursed by the state, the communities could end up paying more than what is assessed as part of the whole project.
BTW for the record, my view of the Mayor’s tirade posted on his employees Unofficial Mayoral Blog on cutting $100,000 out of a proposed $400,000 Overtime Budget in the 3rd month of the Fiscal year is 100% BULL and nothing but the same Political posturing he is whining about.
Mayor Murphy may think it is fine to use his Press secretary to criticize some of his fellow city councilors but he needs to remember that Rodney Elliott, Ed Kennedy, Marty Lorrey, Joseph Mendonca and Rita Mercier make up the Council Majority his aide claimed she is /has been defending defending. These Councilors all have supporters and publicly slapping them unnecessarily is a stupid and amateur move. Murphy said the vote was part an effort by councilors “to portray themselves as taxpayers and business-friendly” The Mayor seems to be adopting the Liz warren mantra tax EVERYONE and we (I) know better than you how to spend your money.
Most Taxpayers in Lowell want LESS taxes Mayor not more and the city is in solid financial shape so there is no reason to NOT cut that $$, The Police received a $900,000 grant how much money will it take to stop idiots from acting like idiots?
Liz Warren from 1986-1985 listed herself as a minority in a national law school directory. During that period she was hired at the University of Pennsylvania and Harvard. Neither of those universities has released documentation on the matter but both touted her as a minority in public statements. FOIA does not cover private universities only government agencies. Whether or not she used it to her advantage Ms. Warren still claimed Native American heritage and there is no documentation to support it.
Per the City Council Rules:The City Manager, the City Solicitor or his or her designee and the City Auditor or his or her designee shall attend all City Council Meetings. So why has the Auditor skipped so many and why isn’t her bosses the City Council asking that question? Also why doesn’t the Clerk include these 3 in the roll call since they are all required to attend? Who is watching their attendance?
How many of us in the private sector would receive a positive review let alone a new contract when our boss or bosses state:
Mendonca said: He has not always been pleased with the flow of information from Wright, feeling that sometimes she defers to the administration’s feeling about free cash or surplus numbers instead of providing the council with her own estimate
Mercier acknowledged that sometimes she feels that Wright’s allegiance is with City Manager Bernie Lynch and not the councilors
Nuon acknowledged that he had concerns about Wright signing the contract with the outside auditor without the council’s input
Councilor Bill Martin told John McDonough he loves being a Councilor and will indeed run for re-election. Great ! Now try to show you care and once in a while Councilor vote to continue a meeting! Attending these things are part of the job and if they are to long for your liking bring in a motion to end the summer session in August and get back to weekly meetings in September. Lately it seems you can’t wait to bolt at 10:00.
The Deputy Superintendent of Schools not informing the Superintendent of Schools about the State inspection of the Lowell High Pool is about as believable has the City Solicitor and CFO NOT telling the Manager about the IG letter…just loyal employees covering their bosses behinds and taking one for the team!
It should come has no surprise that former Sen. Steve Panagiotakos predicted State Rep. Colleen Garry to lose. Fair or not he holds her responsible for the appointment of Brian Bond to the Dracut Housing Authority and the attempted ouster of his friend the Executive Director by Mike McLaughlin. One thing Sen. Steve has shown over the years is he is loyal to his friends and he doesn’t forget those who cross him.
BTW to the spineless politician or hanger on who got a Police Officer or a Registry of Motor Vehicle employee to research and print out a copy of Mike Lenzi’s Driver’s License and then didn’t have the backbone to stand up and confront Mike directly but mailed it to CERTAIN people (the same group who got the Mayor’s letter maybe? I didn’t get either one) I hope that you paid that idiot well or that they are ready for retirement.
My understanding is that the Attorney General and State Police have been contacted about this abuse and a review of the database may be conducted to see who accessed that information and that person may not only lose their job but have opened themself, the State and City to law suits for violating Mr. Lenzi’s privacy since this was NOT done for any active criminal investigation or valid reason other than a petty political agenda.
Finally don’t believe the talk that Billerica cops are heartless, the officer who pulled me over for running a red light on my way to see my son at Lahey Friday afternoon was courteous,understanding and fair and just reminded me to drive safely and wished the best for my son. That is a true Professional!
I didn’t get a chance to “admit” anything to my former employer. No one called me for comment before running the bus over me. That’s how they roll these days, I guess.
So you did NOT write an email to anyone at the SUN stating you Blog from the office during work hours?
The quote in the paper, was a comment I made on LeftinLowell in response to a question asked of me. Chris Scott was on vacation, and no one else had the courtesy to contact me. I certainly could not get away with that when I was writing for the Column. I will be writing a response later, but for now I’m going to enjoy my football Sunday.
Gerry
I really hope they do open the data base on who released the picture of Mike Lenzi license photo and I will not be surprised nor I don’t think you will be if we find out a certain former board member is involved. He has done something like this before to a former supt.
Sorry to hear about your Son going down on his bike. I hope he’ll be ok.
He’ll be fine, the bike is totaled
I think your framing of two public relations ploys, one by Jen Myers and the other by Campi/Moran is reasonably accurate. But I think you missed a HUGE distinction, here. Campi/Moran pretend to be the NEWS. The pose as “fair and balanced.” Those of us in the bubble laugh cynically at the notion that the paper intends to be “fair.”
Do the remaining Sun readers have this insight? Do they know that Lyle Moran’s stories are skewed? Gerry, you used the phrase, “It used to be …” It used to be that newspapers had clear divisions between the editorial page and the news desk. Surely, at a minimum with City Hall coverage, the Paper of Record has devolved into the Blog of Record.
A free press is enshrined in our Constitution. What is happening over at the Blog of Record makes me want barf.
With regards to the intrepid Jen Myers’ new efforts, “It used to be …” is gone. There is no question that if you want to see&hear anything about the many, many positives going on in Lowell and City Hall, her blog IS the place to go. (Maybe Campi can rip off Jen’s idea, like he is ripping off Rita Savard’s Howl?)
Does Jen’s work shine brightly on her boss? Yes. Does that help his public image, thus chance for reelection? It “helps.” Consider that Murphy is being regularly crapped on in the Sun. You said yourself, Gerry, more people read the Sun. Does the math work in his favor?
Let’s also not forget, Jen’s blog promotes many other positives. It let’s us see into City Hall and learn more about the good folks that provide public service. Let’s not throw out the baby with the bathwater.
Finally, I like that Murphy has raised the bar for the position of Mayor’s Aide. If the next mayor wants to downgrade the expectations of what the aide accomplishes, they can. Until then, let’s let these two strut their stuff a little. It’s refreshing and honest. Something sorely lacking over at the Blog of Record.
I think it gives the apparence of a City sponsorsored blog promoting LARGELY the Mayor and Manager over the other 8 Councilor’s and with an election coming up in 2013 the State Ethics Commission needs to make a ruling if this practise should continue.
It should be either a City blog extoling ALL the accomplishments and NOT used by the Mayor to attack 8 people he has to run against or a personal blog NOT done on City time using the Mayor’s office, Picture and City email.
Repeating what you blogged before advances the discussion how? A quick review of various city sites would show that new media is being used to promote. How about if we really get to the point, it was the smackdown laid on Elliott that is the issue here. Not that you, Gerry, are shy about calling out Elliott’s shenanigans. But, somehow when Patrick Murphy does it, all hell breaks loose. Mimi did a great job calling a spade a spade. I fully support Murphy calling Elliott out.
As to your point, down thread about the use of “taxpayers money.” Anyone remember this brouhaha, last May?:
It is widely believed that if legal ads were moved away from The Sun, the paper would collapse, soon thereafter. Should we continue to ponder what our “taxpayers money” gets us? Further as you have noted, “It’s to bad Camacho/Elliot and the Sun can’t get billed for the waste of time they caused.” By time, you mean the umpteen hours in Council chambers, as LTC’s camera’s are exploited for campaigning?
Feel free to incite an inquiry by the Ethics Commission. How about the IG and FBI? Let’s cast a wide net, burn months of time and accomplish nothing.
Murphy is teaching the old dogs some new tricks. Boy, o’boy, do they hate getting caught short, schooled by the new guard.
Let’s see who ends up getting schooled..using a paid employee for political attacks on the taxpayers dollar is usually frowned upon and should be.
ALL bold mine
Summary of the Conflict of Interest Law for Municipal Employees
(f) Appearance of conflict. Acting in a manner that would make a reasonable person think you can be improperly influenced is prohibited. (See Section 23(b)(3))
A municipal employee may not act in a manner that would cause a reasonable person to think that she would show favor toward someone or that she can be improperly influenced
Advisory 11-1: Public Employee Political Activity
This Advisory explains the restrictions placed by the conflict of interest law on public employee political activity. This Advisory addresses ” election-related political activity,” which is activity directed at influencing people to vote for or against candidates and/or ballot initiatives. This Advisory also addresses ” non-election-related political activity,” which is activity directed at influencing governmental decision-makers which does not involve an election. Non-election-related political activities include, for example, supporting or opposing: town meeting warrant articles, municipal bylaw changes, user fees for public services or school activities, changes to funding for public services, the renovation or construction of public buildings, roads, bridges, and other public infrastructure, closure of public libraries, schools or fire stations, and changes to state and local tax rates, laws, regulations, and budgets.
The restrictions on public employee political activity are not the same for all public positions. Elected officials may engage in more political activity than appointed officials and employees
Below are further examples of election-related political activity that any public employee may do on his own time and without the use of his official title or public resources without raising any issue under the conflict of interest law:
· with his own stationery, computer, or wireless account, write letters to the
editors or blog about political issues
2. May Not Do: Political Activities by Public Employees That Generally Are Prohibited by the Conflict of Interest Law
In general, a public employee may not use his public position to engage in political activity. Section 23(b)(2)(ii) of the conflict of interest law prohibits the use of one’s public position to engage in political activity, because a public employee who does so is using his official position to secure for himself or others (such as a candidate or a ballot question committee) unwarranted privileges of substantial value that are not properly available to similarly situated persons.
Subject to these exceptions, a public employee may not engage in political activity, whether election-related or non-election related, on his public work time; while acting in his official capacity or while in his official uniform; in a public building (except where equal access for such political activity is allowed to all similarly situated persons); or with the use of other public resources, such as staff time, public office space and facilities, public office equipment such as computers, copiers, and communications equipment, public websites and links to public websites, or public office supplies such as official stationery.
Head’s will roll in:
Cambridge?
Springfield?
Boston?
Actually, no.
Jack,
You’re helping me prove my point that this blog in question should be a city blog and not subject to allowing the Mayor to attack his fellow Councilors or did you miss the fact that these are all OFFICIAL SITES I’ll give you a hint – If you see .gov as in cambridgema.gov or springfield-ma.gov they are CLEARLY Official sites.
Unlike Rm. 50 where the owner and her boss are trying to have it BOTH WAYS! By claiming she does and doesn’t post during work and in her official role as mayoral aide using the office photo and email and stating
that she owns the blog but uses it in an official role has the Mayors Press Agent, I mean aide.
Show me exactly where on those blogs the Mayor’s or their paid mouth piece who work directly for them
in those cities attack councilors like your beloved Patrick does here?
An Important Message From The Mayor
In a short-sighted scramble to achieve a 0% tax increase (the possibility of which was due largely to sound fiscal management of the administration and policy decisions of prior councils), the Council reduced that policing overtime by $100,000 in a 5-4 vote. To be clear, the decision was a political one, and all the speechifying in the city cannot hide that fact.
Another public safety issue that was subject to this political calculus arose last week, with five councilors voting against the lawful implementation of a fire-alarm monitoring ordinance aimed at protecting the resident families of buildings with 13 or more units. In an effort to portray themselves as taxpayer- and business-friendly, councilors voted to not implement the existing fee, which will have one of two effects—either the city will not have the resources to monitor non-emergency signals separately in these at-risk buildings (a threat to public safety),
On public safety, the Police Superintendent himself will tell you that two issues raised by Elliott last year (proposals later overturned by the state legislature and state court respectively) were a distraction from the more pressing problems we face. Elliott’s shortcomings on finance and public safety issues are crystallized in his motion a couple years ago to cut all departmental budgets–including police, fire, health and inspectional services—by 2.5%, thereby endangering federal grant funding because of reductions below the required staffing levels, and putting our community at greater risk, financially and otherwise.
So it’s either a private blog and the Aide is in conflict and violating ethics rules or it’s a City sanctioned Blog and BOTH the Mayor and his Aide are in conflict.
I’m sure in time the State Ethics Commission will make a clear determination.
Yes Gerry, the Ethics Commission should investigate me . . .as opposed to say, I don’t know, someone who may be committing insurance and/or election fraud.
LOL Lol Little defensive eh Jen? What is so hard about either making it 100% PRIVATE and removing all references to the Mayor (all of us in the bubble or downtown mob know who it is you work for) or making it a City sponsored blog like the ones Jack pointed out but NOT allowing the Mayor to attack his fellow councilors on it. He does have his own web site!
If he’s hired you to fight his battles and do his blogging by highlighting all his accomplishments (which maybe good things for the city) he should NOT be using taxpayer money to do it. Blogging the Mayor’s acheivments like Jack showed is a good thing but political attacks against those that oppose the Mayor or Manager shouldn’t be done on a BLOG by the Mayor’s aide using so many attachments to his official office.
Since you and for that matter, so far the Mayor, seem to not want to do that on your own out of stubbornness rather than common sense, what choice is there but to ask the Ethics commission for a ruling? Maybe a Councilor or Mayor could ask the City Solicitor for her thoughts on the potential conflict.
I’m not sure Jen should react to the flailings of the goon squad. Are there do’s and don’ts? Most likely. What are they? I’m not inclined to think a hyperbolic Councilor, a vindictive editor and a confused blogger make for quality council.
What Jen does next should be based on a level headed approach. There is a proper balance available.
I think it is okay for her to maintain the site in wordpress, off the city servers. That way, she can continue with it after her time as aide to the mayor ends. If the blog resided on a city server, it would stay behind, when she moved on. I don’t think that is proper.
If I am wrong, and the “intellectual property” of the blog content, belongs to the City; then it should reside on the City server. If that is the case, then most, if not all of the questions raised, will all but be answered. Then we can move on.
Most likely to swirl around the punch bowl with whatever the next turd the Bernie Bashers pinch off.
He is a lucky boy and his youth was in his favor. I still get nervous every time I get get on my bike and I’ve been riding for 30 yrs. I have had some close calls because folks don’t pay attention. All of this other stuff is trivial compared to whats most important…..family.
I know of another incident where someone cut in front of a cycle, and that had more serious results. In that incident it was an elderly man driving a pick-up truck, and the claim was he “didn’t see” the oncoming cycle. It must be harder to pick up a cycle in your vision than it would be to see an automobile, so it may be wise for cycles to use their lights even in daylight. I hope your son has a full recovery.
As for your other points, it sometimes is necessary for public figures to call them as they see them, without regard for their own personal political future. That is a refreshing change.
Really? I don’t find Ms. Myers blog to look anything like a city website. Have you seen our city website? It looks like it was made in the geocities days. Not so shocking considering we live in a city where some of our bruised, ancient council members continue to resist bringing us up to par with current technology.
Hi Gerry,
Your blog is running more on speculation that usual. That being said, as I said via reply to your LHA vindication post (the one after this one), the Council majority is currently:
Mayor Murphy
Bill Martin
Vesna Nuon
Joe Mendonca
Marty Lorrey
… with Rita Mercier as a wild card vote.
Glad you liked it enough to use the concept with your typical spin.
Apparently “Its On!” as I’m hearing some neighborhood chatter and scuttlebutt from people who still read the Sun. Not sure what will happen when the people get wind of the truth behind the power play in progress.
GOB politics in Lowell is based on the premise “If you don’t like someone politically, create a false perception about that person.” and “If you need a favor, attend campaign rallies and hold signs at the polls. City Councilors have long memories when it comes to their supporters.”
What we’re seeing here is an all out campaign by the Sun and one City Councilor. Lyle came out swinging against the Mayor today from behind the curtain of “The Column”. Perhaps they should settle it in the ring where there’s nowhere to hide.
As for Lowell2020, we need the Mayor and his aide Jen Meyers to do exactly what they’re doing … connect with all people of Lowell, not just the GOB network, the fifedoms and the blue ribbon panels ala The Lowell Plan. Lowell’s future is currently involved in a high stakes showdown. GOBs don’t want to give up their turf for the sake of true progress.
Lowell2020 is for people from all neighborhoods, cultures and ethnic groups in Lowell. All 106,000 are welcome to help shape the future of the City of Lowell.
Working together as a City is the only way. The Mayor knows this to be true, and that the Lowell GOB Cult has finally run its course. I’m hopeful that Rita Mercier knows it, because if the divisiveness continues, Lowell will suffer serious consequences in the not too distant future.
As suggested in a recent Sun Editorial, putting up giant statues of “blue ribbon panel” chosen “heroes” around the City isn’t going to cut it. You may as well put up a statue of Kirk Boott, the guy who built Lowell and put the British colors above the American Flag on holidays at his mansion.
George the term GOB is as phoney as any political term that exist. Murphy, Martin, Nuon and Bernie are YOUR Good Old Boys…me I beat up everyone depending on the issue.
The people in power have their supporters and blind followers. Me I react to how I see things and have ticked off Councilors Mercier and Elliot has much as Murphy and Martin.
The big difference is Mercier/Elliot can take a shot and still talk /respond to me while Martin/Murphy rewspond only to people who kiss up to them or in the Mayors case hires a full time Press agent on the Taxpayers Dollar. Again had Mercier or Eliot been Mayor and done this, you and the “Liberal” crowd would be screaming for it to stop and what a misuse of public funds.
I see Mayor Murphy hiring a full time PRESS person to give him endless plugs on the taxpayers dollar while the 8 people he has to run against don’t have that ability and I believe the State ethics commission will see it in the same light nd make the site change.
No picture of the office, no official title, no tag line using the Mayor’s title and city slogan and no city owned email as the contact.
Hi Gerry,
We both have strong feelings on the subject. Out of respect for you, I’ll pass on replying to your specifics. I just think this is a subject that needs to be aired out, and its been a long time coming.
Whatever’s going on in your life right now, I wish you the best. Pulling back on your blog isn’t the end of the world. Your family and personal life takes precedent over political wrangling.
As for the current City Council, we’ve had outstanding City Councilors for as long as I can remember.
In my eyes, Rita Mercier will always be “the Best”. Of course, she always replies “No, you are!” When push comes to shove, she knows how to work things out as well as anyone. When she stepped down as Mayor, she never stopped advocating for Lowell in regal fashion. She’s a true blue Lowellian through and through, self effacing and humble in her delivery, and considers her true feelings over sway.
Councilor Martin is the rock of the Council, always steady … his eye on the ball.
Councilor Joe Mendonca can stand in there with the City Manager on financial matters which benefits the Manager Lynch in his job. He comes from the Portuguese neighborhood, shows up at ethnic diversity events, and I greatly value his efforts. He came to my mother’s funeral, who also grew up in Back Central. I won’t forget that. Her maiden name was Teresa Veiga, and my grandfather Marty Veiga was a true “portageey” and loved deeply by his family.
I went to school with Councilor Ed Kennedy, but haven’t yet seen the essence of his judgment when it comes to Lowell politics. The devil is in the details with him, and he has uncanny insight and can quickly size up a situation. This is a crucial quality for a City Councilor. I’d like to meet with him for an hour to better understand his mission.
Councilor Leahy is new to the Council, but he brings solid School Committee experience with him. The challenges faced by the school system seem to be floating under the radar at the moment. I’m hopeful he brings the hammer to raise our educational standards. What to do about the High School may be the largest issue that this Council faces, if they have the fortitude to take it on and not keep it on the “back burner”. Discussion needs to start. (more on that issue another time)
Councilor Nuon has been a pleasant surprise. He’s level headed and obviously concerned about all City residents. I’m particularly impressed by his proposed strategy to help kids with after school programs and other public involvement to pre-empt any urge to consort with or join gangs.
Councilor Marty Lorrey is on fire. He’s everywhere and doing an outstanding job as a freshman Councilor. His recent work to facilitate a meeting involving Army Corp of Engineer standards especially as affects the pawtucketville pump station was spot on. He and Ed Kennedy calmed the residents and a course of action was agreed upon.
The only Councilor I’m concerned about at the moment is Rodney Elliot, who seems intent on dividing the City and talking down to everyone. He doesn’t seem able to explain his antics, so if the public wants to speculate, he looks bad.
Rita Mercier and Joe Mendonca are at most of the flag raisings to honor our immigrant population past and present. This is huge in maintaining relations so that people of various cultures and ethnicities feel valued and included. They have much to offer, lets help them to get more involved. All hands on deck.
I suppose caring about the interests of an entire population can be percieved as left wing. But my background is in real estate, community and urban development mostly as a project manager in the private and public sectors. My career has spanned over 35 years. I embraced computer technology in management and marketing before most companies used it as a tool. In fact, I have a fairly long consulting career, and have a working knowledge of Chapter 149.
I value the efforts of the City Manager, feel he’s taken tight reign of Lowell’s finances, and generally I’m impressed by his vision of the playing field. He’s a great quarterback. But he doesn’t set policy, the Council does. He’s been highly responsive and a consummate professional. He’ll be remembered for this, and as I said earlier, sometimes “You don’t know what you have til its gone.”
My sense of the Mayor’s performance is well documented and I’m a fan. He can be one of the greats in his efforts to facilitate unity in Lowell in such turbulent times and with so much diversity in the City. Its early in his political career and his legacy remains a work in progress, so I hope he keeps at it for terms to come, and doesn’t get discouraged.
With all the balls we have in the air right now, and the administrative cleanup left by previous administrations more than half complete, we’re going to need the benefit of the follow through capabilities of the City Manager. But I’m not sure the p0licies as to what Lowell actually wants to be in 2020 have been established with comprehensive depth.
Perhaps its time for our leaders on the Council to look in the mirror and give the City Manager (and the Mayor) more to work with in terms of vision, direction and support. Times are hard and we need to be working together as a team with all we have on the line right now.
If we’re waiting on the Lowell Plan to show us the way, we’re backing up. (Ref. The Kendalls)
Best,
George
Would everybody feel better if I changed the contact info on my blog to reflect my personal email address? No? Didn’t think so. Like I have said before, there are many photos of the Mayor and Manager on my blog because THEY ARE AT EVENTS. There is also a slideshow of Councilor Leahy being sworn in, coverage of the Next Generation Giving Circle, the Neighborhood Grant Initiative, and several history pieces that have nothing to do with PM or BFL. There are also photos of other councilors including Rita, Vesna, Marty, Bill, and Joe at other events because THEY WERE THERE. I cannot photoshop people who were not into the coverage. Sorry. Actually, I’m not sorry.
The propensity for short term memory never ceases to amaze me. Years ago, when there were TWO full time people in the Mayor’s Office, at least one of them would routinely photograph events et al, often posting them on the City website. The only difference between then and now, is that there is a different Mayor, different Council, only one full time person in the Mayor’s Office, and a visible division among the Council which constantly spills over onto the pages of the Lowell Sun. Everyone wants to make it seem like the Mayor’s aide is doing something “wrong”, but she isn’t. The photo on her blog is a photo – protected by the Constitution. Whether she chooses to post her personal or work email is an irrelevant red herring. If she tells us that she isn’t writing the blog during her work hours, then so be it. If she is being instructed to write them during her wokr hours, then so be it.
This, like so much else in the Lowell Sun, or from some of the Council members, is nothing but the fodder of the day.
Keep up the good work Jenn (sp?)!
I don’t understand how it is that so many intelligent people refuse to acknowledge some very basic ethical standards. If you use a city email address as a contact for responses/ideas to or for your blog, that is a city resource! If I read an item on your blog and send you a response agreeing with you that the mayor is the best thing since sliced bread – it ends up on the city of Lowell server and that is a city resource.
So you lose the city of Lowell email address and, just to be beyond reproach, add a little sentence you can get from the City’s Lawyers about this blog having no official linkage to the City of Lowell and you’re home free. Yes it may give Elliott a little spring in his step for a day or two – just remember local politics are so petty because the victories are so small.
Make those adjustments and then continue doing the valuable blogging about the good things going on in the city. Digging in your heels when you are so clearly on ethical thin ice detracts from your mission that motivated you to undertake this blog in the first place.
On a related note…I am not a “full-time press aide.” In fact, my writing takes up very little of my time. As my former colleagues will attest, I am highly productive and work quickly. Further, I cannot process photos on my work computer, so the photo processing and slideshow production is done at home, at night. I also attend events on the weekend on my own time, so let’s not get into this “city time” crap. The majority of my work day consists of answering emails, handling the mayor’s schedule, writing proclamations/citations as requested by the mayor, councilors, or community groups and….most importantly….helping residents of Lowell. Every day dozens of people call the office with questions regarding city government, life in the city and a variety of other topics including sports scores. If I can answer their question or concern I do. If I can’t I direct them to someone who can or get an answer and call them back. Often people come to the office when they feel no one else have or will listen to them. Some are looking for an actual solution, others are just looking for someone to listen to them. On Friday I listened to a woman for 30 minutes tell me her life story and detail problems with her living situation and landlord. I provided her with an ear….and a few suggestions of agencies that could help her. I also mailed the AG’s Tenants Rights Guide to her. She was very grateful. THAT is what it is about.
Gerry,
I won’t address every misinformed assertion, big and small, but I’ll get to a few.
First, the position of the Mayor’s aide has dramatically evolved since the Mayor made changes there. He has now had two tremendously qualified individuals, who have performed the traditional duties of the position efficiently, but who also, through their unique talents, have expanded the outreach and openness of the office. Many more residents feel welcome there because of changes in the way information is disseminated, the use of social media, and the Mayor’s open door policy in general. Both Greg Page and Jen Myers had and have taken on projects involving economic development, grant writing, and other important policy research, as well. To cast aspersions on Jen’s performance as the Mayor’s aide demonstrates an unwillingness to admit that that position’s productivity has increased because of the changes made by the Mayor. What you call her work as a “Press Secretary”, I consider a provision of what the Sun leaves out of its pages. In the case of the city being rewarded with a $370,000 grant and statewide recognition for its Stat program, the Sun took 8 months to report on it on their Column blog, and only then because they had no other content to post presumably. You have admitted the Editor’s seeming agenda, which includes omitting the factual reporting of good news for the city, but here you seem to be suggesting that residents would be better off without these stories. I, on the other hand, feel like the community is better engaged and informed when more stories of import are available to them. Where else, given the newspaper’s blatant sins of omission, are residents supposed to learn about what is going on in the city?
The letter the Mayor had written was done so in response to a specific instance of said agenda-driven and purposely-misleading reporting. Both you and the paper continue to take this important dynamic out of its proper context. This letter was in response to C. Elliott lobbying through the paper’s pages for a Public Safety chairmanship, which his votes, in the opinion of the appointing chair, make him a poor choice. The Mayor elaborated on what he thought were those poor choices.
You claim the city is in solid fiscal shape. I agree. But a great deal of credit goes to the 2010-2011 City Council for that. Budgets are built on the years before them. C. Elliott’s votes against those previous budgets would have made this year’s no tax increase impossible. Many of Mayor Murphy’s motions in his freshman term led to this year’s tax break. That’s a fact. It’s also a fact that the increased violence will again require an increase in funding, which the Manager hinted at last meeting. Let’s see what increase the police department is looking for. Perhaps the Council should have considered Superintendent Lavallee’s initial budget request with a bit more respect for his professional experience and judgment. Good government is about finding the equilibrium between keeping taxes low and providing essential services. One of those services is providing for the safety of its residents. While the Mayor has made great strides in helping the Administration find ways of keeping taxes low, he knows—and this is from him living in the neighborhoods where the greatest violence occurs—that he will always favor providing public safety professionals with the resources they need to do their jobs to keep us safe. That is what it means to side with the “taxpayers.”
Dan
Dan,
I’m not disputing the right or role Jen has to BLOG. What I am disputing is the ethical choice by her and the Mayor to use the BLOG to highlight the good work (which is not largely covered in the SUN) and at the same time use it for Political payback.
Rodney Elliot much of a pain to the Mayor as he may be, cannot control the SUN or what Mr. C runs with and while I say that Lyle Moran is his press secratary NEITHER controls what is printed in a for profit paper, the Editor does.
The BLOG gives the publoic perception that it is a city sponsored BLOG and I think it should be because it does showcase the good work of the Mayor, Councilors and Manager.
BUT it shouldn’t and can’t be used to attack FIVE Councilors for voting on a budget item they disagreed with the Mayor on and that is exactly what he did, not just 1 councilo, it was wrong on several levels.
If the Mayor tomorrow stated that going forward the BLOG WOULD BE the Official BLOG of his Office I would support that IF and only IF he first apologies to the entire council for publishing that letter on the site.
In hindsight Left in Lowell or even MY Blog would have been a better venue and you must admit, there is nothing I recall you or the Mayor sending me or Jack that we didn’t Post.
It was a mistake to put Jen in that siituation and SHE made the same mistake posting it and now until either the BLOG either changes it’s apparence or the Mayor apologies and promises to NOT use the BLOG for that type of political payback, I will keep up the protes until it gets addressed by someone out of fairness to ALL 8 other councilors.
The letter was emailed to the Sun, and cc’ed to blogs and WCAP. Jen, as she has already stated, chose to post it, along with Left in Lowell. You can protest all you want. Nothing that occurred was unethical. He has nothing to apologize for, particularly considering the outrageous behavior of a few of his colleagues. You are welcome to file a complaint. However, it is likely that the State will respond to you as it has to the city through the Inspector General’s office most recently.
Perhaps, you can instead ask C. Mercier to apologize for having called my mother and father a liar in the paper, for having started a libelous rumor about my brother, or for having told my friend, 75-year old and native Lowellian Mrs. Ramalho, that she wasn’t welcome at the Senior Center that she worked at for years, and that her daughter-in-law now runs. Or perhaps you can ask C. Elliott to respect the chamber and begin to speak to people as if they were people, whom he can disagree with in a civilized manner. But, those questions are not forthcoming. These, after all, are games that children play. Patrick’s not out there asking for apologies, but for the truth. I think we are all better served when it’s delivered, regardless of whom it offends. Facts are not attacks, they are a vehicle for understanding.
This is all I have to say on the matter.
Dan
Jen Myers was on one of several recipients of the “open letter” sent from the personal email of Patrick O. Murphy at 8:20 pm and it was signed as “Patrick.”
Had I not been out playing cribbage with friends, I may have very well posted the letter before Jen. She did not have exclusive access to the letter. Just sayin.’
The Mayor’s supposed use of Jen’s blog to criticize his collegues is highly exaggerated. And what if he did? Each City Councilor can have their own blog if they like. If a City Councilor has a position that conflicts with another City Councilor, why not be able to express their thoughts via a blog. Whether the Mayor’s aide is publishing an official City blog or her personal blog is semantics. Its a blog about progress in the City. If its sugar coated, I’m not reading it.
The City Council needs to be able to work together. Mayor Murphy totally respects Councilor Mercier. But he doesn’t have to agree with everything she supports. That’s why there are 9 members.
With today’s expanding list of tools for communication, blogs included, its refreshing to see the Mayor and the City Manager embracing such tools. Even though a blog is only one club in the bag, it can be a driver. Jen and the Mayor are exploring the medium and should be cut some slack. Progressive means are developed by trial and error.
All this over 1 post. Like the City Manager notes, even though we continue to make great strides, some people just want to focus on the negative. Well, the glass is more than half full, so why keep complainging that your thirsty. Focus on the water in the glass. Refresh yourself.
Councilor Martin keeps his eye on the ball. I find inspiration in that. Most Councilors do the same as is our history.
I don’t believe that Jen should have posted the Mayor’s letter in your blog or LIL. In fact, I think more work will get done if they just stop reading the 2 blogs you mention. The Lowell Sun is reaching the neighborhoods … LTC and WCAP are reaching the neighborhoods. Who are you reaching Gerry? Who is LIL reaching?
Stay tuned for Lowell2020!