Monthly Archives: July 2009

City Council Election

Posted on July 22, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Update: 7/30/09
In a SUN story headlined…Move to change charter for elections under way
is this quote by City Councilor Kazanjian “Let the people decide. It is their primary.” http://www.lowellsun.com/local/ci_12936636

I prefer not to call anyone a hypocrite because on any given day depending on the circumstances…there’s a chance I could become one myself (if that happens I hope someone calls me out on it). Just in case… I will say good for him for “seeing the light”. It is the people’s primary and those are the people who should decide.

Also, this just in from Greg’s blog:
http://anewenglanderinlowell.blogspot.com/2009/07/quick-5w-fair-vote-lowell-organization.html
What: Fair Vote Lowell Organization Meeting
Who: ANYONE interested, regardless of past or current involvement level with this initiative
When: Friday, 31 JUL, at 6:00 p.m.
Where: Saint Ann’s Church, 8 Kirk Street
Why: To discuss strategies for gathering enough valid signatures to get the petition on the ballot
Best Point of Contact on this, or any other upcoming related events, would be Dr. Victoria Fahlberg — vfalhberg@onelowell.net

The saga continued last night… there will be no primary election!

If you were not able to attend or watch on television…please take the time to watch your current city government in action before they start asking for your vote this November.

Simply stated by Bob Forrant comment on www.RichardHowe.com
I’ve said elsewhere and I will say it here too, using my real name, that it is a perversion of democracy to have individuals in power vote to change the rules of the game while the game is in progress.

I was happy to see that Dick Howe has video posted of each councilors reasons for/against holding the primary
http://richardhowe.com/category/2009-election/
…except for CC Lenzi, he was absent; as he has stated in the past, it is only convenient for him to attend two CC meetings per month.

If you want to see more of CC R. Mercier’s reasons for “NOT” holding a primary, hop on over to www.leftinlowell.com
In addition there is the statement by CC candidate Partick Murphy…he sounds like a reasonable guy…we should get to know him better.

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Posted in City Council, Election, Elections, ONE Lowell, Voting

Yoga at Boarding House Park

Posted on July 18, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Monday nights in Boarding House Park from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m.

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Posted in Downtown, Downtown Lowell, Yoga

Lowell chief blasts ‘lenient’ License Commission

Posted on July 17, 2009 by | 1 comment

UPDATE: Not this specific subject; but excellent news for Lowell.

Federal grant will provide 12 police officers in Lowell
Lowell Police will receive more than $2 million from the federal government to hire 12 police officers.
The money is part of a $1 billion program that will provide money to hire 131 officers across the state, and nearly 5,000 nationally, Vice President Joe Biden and Attorney General Eric Holder said in a release.
The U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) will oversee the program. Federal officials said only 1 in 7 grant applications was approved.
To accept the grant, Lowell must agree to hire the officers for four years. The grant will pay only for the first three years.
For more on this story, see Wednesday’s Sun and watch http://www.lowellsun.com/.

Just got this from SUN on-line:
http://www.lowellsun.com/ci_12858253

“People visiting the city don’t want to see drunken hooligans,” Lavallee said. “They want an environment that is safe and secure. The downtown economy is better served by folks following the letter of the law.”

YEAH!!! You go Chief!
I’ll throw in my 2 cents… read the article and notice all the bars the Chief DOES NOT mention. Chief Lavallee has really done an outstanding job of fostering communication with “drinking establishments” downtown and there are only a few (they are all fairly “new” to the neighborhood) that have no regard for the problems their patrons create when they walk out the door.

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Posted in Bars, Community Problems, Downtown, Downtown Lowell

Dharma Buns Sandwich Shop

Posted on July 16, 2009 by | 1 comment

According to their web site Dharma Buns will be serving food outside their Market St. site during the Folk Festival.

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Posted in Dharma Buns, Downtown Lowell, Food

‘hood stuff

Posted on July 13, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Tuesday July 14th, 6:30 PM – City Council meeting. Please note on the agenda Councilor Milinazzo has a motion to for an independent legal investigation into whether the council violated the city (Plan E) charter when they voted not to fund assistant city manager, Andy Sheehan’s position.
I am not in the habit of editorializing… however, this motion by a councilor who publicly acknowledged she did it “because she doesn’t like him…” or some such nonsense…SCREAMS out for top honors in the WTF? category. Stay-tuned…I can not imagine one other councilor besides Mr. Milinazzo would possibly have the courage to vote in favor of this motion. To put it simply…this is sad, sad, sad for the city.


Which leads me to remind everyone: http://www.fairvotelowell.org/ Petitions for an initiatve to be placed on this November’s ballot are due within the next week. If have the petition, please call or send me an email at: kmarcin@gmail.com

Wednesday July 15th, and EVERY Wednesday – Traditional Irish Music at The Old Court

Every Friday, 2-7 PM – Farmer’s Market – JFK Plaza

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Posted in City Council, Community Problems, Downtown, Downtown Lowell, Events, Film, Folk Festival, Live Music, Lowell, Lowell Film Collaborative, ONE Lowell

Police probe triple shooting in Lowell

Posted on July 12, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Will someone explain to me how we get people to JUST STOP this?

Update: Since no one has any suggestions for aforementioned question…and if they did; I would not have need to ask…

from the SUN
“…a Lawrence man, was arrested Saturday and charged with assault with intent to murder, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, and discharging a firearm in connection with the University Avenue shooting, police said. “
http://www.lowellsun.com/breakingnews/ci_12826754

As usual…thank you to all at LPD that do an amazing job.

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Posted in Community Problems

Studio A Film Screening "Momma’s Man"

Posted on July 4, 2009 by | Leave a comment

“Momma’s Man”
Thursday, July 16, 7 p.m.
2009 (doors open at 6:30)
LTC Studio, 246 Market st.
During a short business trip to New York, 30-something Mikey pays a visit to his parents’ home and decides never to leave, forsaking all his responsibilities as a husband and new father back in Los Angeles. Written and directed by Azazel Jacobs, this unique independent drama delves into the fear of facing adulthood, the romanticizing of the past and the unwillingness to accept change, regardless of its inevitability.

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Posted in Arts, Downtown Lowell, Events, Film, Lowell Film Collaborative

CITY COUNCIL ELECTION TIME IS NEAR…

Posted on July 2, 2009 by | Leave a comment

FAIR VOTE LOWELL
Fair Vote Lowell is an initiative to increase voter participation, open up opportunities for new candidates, and create local elective bodies that are representative of all residents in Lowell, Massachusetts.Our mission is simple: We’re here to transform Lowell’s voting system for local elections of city councilors and school committee from the current “Winner take All” system to “Choice Voting”, a system that is fair and promotes greater representation for all.We invite you to explore our site and join us in transforming our voting system in Lowell. http://www.fairvotelowell.org/

What is Choice Voting? Choice voting is a type of proportional representation that works on the principle that all voters have a right to someone they support. With Choice voting, the majority still receives a majority of the representation, but some seats are available to other voters, so that all voters can be fairly represented. To vote, voters rank the candidates in order of preference. If your top choice loses, your vote goes to your next preferred candidate. After a choice voting election, each elected candidate represents a distinct and equal-sized group of like-minded voters.

I have the petition…please let me know if you have not had an opportunity to sign one.
KMM

Dick Howe takes a historical look at Lowell’s previous use of “Choice Voting” http://richardhowe.com/2009/06/17/is-choice-voting-right-for-lowell/

Candidate web sites to date:
Ryan Berard http://www.ryanberard.com/
Franky Descoteaux http://www.frankyforlowell.com/
Joe Mendonca http://www.mendonca.org/
James Milinazzo http://jimmilinazzo.homestead.com/
Patrick Murphy http://thinkmurphy.com/

Update: I received an email from Ryan Berard;
The First Campaign Fundraiser is scheduled for July 16th at the East End Club from 6-10PM.

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Posted in City Council, Election, Elections, Lowell, Massachusetts

ART WALK 2009

Posted on July 2, 2009 by | Leave a comment

Join the Revolving Museum in downtown Lowell for the ArtWalk Kick Off Party. Meet the artists who have created the pieces that people empty storefronts all through Lowell for third year in a row, making the City more beautiful and more fun. There will be a cash bar and lots to look at.
Thurs., July 16, 5pm – 7pm. Revolving Museum, 22 Shattuck St.

Thank you so much to Bob Knapp, Greg Page, Ted Lavash for thier contribution to an LDNA sponsored window this year.

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Posted in Arts, Downtown, Downtown Lowell