Terri Schiavo, Rest in Peace

Terri Schiavo, the Florida woman whose feeding tube was removed 13 days ago, passed away at 9:05 this morning. This has been a sad and difficult case, no matter what side of the argument you're on -- but hopefully Terri is now at peace.

Election 2005 -- First Up -- The Mayor's Race

The first . . . and most important . . . race that we'll look at is the race for Mayor. Incumbent David Ragucci is facing one, and possibly two, challengers in City Clerk John Hanlon and Ward Three Alderman Michael Marchese.

Mayor Ragucci will be running for his fifth term as Mayor, and he's not faced an election cycle without opposition since he soundly defeated John McCarthy in 1997. He faced McCarthy again in 1999 and John Hanlon in 2001 and 2003. The course of the Mayor's administration has not run smoothly, and over the past year he has had to deal with (what people perceive as) a higher than expected tax increase, an ongoing battle with the School Committee and the Superintendent, a hostile City Council, and some missteps in the Administration that have caused the Mayor and his staff to, at times, be on the defensive. He has also seen, however, the final approval come through for the new high school, to be built on the Terraces at Glendale Park, as well as plans for a new park at the old GE site and the sale of the old city yards. Mayor Ragucci faces an uphill battle for re-election this year, and he'll need to take a more proactive stance in dealing with issues if he is to be successful. This can be difficult for an incumbent of long standing, and Ragucci will need people around him who are willing to tell him some hard truths if he's going to pull this one off.

It looks like John Hanlon will be taking his third shot at unseating Ragucci. The last two contests between Hanlon and the Mayor have been close, and it could be Hanlon is hoping that "third time's a charm." Ragucci, of course, is hoping that it'll be "three strikes, you're out." Hanlon's age is certainly an issue (he's nearly 70 years old), his performance on the Board of Aldermen (for those of us who can remember him on the Board of Aldermen) was unremarkable, and his tenure as City Clerk has received mixed reviews, depending on what side of the political fence you sit. He is surrounded by an "older crowd" in his campaigns, which makes one wonder what type of staff he would bring to City Hall should he be elected. His last campaign was notable for it's negativity, but it was short on highlighting any of his own accomplishments.

A new twist in this year's race is the possible addition of a third candidate -- Ward Three Alderman Mike Marchese. Marchese inserting himself into this race is being seen by some as a desire to be a "spoiler" -- to shake things up and attempt to weaken the Mayor's re-election bid by drawing votes away from him. Marchese has made his contempt for the Administration known, but he does not have a serious desire to be Mayor. This could cause a problem for Ragucci if Marchese pulls enough votes away from him in the primary, causing Ragucci to run second to Hanlon and then scrambling to make up ground in the general election in November. Shades of John McCarthy 1997 when Barry Erickson shook things up, giving Ragucci the edge over McCarthy in the primary and a strong victory in November.

Hoof in Mouth Award

You really have to give the "Hoof in Mouth" award to Lt. Governor Kerry Healy. Ms. Healy, who hails from toney, "horsey", oh-so- propah Beverly Farms - really stepped in it last week with this comment about property tax breaks for seniors:

Boston Globe, 3/22

"My opinion is that to extend tax breaks to seniors in order to keep them overhoused and isolated in the suburbs is not necessarily the right answer," Healey told a State House News Service reporter two weeks ago, in an interview that was made public yesterday. "It's an answer, but the best answer would be to bring them into our city and town centers, into more appropriate housing, and free up those properties to get back on the tax rolls of the community."

Raked over the coals by newspapers and news radio alike, Kerry Healey reveals with this comment that she is every bit the disconnected, silver spoon Republican that her detractors say she is. It is hard to imagine a local official in Everett, given the level of commitment this city has demonstrated to elderly housing, would ever come up with such a callous statement as this. Is this really how it is for the affluent? I wonder if she thought her own grandmother was "overhoused," or are you never really "overhoused" as long as you have a trust fund?

The fact of the matter is that property taxes have risen across the Commonwealth, and many elderly are struggling to pay these bills. If this pathetically out-of-touch with reality response is the best that our Lt. Governor can do - then we're in a lot of trouble. Declining state aid and increasing fixed costs all contribute to higher property tax bills. Of course, this is the same woman who came to Everett at the Governor's request to lower the boom on local aid in the middle of FY 2003. Everett lost $750,000 dollars in state aid that year.

Are you really surprised by Kerry Healy's lack of feeling toward the elderly? We're not.

In Prayer and Remembrance

It is with sadness that we report that Mr. Anthony Serino, Director of Personnel at Everett City Hall and former member of the Everett School Committee, passed away this afternoon at his home.

Our thoughts are with Tony's wife Peggy, his family, and his many friends, and we offer this prayer in his memory:

THE PRAYER OF ST. FRANCIS
Lord, make me a channel of thy peace,
that where there is hatred, I may bring love;
that where there is wrong, I may bring the spirit of forgiveness;
that where there is discord, I may bring harmony;
that where there is error, I may bring truth;
that where there is doubt, I may bring faith;
that where there is despair, I may bring hope;
that where there are shadows, I may bring light;
that where there is sadness, I may bring joy.
Lord, grant that I may seek rather to comfort than to be comforted;
to understand, than to be understood;
to love, than to be loved.
For it is by self-forgetting that one finds.
It is by forgiving that one is forgiven.
It is by dying that one awakens to Eternal Life.

Election 2005 -- an Overview

We're coming into the time when candidates will be "pulling their papers," meaning they will be taking out nomination papers at the City Clerk's office in order to obtain the necessary signatures to put their names on the ballot. It's shaping up to be a very interesting year, with a possible three way primary for the Mayor's seat, and two open seats on the Board of Aldermen in Ward 3 (should Michael Marchese run for Mayor) and Ward 4 (John Ragucci is not seeking re-election). At the moment, at least, it appears that Ward One Alderman Frank Nuzzo will run unopposed, as will Ward Six Alderman Joseph McGonagle. Ward Two Alderman Jason Marcus will see opposition from a newcomer, Ward Five Alderman Robert Van Campen will face a challenger in Ward Five Councilwoman Catherine Gover, and Alderman at Large Carlo DeMaria will be opposed by Ward One Councilman Peter Napolitano. Some of the moves on the Board of Alderman are going to provide interesting opportunities for some members of the Common Council as well. And lest we forget the School Committee (and this year, of all years, we should not forget the School Committee), with the ongoing legal troubles facing the Superintendent, rumors abound that some of the current members will not seek re-election and that those who do will face opposition.

We will be presenting, over the next several weeks, brief analyses of the Mayor's race, the various races for the Board of Aldermen and how they will impact the races for the Common Council. As we receive information about the candidates (or lack thereof) for School Committee, we will present our analyses of those races as well.

Hold on for what could be a wild ride.

Residential Pahking: Part II

Citizens have been complaining about the lack of parking in Everett for decades, and the city has finally decided to do something about it. Residential parking programs are nothing new and have been in place in many surrounding communities. Everett has had an unworkable ordinance on the books for a long time, but little had been done until now.

The new residential parking program does, however, seems to have a raised the hackles of a few citizens, some aldermen, and a local newspaper. The program provides a residential parking sticker for all vehicles for which excise tax is paid. The hours in which the program would be in effect are midnight to 6:00 AM, which means the out-of-town "park and commute to Boston" parkers would not be affected...although we would certainly like them to be. Most affected will be residents with "company cars", commercial vehicles and long term visitors - although some provisions have been made for the visitors.

The Mirror has publicly stated that it would prefer the program to be in effect 24/7...so with all the backlash resulting from the new plan, why bother with this program at all?

The Independent pointed out that "Even if enforcement of the new parking program opens up additional spaces, they will be available after midnight, when most residents have already parked their cars and gone to bed." This thinking assumes that nearly all non-residential parkers will be parking until midnight!!! What the Independent didn't think through was this: what parker without a sticker (with the exception of the bar patrons) is going to want to go out and move his car at midnight? This means there is a strong liklihood that the cab drivers and other commercial vehicle parkers, who are also residents, are going to be looking for their parking solution long before midnight, and very likely right after work. It also means people who are "hosting" numerous people in their apartments for months and even years on end - people whose cars are registered in other cities - will have to find parking for them somewhere else. Right now - it's strictly first come, first served!

Police Chief Mazzie pointed out the affordability factor; it would cost the city significantly more money [to pay patrolmen for over time] to begin the program earlier in the day, and he isn't budgeted for it. That's understandable; Mazzie wasn't counting on putting this program in place last June, when his budget was set. The other reason that the time was set for midnight was to allow residents to have company over...without having to call into the police station quite so often. Some thought it was a nice gesture.

There have been some complaints by residents who have "company cars," and wish to park on the street. It's a legitimate concern, but one that doesn't have a quick solution. Opening up the program for "company car" residents will also open it up for cabbies and others. I'm not sure what the solution is to the problem, unless the company in question considers registering the car in Everett, since it's actually being parked overnight in Everett. One does have to wonder about insurance obligations....if a car is actually insured in say, Wellesley, but it's actually parked in Everett.

The program is expected to give Everett residents at least a shot at a reasonable parking space, which right now, isn't happening. Sgt. Strong did commit to revisiting the program, which holds hope that it will actually start earlier than midnight. Right now- why not give it a chance?

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Today is St.Patrick's Day, and it is celebrated throughout the Boston area. It's a day for greetings and gatherings; a time for orating, toasting and joke telling. It's a celebration of people known as much for their deep and abiding faith, as for their mirth and sharp wit.

I'd like to kick off this day with an Irish blessing. If you have a good one that you'd like to share - please do!! Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all!

May you always have work for your hands to do.

May your pockets hold always a coin or two.

May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.

May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.

May the hand of a friend always be near you.

And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

Know Your Audience

Anyone who has ever spoken or performed in public or written any type of correspondence, including a high school term paper, understands one simple concept -- know your audience. It's a concept that the editor of the Everett Independent would do well to adopt.

Reading the editorial column in this week's paper (http://www.everettindependent.com -- click on the link for Editorials) in praise of one member of the Board of Aldermen, one question sprang to mind -- "how stupid does this guy think we are?" It is not the glowing review of this Alderman's political performance that is troubling -- although it is over the top -- it is the one sided brush with which the editor paints the political landscape that makes the reader squint, trying to see the picture clearly.

The first wildly inaccurate statement that catches the attention is the claim that this Alderman is "unaffiliated." It makes the reader wonder how long the editor has observed political life in Everett -- or anywhere, for that matter. To say that any politician is "unaffiliated" is naive at best but more likely, in this case, it is simply disingenuous. You cannot be involved in politics in Everett and not be affiliated in some way with someone or some cause, and this Alderman is no exception to that rule.

The editor also makes the statement that this Alderman stands up to the mayor "in a city where nearly everyone in government lines up like toy soldiers right behind him." Has this guy looked at the make up of the City Council lately? Of the 25 members of the City Council, by our observation, there is a firm 36% who can be counted on to support the Mayor, a firm 40% who are Ragucci antagonists, and 24% whose votes must be lobbied for every issue. This can hardly be considered the "lemming off the cliff" mentality portrayed in this editorial.

However, there is a broader issue at play in these edtorial musings. The editor of the Independent made a statement in that newspaper several weeks ago, in discussing the upcoming political season, that the paper would not endorse any candidate. In this editorial, he contradicts that statement by touting this Alderman as though he is the second coming of Harry Truman. It is going to be very difficult for the editor to now stand by his self-proclaimed policy of non-endorsement. Perhaps instead of espousing the integrity of some and questioning the motivation of others, he should engage in some introspection and see if he can rediscover some journalistic motivation and integrity of his own.

Strange Alliances

As we have discussed here previously, the Board of Aldermen has requested an audit of the School Building Commission. As part of this request, the Aldermen voted to form an Ad-Hoc Committee, to be comprised of members of the Board and members of the School Committee, to develop paramaters for the audit. The vote passed the Board of Aldermen but hit a snag when the Common Council referred the matter to the Finance Committee, where it has yet to make an appearance on a meeting agenda.

Some new developments have come to light which might explain the Board's failure to address the piece in Committee. It appears that at their February 22 meeting, the School Committee voted to form their own Ad Hoc Committee with David Ela, Robert Alconada and Robert Carreiro as members from the School Committee. Members of the Board of Aldermen who were appointed to serve on this Ad Hoc Committee are Michael Marchese, Robert Van Campen and Jason Marcus. What these three Aldermen have done, in accepting this appointment to this Ad Hoc Committee, is to have essentially circumvented their own rules and made themselves part of a committee that has absolutely no jurisdiction over the activities of the School Building Commission.

What explains this strange alliance between the School Committee and certain members of the Board of Aldermen? It is no secret that the School Committee and the Superintendent have felt stung by criticisms leveled at them by the Ragucci administration and the ongoing audit of the School Department that came about as the result of the indictments pending against the Superintendent and the maintenance director.

It is also no secret that Michael Marchese is planning to run for Mayor. This could explain his desire to participate in what amounts to an archeological dig designed to unearth whatever information they can to make the Administration look bad.

What may be a little less well known is that Robert Van Campen may have at least one -- and possibly more -- opponents to his bid for re-election to the Board. Van Campen's new "cause celebre" seems to be stumping for the School Department at the Board of Aldermen meetings, latching on to what he claimed to be the misuse of the stabilization fund in a spectacularly failed attempt to embarrass the Mayor at the 2/28 Board of Aldermen meeting (see the 3/4 edition of The Advocate for a colorful recap of their exchange). Van Campen's showing in his two runs at the Board, in 2001 and 2003, resulted in less than a mandate victory, so any formidable candidate coming along could pose a serious threat to his tenure as Alderman. Given his new found alliance with the Superintendent, perhaps he should consider running for School Committee.

Alderman Jason Marcus's participation is no less transparent than that of his brother Board members. Marcus has made no secret of his contempt for the Administration, blaming the Mayor for every criticism that appears about him in the press. In addition, Marcus (like many members of city government and the School Committee) has a loved one who is employed by the School Department. Marcus's alliance with the School Department was made all the more public recently when the Superintendent made a rare appearance at Marcus's February fundraiser.

Alliances in politics are not unusual . . . nor are they necessarily to be thought suspect. However, given the circumstances of the participation of the Board in this Ad Hoc Committee -- a committee that has absolutely no authority to do what it purports to do -- one has to wonder about the validity of their stated quest. To our knowledge, none of the members of this Ad Hoc Committee attend School Building Commission meetings with any regularity. In fact, although Jason Marcus has been appointed to replace Joe McGonagle as the Board of Aldermen liaison on the SBC, he has yet to attend a meeting. As a Committee formed at the behest of the School Committee, this Ad Hoc group has no legitimate authority over the workings of the SBC, any more than city government has authority over the day to day workings of the School Department. The operation of the schools and the operation of the city are completely separate entities.

In the end . . . this is just another case of politicians looking out for their own best interests and ignoring the rules to do it.

Update on Responsibility.....

WCVB has reported that the teens at the center of the sex scandal at toney Milton Academy were involved in three other similar incidents between January and February. Administrators at Milton Academy sent home a letter to parents detailing the most recent allegations, backpeddling somewhat from their initial contention that the first reported incident was an aberration. It would now appear that expelling all the students, including the fifteen year old girl at the center of this story, would have been an appropriate response. Although the story states that a fifteen-year-old cannot give legal consent to sex...given the circumstances, coercion would be a difficult case to make. http://www.thebostonchannel.com/news/4249076/detail.html