Who's The Mayor?

We all thought that John Hanlon won the mayor's race last November. Those of us who went to the polls had to choose between John Hanlon and David Ragucci. The ballot did not contain the name of Fred Foresteire...yet somehow, it looks as if he's running the city.

Two members of the Everett Housing Authority recently received letters from the Hanlon Administration, thanking them for services that would no longer be required. Unfortunately for Mr. Hanlon, he wasn't aware that a court ruling involving the city of Boston prohibits mayors from terminating housing authority appointees before their respective terms end, in this case - 2008 and 2009. Also unfortunate for Mr. Hanlon was the premature swearing in of his own appointee, who surely had to be embarrassed when he showed up at the next EHA meeting.

So why would Mr. Hanlon put himself out on a limb like this? Could it be because these two members of the Everett Housing Authority voted against Fred Foresteire's son over a personnel issue? Perhaps a new board will give Fred what he wants - his kid's job back, despite the rulings of two arbitrators against him.

But the story doesn't end there, as we read in yesterday's Advocate "commentary." Perhaps you noticed that the style of the "commentary" was . . . . familiar; like "John Cook Dowd" familiar. It scolds three Housing Authority members for intending to fulfill their terms on the Board, reasoning that Mr. Hanlon should be allowed to replace them due to his 247 vote "mandate" for change. The Advocate also goes on to question Joe Guliano's union credentials and the ages of Mrs. Keane, the mother of newly elected Common Council member James Keane, as well as the age of Mr. Cammererio.

Apart from the fact that the law is not on Mr. Hanlon's side, it's more than a little disingenuous to point out the future ages of Mrs. Keane and Mr. Cammererio at the end of their respective appointments, when in fact, Mr. Hanlon's appointments aren't exactly spring chickens. Mr. Strong will turn 80 this year and will be 85 at the end of his five year appointment; Mrs. Hart will be 79 at the end of her appointment. For this administration to suddenly turn "ageist" is to ignore the very real ages of these appointees, not to mention City Solicitor John Kryzovic, and the two men recently appointed to head up the building department...of 83 and 75, as well as Mr. Hanlon himself, who is now 70 years old.

This is what our government has come to, friends. Mr. Foresteire is in the driving seat, and Mr. Hanlon is merely along for the ride.