Sorry for the lack of posting, I’m trying to manage 2-3 people on 3 or more projects at once…including myself…not that I am complaining about having work, mind you, but it puts a crimp in my blogging lifestyle.
Have you headed out to the polls? What [...]
If you’re still undecided ahead of Tuesday’s election, Mike Capuano is coming to Lowell tomorrow night, at the Olympia Restaurant on 457 Market Street from 5:30pm – 6:30pm. This is a good chance to meet Mike. As most people know, I’ve endorsed Capuano in the primary.
The primary is this [...]
This was too good not to link to. It’s gone viral today with no less than three people [in my acquaintance] linking to it by email or Facebook.
Yes, sometimes being a web designer is hell.
Update: And you have to see this crazy stuff! Awesome!
[...]Scott Brown encourages people to break Mass General Laws. That ought to win him some strong support!
Republican Scott Brown’s campaign for U.S. Senate has hit upon a new strategy: lock voters in by getting as many of them as possible to vote absentee — and by encouraging them to [...]
Talk about becoming less relevant. Ah well.
Nothing to link to anymore, folks, move along, move along.
Update: There’s a highly distinct possibility their site has just blown up on the home page and on other pages - after clicking on a weather link, I got to a page that [...]
This disgusting display of stupidity (not to mention sexism, do we ever read this sort of crap about male candidates??) is rightly taken down by David at BMG. Calling a serious candidate for higher office a “babe”?? And it gets worse.
All the layoffs at the Globe and this is [...]
Update: Check out this link…not sure who this org is but they purport to grade Congresspeople on their votes to help the middle class. Capuano gets very high marks every year they have a score.
A friend pointed out this ACLU questionnaire where the four Democrats give answers on [...]
With only one week to go, we the voters of the Democratic primary need to choose our pick to replace the irreplaceable Ted Kennedy, who will go on to the general election in January (and let’s face it, on to the Senate). My endorsement comes late but no less enthusiastic. [...]
I missed this piece of news, but H1N1 is mutating, with devastating results. The mutated strain was found in Norway, but has turned up in France as well, and China reports a mutation problem though details are sketchy.
This is why people made such a huge deal of [...]
The City of Lights parade and Holiday Stroll, the annual tradition the weekend after Thanksgiving, will once again bring Lowell a lot of fun events and kid-centered holiday treats. It gets bigger and better every year, bringing back the old favorites but also adding the Holiday Stocking Stuffer Scavenger [...]
Via Cliff, who comments on Kendall’s Saturday Chat, we have Kendall’s take on the delegation and their being indispensable.
With all due respect that is simply not true, and I agree with Cliff, though we’d disagree on the remedy.
There are several points I would [...]
Via a comment at BMG, I read a blog post showcasing the true numbers in the Senate race. While all the news outlets talk about the double digit lead Coakley enjoys, they fail to mention that a scant 21% of people have made up their minds about who [...]
I had to open my big mouth last week to my husband. I said to him, wow, I think it’s been a long time since you were sick! Or me…though I get colds less than he does. He tends to get sick at the turn of seasons, so I was [...]
This whole post by Devilstower over at Dailykos sums it up just perfectly. A taste:
Until recently, this boom-bust “business cycle” was kept in check by some measure of pragmatism. But a funny thing happened in the 1980s. As unrepentant conservatives took their fantasy of pure capitalism out of textbooks [...]
You can find more description of yesterday’s event and some photos on the City Manager’s blog. The post takes a much more narrative form than mine, describing the event and some quotes from the speakers.
[...]Jackie posts about the Image Theatre’s 5th Annual Keep Your Kids At Home Naughty Readings night.
The event is tomorrow night, Saturday, Nov 14, upstairs at the Old Court, 29 Central Street, beginning at 8 p.m. Seating is limited, so reserve a $25 ticket by calling 978-441-0102, or $28 [...]
From the Department of Planning and Development:
Please join us for a public meeting to view and comment on the preferred design alternative for South Common.
Thursday evening, November 19th
7 pm to 8:30 pm
At the Pollard Memorial Library (next to City Hall)
401 Merrimack Street
Lowell, MA 01852
Sponsored by the [...]
Today’s Hamilton Canal groundbreaking event was really well-run, and very well attended. I saw media folks from NECN, Ted Panos of WCAP, the Sun was there (I stood next to Matt Murphy, where I could get the good photo shots) and LTC was there taping it (I’m sure they will [...]
I attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the Appleton Mills phase of the Hamilton Canal District project. Trinity sponsored a big tent near the site for the speeches and the traditional turning over of shovels, as well as a luncheon the Brush and our own Lowell Art and Design [...]
The title says it all. I have internet access and a laptop and am sitting here.
Note: I’m not hitting every point or thing brought up. Liveblogging is hard work! City Council agenda here.
Question from Elliot on non-local aid hits to City budget:
Lynch: Some grants, other reimbursements from [...]
UTEC (United Teen Equality Center) is celebrating its 10th anniversary and hosting a gala fundraiser. From their website:
Please join us for UTEC’s 10th Anniversary, celebrating 10 years of Peace, Positivity, and Empowerment!
Date: Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Time: 6:00-8:00 PM
Location: 34 Hurd St. Lowell, MA 01852
Tickets are $50 in [...]
Hayden waxes unhappy at his coverage on that “Left in whatever.” I love McDonough’s comeback: “This blog you’re talking about, what language is it written in?” Oooh, so clever, you. Hilarious.
By the way, buddy, what we covered and how we called it on this blog, we took from your own [...]
Lowell Film Collaborative is at it again…I have no idea how they find the time to organize all these film viewings! But thank goodness they do - what a great addition to Lowell’s cultural scene. From their latest email:
“Life. Support. Music.”
with special guest performance by Jason Crigler
Thursday, [...]
Says the Lowell Sun. Elliot is quoted in the breaking news article, including “Pundits will say what they will, but I assure you, securing the necessary five votes is not the primary reason.”
As (I suppose) a pundit, I could say a lot of things. I will refrain. But the [...]
*Phew* so the election season is over…all right, the local election season is over (we’re one month and counting for the special Senate primary, and a year away from 2010 Governor’s race). I hardly know what to do with myself.
I’ve been getting back into reading (sometimes in self defense when [...]
Plenty in the Lowell Sun on Lowell’s landmark election yesterday…
I have to admit, I really like the emphasis on environment and affordable housing that is mentioned by Patrick Murphy in two articles (one profiling him exclusively, here, another mentioning the winners, here). Bold mine.
Conservation. Using Lowell’s “vast resources,” [...]
The biggest disappointment for me of course was the results of the Choice voting initiative, and the turnout which didn’t increase after all (though we did see new voters and bigger turnout in sections of the city which are key).
Choice voting lost 43% to 57%, a pretty large margin [...]
On to another subject of analysis…the two School Committee races.
I have to admit to being astounded by the bleed of votes away from Faticanti. She has been a strong vote getter for so long, I thought there would be a larger unshakable core. Never been more happy to be so [...]
I am working off of very little sleep after a couple of glasses of celebratory wine. It was a good night for change!
There is a lot you can say about the races and the initiative that we voted on yesterday, and a lot will be said. Might as well jump [...]
I’ll be around hither and thither…here’s an open thread for election day. Did you vote? What are you seeing? Unlike Mr. Mill City, we didn’t do a fantasy team (pretty funny) or anything…but after today we’ll know what sort of Lowell we are.
So get out and vote!
[...]No, not the City Council (though, that too) but your catch basins! The CM’s blog has a post reminding people that fall debris stuck around or on a catch basin will cause problems later on (street flooding and the like). So do your part. I especially like the smiley [...]
Just reiterating my previous post with my personal choices for the ballot. Whatever you do, get your fanny out to vote tomorrow!!!
—
Vote YES on Question One, Choice Voting. Here’s why I think the anti arguments are silly.
On the GL Tech High School, I endorse with all emphasis Fred [...]
They forgot all the times he voted on things he shouldn’t have as both a City Councilor and on the Zoning Board of Appeals before he was not renewed. But other than that, here’s just a little summary of the reasons not to reelect Mr. Kazanjian.
PS - I had [...]
I really wish I had more time to promote all the cultural stuff that happens in Lowell. I get tons of emails but don’t always get the info on the front page. To remedy that, here’s info on a free concert on Friday Nov 13th from the Lowell Philharmonic Orchestra! [...]
If you listen to WCAP or read the Lowell Sun today, you’ll see or hear ads from Move Lowell Forward PAC (I am co-chair along with Cliff Krieger of Right-Side-of-Lowell). Thanks to generous contributions from a lot of people we could afford to [...]
In the midst of all the politicking and rhetoric, it’s nice to see something positive about our schools. From the office of the Superintendent, a press release showcasing how Lowell quite holds its own in the new growth measures from the state.
Lowell demonstrates strength in new state growth measures
[LOWELL] – [...]
Whatever smalls shreds of respect I might have still had for members of our state delegation are now completely gone. They have, to a man, cast their lot with a guy whose questionable ethics in multiple arenas of business and politics is Lowell’s worst kept secret ever.
Since I have [...]
Margaret over at Jackie’s blog has a great, very cogent essay as to why she supports Choice Voting (Yes on Question One). A good read no matter where you stand.
[...]The longest and most important video of them all, Governance Issues. This is section number seven and the final video of our series. We hope you enjoy it, and that we have contributed to the debate in some small way.
All the videos are on a single page here, which [...]
Interesting that the Lowell Sun is going to stream live from the ‘Shamrock on Tuesday night as results come in. (It says a lot that they are going there instead of City Hall for official results, as Pangiotakos’ people spread throughout the city and get the results the fastest.) [...]
Not election related, but very cool:
The City of Lowell and the Lower Highlands Neighborhood Group welcome the graduate students from MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning for the first community meeting on the LOWER HIGHLANDS NEIGHBORHOOD PLAN on WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28 from 7:00-9:00PM at the Boys and Girls Club [...]
Listening to Milinazzo’s motion now…seconded…by Kazanjian! He shouldn’t even be in the room as far as I know…nevermind participating in seconding and discussion on his. own. property.
Someone want to clue me in, here?
[...]Second to last video. The last one is the doozy! But this one is good…mostly questions about Public Safety.
[...]
In case anyone is wondering, here is my final rundown on where I stand on candidates, endorsements, and recommendations.
Vote YES on Question One, Choice Voting. Here’s why I think the anti arguments are silly.
On the GL Tech High School, I endorse with all emphasis Fred Bahou (interview here), [...]
If you haven’t had a chance to check out Bad Karma’s post at “Choosing a Soundtrack” on last night’s forum, go read it. He’s got some interesting things to say (some harsh, but all observant) but I thought the most interesting was this:
the highlight of the evening, of course, [...]
“Rumor” (and you know what rumor will buy you in this town…) has it that Mr. Kazanjian will have a big ol’ ad in the Lowell Sun this weekend with some “big names” “standing by him” (enough air quotes?) in his “time of trial.” (I mean trial in the most [...]
Jackie has a nice rant up about how some people’s news appears to be more important, right before an election, than others’.
WCAP appears to have a habit of allowing hours of airtime for just certain people despite their current candidacy, to speak on “news matters” while others get to [...]
The Sun came out against Choice Voting in a Sun editorial. Here’s some holes I find in their reasoning. (It took only a couple seconds of reading it to find them.) For instance, they say:
Under choice voting, a candidate for City Council can secure one of the nine seats [...]
I had gotten this email from the Patrick campaign too, and I meant to post it, but in my usual keep-the-emails-all-open-til-you-deal-with-it-then-Vista-reboots-on-you fashion, I didn’t, but here it is. HT the New Englander for the reminder. But anyway, as someone who’s been dinkering around with video a lot lately, I [...]
On the previous incarnation of Michael Hayden’s official website for his campaign for Lowell tech school committee, Hayden pronounced that you could, for $2, get one of his bumper stickers on his signature issue. He even took credit cards!
Is he maybe a tad ashamed of the material on his [...]
Another section of answers from the 11 candidates who came in to videotape their answers with us. This is part three - General Economic Development.
[...]
…that none of the candidates were making any hay from the troubles of our embattled Mr. Kazanjian. Per Mimi’s comment linking to the agenda for next week’s Council meeting:
15. C. Milinazzo-Req. Mgr. provide full report on Sewer Connection @ 190 Middlesex St. Chelmsford etc.
I wonder just how [...]
I don’t often take points of personal privilege on this blog (well, except that almost all my posts are of course editorials and my opinion) but I have a good friend who is in need of help.
Patrick Faherty is a local resident who has been a quadriplegic since an accident [...]
Another chance to hear from the City Council candidates, this time sponsored by the Lowell Downtown Neighborhood Association, JAMBRA, and the Greater Lowell Chamber. It’s being held on Monday, October 26th, at the Senior Center
Broadway St. It starts with an informal meet & greet at 6:30 PM, then the [...]
We had Rep. Capuano on Left Ahead! tonight and it’s available for you to listen to. I think we covered a lot of ground and I like what he had to say.
Rep. Capuano joined the podcast about 20 minutes in so previous to that is some chatter about various [...]
Dick has the schedule for Channel 22 replays of two candidate forums, the United Teachers of Lowell joint forum, and the SC-only debate held by the Citywide Parent Council. I heard there were some veeeeery interesting comments by Rita Mercier at the former. I am trying to get the [...]
I’ve been gathering my thoughts for some time about this post. But one thing is for sure - this is an anti-endorsement for Michael Hayden for Greater Lowell Tech. School Committee. I seriously recommend NOT ticking off his name come November 3rd. In fact, I beg you, do not let [...]
This is a slightly shorter video, encompassing two questions with regards to Hamilton Canal/JAM; one on evaluating the progress in revitalizing this area of the city, and the second the Lowell Transitional Living Center. I’ve also taken these two first sections and put them into an episode for LTC to [...]
OK with a badly timed vacation and all, these are later than I wanted them to be…but they were a lot of fun to tape, and the editing is begun in earnest. This is the first video of seven, and the second one will be released very soon (today, I [...]
I always forget to promote our Left Ahead! podcast but today’s might be of keen interest to LiL readers. We’re interviewing Senate candidate Mike Capuano in a specially scheduled podcast at 6:15pm tonight Thursday, available for live streaming at Blog Talk Radio.
The show will be available for streaming [...]
OK so I’ll mention it, at the last minute, because it would be silly not to…but tonight is the opening night of the Poetry Festival, being held at the Lowell National Park Visitor Center, 246 Market Street, at 7pm. It will be a night featuring local poets. Yes, that includes [...]
Two more events…
Tonight, Oct 14, Fair Vote Lowell is holding a campaign party from 5:00 to 8:00pm at 9 Central Street, Suite 203. Snacks and beverages will be provided.
Tomorrow night, Oct 15, Jackie Doherty is hosting a fundraiser for her campaign for reelection at the Mambo Grill, 5 - 7:30pm, [...]
JAMBRA is hosting their Lowell City Council Candidates Night today, October 14th, 7:00 PM until 9:00 PM at Cappy’s Copper Kettle at 245 Central Street.
[...]If you go to any events this weekend at the Mass Poetry Fest, you’ll more than likely run into me, since I’ve signed up for just about every slot available (and regretted having to select only one class or event in some cases!).
More so than even the Folk Fest, [...]
One of the top candidate forums of the local campaign season is coming up next week: UTEC’s Youth-Led Council forum.
From their release:
On behalf of the young people of the United Teen Equality Center (UTEC), in partnership with the Lowell Teen Coalition, we write to officially announce our upcoming Youth-Led [...]
If you’ve been wondering about my absence for the last few days, we were visiting family in sunny Florida. We’re about to board the plane, so here’s a fresh open thread for you.
Sigh, it’s like 85F outside right now. Just looked at the Manchester airport temps…32F. Meh!
Anything interesting happen while [...]
I recorded an interview with Fred Bahou, candidate for the Regional Vocational School Committee. It’s about 12 and 1/2 minutes long and ranges on several topics about the Vocational School Committee.
[...]The Sun has the breaking news:
District Attorney Gerard T. Leone has subpoenaed city records related to dozens of properties and businesses either owned or developed by City Councilor Alan Kazanjian, The Sun has learned.
The subpoena is dated Sept. 28. It is signed by Assistant District Attorney Doug Cannon and [...]
As mentioned previously, we’ve been working on putting together comprehensive information on our endorsement process. It takes time to do all of these things and I hope you’ll have patience with us. The full write up of our process is now on our website. Though the last thread on [...]
Jackie has a great post about the recent choice voting article in the Lowell Sun; how it took Gail Cenik of the Election and Census Commission out of context and, in effect, made her look like she said something she didn’t. (Anyone know much about this new reporter, [...]
I don’t have a ton of time, but since a number of events have been sent to me today to post, I wanted to get them up.
Paul Belley has a fundraiser on Thursday, October 1st from 6:00 p.m to 9:00 p.m. at the Longmeadow Golf Club, 165 Havilah Street, Lowell, [...]
After a very thorough and exacting process, including extensive questionnaires, perusing incumbent voting history, and examining the backgrounds, experience, and campaigns of candidates who submitted answers to the PAC, Move Lowell Forward has announced its slate of nine for the City Council race.
We really want to thank everyone [...]
The sole challenger for School Committee, Alison Laraba, has launched her website, larabaforlowell.com. Full disclosure: I helped her with the website and some literature.
If you haven’t met Alison yet, you should. She is a dedicated mom who decided to run when she saw no one else stepping up to [...]
Two things:
First, today and tomorrow is the citywide Lowell Open Studios. Along with this, is the weekend long Arts Festival! Studios are open from noon to 5pm today and tomorrow. Please go and spend some time there. And think about people you might want to buy Christmas gifts [...]
Another candidate’s night tonight:
The Cupples Square Business Association, Friends of Tyler Park, Highlands Neighborhood Association and the Lower Highlands Neighborhood Group are hosting the CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES NIGHT TONIGHT from 6:00 - 8:30PM at the Pailin City Restaurant at 6-12 Branch Street.
A flyer with more information is attached.
The event is [...]
Dick Howe posted MMC’s tweets, which gives a basic overview of the action last night from his perspective. Jackie has also posted as well.
It was a well-run event, CNAG is obviously old hands at this. 20 ballot-placed candidates plus Patricia Stratton (running a write-in) were there. Curtis [...]
Arg, meant to post this before now, but if you have tonight available, the CNAG (Centralville Neighborhood Action Group) is hosting their “Coffee with the Candidates” night tonight, 6:30pm at the Dom Polski Club Colburn Street and Lakeview Ave.
This will have a bit of a forum-like format so it’s worth [...]
Jackie has a well-written op-ed in the Lowell Sun criticizing a previous Sun piece promoting the “grades” given out for our school system that she believes are flawed.
I can’t pretend to know enough to make my own determination, but I’m not too enamored of the Pioneer Institute, so anything [...]
The Boston Globe has an article on the communities with preliminaries they (successfully or otherwise) requested to eliminate. Our mayor and challenger Patrick Murphy are quoted.
I find this interesting…in Gloucester, there’s a third person in the race for mayor, and this triggers a preliminary. The third candidate is a [...]
Information I got via email about a fundraiser for Ben Opara:
Date: Sunday, September 20, 2009.
Time: 6 p.m.-11 p.m.
Venue: The Elks Lodge (40 Old Ferry Road, Lowell)
RSVP: (978) 996 9135 or (978) 726 3236
Send Donations To:
Jeffrey Lambert (Treasurer)
Opara09 Campaign Committee
20 Arch Street
Lowell, [...]
I think it’s time to shine some light on the neglected School Committee and Regional Vocational School Committee races. Sure, there are less candidates than we’d like to see, but certainly, there are challengers and there are reasons to challenge the incumbents (especially certain ones).
To that end, I ask [...]
Sorry we’ve been so busy lately, but I will say that a lot of it is because Mimi and I are spending quite a lot of time taping city council candidates for the video questionnaires, an effort which is going pretty well I’d say.
It’s been a fascinating process, and I [...]
From the DPD folks:
Please join us for a public meeting to help plan the future of South Common.
On Wednesday evening, September 23rd from 7 pm to 9 pm. The meeting will be held at the Pollard Memorial Library (next to City Hall), 401 Merrimack Street.
Sponsored by the City of [...]
I’m glad we’re not the only ones who thought Councilor Kazanjian’s “I see no-ting! I hear no-ting!” defense on the council floor last week was unsatisfactory. A Sun editorial calls on him to resign:
Lowell City Councilor Alan Kazanjian too often has become entangled in such conflicts during his terms [...]
Today the state Senate takes up the idea of an interim appointment for vacancies in our delegation. I know the arguments on the other side, the “don’t change the rules midgame” ones, and the “you’re a hypocrite for even suggesting it might be OK to do this when you were [...]
From the campaign of Patrick Murphy, his 10 point plan for Lowell.
“Going Through the Motions”
Murphy Outlines a Plan to Set in Motion
Looking back through two years of the councilors’ motions seems like a tall task, but it is a much shorter one than it should be. Quantity is no [...]
Despite the problems in the economy, it’s been obvious that the Hamilton Canal projects have been moving forward. That’s a great sign for the city. To that end, Trinity is holding another Vision Session to outline the construction that will be happening, being held this Thursday night.
Old Walls. New [...]
Taking a peek at the CM’s blog recently, I noted a new post regarding work downtown to fix the cobblestones and crosswalks.
The streets impacted include Middle, Palmer, Shattuck, Central, Market, and Prescott.
The scope of work includes:
* Cobblestone repairs on Middle and Palmer Streets
* Installation of new [...]
Couple of campaign notices to post (sorry I didn’t post them yesterday!):
Syed Hussain is having his Campaign Kick-Off Party, with veggie and non veggie food, and performances by Neil Diamond, Elvis and Lowell High School American Idol Contestant Darnell Kenney. This is Sunday, August 30th, 2009, from 4:00pm - 8:00Pm, [...]
So, we’ve sent out our candidate questionnaires, largely made up of the many submitted questions from our readers. They should have received them already (candidates, if you do not, please let me know by email as soon as possible!).
But that’s not all. This year, at least for the City Council [...]
Information I have gotten on the motorcade and memorial services.
People who wish to honor Senator Kennedy today are urged to line the motorcade route at the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Greenway, City Hall Plaza and the Boston Common, in front of the Statehouse on Park Street.
Please see complete motorcade route below.
MOTORCADE [...]
Organizing to get the health care reform we really deserve in this country starts with us. On September 7th (Labor Day), at the Boston Common, people are gathering to rally for progressive health care reform at 11am. This’ll probably make Mr. Lynne groan that I’ve booked myself on his day [...]
The Herald reports that DeLeo joined Governor Patrick and Senate President Terese Murray in supporting the interim appointment change to MA state laws. (Via dkos.)
The proposal would not change the special election rules which would go on as planned, but would allow Governor Patrick the ability to appoint [...]
I think this is a great tribute to a man who did spend a lot of time listening to the people and their needs. Click here to send a personal note to the Kennedy family.
[...]My tribute to Senator Kennedy is to get back to talking about the issue he held dearest - and did not live to see fulfilled. That of quality, universally available, affordable health care.
We’ve been so focused here on the very real and very important issues in our local race, that [...]
