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The Paying Attention! 2001 Archives
     
December   Proposed Charter Changes
The Good, The Bad and the Missing

Councilor Pat Blanchette has worked hard on charter
changes. Here is what is proposed and sadly,
not proposed.
    Can Jose Santiago Survive?

His political obituary has been written more times than
I can count. Did his bid for mayor finally sink Santiago's carreer?


    We Have Plenty to Celebrate This Holiday Season
The Justice Department may be fooled by the naysayers in
Lawrence but we have come a long way in such a short period of time.

11/30/01

  

Plenty of Blame to Go Around in DSS, Dog Case

The Department of Social Services is a joke. And a bad one at that!
   

Some Thoughts on Our Outgoing Officials

We have several outgoing elected officials. Here are some thoughts on them.

11/12/01

   The Election is Over! Today We Are All Lawrencians!

No matter who you voted for in this years election for mayor, let's put our political feelings aside and support the new mayor.

11/01/01

   Lawrence Needs Less Affordable Housing

You know it’s election time again when local candidates start advocating more affordable housing for the city. The mantra we hear from poverty pimps like Lawrence Community Works and liberal politicians is that we (the tax payers) have to do something for poor people who need a place to live. They say it is the responsibility of government to provide low income housing for those who cannot afford it. And the sad thing is, it sounds good so people buy into it.

10/20/01

   When "No" Means "Yes"

What do politicians do when the people they serve pass laws they don’t like? Well, refuse to enforce them of course. What do those same politicians do when the people demand those laws be enforced? Well, they amend the law with loopholes so it is watered down to the point where it is ineffective and impossible to enforce.

10/15/01

   So, Now What?

So who do you vote for now? Mike Sullivan and Isabel Melendez have both won the primary vote. Normally, I sit here at the computer and type out my take on things based on opinions and facts that I gather in the political arena.

10/8/01

   What the Next Mayor can learn from Marcos Devers!

On his first day in office Marcos Devers was already showing the people of Lawrence what effective leadership is all about.

10/01/01

   Evaluating the Strengths and Weaknesses of the Mayoral Candidates


There are five candidates running for mayor. Each of them have their own unique strengths and weaknesses in this election. Here is an unbiased look at each of their strengths and weaknesses as campaigners. This is not an evaluation of their abilities only their electability.

9/20/01

   No Ice Cream for Hispanics
Council on Aging Should be Ashamed

Posters promoting an ice cream party at the Lawrence senior center made it clear that everyone was invited. The posters even encouraged participants to bring their friends. But when the event took place a few weeks ago it was clear that everyone was not welcome.

9/15/01

   At Large Candidates Debate Part 1

At Large Candidates Debate Part 2
    How America Was Caught Off Guard

9/8/01

   Les Bernal Comes under Attack by Mayor Dowling in Retribution for Essem Vote

The Mayor failed to renameLes Bernal to the Liscensing Board in retaliation for his vote on the Essem housing development.

9/1/01

  

Rent Control Divides Mayoral Candidates

There is no question that Rent Control will be a big issue in this year’s mayoral race.

    Lack of Latino Candidates Proves Redistricting is a Sham!

Some Latinos cry that the city charter locks them out of the election process. Yet, where were the latino candidates this year?
8/24/01   Councilor Calls For Dowling to Make A Decision
    A Response to Armand Hyatt and Lawrence Community Works

You guys will love this! Armand Hyatt and Lawrence Community Works are actually trying to deny the facts.

08/22/01  

Glen Street Fire Station Must Be Opened!
The Money is Available, I Will Show You!

For years we have been told there is not money to open the Glen St. Fire Station!
But we waste millions of dollars on giveaway programs while people in South
Lawrence go unprotected. The money is there and I will show you!
    Guess Who is Going to be the New Airport Director?
A funny thing happened on the way to the airport! Once considered the Mayor's
puppet, Acting Airport Director Mike Miller has bucked the Mayor by promoting
the lease of airport land and by all accounts will be the next permanent Airport
Director.
08/08/01  

Looking Back on A Term Deceit and Treachery

Mayor Dowling lied on her application to be a judge in Essex County. What kind of judge will she be?
Let's look back shall we?
07/09/01   Council Meetings to be Translated in Spanish

To be perfectly honest with you, I think this is a GOOD idea. Here's why:
    Justice Department Is Wrong
Council Should Stand Up For What’s Right

If the Justice Department of the United States thinks they can come in here and bully local officials, the council should welcome the fight and send them back to Washington!
   

Cable Access in Lawrence is a Joke!

Shows run at the wrong times, the visual quality is horrible, sometimes there is no
sound or the sound quality fluctuates within a program broadcast and worst of
all, out of town programming is given priority over local shows.

   

Parents Should Pay for Vandalism Done to Frost School

One School Committee member says that the parents of six children who vandalized the
Fronst School should be made to pay. Two parents on the board say no!
07/01/01   Laboy Should Put Security Back in Schools
Superintendent Laboy has taken security out of our school buildings leaving
them unprotected on nights and weekends. Is there any wonder the Frost School
was broken into and vandalized?

  
06/22/01   No Racist Remark was Made
Tribune Misses the Story Again
How amazing is this? Julia Silverio claims someone made a racist remark at a City
Council Sub-Committee meeting, but what really happened? Tribune reporter Mark
Vogler wrote the story claiming the remark was made. He sat through this meeting and
didn't bother to ask anyone in the audience what really happened. Here's the real story!

  
06/15/01  

Santiago says He Will File Hit and Run Legislation

State Representative Santago sent out a press release saying he intends to file hit and
run legislation to toughen penalties for hit and run driver.

  
06/08/01  

209A Reform is Long Overdue

The current laws governing restraining orders are unfair to the accused and must be
reformed. A bill in the legislature aims to do just that.

  
    Licensing Board Should Grant License to Hispanic Club!

  
   

If you Want More Representation, Get Involved!

Hispanics activists in Lawrence are trying to change the city charter so it is easier for
Hispanics to get elected. Their plan is designed to favor one group and doesn't solve
the problem.
06/01/01   Lawrence City Charter Needs Real Change!
If we ever expect to change Lawrence for the better, we have to make major changes in
our city charter.

  
    Judge Says Duggan to Attend September Academy
by Dalia Diaz

  
06/01/01  

MCA Director Says Tribune was out to get Duggan Fired
(reprinted from Rumbo, by Angela Ortiz)

MCA Director told the listening audience of WCCM's Paying Attention! radio program
that the Eagle Tribune manufactured astory about Tom Duggan to get himfiredfrom his
private sector job.

 
    Hack Squad Comes Out for Sullivan

Mayoral candidate Mike Sullivan held a fund raiser last week at the Lawrence British Club on
Cambridge Street. Almost every political hack in the city was in attendance. City workers from
almost every department in city hall packed the club in order show support for Mr. Sullivan.

  
   

Quartarone, Sullivan Lead Citywide Poll

A Poll conducted by the Concerned Citizens for Lawrence reveal Sullivan and
Quartarone are the front runners for the Lawrence Mayor's race. Look at the numbers.

 
5/26/01  

Selectman John Leeman, The Latest Victim!

The Eagle Tribune used a lawsuit against North Andover Selectman John Leeman as an
excuse to trash his family and his reputation. The editorial board at the Tribune has
plenty of skeletons in their closets. Who are they to pretent to be the morality police in
the Merrimack Valley?

  
05/18/01   A Brief Look at the Mayoral Candidates
The Lawrence city primary elections are in October of this year. Here is a brief look at the
candidates for mayor.

  
5/1/01   Black Citizens Demand Compensation
Some Realistic and Sobering Thoughts on Slavery and Financial Reparations

  
    Who has the right to Speak out?
Was Superintendent Right to Terminate Assistant Principal
Of course, everything that happens in Lawrence is racism when you are a minority. But, was
Superintendent Laboy right to fire an Assistant Principal for her public behavior?

  
   

Choose Your Candidates Wisely
How to Get Through the Doublespeak

Every politician follows a certain script when speaking in public or answering debate questions.
That's why they all look alike, sound alike and that's whyt things never change. Here's some
advice onhow to get real answers.

  
4/22/01   State Representative Jose Santiago:
"I Filed My Taxes On Time!"
Globe and Eagle Tribune Paint Him As Tax Cheat
Shoddy journalism prevails! Santiago has proof he paid his taxes!

 
4/15/01  

Representative Santiago Supports Protection of Marriage Bill

State Representative Jose Santiago announced on the Paying Attention! radio program that he will
support House Bill 3375, which will define marriage as only the union between a man and a woman.

  
   

When Does the Rhetoric Stop and the Problem Solving Begin?

As long as political activists on the left continue to paint those who disagree with them as
homophobes, racists, etc. we will never come to a middle ground and solve te social problems
facing this nation.

  
04/15/01   Pedro Acre, A Political Puppet in the Making!
The real reson Mike Sweeney dropped out of the mayor's race.

 
04/01/01  

A Cleaner Lawrence Starts With You

Don't blame city officials for the dirty conditions of our city streets. It is we who throw trash in the
streets, neglect our property and fail to sweep the sidewalks in front of our homes.


 
    I'm a Columnist Folks! Not a Reporter

Some morons just don't get it! So I will spell it out for them one mre time. (Memo to Julio Slverio,
Pedro Arce and WHAV radio; if you know how to read you should read this.)

  
3/22/01   Eagle Tribune Attacks
The Eagle Tribune printed this bogus story. Read it for yourself and then read Mass. Citizens
Alliance Executive Director, Bryan G. Rudnick's response below.

  
    Lawrence City Council Supports Cronyism

The Lawrence City Council had a chance to eliminate cronyism and patronage on the
School Committee by passing an ordinance barring city employees from serving ont he
School Committee. Once again, politics stands in the way of progress.

  
03/15/01  

It's Time to Face the Truth About Violent Youth

In Florida, a 14 year old boy was convicted of killing a 6 year old girl. Why is the media trying to make us feel bad for the killer because he will spend the rest of his life in jail? He should never see the light of day again!

  
03/08/01   Massachusetts Citizens Alliance Fights to Protect the Integrity of Marriage!

  
03/01/01  

The Lawrence City Council!
When Privilege is Better Than Pay

Lawrence City Councilor Marie Gosselin has been receiving some very unusual city services.

 
   

Laboy says Teach Them in English
Carrero Says Teach them in Espanol

Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy has decided to change the way we educate Spanish speaking
students. No more teaching in Spanish to kindergarten children. But Committeeman Ralph
Carrero says we should use your tax money to teach their language and culture.

  
   

School Security to be Cut in Lawrence

We have invested millions of dollars in our schools. Suddenly, the new superintendent has decided
to cut third shift security officers leaving our schools unprotected late at night.

 
 
2/22/01  

You Can’t Do Enough for Some People

We give out millions of dollars in state taxes via a minority business loan program. The only way
you can qualify for some of these loans is to be Hispanic. But that's not enough for some people.
Some of the people who get our tax money say the program is racist because the applications are
not translated into Spanish. God forbid we dare to speak English to them on the phone. After all,
this is only the United States of America!

  
    State Inspectors Expose Abuse and Neglect in Massachusetts Nursing Homes
Karen Crummy of the Boston Herald reported on the abuse and neglect of elderly
residents of Massachusetts nursing homes. Here are the details!

  
02/01/01   Why Poor Communities Hate the MCAS Test
The MCAS test has proven that poor, minority communities are not educating our children. Making the test
easier for minorities is proof that we have lower expectations for black and Hispanic children.

 
    Laboy’s Insubordination must not be tolerated!
There is no leadership on the School Committee
A member of the School Committee asks the superintendent to answer a question about employee
raises, and the superintendent of schools refused to answer. Why do we tolerate this?

  
    You have the Right Get An Abortion
But You Don’t Have the Right to Make the Rest of Us Pay For it!
On his first day as my new president, George W. Bush cut all federal funding for abortions being
performed in other countries. Are you guys kidding me? Why are we paying for abotions in other
countries?

  
01/22/01   Commentary on Attorney General Nominee John Ashcroft
The truth about John Ashcroft is not being told by the media.

  
    Men in Motion Comes to Lawrence High School,
So many questions so few answers!
You may want to be careful about letting your kids watch the Lawrence Public Schools education
channel these days. Lawrence High held a Men in Motion competition and they are showing it on
Channel 10!

  
1/15/01   Lawrence Superintendent Sells Out
Wasn’t he the guy who promised no more political patronage?
Superintendent Wilfredo Laboy promised the city that he would not hire political friends and bring
back integrity to the superintendent's office. He said so on my radio show. He said so in the video
taped interview he did before the school committee. But now he has broken his promise and proven
that he is nothing more than a politican. He should resign.


  
1/09/01   Lawrence Attorney, Anthony DiFrucia Accused of False Advertisement
Lawrence Attorney and New Hampshire State Representative Anthony DiFruscia is being accused
of false advertising for using the names of former colleagues in an advertisement placed in the
Andover Townsman. At least one of the lawyers unlawfully mentioned in the ad is contemplating
filing a complaint wit the bar association.

  
    An Interview with State Rep. Barry Finegold
State Rep. Barry Finegold appeared on the Paying Attention! radio program and answered some
tough questions on partial birth abortion, the death penalty, the residency requirement, crime, and
a host of other topics. Finegold represents Andover and Lawrence at the State House.


 
01/01/01   City Forces Injured Officers to Sue For Disability Benefits Due Them
Just who is Meditrol Inc? Police Officers in the City of Lawrence are being denied disability status
and benefits because the Mayor has hired a company from Chicopee Mass., to make decisions
that should be made in by theCity Attorney's office. And what is the result? Cops are forced to sue
the city for benefits and damages.

 
    Rosa Wins Court Judgement
City Must Pay Out
Lawrence police officer Rafael Rosa won an arbitration hearing forcing the city to pay him for time
he was out on disability after being denied benefits by Mayor Dowling and Chief John Romero.
Guess who pays the damages for their political posturing? We do!