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Dear readers:
I feel I should let you know that this will be my last entry on this wonderful blog called CHOWMEINSAMMICH. This venue for opinion, strong and shrill at times though it may have been, literally saved my life and gave voice to one who was forgotten and desolate.
All I have ever tried to do is bring to light things that were being done within the City's governence that were clearly wrong, inherant with conflict of interest, and just plain stupid. I do not suffer stupid people easily, so you can imagine how much suffering I have done when discussing the politics and govenment and some of this City's more self proclaimed colorful movers and shakers in Fall River.
It can be painful to watch what goes on day in and day out, and wonder why such treasure is wasted and be amazed by the way it is being wasted. There are far many more good, solid and strong citizens than there are otherwise in Fall River, and they are hurt everyday by the way their institutions of government work. This has been the case for decades. I have always wondered why these good people stand by and let it all happen, but I guess in Fall River the voting populace reacts to the familiar politicians and key City managers the way a battered woman reacts to her batterer. They sit by transfixed out of a state of panic and confusion, terrified to do something different that could save them. And ladies and gentlemen, just like the woman who remains because of a feeling of being trapped, you too will continue to take a beating in your daily lives and your pocketbooks by staying with this collection of opportunists who only care about their futures, not yours. Believe it, because it's the truth, and you know it is! The past is prologue, especially in Fall River.
Ladies and gentlemen, I have seen all the ways to manage a municipality, every one, but I have never seen things done like the way they are done in Fall River. You are headed to a state takeover of some form within a year or two at the most. Probably next year, after the election. Given my experience in this City, I find that both ironic and somehow apropos.
I am ending this experiment in open communication and free speech because the thuggish powers that be are doing what they do to those who get to close to that raw nerve called the truth. Bullying and extortion seem to be the only real talent the movers and shakers in this city seem to understand. Free speech must go on, but not from this venue, not any longer. My loved one's read what's being said by the friends of FROED and Mayor Flanagan, and have urged me to step down and stop this blog. As much as I want to lash out and fight these tin-pot tyrants, I have to seriously consider the needs of those I care for after years of not putting their needs first. So yes, the pressure was personal, as is my decision.
One thing I will always be extremely proud of is that I NEVER tried to remove a comment left on the blog or tried to censor anything anybody said on this blog! Not one time - that is the very essence of free speech. That is what your City leaders want to stop! Leave no doubt in your mind about that....you have to ask yourselves why?
So that's it folks. It's been privilege and an honor to have served you. I have enjoyed this experience immensely. I sincerely hope some other intrepid Free Speech Patriot can step forward and take up the cudgel, especially against sources of profound stupidity in Fall River like the Fall River Herald News. I shudder to think of the HN as the only outlet for what is happening in this City. However, Shamrockblogger and Lefty do a wonderful job on their blogs and if you haven't been to their blogs I urge you to do so...both guys have a serious clue and are a great read.
I'm out of here folks, gone for good.
I'll leave you all with this, and especially the people who know who they are, because truer words were never spoken:
The sun doesn't shine on the same dogs ass everyday.
Remember that boys when you find the sun not shining on yours.....opps, I feel an overcast day coming!
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
THIS is a worthwhile program!
FARM LEAGUE: CSAs a chance to
buy local and protect rural land
***************
By Linda Murphy
Special to The Herald News
Posted May 11, 2010 @ 04:37 PM
Last update May 11, 2010 @ 04:56 PM
***************
Dartmouth — If there’s one bit of advice that farmer Andy Pollack hopes the public will follow, it’s the local food movement mantra: Eat your view.
One of the best ways to maintain rural farmland and ensure an abundance of locally grown food, he said, is by joining a community-supported agriculture program such as the one he runs at Silverbrook Farm on Chace Road in Dartmouth.
“If your goal is to encourage agriculture in Dartmouth, then the best way to do that is by making the work profitable for local farmers,” he said.
In a CSA program, customers sign up and pay in advance for a share of the farm’s crops, which they pick up at the farm every week during the growing season, which at most area farms starts at the end of June and runs for about 20 weeks. The benefit to farmers over customers purchasing from local farmers markets in the summer is that the CSA advance payments provide farmers with much-needed funds at the start the season.
“We have a lot of money going out in labor this time of year without a lot of money coming in,” he said. “A CSA is a partnership with the farmer.”
In turn, he said, CSA members get the pick of the crop every week at prices discounted below his farmers market prices and the opportunity to reconnect with the farmers that produce their food.
“When I was a kid we had strawberries in June and July and that was it — now you can get blueberries at Christmas and corn all year long. People are so disconnected from their food systems now. They don’t know what’s local anymore,” he said. “With a CSA people bring their kids to a farm so they can have an imprint of the farm. They can see how the fields are being taken care of, how the animals are treated, and they can see that their food is being produced by people who are being paid fair wages.”
Pollack’s parents purchased the farm, which dates back to the 1600s, in 1953 and operated it as a horse farm. When he returned to live at the family homestead about 14 years ago, he decided to give up a successful career in the medical field and devote his time to returning the farm to agricultural production. He said they use sustainable farming practices on the farm — meaning no herbicides or pesticides — elephant manure from Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford and even the natural energy of the farm pig, Ellie Mae, to rut the fields.
Though the first pickup date of June 23 is several weeks away, he’s already inviting members to pick up fresh eggs, which he said he has in abundance right now.
“That’s another benefit; when we’re swamped with something we pass it along to our CSA members,” he said.
But as anyone who has ever tried to grow a vegetable garden in the unpredictable New England weather knows, there’s also a risk: a lousy growing season means smaller crops. In order to mitigate the risk, he said, they’ve entered into a partnership with several other Dartmouth and Westport area farms whose products are also featured at the weekly pickups.
“That’s something that’s a little different at our CSA — most CSAs are just one farm. We try to eliminate the risk by working with other farms. Instead of competing with each other, we all work together.”
When the season officially kicks off on June 23, CSA members, who purchase a half-share (good for about two people) or a full share (a family-sized portion) get to pick out their produce from a makeshift farm stand assembled in the second floor of the barn every Wednesday afternoon. The partnership with the area producers may also feature fresh eggs, herbs, locally made cheeses and jams as well as other farm products throughout the season. Though each week is different, he said a typical CSA share at the height of the growing season in late July, August and September might feature a selection of tomatoes, corn, green beans, blueberries, zucchini and summer squash, eggplant, peppers, peas and braising greens such as kale, bok choy, and Swiss chard.
“It’s wonderful for the kids and it’s very peaceful for the parents,” he said.
For more information, see www.silverbrookdartmouth.com. To find other area CSA programs and for additional information on the growing season, see www.umassd.edu/semap and http://www.farmfreshri.org/.
Very seldom am I able to present my readers with an idea that is timely, forward-looking, worthwhile and desperately needed. This one fulfills all those categories.
The growth of CSA'a, or community-supported agriculture, could solve numerous problems for the Southcoast region, and Fall River especially. Our community has precious few areas on it's outskirts that could be successfully utilized to provide money producing buinessses for those intrepid souls with the spirit, patience and talent to grow things. It also would be a way to maintain those areas from further encroachment by those looking to build more useless industrial parks. Green space in urban areas are a most neceassary resource. And the food that would be produced locally could both feed families on relief with cheaper, locally grown produce and remove individuals from the welfare rolls. This program works and needs to be expanded.
I wholeheartedly support the rise of CSA's in our region and urge you to support the farms that provide us all with their agricultural products. A little cooperative farming never hurt a capatalist, and may provide a way to get by for a whole bunch of folks.
buy local and protect rural land
***************
By Linda Murphy
Special to The Herald News
Posted May 11, 2010 @ 04:37 PM
Last update May 11, 2010 @ 04:56 PM
***************
Dartmouth — If there’s one bit of advice that farmer Andy Pollack hopes the public will follow, it’s the local food movement mantra: Eat your view.
One of the best ways to maintain rural farmland and ensure an abundance of locally grown food, he said, is by joining a community-supported agriculture program such as the one he runs at Silverbrook Farm on Chace Road in Dartmouth.
“If your goal is to encourage agriculture in Dartmouth, then the best way to do that is by making the work profitable for local farmers,” he said.
In a CSA program, customers sign up and pay in advance for a share of the farm’s crops, which they pick up at the farm every week during the growing season, which at most area farms starts at the end of June and runs for about 20 weeks. The benefit to farmers over customers purchasing from local farmers markets in the summer is that the CSA advance payments provide farmers with much-needed funds at the start the season.
“We have a lot of money going out in labor this time of year without a lot of money coming in,” he said. “A CSA is a partnership with the farmer.”
In turn, he said, CSA members get the pick of the crop every week at prices discounted below his farmers market prices and the opportunity to reconnect with the farmers that produce their food.
“When I was a kid we had strawberries in June and July and that was it — now you can get blueberries at Christmas and corn all year long. People are so disconnected from their food systems now. They don’t know what’s local anymore,” he said. “With a CSA people bring their kids to a farm so they can have an imprint of the farm. They can see how the fields are being taken care of, how the animals are treated, and they can see that their food is being produced by people who are being paid fair wages.”
Pollack’s parents purchased the farm, which dates back to the 1600s, in 1953 and operated it as a horse farm. When he returned to live at the family homestead about 14 years ago, he decided to give up a successful career in the medical field and devote his time to returning the farm to agricultural production. He said they use sustainable farming practices on the farm — meaning no herbicides or pesticides — elephant manure from Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford and even the natural energy of the farm pig, Ellie Mae, to rut the fields.
Though the first pickup date of June 23 is several weeks away, he’s already inviting members to pick up fresh eggs, which he said he has in abundance right now.
“That’s another benefit; when we’re swamped with something we pass it along to our CSA members,” he said.
But as anyone who has ever tried to grow a vegetable garden in the unpredictable New England weather knows, there’s also a risk: a lousy growing season means smaller crops. In order to mitigate the risk, he said, they’ve entered into a partnership with several other Dartmouth and Westport area farms whose products are also featured at the weekly pickups.
“That’s something that’s a little different at our CSA — most CSAs are just one farm. We try to eliminate the risk by working with other farms. Instead of competing with each other, we all work together.”
When the season officially kicks off on June 23, CSA members, who purchase a half-share (good for about two people) or a full share (a family-sized portion) get to pick out their produce from a makeshift farm stand assembled in the second floor of the barn every Wednesday afternoon. The partnership with the area producers may also feature fresh eggs, herbs, locally made cheeses and jams as well as other farm products throughout the season. Though each week is different, he said a typical CSA share at the height of the growing season in late July, August and September might feature a selection of tomatoes, corn, green beans, blueberries, zucchini and summer squash, eggplant, peppers, peas and braising greens such as kale, bok choy, and Swiss chard.
“It’s wonderful for the kids and it’s very peaceful for the parents,” he said.
For more information, see www.silverbrookdartmouth.com. To find other area CSA programs and for additional information on the growing season, see www.umassd.edu/semap and http://www.farmfreshri.org/.
Very seldom am I able to present my readers with an idea that is timely, forward-looking, worthwhile and desperately needed. This one fulfills all those categories.
The growth of CSA'a, or community-supported agriculture, could solve numerous problems for the Southcoast region, and Fall River especially. Our community has precious few areas on it's outskirts that could be successfully utilized to provide money producing buinessses for those intrepid souls with the spirit, patience and talent to grow things. It also would be a way to maintain those areas from further encroachment by those looking to build more useless industrial parks. Green space in urban areas are a most neceassary resource. And the food that would be produced locally could both feed families on relief with cheaper, locally grown produce and remove individuals from the welfare rolls. This program works and needs to be expanded.
I wholeheartedly support the rise of CSA's in our region and urge you to support the farms that provide us all with their agricultural products. A little cooperative farming never hurt a capatalist, and may provide a way to get by for a whole bunch of folks.
Of Stupidity and Selfishness
Fiola: Don't panic about parking
in downtown Fall River
***************
By Kevin P. O’Connor
Herald News Staff Reporter
Posted May 11, 2010 @ 09:27 PM
***************
FALL RIVER — When the time comes to leave your car somewhere downtown for your day in court, the city has some simple advice:
Don’t panic, peruse.
“There is plenty of parking downtown,” said Kenneth Fiola, the city’s parking czar. “We have been keeping an eye on this for months now.
“Perception is becoming reality. People believe there is no parking. But you just have to take a look around. There is.”
Fiola, the executive director of the Fall River Office of Economic Development, has been taking increasing heat over the past few months as the Fall River Justice Center, 186 S. Main St., prepares to open for business.
The facility was built by the state and will house county courts, but government officials decided that parking for the structure was a city problem.
The new courthouse has 15 parking spaces. Ten of those are promised to judges. Court officials estimate the court will add 200 to 300 cars a day to the streets around downtown.
No new parking has been added.
Nor is it needed, Fiola said.
“I’ve been keeping an active eye on the on-street and active parking around the courthouse,” he said. “There is plenty of it.
“I know no one wants to hear this, but this will sort itself out. There is enough parking. This isn’t a severe problem.”
Fiola gave a tour last week, looping through the Pearl Street parking garage and weaving through the streets of Corky Row right behind the new courthouse, pointing out long stretches of empty curbs with unused parking meters at the ready.
The entire fourth level of the parking garage on Pearl Street was empty, as were most of the second and third levels of the parking garage on Third Street.
The same was true Tuesday, with 100 empty spots in the Third Street garage and 125 empty spots in the Pearl Street garage. There were at least another 100 metered spots available on both Tuesday and Friday on Pearl Street, Second Street and Borden Street. At the flat lot at Borden and Fourth Streets, half the 110 spots were empty.
Of course, parking downtown has been a challenge since Americans began relying on automobiles as the first choice in local transportation. The downtown district, built before cars were common, has struggled to accommodate them.
“It is a common complaint of my customers, that there is no place to park,” said Don Facchiano, the cobbler located at the corner of Columbia Street and South Main Street. “This has gone on forever.
“When the courthouse opens, it will be even worse. It has to be.”
“I’ve worked on this street for 46 years. Parking just keeps getting worse,” said barber Al DeMatos of Alvaro’s Hair Salon, 348 S. Main St., right across the street from Facchiano’s.
“The city has had opportunities to purchase property around her for parking and it never did,” DeMatos said. “Every administration in city hall has been blind to the needs of downtown.”
One proposal has been to change most of the meters on Second Street and Pearl Street to allow five hours of parking to accommodate those going into the court. Ida Andrade, the owner of Tavares Bakery, 411 Second St., hopes the city proceeds cautiously with that plan.
“If they change all the meters from two hours to five hours, that will hurt me,” she said. “I hope they will leave some two-hour meters near me.
“I’m a block away from the courthouse. I don’t know if it will give me any walk-in trade, but I know I’ll lose business if people can’t park right outside.
“People want convenience.”
But some people will have to accept walking a few blocks when they have to do business in the courts, Fiola said. The city is looking at putting together a parking map to be available through the courts. The city will also meet with court officials this week to discuss where jurors will park when they report for duty.
One plan is to pave over the entire lot at the former N.B. Borden School, at the corner of Morgan and Whipple Street, to use it for juror parking. That lot is about a quarter mile from the new courthouse.
The city’s position, Fiola said, is that it is reasonable to expect people to walk a quarter mile, about two blocks, to get to court.
And there is an upside to that, at least for one business. People walking back and forth to court will wear out their sneakers and hiking boots faster.
“Hopefully, I’ll fix those shoes,” Facchiano, the cobbler, said.
E-mail Kevin P. O’Connor at koconnor@heraldnews.com
Stupid is as Stupid does? Dumb and Dumberer? Help me, I lost my mind and can't remember where I left It? Stupid people shouldn't breed? I just can't pick the one that best seems to apply. Maybe they all do.
We are being taken on a wonderful journey through the great and vast expanses of that low barren flatland known as the mind of FROED'S Executive Vice President Ken Fiola . There are no rivers, streams or lakes. No hills or mountains or grassy green lush valleys. No forests or even rock formations in which to go splunking. No, there is only a barren wasteland of almost desert-like territory. There's nothing around to even produce an echo. No, just the vast enjoyable space of blank nothingness in the mind of Ken Fiola. How do we know? WE just listen to him. Then we know for sure.
To paraphrase a quote from Mr. Fiola from this article, "Perception is becoming reality. People believe FROED and FIOLA do nothing. But you just have to look around. They don't."
I wonder whose time is running out faster, FROED and Fiola's or Fall River's ?
in downtown Fall River
***************
By Kevin P. O’Connor
Herald News Staff Reporter
Posted May 11, 2010 @ 09:27 PM
***************
FALL RIVER — When the time comes to leave your car somewhere downtown for your day in court, the city has some simple advice:
Don’t panic, peruse.
“There is plenty of parking downtown,” said Kenneth Fiola, the city’s parking czar. “We have been keeping an eye on this for months now.
“Perception is becoming reality. People believe there is no parking. But you just have to take a look around. There is.”
Fiola, the executive director of the Fall River Office of Economic Development, has been taking increasing heat over the past few months as the Fall River Justice Center, 186 S. Main St., prepares to open for business.
The facility was built by the state and will house county courts, but government officials decided that parking for the structure was a city problem.
The new courthouse has 15 parking spaces. Ten of those are promised to judges. Court officials estimate the court will add 200 to 300 cars a day to the streets around downtown.
No new parking has been added.
Nor is it needed, Fiola said.
“I’ve been keeping an active eye on the on-street and active parking around the courthouse,” he said. “There is plenty of it.
“I know no one wants to hear this, but this will sort itself out. There is enough parking. This isn’t a severe problem.”
Fiola gave a tour last week, looping through the Pearl Street parking garage and weaving through the streets of Corky Row right behind the new courthouse, pointing out long stretches of empty curbs with unused parking meters at the ready.
The entire fourth level of the parking garage on Pearl Street was empty, as were most of the second and third levels of the parking garage on Third Street.
The same was true Tuesday, with 100 empty spots in the Third Street garage and 125 empty spots in the Pearl Street garage. There were at least another 100 metered spots available on both Tuesday and Friday on Pearl Street, Second Street and Borden Street. At the flat lot at Borden and Fourth Streets, half the 110 spots were empty.
Of course, parking downtown has been a challenge since Americans began relying on automobiles as the first choice in local transportation. The downtown district, built before cars were common, has struggled to accommodate them.
“It is a common complaint of my customers, that there is no place to park,” said Don Facchiano, the cobbler located at the corner of Columbia Street and South Main Street. “This has gone on forever.
“When the courthouse opens, it will be even worse. It has to be.”
“I’ve worked on this street for 46 years. Parking just keeps getting worse,” said barber Al DeMatos of Alvaro’s Hair Salon, 348 S. Main St., right across the street from Facchiano’s.
“The city has had opportunities to purchase property around her for parking and it never did,” DeMatos said. “Every administration in city hall has been blind to the needs of downtown.”
One proposal has been to change most of the meters on Second Street and Pearl Street to allow five hours of parking to accommodate those going into the court. Ida Andrade, the owner of Tavares Bakery, 411 Second St., hopes the city proceeds cautiously with that plan.
“If they change all the meters from two hours to five hours, that will hurt me,” she said. “I hope they will leave some two-hour meters near me.
“I’m a block away from the courthouse. I don’t know if it will give me any walk-in trade, but I know I’ll lose business if people can’t park right outside.
“People want convenience.”
But some people will have to accept walking a few blocks when they have to do business in the courts, Fiola said. The city is looking at putting together a parking map to be available through the courts. The city will also meet with court officials this week to discuss where jurors will park when they report for duty.
One plan is to pave over the entire lot at the former N.B. Borden School, at the corner of Morgan and Whipple Street, to use it for juror parking. That lot is about a quarter mile from the new courthouse.
The city’s position, Fiola said, is that it is reasonable to expect people to walk a quarter mile, about two blocks, to get to court.
And there is an upside to that, at least for one business. People walking back and forth to court will wear out their sneakers and hiking boots faster.
“Hopefully, I’ll fix those shoes,” Facchiano, the cobbler, said.
E-mail Kevin P. O’Connor at koconnor@heraldnews.com
Stupid is as Stupid does? Dumb and Dumberer? Help me, I lost my mind and can't remember where I left It? Stupid people shouldn't breed? I just can't pick the one that best seems to apply. Maybe they all do.
We are being taken on a wonderful journey through the great and vast expanses of that low barren flatland known as the mind of FROED'S Executive Vice President Ken Fiola . There are no rivers, streams or lakes. No hills or mountains or grassy green lush valleys. No forests or even rock formations in which to go splunking. No, there is only a barren wasteland of almost desert-like territory. There's nothing around to even produce an echo. No, just the vast enjoyable space of blank nothingness in the mind of Ken Fiola. How do we know? WE just listen to him. Then we know for sure.
"“There is plenty of parking downtown,” said Kenneth Fiola, the city’s parking czar. “We have been keeping an eye on this for months now.Everytime this dullard opens his mouth we are left with that quesy feeling in the pit of our stomachs that we have truly bought a pig in a poke with our close to $200,000 a year in salary and benefits. The best thing he's managed to do in all the time I've lived in Fall River is hold a cardboard check at the announcment of a grant to clean up City Pier. No really, he didn't even fall off the pier or anything!
“Perception is becoming reality. People believe there is no parking. But you just have to take a look around. There is.”"
That's Ken Fiola way over on the left. Who says you can't hire ex-Durfee basketball palyers!
Clutch work Kenny, Clutch!
But this current folly might be his, and FROED'S, greatest screw up! And that's really saying something. WE even have proof. This is a debacle of biblical proportions.
You see, there is no proof currently available that Ken Fiola and FROED ever applied for a T.I.G.E.R. grant for a parking facility or parking relief of some sort for this Central Business District (CBD) butchering Downtown Courthouse facility. (I refuse to call this ugly edifice "the Justice Center"...no justice was done in the planning , construction or current existence of this place, and never shall it be!). T.I.G.E.R. grant application files and awards have been examind. There is no proof this clown ever applied for a single such grant. But he CLAIMS he did. He's done that publicly.
This is Ken Fiola's normal brain activity...barren and empty
So in a singularly and mindblowingly unfathomable exhibition of blatant stupidity reserved only for hack hires in the City of Fall River, Mr. Fiola continues to assert that the search for available parking spaces for the new courthouse "will work itself out". Yeah Kenny, that's what they said about the Great Depression. That only took 10 years to sort out.
Ken Fiola's mind when talking without thinking:
Note the empty spaces causing brainfarts
Fiola has been strangely silent on the issue of wheteher or not he DID so apply for grants for a parking facility for the Courthouse. It's a silence that is very telling coming from a man known as "The Weeper" for defending himself so vigorously when challanged. This does not portend good things for parking in the downtown area which was in terrible shape PRIOR to the new courthouse being placed smack-dab in the middle of the CBD.
What was Fiola doing as the legend of the dullard from FROED continued to grow? He was out in Chi-town at a taxpayer paid road trip to attend a conference dedicated to the Bio-Tech industry, FROED'S other great mission of the damned to screw up Fall River for generations. WE know it affectionately as the Fiola Ebola Bob-Bon Factory and Death Defying Thrill Ride Park. The members of the FROED Board of Directors and the FR Chamber of Commerce call it "Honey, order steak tonight, I got a sucker on the line big-time" and kid's college tuition fund. Guess who'll pay the most into this fund?...YOU guessed it, it's YOU!!! Their attitude is, "Hey, enjoy what quasi-government and private sector organizations are doing for you!" But I digress...that's a subject for another day!
For far too long this City has poured hundreds of thousands of dollars down the FROED sinkhole. It literally has nothing to show for this expenditure of funds. At a time of absolute municipal budget crisis, how can continuing to spend big bucks for nothing be justified, especially when we may be cutting Police, Fire, School Teachers and Support Staff and DPW yet again. It is an unconscionable and taxpayer mockery that FROED continues to operate in a way that produes nothing yet tells us that everything is just fine, that "things will work themselves out." They will not just work themselves out, they never do in Fall River, or anywhere for that matter.
I blame the powers that be that allow some unqualified "attorney" named Ken Fiola to stumble, bumble and now mumble his way through our tax dollars with nothing to show for it. The only way this guy keeps his job is because he's doing the bidding of the Karam Harem and the big time supporters of Mayor Flanagan. After all, Mayor Flanagan is the Chairman of the FROED Board of Directors. Yet he too remains strangely silent on FROED's and Fiola's utter failure to produce anything for the money they eat up each year, year in and year out.
Sorry Will Flanagan, it's all on your back. Everytime this brain dead fool Fiola says that the downtown parking situation "will work itself out", your the one who'll get the public kick in the keister. And that's the right thing. You can stop all this and you do nothing to do so! Man, only 5 months into your term and your true colors are coming to light. You seem to be no better than the man you replaced. You might even be worse, because Correia never tried telling everyone he was other than he was - an old fashioned power politician. You ran telling everyone you'd be different. You are not and you are surrounded by small minded, power hungry cretins like your self. The truth of your administration displays itself more with each day that passes. There is no grand vision here for Fall River's survival. There is only tunnel vision for personal financial and political agendas. So typically sad for this City that needs legitimate and selfless leaders more than the phlanx of would be Elmer Gantry's with which it has been cursed.
Ken Fiola, astride his parking space bereft downtown,
like a dullard Colossus
I wonder whose time is running out faster, FROED and Fiola's or Fall River's ?
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
THE PIMPING OF A
STATE REPRESENTATIVE
-----------------------------
Rodrigues wants biopark progress;
not 'angry yet' about casino plan
He doesn't
scare me at all -
I'm not worried,
unless SHE gets
ANGRY!
With his wife, Patricia, by his side, State
Rep. Michael Rodrigues announces
his candidacy for the state Senate.
***************
By Michael Holtzman
Herald News Staff Reporter
Posted May 10, 2010 @ 08:16 PM
Last update May 11, 2010 @ 01:41 AM
***************
FALL RIVER — Veteran state Rep. Michael Rodrigues says he agrees with the Greater Fall River Chamber of Commerce leadership that advancing the hard-fought SouthCoast BioPark is essential to the long-term success of the city and the region.
Last week, the chamber issued a commentary urging immediate progress on the biopark. Rodrigues took it one step further.
“I haven’t reached the threshold of really being angry yet,” said Rodrigues, who could not be reached for comment for a Herald News story on Sunday about whether a casino project might trump the biopark’s delayed progress.
State Sen. Joan Menard and Mayor Will Flanagan both raised hopes the city could gain thousands of good-paying jobs in a range of fields if the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe pursues a casino tract in Fall River and the state allows it.
“I’m a little concerned that construction season is here and we haven’t broken ground yet,” Rodrigues said of the biopark project. “I’m afraid if we don’t get building this soon, someone is going to come in and sweep this from us.”
He detailed the long history to acquire and develop the 300-acre park in the northern sector near Freetown and obtain the committed $17 million in state funding.
“This is nothing that’s a flash in the pan. This is something we’ve been working on for 10 years,” said Rodrigues, a 14-year Westport Democrat.
He said about eight years ago an agreement with the state allowed 300 acres of State Forest land to be transferred to the city for an executive park, while four years ago the state committed “not less than $10 million.”
The work reached a peak last spring, he noted, when state officials announced funding $15 million for the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth to build an incubator bioprocessing facility to create a test ground and spur biomanufacturing, and another $2 million for immediate infrastructure needs.
The state’s economic development secretary, Gregory Bialecki, said the design of the UMass processing facility has been delayed, but the state remains committed to it.
Last week, chamber President/CEO Robert Mellion and Board of Directors Chairman Curt Nelson noted the potential for 8,000 longterm jobs.
“Our community has a golden opportunity that does not come along often,” they wrote. “Now is the time to seize this great opportunity.”
Rodrigues concurred. “I agree with everything I read in the chamber’s letter,” he said.
“It’s such an important longterm economic development. It’s a stimulator not just for Fall River and the SouthCoast, but for the entire state,” Rodrigues said.
“The business park is proposed to do more to reinvigorate the economy in Fall River than any other proposal I’ve ever seen,” he said. “My concern is to preserve longterm, sustainable jobs for the people of the region and to do everything we can to revive middle-class manufacturing jobs.” He said job-seekers from vocational school grads to those with doctorates in the field could benefit.
Rodrigues declined to entertain “rumors” of a casino resort. “We live in a time of instant gratification,” he said.
“I know all the work we’ve done to try to build a foundation” for the biopark, he said.
It’s been bolstered by a government commitment, including federal stimulus funds, to build a new Route 24 interchange, an estimated $60 million project.
E-mail Michael Holtzman at mholtzman@heraldnews.com.
This guy Rodrigues is the biggest house leadership hemorrhoid walking. He was a lapdog for Sal 'I'm a Crook' DiMasi, helping him try to get a bill out of his committee at light speed that would legalize ticket scalping, but only for the big ticket companies. The bill went nowhere because the stench of rotting policy already was being investigated by the U.S. Attorney and Suffolk County D.A.'s Office.
Seems DiMasi's best friend was an unregistered lobbyist for the big ticket companies and Uncle Sal was "alleged" to cash $$$$ in on a payoff, like he did for "allegedly" rigging the purchase of a software system , for which he was indicted (NOT ALLEGEDLY!)
Him angry?...lmao, rofl...SO WHAT! sue me sue me what can you do me, you crooked political blowhard !
What in the good Lord's name did he think he was going to accomplish by using that asinine phrase? I think the man just had a serious brainfart. You can hear people all over the region getting a great laugh out of this one. And HE wants to be our state senator? Like, Yeeahh? YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP!
Go drive up to NH and buy more tax free booze, you gutless phony! Or go to another taxpayer paid retreat and play golf you clown....GET ANGRY...lol.
Why not mention the fact you are the #1 state legislator as selected by the MA Bio-Tech Council to such an extent they exorted their membership, and like firms and concerns around the country to donate the maximum $500 contribution to you for State Senate. Hey Rodrigues, better check your friends...they aren't giving you this honor because you're a "good guy". I know plenty of good guys who get nothing from the MA Bio-Tech Council. Don't think we all don't know this is an "alleged" way of paying you off to force the issue of the Fiola Biological Booger and Bug Wonderland and Theme Park. By the way, the award story was covered by the Boston Herald. Again, you couldn't make this stuff up!
Do you really think the contributions and Rodrigue's support for the Bio-Tech Park is by accident? Do you really think Rodrigue's concern is for the unemployed of the region, or his own district? Do you have any idea what kind of stuff (viruses, chemicals, bacteria, biological substances) they'll be working on up there? Has anyone discussed that publicly? With over 50% of working age people without a high school diploma or GED in hand, do you really think this Bio-Park is aimed at hiring these people into high tech jobs, most of which will require degrees from 4 year colleges and universities, and probably MS and PhD level degrees in engineering, biochemistry and chemistry? Realistically, don't you already know very, very few people currently residing in Fall River are qulaified to work there?
But that 50% of undereducated people of this City would be easily hired by the Casino, where many would benefit from decent paying jobs, enough to raise families on and get them off welfare and out of public housing. To me, it's a no brainer, because it couldn't possibly lower property values any lower and the agreement could be written to make sure the casino covers ALL of the security expenses related to it's operation, as well as provide payments to the City to more then pay for the resouces and services from the City it uses.
Rodrigues is essentially being paid to shill for the Bio-Tech Industry and this Fiola Ebola Country Day School and Thrill Ride. He is being supported by these institutions like FROED and it's Board of Directors, the Chamber of Commerce and the Flanagan campaign backers to be the next state senator and to get this project done. They will all make money from the project whether from loan fees, banking services and cash and investment management. And they are all pimping Representative Rodrigues. I bet your constituents love this stuff representative. Great job! HA!
There is no reason why BOTH projects can't be done. All I know is that more than half the working population will be left behind if we only persue the Fiola Ebola Viral Grocery Store and Thrill Ride. With unemployment here at 18% and being the worst in the state, I cannot comprehend why going the route of the casino is a bad idea. And the lack of discussion of doing both seems very short sighted and somewhat odd. There should be plenty of jobs and profits if BOTH are attempted. I just don't get it...do you?
I can't wait for this pimped out state representative to 'Get Angry"...I could use another good yuck!
STATE REPRESENTATIVE
-----------------------------
Rodrigues wants biopark progress;
not 'angry yet' about casino plan
He doesn't
scare me at all -
I'm not worried,
unless SHE gets
ANGRY!
With his wife, Patricia, by his side, State
Rep. Michael Rodrigues announces
his candidacy for the state Senate.
***************
By Michael Holtzman
Herald News Staff Reporter
Posted May 10, 2010 @ 08:16 PM
Last update May 11, 2010 @ 01:41 AM
***************
FALL RIVER — Veteran state Rep. Michael Rodrigues says he agrees with the Greater Fall River Chamber of Commerce leadership that advancing the hard-fought SouthCoast BioPark is essential to the long-term success of the city and the region.
Last week, the chamber issued a commentary urging immediate progress on the biopark. Rodrigues took it one step further.
State Sen. Joan Menard and Mayor Will Flanagan both raised hopes the city could gain thousands of good-paying jobs in a range of fields if the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe pursues a casino tract in Fall River and the state allows it.
“I’m a little concerned that construction season is here and we haven’t broken ground yet,” Rodrigues said of the biopark project. “I’m afraid if we don’t get building this soon, someone is going to come in and sweep this from us.”
Head of MA Bio-Tech Council (left) and his Pimpee , Rep Rodrigues
doing what he does best while on the clock
“This is nothing that’s a flash in the pan. This is something we’ve been working on for 10 years,” said Rodrigues, a 14-year Westport Democrat.
He said about eight years ago an agreement with the state allowed 300 acres of State Forest land to be transferred to the city for an executive park, while four years ago the state committed “not less than $10 million.”
The state’s economic development secretary, Gregory Bialecki, said the design of the UMass processing facility has been delayed, but the state remains committed to it.
Last week, chamber President/CEO Robert Mellion and Board of Directors Chairman Curt Nelson noted the potential for 8,000 longterm jobs.
“Our community has a golden opportunity that does not come along often,” they wrote. “Now is the time to seize this great opportunity.”
“It’s such an important longterm economic development. It’s a stimulator not just for Fall River and the SouthCoast, but for the entire state,” Rodrigues said.
“The business park is proposed to do more to reinvigorate the economy in Fall River than any other proposal I’ve ever seen,” he said. “My concern is to preserve longterm, sustainable jobs for the people of the region and to do everything we can to revive middle-class manufacturing jobs.” He said job-seekers from vocational school grads to those with doctorates in the field could benefit.
"Oh heck, my constituents won't mind at all if I stop and get some tax free booze in NH, a whole trunk full, even though I just voted to put a tax on THEIR alcohol purchases in MA. and my district. Hey if they do mind, I'll just get ANGRY. Yeah, that always works!"
“I know all the work we’ve done to try to build a foundation” for the biopark, he said.
It’s been bolstered by a government commitment, including federal stimulus funds, to build a new Route 24 interchange, an estimated $60 million project.
E-mail Michael Holtzman at mholtzman@heraldnews.com.
This guy Rodrigues is the biggest house leadership hemorrhoid walking. He was a lapdog for Sal 'I'm a Crook' DiMasi, helping him try to get a bill out of his committee at light speed that would legalize ticket scalping, but only for the big ticket companies. The bill went nowhere because the stench of rotting policy already was being investigated by the U.S. Attorney and Suffolk County D.A.'s Office.
One has to wonder if Rep. Rodrigues was involved in all this because it was" alleged" that he received a message from above to move that ticket scalping bill out of committee STAT! It was reported in the Boston Globe and Boston Herald that Rodrigue's role was critical to what occurred, even though he denied receiving any personal communications from then Sal DiMasi henchman, Rep. DeLeo, now Speaker of the House! Sounds like a mafia movie, where the head of the crime family, DiMasi, sent a middle level cappo, DeLeo, to bring an order to an street level soldier/patsy (Rodrigues) to get a 'job' done (report a bill out of committee for a vote in a couple of days because the legislative session was near the end) while everyone keeps the ability to say, DiMasi never directly told Rep. Rodrigues to do anything! "
Nice way to mainatin plausable deniability. Just like the Mafia! And the source for most of what was written was a letter by the Suffolk Superior Court Judge who heard the case to the US Attorney for the district , urging the US Attorney to dig deeper. The Suffolk Superior Court judge felt there was a definite possibility this case contained federal violations of the law requiring further review. And that is YOUR Rep. Rodrigues! That's a Suffolk Superior Court Judge's word, not mine.
Him angry?...lmao, rofl...SO WHAT! sue me sue me what can you do me, you crooked political blowhard !
What in the good Lord's name did he think he was going to accomplish by using that asinine phrase? I think the man just had a serious brainfart. You can hear people all over the region getting a great laugh out of this one. And HE wants to be our state senator? Like, Yeeahh? YOU CAN'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP!
Go drive up to NH and buy more tax free booze, you gutless phony! Or go to another taxpayer paid retreat and play golf you clown....GET ANGRY...lol.
Do you really think the contributions and Rodrigue's support for the Bio-Tech Park is by accident? Do you really think Rodrigue's concern is for the unemployed of the region, or his own district? Do you have any idea what kind of stuff (viruses, chemicals, bacteria, biological substances) they'll be working on up there? Has anyone discussed that publicly? With over 50% of working age people without a high school diploma or GED in hand, do you really think this Bio-Park is aimed at hiring these people into high tech jobs, most of which will require degrees from 4 year colleges and universities, and probably MS and PhD level degrees in engineering, biochemistry and chemistry? Realistically, don't you already know very, very few people currently residing in Fall River are qulaified to work there?
Rodrigues is essentially being paid to shill for the Bio-Tech Industry and this Fiola Ebola Country Day School and Thrill Ride. He is being supported by these institutions like FROED and it's Board of Directors, the Chamber of Commerce and the Flanagan campaign backers to be the next state senator and to get this project done. They will all make money from the project whether from loan fees, banking services and cash and investment management. And they are all pimping Representative Rodrigues. I bet your constituents love this stuff representative. Great job! HA!
There is no reason why BOTH projects can't be done. All I know is that more than half the working population will be left behind if we only persue the Fiola Ebola Viral Grocery Store and Thrill Ride. With unemployment here at 18% and being the worst in the state, I cannot comprehend why going the route of the casino is a bad idea. And the lack of discussion of doing both seems very short sighted and somewhat odd. There should be plenty of jobs and profits if BOTH are attempted. I just don't get it...do you?
I can't wait for this pimped out state representative to 'Get Angry"...I could use another good yuck!
Let's Talk About Teaching Excellence!
http://amazingteachers.org/index.html
Mass. hunting for star teachers
Recruits would go to toughest schools
***************
By James Vaznis
Globe Staff / May 10, 2010
***************
State education officials plan to announce today an aggressive campaign to recruit hundreds of successful teachers to work in underperforming schools in Boston and eight other troubled school districts, in hopes those teachers can spark a turnaround.
The recruitment effort is believed to be the first-ever partnership between the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and local school districts to find teachers for specific schools. Past state recruitment drives, such as awarding signing bonuses to a select few new teachers, have been typically open to all the state’s schools.
“We want to put the best and most talented teachers in front of children who need them the most,’’ said Mitchell Chester, state commissioner of elementary and secondary education.
State officials do not yet know how many positions will be available at the 35 schools identified as underperforming, with chronically low test scores. But officials anticipate that a significant number of current teachers will be dismissed or leave on their own, creating openings.
At least two school districts will be using a federal turnaround strategy at some of their underperforming schools that calls for dismissing at least half the staff.
The recruiting campaign will kick off with the start-up of a website, amazingteachers.org, where interested teachers can learn more about teaching opportunities at the 35 schools in need. Information will also be available on Facebook and Twitter.
Chester said he is on a mission to erase the notion that working in an underperforming school carries a negative stigma about teacher performance; instead, it should be seen as an opportunity to improve student achievement, he said.
Even though the state is assisting districts with recruitment, districts will make all hiring decisions.
While many of the state’s urban districts struggle to recruit and retain qualified teachers, attracting top-notch candidates to the underperforming schools, where the complexity of urban education is more magnified, could prove even more difficult.
For instance, 1 in 4 students at the underperforming schools are still learning to speak English — well above the statewide average — and the state has been experiencing a persistent shortage of qualified teachers for these students, state officials said.
A host of other issues might make underperforming schools unappealing to some teachers, from the possibility they would have to work an extended day to having fewer job protections because of recent changes to state law.
But other teachers are attracted to the immense challenge of reversing years of poor results at an underperforming school, while school districts are developing incentives to attract teachers to these schools, promising such things as additional pay or opportunities for leadership roles in overhauling curriculum, state officials say.
The website will also include video testimonials of teachers at underperforming schools speaking of the rewards of working there. A private foundation in Boston provided funding for the site.
State and local officials are hoping to attract teachers from Massachusetts and elsewhere and are even trying to encourage talented teachers who work at high-performing schools in the nine targeted school districts to transfer to one of their district’s underperforming schools.
Brian Denitzio recently decided to give up his position as a sixth-grade English teacher at Rogers Middle School, a highly regarded school in Hyde Park, to work this fall at Orchard Gardens K-8 School, an underperforming school in Roxbury where MCAS scores are often at or near the bottom in the state.
Denitzio will be accompanying his principal at the Rogers, Andrew Bott, who will soon take the reins at Orchard Gardens. The school opened in 2003 in one of the city’s first new school buildings in years; it has been plagued with a high turnover of teachers and principals, and chronically low test scores.
“There should be more schools like the Rogers in Boston,’’ said Denitzio. “We shouldn’t be the exception.’’
Boston is ahead of the other eight districts in developing recruitment strategies for the underperforming schools, state officials said. The city plans to bring in teams of teachers to three of its underperforming schools, where they will constitute at least a quarter of the teaching staff and receive additional pay for working an extended school day or year.
So far, the district — working in partnership with Teach Plus, a three-year-old nonprofit in Boston dedicated to supporting urban teachers — has received more than 150 applications. The majority of the applications have come from teachers currently assigned to other Boston schools who are looking for a new challenge.
The three targeted schools — Orchard Gardens, Trotter Elementary in Dorchester, and Blackstone Elementary in the South End — were among seven underperforming schools at which Boston administrators required teachers, classroom aides, and other educators to reapply for their jobs last month.
Administrators from the seven schools ultimately rejected 125 letters of intent from employees who wished to return in the fall, forcing them to go elsewhere. At the same time, 166 requests to stay on were accepted. Dozens of teachers didn’t reapply.
Most teachers not returning to their schools will probably find placement at one of the district’s 128 other schools, officials have said.
Carol R. Johnson, Boston school superintendent, said the state’s effort could assist the city in attracting even more quality teachers.
“There’s nothing more exciting and rewarding for a teacher than seeing great results and their work pay off,’’ Johnson said. “They want to see students do well in class, on assessments, and in life. We want to take advantage of those teachers who really want to see those results.’’
Well folks, looks like we're in serious need of Teaching Excellence. After visiting the website (listed above - just click) and noting that the "troubled" schools are the very same one's identified by the MA DESE earlier this school year (March 10) as being "Level 4" schools (defined below), we were reminded that Fall River comes in at the #3 worst set of troubled schools in the state, after Boston and Springfield, with 3 schools on the list which are briefly described on the website. Those schools, of course, being John J. Doran Elementary School, Matthew J. Kuss Middle School and Henry Lord Middle School.
I absolutely have no trouble with the City making a casting call for great teachers to come down here to the ends of the known universe and make a difference in the lives of our young people, particularly our ever increasing minority student population. These kids ARE the future of Fall River and they need all of our best efforts to achieve success for themselves and for this City. We have a moral obligation to see they become free, independent , educated and productive citizens so we can prevent a permenent underclass of minorities dependent on government for housing, medical and food stamp support for the entirety of their lives. A few dollars invested in this effort, if they produce results, is but a small price to pay to help entire generations live the awesome beauty of the American dream.
Those sentiments being expressed, I wonder how the current crop of school teachers in Fall River are feeling about this. It seems like all the blame for these "failing" schools is being placed squarely on the teacher's backs. I doubt that's fair, given what we now know about the way the School Committee and Superintendent have been pouring funds into administration and education managerial positions.
Classroom student sizes continue to grow, it seems, with each year's round of budgets as the managers assigned to oversee everything from teaching plans to how these teachers manage recess , but not help out in over populated classrooms, grows even faster than class size. Somethings got to give, because they have not yet produced results with all these new managers, usually from outside of Fall River, while the City starts to seriously discuss a residency requirement for all City employees. One has to wonder whether all of these education management Hessians will receive waivers from this residency requirement.
These teaching excellence positions are also open to current Fall River teachers. I sincerely hope many apply for the jobs and are successful. But with the teachers union still negotiating a contract I cannot help but think this new effort to recruit teachers from the outside might somehow slow down this labor negotiation process even further. We all must remember that reaching a contract agreement is a mandatory requirement set by the DESE in it's review and acceptance of the City's school improvement plan.
So we are left with many questions that the website for the effort does not answer. I also have to wonder how long this information was made available to the School Superintendent and School Committee before the DESE announced the program. Was this known soon enough to be included for FY11 School Budget plans? Will these be new positions or will current teachers be replaced by these new individuals? These are critical questions that need to be asked and answered. We'll just have to wait and see how this all is presented and plays out over the next couple of months.
THERE ARE NOW ONLY 50 SHOPPING DAYS LEFT BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL MUST APPROVE THE FY11 OPERATING BUDGET.
( What are Massachusetts “Level 4” Turnaround Schools?
Some of Massachusetts’ most persistently under-achieving schools are now eligible for additional federal aid and state support to bring about dramatic improvements in student achievement.
Recognizing that outstanding classroom instruction is the key to the success of these schools, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is working with nine school districts to recruit and hire excellent teachers to help lead school transformations.
The children in the 35 lowest-performing schools in the state urgently need schools and teachers that provide them with an excellent education to help them reach their full potential. Among the 17,000 students served in these Turnaround Schools:
■Most are racial and ethnic minorities;
■Nearly 9 out of 10 are eligible for free or reduced-price lunch based on family income;
■21 percent are students with disabilities;
■26 percent are English Language Learners.
The State released an initial list of 35 "Level 4" schools in March 2010. (Read the press release.) The identification of and quick intervention in Level 4 schools are made possible through the Commonwealth's new Education Reform Law, which was filed by Governor Deval Patrick and signed into law in January 2010. Under this law, the identified schools will develop redesign plans in collaboration with the Superintendent, School Committee, teachers' union, administrators, teachers, community representatives and parents. )
Monday, May 10, 2010
Now this explains it...the missing piece!
DeLeo opening casino door to tribes
***************
By Paul McMorrow
Special to the Boston Globe
May 10, 2010
***************
ROBERT DeLEO wants to bring legalized gambling to Massachusetts. He wants two casinos and slots at four racing tracks, and right now, it looks like he’s going to get his wish.
And, potentially, a lot more. In DeLeo’s rush to appease the building trades and carve out some action for the two racetracks in his district, the speaker of the House is setting the table for a gambling expansion in Massachusetts that has the potential to be far broader than anything he’s pitching. He’s opening the door to new gambling halls on Martha’s Vineyard and the Cape, in Middleborough and Fall River. It’s also something neither he, nor anyone else on Beacon Hill, can control.
Forget, for a second, all the reasons we know we should worry about legalized gambling — its regressive nature, the way it cannibalizes money that would otherwise be spent at local businesses, the negligible benefits it offers strained government budgets, the staggering social and regulatory costs. None of that has swayed DeLeo, or anybody else on Beacon Hill whose opinion actually matters these days. Two years ago, the Legislature was debating whether to legalize casinos at all; now the body is just wondering how many to greenlight.
The Mashpee Wampanoag and the Aquinnah, the state’s two federally recognized Native American tribes, have each expressed serious interest in owning a gleaming gambling hall. They haven’t been able to follow through on those urges because, legally, they can’t.
The tribes are sovereign, but they’re only allowed to set up a gambling shop at the highest level of gaming that’s legal in their home state. Right now, they could peddle scratch tickets, or maybe hop into the high-stakes bingo game. There’s no serious money in either pursuit. That changes the moment the governor signs a casino bill into law this summer. Each will be freed to set up gaming operations on their tribal land, on the Cape and Martha’s Vineyard. And the state wouldn’t be able to touch a dime of whatever rolls in.
There is a bit of fine print to tackle first. A Supreme Court decision has stalled the Mashpee Wampanoag effort to take land into federal trust, establishing a sovereign homeland. Still, anyone who thinks Congress will not eventually override the decision is wholly unfamiliar with Congress and with money; money and Congress, though, are by no means strangers.
Clearly, state-backed gambling enterprises will get rolling before any potential tribal enterprises. These things have life cycles of years, not months, though. The Mashpee Wampanoag fought for decades for federal recognition. In that context, the difference between a groundbreaking in 2010 and 2015 isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker. And anyone who thinks the gaming interests that form partnerships with tribes are afraid of competition should take a drive up the California coast, where every exit seems to feature a gambling outpost.
The speaker, who has assumed a leadership role in pushing gambling in the Commonwealth, is fond of quoting figures. He says he knows how many jobs will materialize, and how much cash will flow to cities and towns. His guys have it all figured out. Except that they don’t. They have no idea how many gaming operations the state will eventually wind up hosting. These things can change quickly. And they’re completely beyond Beacon Hill’s reach. Until 2007, the Mashpee Wampanoag weren’t a federally recognized tribe; months later, they had financial backers, and were talking about gobbling up more than 500 acres in Middleborough.
The Legislature hasn’t appeared to be preoccupied with asking questions about the ramifications of votes it takes. DeLeo, in particular, has been steering the effort to broaden gambling’s reach and install 3,000 slot machines at the state’s four racetracks (only two of which still feature actual racing, but let’s not nitpick).
Two of those four — Suffolk Downs and Wonderland — lie in the speaker’s district. Suffolk essentially controls Wonderland, a greyhound track rotten with debt; DeLeo’s version of the gambling legislation would hand Suffolk’s politically wired ownership half of the state’s slots market, giving it a virtual lock on one of the two full casino licenses the state will be selling off. That’s the point, really.
DeLeo rose to his post at Sal DiMasi’s right hand. DeLeo was responsible for divvying up the state budget’s spoils — a process that has long rewarded leadership’s allies, and delivered punishing blows to political enemies. His path into DiMasi’s old office was cleared with budgetary earmarks.
The casino debate shows DeLeo still playing the part of the two-bit committee chairman. DeLeo has yet to fully grasp that the speaker’s office is a statewide position. Here he is, about to dramatically reshape the state’s economic landscape, and he’s obsessing over his district, his neighborhood guys, the tracks he grew up visiting. From the beginning, he has been out to get a piece of the action for his two tracks. And now he’s on the cusp. Once he opens that door, though, he should watch out — that’s when things get interesting.
Paul McMorrow is a staff writer for Banker & Tradesman.
This article certainly delivers many valid points to consider growing out of this discussion, even after you realize that the author writes, and reflects the perspective of, a journal dedicated to the most rapacious form of capitalism and economic determanism possible, the rich man's bible, Banker and Tradesman.
I discussed in detail what I thought were the parochial reasons why Speaker DeLeo was pushing so hard for the passage of a gaming bill this session, and in anticipation of FY11, a budget year which promises to be the most difficult anyone can remember. I think the arguments cited in the article above place too much emphasis on DeLeo's own personal motivations, however accurate, for establishing legalized gaming in Massachusetts. Not nearly enough discussion centers on the pure revenue raising needs of the state's administration and it's ability to pass on new revenue to State Aid, regardless of what spending items receive dedicated revenue streams from varying gaming sources.
Taken in conjunction with the latest news that the City's Mayor and legislative deligation is considering the placement of a casino in Fall River as a priority over the Bio-Tech Industrial Park, to the point of usurping the land for that purpose as a site for the Casino, finally makes more sense as the rest of us can see the reasons for the accelerated discussions.
It also raises even more questions related to the role of the Fall River Office of Economic Development (FROED) and the current plan to inject the agency, which the taxpayers of Fall River already support with their tax dollars, with an additional $200,000 from the City's Community Development Agency (CDA) to create at least two additional staff postions. The CDA is federally funded but answers to the Mayor's Office, and as such, acts as a de-facto reflection of the City's redevelopment and neighborhood support policy from the mayoral administration. I believe that the current federal funding amount is in the neighborhood of $4.5 million.
The issue arises because FROED has produced nothing....no jobs, no new ideas, no tax base growth...and it's entire reason for existence now centers around this Bio-Park, which may simply disappear. The current daily administrator of FROED, Mr. Fiola, earns close to $200,000 a year in salary and benefits, yet needs two more bodies to produce.. ..what? WE don't know, and when the issue arises, we get the same old song and dance of what FROED will do for us IN THE FUTURE. And all this is happening at a time when there is a great liklihood that absolutely NOTHING was done by FROED officials to obtain a grant for the City's downtown area regardless of what claims they have mede to the press or the City Council. A check of grant awards on the basis of original applications show none were ever filed for the parking facility or bus station in the downtown area. The opening of the New Courthouse in the middle of the Fall River downtown is close while the area has no place for these court staff, judges, lawyers and clients to park! FROED never made any plans for parking around the courthouse. NONE!
Lots to consider as this City reels from one dilemma to the next. The next few weeks will be extremely telling for Mayor Flanagan and his administration. As rumors abound that he has entered the Dark Side and will conspire with his wealthy and influential campaign backers to run a slate of like minded toadies onto the City Council in the next election to consolidate power in running the City of Fall River without opposition, it will be vital to watch each of his decisions. How he creates this personally defining management and policy picture will be the most important event of the next few weeks.
After the FY11 Budget, that is!
ONLY 51 MORE SHOPPING DAYS UNTIL THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVES THE FALL RIVER FY11 OPERATING BUDGET !
***************
By Paul McMorrow
Special to the Boston Globe
May 10, 2010
***************
ROBERT DeLEO wants to bring legalized gambling to Massachusetts. He wants two casinos and slots at four racing tracks, and right now, it looks like he’s going to get his wish.
And, potentially, a lot more. In DeLeo’s rush to appease the building trades and carve out some action for the two racetracks in his district, the speaker of the House is setting the table for a gambling expansion in Massachusetts that has the potential to be far broader than anything he’s pitching. He’s opening the door to new gambling halls on Martha’s Vineyard and the Cape, in Middleborough and Fall River. It’s also something neither he, nor anyone else on Beacon Hill, can control.
Forget, for a second, all the reasons we know we should worry about legalized gambling — its regressive nature, the way it cannibalizes money that would otherwise be spent at local businesses, the negligible benefits it offers strained government budgets, the staggering social and regulatory costs. None of that has swayed DeLeo, or anybody else on Beacon Hill whose opinion actually matters these days. Two years ago, the Legislature was debating whether to legalize casinos at all; now the body is just wondering how many to greenlight.
The Mashpee Wampanoag and the Aquinnah, the state’s two federally recognized Native American tribes, have each expressed serious interest in owning a gleaming gambling hall. They haven’t been able to follow through on those urges because, legally, they can’t.
The tribes are sovereign, but they’re only allowed to set up a gambling shop at the highest level of gaming that’s legal in their home state. Right now, they could peddle scratch tickets, or maybe hop into the high-stakes bingo game. There’s no serious money in either pursuit. That changes the moment the governor signs a casino bill into law this summer. Each will be freed to set up gaming operations on their tribal land, on the Cape and Martha’s Vineyard. And the state wouldn’t be able to touch a dime of whatever rolls in.
There is a bit of fine print to tackle first. A Supreme Court decision has stalled the Mashpee Wampanoag effort to take land into federal trust, establishing a sovereign homeland. Still, anyone who thinks Congress will not eventually override the decision is wholly unfamiliar with Congress and with money; money and Congress, though, are by no means strangers.
Clearly, state-backed gambling enterprises will get rolling before any potential tribal enterprises. These things have life cycles of years, not months, though. The Mashpee Wampanoag fought for decades for federal recognition. In that context, the difference between a groundbreaking in 2010 and 2015 isn’t necessarily a deal-breaker. And anyone who thinks the gaming interests that form partnerships with tribes are afraid of competition should take a drive up the California coast, where every exit seems to feature a gambling outpost.
The speaker, who has assumed a leadership role in pushing gambling in the Commonwealth, is fond of quoting figures. He says he knows how many jobs will materialize, and how much cash will flow to cities and towns. His guys have it all figured out. Except that they don’t. They have no idea how many gaming operations the state will eventually wind up hosting. These things can change quickly. And they’re completely beyond Beacon Hill’s reach. Until 2007, the Mashpee Wampanoag weren’t a federally recognized tribe; months later, they had financial backers, and were talking about gobbling up more than 500 acres in Middleborough.
The Legislature hasn’t appeared to be preoccupied with asking questions about the ramifications of votes it takes. DeLeo, in particular, has been steering the effort to broaden gambling’s reach and install 3,000 slot machines at the state’s four racetracks (only two of which still feature actual racing, but let’s not nitpick).
Two of those four — Suffolk Downs and Wonderland — lie in the speaker’s district. Suffolk essentially controls Wonderland, a greyhound track rotten with debt; DeLeo’s version of the gambling legislation would hand Suffolk’s politically wired ownership half of the state’s slots market, giving it a virtual lock on one of the two full casino licenses the state will be selling off. That’s the point, really.
DeLeo rose to his post at Sal DiMasi’s right hand. DeLeo was responsible for divvying up the state budget’s spoils — a process that has long rewarded leadership’s allies, and delivered punishing blows to political enemies. His path into DiMasi’s old office was cleared with budgetary earmarks.
The casino debate shows DeLeo still playing the part of the two-bit committee chairman. DeLeo has yet to fully grasp that the speaker’s office is a statewide position. Here he is, about to dramatically reshape the state’s economic landscape, and he’s obsessing over his district, his neighborhood guys, the tracks he grew up visiting. From the beginning, he has been out to get a piece of the action for his two tracks. And now he’s on the cusp. Once he opens that door, though, he should watch out — that’s when things get interesting.
Paul McMorrow is a staff writer for Banker & Tradesman.
This article certainly delivers many valid points to consider growing out of this discussion, even after you realize that the author writes, and reflects the perspective of, a journal dedicated to the most rapacious form of capitalism and economic determanism possible, the rich man's bible, Banker and Tradesman.
I discussed in detail what I thought were the parochial reasons why Speaker DeLeo was pushing so hard for the passage of a gaming bill this session, and in anticipation of FY11, a budget year which promises to be the most difficult anyone can remember. I think the arguments cited in the article above place too much emphasis on DeLeo's own personal motivations, however accurate, for establishing legalized gaming in Massachusetts. Not nearly enough discussion centers on the pure revenue raising needs of the state's administration and it's ability to pass on new revenue to State Aid, regardless of what spending items receive dedicated revenue streams from varying gaming sources.
Taken in conjunction with the latest news that the City's Mayor and legislative deligation is considering the placement of a casino in Fall River as a priority over the Bio-Tech Industrial Park, to the point of usurping the land for that purpose as a site for the Casino, finally makes more sense as the rest of us can see the reasons for the accelerated discussions.
It also raises even more questions related to the role of the Fall River Office of Economic Development (FROED) and the current plan to inject the agency, which the taxpayers of Fall River already support with their tax dollars, with an additional $200,000 from the City's Community Development Agency (CDA) to create at least two additional staff postions. The CDA is federally funded but answers to the Mayor's Office, and as such, acts as a de-facto reflection of the City's redevelopment and neighborhood support policy from the mayoral administration. I believe that the current federal funding amount is in the neighborhood of $4.5 million.
The issue arises because FROED has produced nothing....no jobs, no new ideas, no tax base growth...and it's entire reason for existence now centers around this Bio-Park, which may simply disappear. The current daily administrator of FROED, Mr. Fiola, earns close to $200,000 a year in salary and benefits, yet needs two more bodies to produce.. ..what? WE don't know, and when the issue arises, we get the same old song and dance of what FROED will do for us IN THE FUTURE. And all this is happening at a time when there is a great liklihood that absolutely NOTHING was done by FROED officials to obtain a grant for the City's downtown area regardless of what claims they have mede to the press or the City Council. A check of grant awards on the basis of original applications show none were ever filed for the parking facility or bus station in the downtown area. The opening of the New Courthouse in the middle of the Fall River downtown is close while the area has no place for these court staff, judges, lawyers and clients to park! FROED never made any plans for parking around the courthouse. NONE!
Lots to consider as this City reels from one dilemma to the next. The next few weeks will be extremely telling for Mayor Flanagan and his administration. As rumors abound that he has entered the Dark Side and will conspire with his wealthy and influential campaign backers to run a slate of like minded toadies onto the City Council in the next election to consolidate power in running the City of Fall River without opposition, it will be vital to watch each of his decisions. How he creates this personally defining management and policy picture will be the most important event of the next few weeks.
After the FY11 Budget, that is!
ONLY 51 MORE SHOPPING DAYS UNTIL THE CITY COUNCIL APPROVES THE FALL RIVER FY11 OPERATING BUDGET !
Saturday, May 8, 2010
When Reality Really BITES!
Ah, Heidi Montag.
The controversial, plastic, duck-lipped, attention-loving blonde is a co-star on MTV's hit reality series, The Hills, and has become a bona fide celebrity in the past couple of years.
Even we are amazed at how huge Heidi Montag has gotten - both in terms of celebrity and regarding her chest area. Seriously, the way those things grew is truly remarkable.
She's the former best pal of the show's star, Lauren Conrad, and the current girlfriend / fiancee / girlfriend fiancee and now WIFE of that slime ball and master manipulator Spencer Pratt.
A Colorado native, Heidi Montag has become a complete media whore in recent years, doing just about anything for attention - if you're reading this celebrity gossip site in the first place, you probably noticed.
That's all good with us, really.
After all, what would The Hollywood Gossip even be without Heidi Montag to talk about? She's doing her best to milk her 15 minutes of fame for all they're worth, too - she's got a CD and her own fashion line coming out, and rakes in the cash for staged bikini photos like no celebrity in history.
Think Heidi Montag is trying to steal the spotlight from former BFF Lauren Conrad just a little? It's working.
We look forward to following Heidi's career (if you can call it that) as it continues to reach new lows, or highs, however you look at it. Same with Spencer Pratt. Reportedly, they got married on November 20, 2008, in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Whether that's true or whether it's just a stunt, you can guarantee they are cashing in on it and will continue trying to make money at every turn for the foreseeable future. Which is all that matters.
Bless your hearts, Heidi Montag and Spencer Pratt. We love to hate you, but you play the game to perfection.
(from the website "Hollywood Gossip")
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I'm sitting here on the tenth floor looking out from my floor to ceiling windows this Saturday morning watching the rain pour down, listening to some internet classical radio, drinking my coffee and indulging in a new practice of NOT turning on the idiot box first thing to get my day started. It's been nice to watch Big Momma Hawk teaching the baby hawks to fly and hunt, to listen to the birds chirpping each morning and just take in the view from my perch. Real life can be a pretty wonderful thing if you just take the time to open up to all of it. I'd rather watch Big Momma Hawk do her thing with the kiddies than listen to Fox and Friends or Morning Joe any day of the week! But now to other matters of the day.
Pre- 13 cosmetic surgeries Heidi with husband and fellow
"The Hills" cast member, the universally loathed Spencer Pratt
This concept is a direct decendant of the very first writers of propaganda. I'm sure it goes back to the early days of man, when the original sportcoat drew a picture on his cave wall of a huge Sabre Tooth Tiger he killed, when it was in fact more like an oversized, prehistoric mouse he skewered. The fact that he was sharing the burnt offerings of mouse entrails with his "date" for the night, under the guise of looking at what really were his "etchings", also plays a part in the place we find ourselves today.
The original and the "improved" model
From chic to freak in 13 easy medical steps!
The list is long and growing. Housewives of NYC, Jersey Housewives, The Hills, MTV's The Real World, Bad Girls, Temptation Island, The Batchelor, The Bachelorette, The Jersey Shore, Jerseylicious (If I lived in Jersey, I'd move), Wife Swap, The Nanny, Supernanny, every show on the Learning Channel about little people, fat people and dog whisperers, Jon and Kate Plus Eight, Survivor, The Apprentice, 16 and Pregnant , Big Brother and it goes on and on and on. All of these "reality" shows are well known for having producers who purposely try to reach ratings heaven by setting up certain people in these shows against others. They manipulate the people and the situations into which they are placed. IS THAT REAL? NO! But these shows purport to be an actual and accurate picture of what is happening.
They want extreme entertainment value and shock value, contrived drama, but also the veneer of being objective, and yes, the respectability of being considered a documentary. It's this veneer of REAL LIFE being played out that gives it credibility to viewers, but the manipulated drama and smut brings in gawkers in record numbers and creates the morning water cooler gossip. And the advertisers dig it. That's why we watch so much of this stuff . Mostly they advertise on programs that are a soft version of auto wrecks. Now everyone can rubberneck without slowing down traffic. How very modern and inclusive.
You see, writing real programs with excellent scripts and hiring excellent actors and actresses costs money, lots and lots of money. Everything about the process of creating programming is very expensive, and that's when you are able to find decent talent. It's exponentially more expensive to write and produce quality shows like The Wire, The Sopranos or Nurse Jackie. So when networks and producers can cut their expenses by 95% and rake in that now regained cost of production difference as pure profit you can understand why it's here to stay and going to increase as the years go by. It takes no effort, money, or originality only the skill to see whose buttons to push on the next episode. Hey, there are plenty of people who live that experience every day, especially when they watch over the actions of their children from 7 to 15!
Why is this a bad thing? Real life can sometimes be exceedingly boring. Real life can also be incredibly rewarding and special and exciting in ways tv producers could never imagine. That's because real life just happens, and creates drama that you and I have to live through. The problems , sacrifice, work, human relationships and personal commitment don't end when the hour long show is over. Neither does the joy of being alive, or the misery, it's your choice most of the time.
Our "unreal-reality" generation of kids!
It also allows for play actors like Glenn Beck to rant and rave like the lunatic manipulator he is and have his gross exaggerations and lies be accepted as truth. We've been prepared for this by the greater portion of broadcast media. Many in this country have no conception of what objective truth is, or how to reason as real human beings.
You see, it should never be a difficult task to determine what the truth is about the world, your world. Confusing at times, yes, especially for young people. The filters and blinders start hitting us all from birth and become part of us. But this "Unreal reality" thing is a new phenomena.
WE, as a society, are willingly suspending disbelief, not just as it applies to some well written, well acted fictional TV or Movie drama, but in regards to our daily lives. It's troubling to say the least. But you can see it more and more each day. And God help us if this unreal world takes over the actual one. Things are moving in that direction. Just think of the movies THE TRUMAN SHOW, BROADCAST NEWS and NETWORK and the messages they presented about the powerful and dangerous role all types of media increasingly play. I have to admit, everytime I watch Glenn Beck crying on camera I think of NETWORK. I'm waiting for Sybil the Soothsayer myself.
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