I once again return after a surgery, so please forgive my temporary absence. Things are well and I am feeling just fine. It's just the overwhelming sense of fatigue I feel whenever the topic of "Fall River" arises that deeply concerns me. I have to admit to you all that I am clinically depressed when it comes to all things Fall River!

I thought Bob Correa was the worst thing ever to happen the the city. He was not. It is this new clown-king, Mayor Will "Bag-Boy DEE-luxe" Sylvanagan, aka "Mr. Shock and Awe", and his coterie of hangers-on, handlers and mindless followers. That includes the reprehensible Editor and Publisher of the only daily newspaper (HA!) in the City, the Fall River Herald News (FRHN)

 This is a politician who never did anything before coming to the city as Mayor, has done nothing since being here, and will never, ever accomplish much in the future. It simply is in his makeup to be an errand boy and a failure. More is the pity. But you all voted for this fool. You own him Fall River, lock, stock and TWO barrels. Maybe it's time for residents of the city to accept what THEY have done to Fall River and end the fetishistic decrying of all things political in Fall River, as if pointing outward and blaming everyone except the person in the mirror will make your lives whole once again. It is probably the saddest and most telling of all Fall River rituals. In reality it is nothing more than cheap blame assessment and acknowledgement that Fall River has become the essence of ignorance and apathy. Just collectively lay down on the railroad track of life and await your end! Isn't that what you have been doing for the past three decades and longer? Be honest,  and admit that in your heart you know I'm right! (Thank you to the late Senator Goldwater)

You see, you can only blame those "dirty, rotten" politicians for so long. At some point the ultimate reality of the situation, that you yourselves keep voting for talentless, unqualified thieves and scoundrels has to hit home, has to be acknowledged and accepted. Your fate will not change until then.

Many want the state to take over. They may well have to, because one thing is crystal clear - the procession of unqualified managers, especially financial managers, this current clown-king has paraded before the citizens of Fall River are a laughable and sad lot. They lack the experience and ability to solve the serious issues laying before you all. So do not look toward your hired hands to do anything to improve Fall River. At this point my dear ones, the city's financial, municipal and education management  crises are beyond professional intervention. That is a reality that will become apparent when the state eventually comes in to take over the School System and the City's Finances.

What of salvation from your elected City Council and School Committee? What?! They are the worst collection of public misfits you could actually have elected. They have no real fat in the fire, only a desire to collect more years towards a public pension and health insurance. Each and every one of them is concerned with only that and possibly succeeding Bag Boy DEE-luxe Sylvanagan at some point in the future. Oh yes, and garnering far more than their fair share of "FAVORS" from the institutions of government, like placement of grandchildren in the very few open slots at the most desired programs for children in the Schools. I guess that comes with being a member of the School Committee, an institution that represents the very apex of failure in Fall River, as the state has told us very recently. Don't listen to the spin folks. We are doomed as a School System. MMB has done NOTHING to change this situation. She has been backed completely by YOUR elected School Committee. You see, just like Sylvanagan needing talentless patsies to fire whenever the state tells them the financial operations are emabarrassingly bad, so too will the School Committee. That is the only explanation for MMB still being here after all these bad recent reports from the state. But what have YOU done about it? Have you not voted for many of the same feckless fools for decade after decade, especially those found guilty of infractions of state statutes as listed by the state Attorney General? Yes, in fact YOU HAVE! Therefore, look in the mirror once again my fair Fall Riverites. You , and you alone, are responsible for the condition of your city government, your city finances and your schools. You and you alone. The truth stings a bit, doesn't it!?

The thieving and unscrupulous Redevelopment Authority (RDA) and it's sister group, Fall River Office of Economic Development (FROED) and all of their crooked minions exist with it's current cast of employees and Board members because of WHO you elect. You want change in these institutions, vote for better politicians who will make appointments to critical boards.! It's really that simple. It's really that profound.

So you see, I have little faith in the voters of Fall River to be able to constructively respond to their own dismal fate. As the head of DESE stated in the Boston Globe two weeks ago about Fall River and several other "gateway" communities poor and worsening performance on basic portions of the MCAS, (and I'm paraphrasing here) " the people of these locations are ignorant to the situation they face, of how truly awful their performance has been, of the utter seriousness of the education situation". Ignorance. Now there's a word that Fall River can embrace. Citizen ignorance. That just about describes the situation and is the genesis of my depression whenever the topic "Fall River" pops up. It is the profound and unabiding citizen ignorance that is destroying the City of Fall River, not elected officials or lack funds. Only an educated and motivated citizen-voter can change the direction of the city..

Therefore, you can immediately see why I see little hope for Fall River.

And in your heart you know I'm right.