PENNIES FROM HEAVEN

In this case we are talking dollars and we should be careful that it doesn't go up in smoke through holes in the roof of city hall. Since damage once done can never fully be repaired especially to our environment, I would propose that we specifically dedicate it to a project that would invest in and enhance our environment.

The danger of "no strings attached" windfalls is that there is a tendency to waste it on purchases you will regret later. Just ask some former lottery winners.

One idea would be some sort of plan would be direct the money to LYNN WOODS, a jewel LYNN has a right to be PROUD of.

PROGRESS AT ANY PRICE?

Crighton wants Athanases to face Lynn City Council

It is interesting how there is such concern about groundwater here yet it seems to be more interest in the benefits that developing this place could bring to downtown. Progress is means prosperity but are we prepared to pay the price?

Lynn has a history of looking past environmental concerns at any costs. Look at how it has been handled in the schools. Levels of lead at almost every school, using indicted contractors, the mold mix-up at DREWICZ, and along with questionable cancers, miscarriages, and respiratory illnesses raising concerns at that same location.

HYPOCRISY LIVES!

Lynn council shows its support for Logan workers

I am GLAD to see the LYNN CITY COUNCIL take a stand in support of some 180 workers that are suffering under a failed system. `I hope it starts a precedent.

BUT......,

it is kind of funny, when I tried to go before them just to "announce" my intention of circulating a petition on behalf of 14,000 children I was ignored.  Not only did I NOT get a resolution, a few of the councilors told me while they supported my cause they couldn't sign my petition. "YOU UNDERSTAND". Yes, yes I do understand.

CONSERVATIVE CONSPIRACY OR LIBERAL LITANY

Here is some useless information gleamed from the goings on at the LYNN CITY COUNCIL and LYNN SCHOOL COMMITTEE. There is a distinct difference on points of procedure.

At the COUNCIL the "moment of silence" is taken BEFORE "the pledge of allegiance" whereas at COMMITTEE meetings the order is reversed. Some sort of political indoctrination? Probably not.

IS IT "WHAT WE KNOW" OR "WHO WE KNOW"?

1. LYNN SCHOOL WATCH: COUNCILMAN CYR WAS A SUCKER, TAILOR MADE TO SUIT THE STATUS QUO

   lynnschoolwatch.blogspot.com

   written solely by Stanley H. Wotring, Jr. I am not a representative of the LSC, nor are they responsible 

FOOTBALL IN THE CHAMBERS

Tonight LYNN CITY COUNCIL scored big with East Lynn voters as it recognized the accomplishments of the EAST LYNN POP WARNER A SQUAD as they won the State and Regional competitions going all the way to Disney World where they lost to the eventual National Champions. COUNCILMAN WAYNE LOZZI personally awarded members of the team and coaching staff with congratulations and accommodations.

FREE LUNCH FOR CITY EMPLOYEES?

Lynn grant writer starts Wednesday

You know I appreciate the potential a good writer can have for affecting change, but even I am unsure if this position will justify its salary. I am sure he can bring in more money. The question is why can't the existing people do the job. Sounds like Jamie Marsh is doing it. Maybe it would have been cheaper to take lessons from him.

NO BARGAIN THROUGH THE BASEMENT

I would have to think long and hard about whether I would take this offer. Big banks are not in business to be good neighbors, the fact that they are so quick to offer up $5000 makes me suspicious. I suspect they feel stuck with the property and they are acting like they are doing you a favor letting the city take care of their problem.

MAYOR HAS TOO MUCH ON HER PLATE?

Classical rolls out new lunch program

Okay let's look at things here, kind of put things in perspective. Our MAYOR makes an appearance at a FOREIGN FOODIE'S (well they are out of Pennsylvania an that's like another country) debut but could not show up at the LYSOA MEATBALL MADNESS to benefit LYNN'S kids?

CHARTWELL'S boasted  "locally" grown but then talked FLASH FROZEN. I just wouldn't pair LOCALLY GROWN and FLASH FROZEN together. I know about the science but I'm a POET. At  LYSOA'S "PASTA WITH A PURPOSE" not attended by the MAYOR or any LPS ADMINISTRATORS, the tomatoes were from the FORD SCHOOL garden, the pasta was made by LVTI CULINARY ARTS program (so they didn't actually harvest the noodles here, people from OUR schools boiled LYNN water here) and the desserts were made with LYNN FLUFF.

Well the fact that the MAYOR only managed to attend one event could be forgiven if she used the ribbon cutting skills learned in this event to cut through the RED TAPE and actually get ANTONIO into the schools.

PROGRAMMING CHANGE

3 indicted by feds in Mass. probation hiring probe

Looks like there may be a few new channels to the OLD BOY NETWORK. Luckily there aren't too many BLOGGERS with my last name. In fact there aren't too many anythings with my last name.

HELP PLAY SAFE MAKE IT SAFE TO PLAY

The FACEBOOK group PLAY SAFE LYNN is currently drafting a letter to MAYOR KENNEDY requesting help by providing rakes and other supplies to enable them to clean up our parks. Community involvement is the way to energize positive change.

THAT'S NOT THE POINT

The availability of needles has little to do with the true cause of the problem. We need to provide alternatives. A sense of community and ownership must be developed.

Again I would like to throw the idea out there, community cookouts are the way to go. Block parties aren't just for the FOURTH OF JULY!

AN EDIBLE SOLUTION

The Highlands Watch: COOK-OUTS ARE IN

thehighlandswatch.blogspot.com

ZONING CHANGE

Lynn gets cultural district designation

Does this mean we have to start drinking our tea with our pinky's up? Probably not, as a matter of fact Dunkin Donuts will notice no downturn in sales. What will see served up is the recognition of LYNN  for something other than distinctions that are upsetting to the constitutions of our institutions.

SONG AND DANCE TRANSLATION

Safety concerns dominate taxi meeting


I think it's funny how this conversation morphed into what was initially against :non-english speaking" cab drivers into one about "how can we better protect them?". Maybe it was the realization that LYNN is now a majority of minorities and as evidenced by the last election where two minorities were elected out of four COUNCILORS-AT-LARGE, "HEY, 'THOSE' PEOPLE VOTE".

A CONVERSION OF MUSICAL PROPORTIONS

Charlie Daniels Band comes to Lynn Thursday

We think we've got it bad. LYNN just has that stupid rhyme. GEORGIA on the other hand has to put up with being labeled as a tourist destination of SATAN. Really what does HOT-LANTA mean? When you think of it like that our misperception doesn't seem that bad.

I got to see CHARLIE DANIELS when I was in college in the early eighties. Gotta like a man with a beard.

The wide array of available experiences is what makes LYNN great!

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

I was sitting at a HIGHLANDS COALITION meeting last night with WARD 4 COUNCILMAN RICHARD COLUCCI listening to one of the neighbors talk about the need to get involved with your city government by voting because it's easier to see the effects of your actions in your own neighborhood than nationally.

At this point I turned to RICH and we fist bumped as I repeated TIP O'NEALS old adage "ALL POLITICS IS LOCAL".

Probably no truer point of political philosophy was ever uttered.

IT OUGHTA BE IN PICTURES.......WAIT, IT IS

Mobile Uploads

The reality of things around my way.......the children of LYNN MASS are expose t...See More

By: Lenny Alvarez Guity

Yeah I stole this from Facebook but young kids aren't going to die from my theoretical copyright infringement. The fact of the matter is that both innocent and non-innocent victims of potential pricks can suffer the same fate. We need to address the problem before we make the next news cycle

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE

No this is not a post about a musical review of some metal band. You would think it's not about some political protest. After all  the pairing of the words "political" and "machine: conjure up memories of Tammany Hall or Chicago Mayoral elections. That kind of thing can't happen here, our city elections and our school committee elections are distinctly nonpartisan, insulating us from such abuses.

That's what one would think, but there is a party at work here. It is the party of the status quo. We are too comfortable with what we know, who we know. Names we have heard before will at least won't surprise us, even if the increments of improvement seemed stalled.

Perhaps that is why it has been left to a pesky poet to point out his ponderings about why things have gone awry. Change provides the only way to getting better.

A DISTURBING PATTERN?

At least our city officials are consistent. You may remember how I chastised city officials for not being represented at the LYNN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION'S Youth event. At least there three LSC members were in attendance. For the rest of our city government, no representation so there could be no education on the concerns, the issues.

It turns out from what I hear from event organizer, STEWART LAURA MITCHELL, no city official attended the LYNN SHELTER ASSOCIATION'S benefit at the LYNN AUDITORIUM on Friday night. NOT ONE.
Most didn't even respond to personal e-mailed invitations. Our MAYOR who did managed to participate in a staged wrestling match was noticeably absent despite earlier confirming her intentions.

Well maybe this is a busy time of the year, this was a worthy cause and I'm sure they all bought tickets. Well wait a minute, a quick look at the order form and nobody's name pops up. No tickets, no donations. I am sure everyone's check is in the mail. Isn't that how this stuff works? Once I hear of this revised list, I'll be sure to point out all of the additions.

I know the mail can be slow sometimes, natural disasters and all. Maybe the power going out in NAHANT had something to do with it. I'd hate to think that this lack of attendance to these two events has anything to do with the likelihood of receiving votes. This could be a miscalculation of support.

Excuse me while I paraphrase here, somebody once said, "WHAT YOU DO FOR THE LEAST OF MY BROTHER, YOU DO FOR ME!".

A POETIC THEORY

Fire destroys 3-family home in Lynn


LEAVING THE LIGHT ON

Dreams on fire give off plenty of smoke
to extinguish the blaze, we must soak.

Lately it seems, there have been a rash.
Makes you wonder, who's strapped for cash?

Accidents happen, no one can deny
but in vacant homes, oh my.

We find our way through the dark with the help of a torch,
this time the light may be from a fire on the front porch.

EVERYTHING IS ALRIGHT, WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT

Lynn mom: Son put needle in mouth
Let's think about the possibilities of what this statement means, "an isolated incident:". It could mean the incident itself rarely happens or it only happens in a FEW places.

The first step to any recovery is to admit you have a problem.

AWOL FROM THEIR DUTIES

Trio charged in armed home break
This is why some representative from the city government should have been at last night's youth event. Maybe the perpetrators weren't from LYNN, only the VICTIMS. Still it is indicative of a problem that we all face. Someone said last night that ALL kids are AT RISK just growing up today. That means that we are all going to have to deal with the consequences of putting them in danger.

It is the responsibility of government to limit that danger!

MISSING INACTION

Where were the city council members at tonight's LYNN COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION Youth event tonight? Only FORMER CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE CLAY WALSH  was there to listen to our future. It would have been in the best interest of our city to listen to the voices of our youth.

Knowing their wants and needs is the best way to avoid problems in the future. It would have been an opportunity to learn some of the positive things and programs are youth are involved in. It is much smarter to spend time and money on the front end than to have to pay for the policing and clean-up on the back end.

Kids from KAYA, RAW ARTS, and GIRLS INC each gave informative presentations about their respective programs and initiatives. They were joined by a inspirational talk from LYSOA's ANTONIO GUTIERREZ.


Someone from the COUNCIL or MAYOR'S should have been there.


Don't worry too much though, pretty soon some articulate young people are going to come knocking on your office doors.

BELT IT OUT BUZZY

I've only been to 4 LYNN CITY COUNCIL meetings but in that time it has become inherently clear, when it comes time to roll out the roll call, BUZZY beats them all. His "YES" rings out the loudest, most forceful. Maybe he's not ready to challenge PHELAN for COUNCIL PRESIDENT but he sure could be CHOIR director.

I would think LYNN AUDITORIUM would always be looking for new talent. There could be a whole new revenue stream for the city, "BUZZY SINGS THE BLUES" instead of us listening to the same old political songs

TRAFFIC TROUBLE

Do you know what I hear? That only MASS DOT can legally put up speed limit and other such TRAFFIC signs up. That the city doesn't have that authority. There are only two streets where they are approved, MAPLE being one of them.

SOME GOOD NEWS IN THE CITY

I sat next to CALVIN ANDERSON, former LYNN CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE and he made a very valid point. The fact that VERIZON, NATIONAL GRID, and a new bakery were there to testify at PUBLIC HEARINGS was a good sign that maybe the local economy was beginning to turn around. A very astute observation, I hope he's right.

THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN

I wonder since some troublemaker got the LYNN SCHOOL COMMITTEE to hold a PUBLIC HEARING on the SUPERINTENDENT'S contract if they will take an interest in the SCHOOLS now. They should. Can you say PROPERTY VALUES or TAX REVENUE?

CLOSING THE BARN DOOR

Cyr apologizes for being ‘bully,’ ‘racist’

There seems to be a pattern here. It seems like the way we do politics here is to "bully" our way through. It carries over to our schools from the top down.

I  witnessed his apology and I sure it was heartfelt. A couple of the councilors rushed to his defense. Still, I'm not sure that makes up for the offense. Words matter and you can't take them back. The time to put a spin on them was back closer to when the controversy started.

A TECHNICAL MATTER

Just came from the LYNN CITY COUNCIL meeting. Seems like the only deviation from the boring norm was when COUNCILMAN PETE CAPANO voted PRESENT instead of the standard YES on a vote to ratify the MAYOR'S appointments to the LYNN CULTURAL COMMISSION.

I always thought that meant you weren't taking a position one way or the other on an issue. However when it came time to tally the role on a vote , CITY CLERK MARY AUDLEY counted it as an AFFIRMATIVE, final total 11 yes 0 no.

Once again, not a word about the schools even though there is a drama playing on the NATIONAL stage. I guess they think if they close their eyes, no one will see.

CITY COUNCIL ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL

Once again, LPS has exposed the city to national consternation. This time the exposure could well end up costing the city a lot of cash. The MAYOR is supposed to keep the LYNN CITY COUNCIL abreast of all school issues.

The three times I have been to COUNCIL meetings never a word was spoken about the schools. I know the LYNN SCHOOL COMMITTEE is the duly elected body with the charge of governing the schools. Still with half the CITY BUDGET going to the schools I would think there would be a little more concern.

COMMISSIONING A LITTLE CULTURE IN LYNN

With all the talk about the ARTS and how a concerted effort is being made these appointments take in even more significance. All of the politicians like to show up at all of these artsy events at the Museum and LYNN ARTS. it's kind of nice to know some of the people they are going to be sitting beside at these events.

Appointments to Lynn Cultural Council

Dena Capano

Dale Lewis

Jocelyn Almy Testa

Seth Albaum

Elizabeth McKim

Alicia Churchill

Reappointments to Lynn Cultural Council:

Robert Farris, Jr.

Susan McCarthy

David Parsons

Tyrone Hawkins

Amy Musinsky

PAR FOR DISCOURSE

Gannon, Lynn discuss lease reduction as course membership declines

The problem is that we have more potential caddies than golfers. The economics of our local economy is such that the the growing majority of jobs don't provide enough green to cover the green fees.

It's hard to feel sympathy for GOLFERS, maybe that's not fair but we poets like to deal in images and I'm not the one who created the image of GOLF being a game of the 1%.

I'm sure that's not true and definitely not fair but that's the way it is. So it's hard to rally support for their support. What is needed is some proof and programs how GANNON benefits all of the citizens of LYNN, not just the ones who tee it up.

COOK FOR KEEPS

Now a fight to fix Cook Street Park

Right now we are fighting each other, Mano-e-Mano. Everybody is fighting for territory. What makes the GARDEN CROWD any different? 

Well it's kind of what comes with the territory that makes it better, different. Growing vegetables, fruits, or even flowers is a constructive, creative habit whereas gang fights and drug deals tend to be destructive ones.

With his less than ringing endorsement, COUNCILOR CAHILL, hit the nail on the head:

“That park has attracted some elements not compatible with the neighborhood for years,” he said. “I’m game to give this a try.'

What is needed is a sense of PRIDE and a sense of OWNERSHIP. Mix in a little COMMITMENT and you planted some seeds that can blossom into a bumper crop of healthy changes,

Hey, if this works out I see a YOU TUBE video in the future with DAVID GASS fiddling. 

INTRODUCING "LYNN CITY WATCH"

Oh no, not another BLOG! I can't help myself, this is TOO MUCH FUN. I feel like maybe I should start applying my POET'S EYE to the rest of the city. What do you think?

I mean I went to the last three LYNN CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS and they seem to run like clockwork. They must run on some kind of SAVINGS time.

Even though there is no pre-printed agenda for me to take notes on, still I might be able to come up with a thing or two to write about. Heck just commenting on what others have written in the ITEM and the JOURNAL or other places that have stories about or that affect LYNN could keep me busy.

Maybe some one could even set up a website, that "HEAVEN FORBID" makes me money. You would think with the kind of traffic that LYNN SCHOOL WATCH generates that opportunities are out there. I could explore them myself but hey, I just want to write. I have enough  trouble with spelling, I mean typing.

I don't know, I guess I'll try it but the schools are my first priority and I wouldn't want to shortchange them. STILL.

EVERYBODY NEEDS A LITTLE MORE POETRY IN THEIR LIFE!