Blue Mass Group

Reality-based commentary on politics.

GO MAYOR MARTIN!! It Ain’t About You Lynne

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Lynne complains that the mayor of lowell, an early Tim Murray supporter, didn’t treat the people with respect because, well I’m not sure what her beef is, other than the fact that the mayor hasn’t kissed her ass and givern her cause, and her bread and butter$$$ (local art community) the attention $$$$$ it deserves.

Lynn, like many others on this blog, are the self-appointed “people”. I chastised her months ago on her blog for complaining that a local politician didn’t spend ooddles of time answering her every question and listen to her solutions for evrey problem when she cornered him at an event.

When she and her ilk are snubbed they respond that the snub is directed at the masses.

Lynn, Two Things

1. You don’t speak for me, and

2. You are what politicians consider a local pain in the ass with a personal agenda. And no voter influence.

I think your bitch against the lowell mayor is personal and Deb Goldberg related

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Comments

  1. I’m new to this controversy. I can certainly tell from this that Lynne/Lynn does not speak for you. Possibly a more private exchange would be helpful here than public chastisings on blogs and speculations about motivation.

  2. Lovely, Ernie, a post totally worthy of you. Not.

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    First, spell my goddamned name right, will you?

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    And there’s NO personal beef. I didn’t dislike Goldberg for one. In fact, I liked her. I didn’t vote for her, but I liked her. Get a grip.

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    And I don’t have a personal gripe against Martin either. You know what, Ernie? You are clueless. Maybe you should think before you post. This was about the biggest asshole move I’ve ever seen from you.

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    But whatever, make it personal and about YOU. You go, girl. Rowr.

  3. “He (Mayor Martin) needs to know that there is a new dawn of politics in Massachusetts and he either can live up to the new standards, or face criticism and defeat. We aren’t interested in politics-as-usual in our state any more.”

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    And this conclusion is comes after your recitation of facts

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    1. he let public officials speak first during open meeting:

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    2. “he took a little too much personal credit for Lowell’s artistic resurgence for my (Lynne’s) comfort”

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    3. “his promise to bring in more people to support the artist community and buy their art so we can make this a vibrant art community instead of one always struggling to survive on a knife’s edge – but with no concrete proposals forthcoming”

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    Lynne, these are all very personal to you. Yet you go on to say that
    “he either can live up to the new standards, or face criticism and defeat. We aren’t interested in politics-as-usual in our state any more.”

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    Who the hell is “we” and “our state”.  Because the mayor of this large urban, very very poor community isn’t planting trees in front of your house he is not responding to “the people”.

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    I try to see myself as others may. I know I’m an asshole.

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    But what the hell do you see yourself as?

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    A self-appointed judge of what the people want?

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    You go girl!

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    PS Did you take your Bruins piece to the Bruins Pro Shop at North Station like I suggested? It is good and will sell.

    • Did you hear his speech of which I am referring? Are YOU watching artists already start to move out because they cannot make a living here? Are you watching your affordable housing disappear before your very eyes with nary a word uttered? Are you seeing the immigrants groups constantly shut down by people who decide they don’t really need to pay attention to them because they don’t vote enough?

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      By the way, I DO NOT SELL my art for a living. I don’t need to make a living off it, I have a business. It’s NOT personal. I am seeing what I see because I am on the ground, involved in the community. Is it OK for me to point out what’s happening or not? Apparently, YOU get to decide whether it is. Excuse me for being offended by that.

  4. …the greatest paper in the World, 14 Kearney Square… (is that spelled right, Lynn?)….home of Paul Sullivan.

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    HOWEVER.  Just as I am truly, deeply annoyed at the cluelessness of Deval for not appointing a SINGLE town manager or selectman to his ‘local government’ team in favor of a bunch of Mayors, so also am I annoyed that the Rep. Blowhard rule remians in force.  These boyos will have their innings with Da Guv – these sessions are allegedly for us little people.

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    And it wouldn’t do them a bit of harm to have to stay and listen to the people they allegedy have their finger on the pulse of now and again.

    • they all suck. And soo right about their need to be introduced. 

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      But Lynne’s new day theme and reasons for getting rid of the mayor are scary.

      • Where in my posts did I EVER say I wanted to get rid of the mayor? Where? Honestly, where?

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        I happen to want to keep people accountable for what they say and how they operate. He is MY mayor too. If I don’t like some aspects of his leadership, is OK for me to say so or do I have to be shut up by the likes of people like you who apparently want to censor anyone who is the slightest bit harsh on the poor, poor elected officials.

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        This is pitiful and lame of you. And yes, that’s a personal attack – I am disappointed in you.

    • I actually agree with one of Peter’s observations here.  Cities and Towns have some common issues, but many different issues.  It would have made a lot of sense for Deval to hear small-town and rural voices in his transition.  Since he didn’t, perhaps the local government team should take it upon themselves to create a sub-group of some folks from towns around the state, of various populations.  Or perhaps, since Deval’s about the grassroots, Peter should organize his own group, hold some open meetings (or virtual meetings here at BMG) and invite people from beyond the cities to give their own voices to the local government debate.  Here’s one way the grassroots may be able to bypass the boyos.

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      Otherwise, I do care about Lowell, apart from it being the home to the Sun and Paul Sullivan.  It’s an important example of how hard it is to redevelop old manufacturing cities, and of how to do it pretty successfully. Part of that process does involve attracting people who are willing to live and work downtown, to reuse old industrial spaces in ways that work in post-industrial economies, and create a functioning tax base so that the cities can provide basic municipal services.  We need to do the same for Lawrence, Fall River, New Bedford, Springfield, Holyoke and others.  We need a lot of Lynnes to live in Lowell, and a bunch more to live in our other urban centers.

      • “Part of that process does involve attracting people who are willing to live and work downtown, to reuse old industrial spaces in ways that work in post-industrial economies, and create a functioning tax base so that the cities can provide basic municipal services.  We need to do the same for Lawrence, Fall River, New Bedford, Springfield, Holyoke and others.  We need a lot of Lynnes to live in Lowell, and a bunch more to live in our other urban centers.”

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        But Lynne and others act as if they just discovered these issues.
        You know how sports teams rosters change evry year. Some, others go. That is similiar to the ever present, but always changing local activist who tries and shame officials into seeing things their way.

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        Nothing a fascist would do.

        • I think there’s always a tension between newcomers (I have no idea how long Lynne’s lived in Lowell), and the folks who have been running a city or town for a while.  It’s not unique to cities–in my own smaller town, if you weren’t born here, you’re a newcomer.  In a lot of cases, the people running the show have worked really hard and feel very invested in the ways they’ve made things work. Somtimes, though, the old ways are closed to outsiders and not the best ways to govern.

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          The activists bring energy and new ideas.  Lynne and others like her do a valuable service by bringing sunlight to the old ways of working. It’s fun to read Left in Lowell and compare it to the Sun.  But sometimes the newcomers, particularly as a place changes its character, want to roll up the sidewalks to keep everything as it was when they arrived. Nobody really gets to claim the only high ground.

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          The point is to listen carefully and respect all the points of view.  My sense of Lynne’s original post was that she was distressed that, at a listening meeting, the organizers dominated the microphones to the exclusion of other voices.  I think she was making a process point, albeit with some passion.  I don’t think that warrants the kind of personal responses it has garnered.

  5. I did think that EB took a cheap shot at Lynne with this post.  However, I also think Lynne took a cheap shot at Mayor Martin in her original post.  Given that she also called out Mayor Martin by name, in the headline of a post, that made it up to the main board, I wouldn’t fine EB more than the equivalent of a fine for 10 miles over a Montana speed limit.

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    The fact remains that Lynne wasn’t even AT the meeting.  As someone that was there, my view of the meeting was different than Lynne’s post.

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    One of the people who spoke admitted having no idea what the meeting was really about, but got a phone call just before the meeting and rushed right down to city hall.  There is clearly some local animosity that provides context for the event, and I am convinced that the animosity fueled the movement of the post from Left in Lowell to BMG.

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    Bill Martin is a good mayor.

    • “I did think that EB took a cheap shot at Lynne with this post.  However, I also think Lynne took a cheap shot at Mayor Martin in her original post.”

      • Lowell is lucky to have Lynne.  We can always use more people that care. There are not enough of them out there.  As someone who lives in Lowell, was there at City Hall on Tuesday, knows the Mayor and his quite familiar with Lynne and Left in Lowell, I can assure you that our Mayor has received more praises than criticism on that blog.

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        I think Martin is a good Mayor and I am glad he is in that position.  He is Lowell’s highest ranking elected official, therefore the City’s leader.  So what is wrong with a constituent scrutinizing and commenting on his actions and words?  Nothing, on the contrary, I think it will help him be a better public servant.

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        I do not know why EB turned his argument into a personal attack of Lynne.  Her points were about the Mayor’s governing style and actions. 

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        By the way, EB and Pablo, since you both like Lowell so much, we would love for you to move here.  We need more activists and I am sure the Mayor would welcome your support.

        • My problem with Lynne is not her criticism of the mayor but rather her constant implications  that her views are the views of “the people” and the politicians better take notice. That view is obnoxious, elitist, naive, self-serving, and 1984 like.

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          Please respond to that Mimi.

        • I would love to live in Lowell.  As I was waiting for my Moody Street sandwich at Olive That and More, I noticed an ad for a very beautiful and spacious condo in the mill across the street.  I have friends who live in the building, so I know I would have great neighbors.  I could walk to my favorite coffee shop (The Coffee Mill) for my morning coffee, and I could walk home from Tim Murray fundraisers at the Blue Shamrock.

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          My wife works in Dartmouth.

        • I am all in favor of helping the Mayor to be a better public servant.  Calling him out on the headline of a statewide blog doesn’t seem like the kind of help he, or anyone else, would find to be positive or helpful.

          • It’s becoming obvious to me you’re wrong about this one…I’ve gotten more responses from the city (I’m not naming names) this week after I posted that, unexpected ones too. I’m pretty certain it was as a result of my post.

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            Martin’s a good person, but I know his political will well enough to know he NEEDS a good prodding. He’s part of the status quo, to be frank. He’s not a visionary, which is fine, except his is the one position (weak mayor or not) where a vision can make a hell of a difference. But if he doesn’t have one, hey, he can use mine or anyone else’s, and he can even take some credit too. But to watch the Council languish in past glories while patting themselves on the back is pretty frustrating for all of us. Sometimes it takes a soft touch, and sometimes a smack upside the head. I don’t pretend to always know which one is necessary in any given situation, but I probably know better than you in regards to the Lowell pols.

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