I recently was sent a brochure by the Eileen Donoghue for Congress committee in which, in my opinion, Ms. Donoghue took full credit, as Mayor, for the All-America City designation in 1999. This was a surprise for me because I played a small part in that effort, but, more importantly, hundreds of people, from artists to dance troupes, convinced the All-America City committee that Lowell was a winner.
Other Donoghue claims in her literature or her debates included:
Lowell was a “ghost town” when she decided to run for City Council in 1992. She made this statement during the Lowell “Sun” debate.
She was largely responsible for the Artist’s Lofts which now dot the city. Across the street from her law offices is a plaque to the man who really came up with the idea, Grady Mulligan. Mr. Mulligan, who will go down in history as one of the most effective City Councilors in Lowell’s history, worked tirelessly in 1995 to establish old buildings as artist’s lofts. It was his idea, years before Donoghue became Mayor, to turn abandoned city buildings into Artist’s Lofts. I did not say that; the plaque, made of brass and fastened to the old firehouse downtown, did, and does.
So I decided to think up other projects that Donoghue might want to take credit for in her efforts to make her seem like the quintessential public servant. Just think how much better things would have been with her at the helm when:
She laid the first stone of the Pawtucket dam in 1825.
She led the debate that caused Kirk Boott to locate his mill in Lowell.
She held the wedge that allowed the gunpowder to split the granite when the canals were built.
She drove the first train on the Boston to Lowell railroad in the 1830’s.
She welcomed the troops back from the Civil War.
She oversaw the building of City Hall in 1893.
She oversaw the soup kitchen programs during the Depression.
She came up with the plan for the National Historical Park.
She oversaw the entire new school building program.
She would have accomplished many of these things while growing up in Holyoke with her many brothers and sisters.
Eileen, isn’t the Mayor’s post ceremonial under the Plan E form of government? If it’s not, someone had better tell Brian Martin, John Cox, and Bernie Lynch. They were, after all, the City Managers during this time period.
Oh, remember to take down that pesky plaque on Palmer Street.
