Author Archives: billmanzi

The Boston Foundation Education Health Care Report

The Boston Foundation and the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education issued a report last month dealing with education funding in Massachusetts. The report looked at the financial impacts of the Education Reform Act, and how the larger amounts of state … Continue reading

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Obama, Boehner on Arizona Shootings

President Obama and Speaker Boehner speaking after the horrific shootings in Arizona. The shootings of Rep. Gifford sent shockwaves through the country. It is another scary and disappointing moment for our country. We should be able to have vigorous political … Continue reading

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President Names Bill Daley COS

President Obama named Bill Daley, of the Chicago Daleys, to be his Chief of Staff. Daley, currently serving as a senior VP at JPMorgan Chase, represents a sharp swing to the center for President Obama, and shows the continuing influence … Continue reading

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Union Power Under Attack

With state budgets throughout the country sinking into the abyss public sector unions are now under attack everywhere. And unlike prior battles organized labor in the public sector is losing the battle where it counts, with the public. From the … Continue reading

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Tina Gagnon is the January Artist of the Month

Mayor William M. Manzi has named Tina Gagnon as January’s Artist of the Month. Tina is an exceptional color pencil artist whose work is often displayed at art shows across New England. Largely self-taught, she honed her craft through study … Continue reading

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WCCM Interview: Michael Widmer

I joined Lou Blasi on WCCM last week, during the snowstorm, to talk about municipal health care, pensions, and the upcoming state budget. We were joined by Michael Widmer of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Association, who I consider to be the … Continue reading

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Republican Budgetary Fiction

The new Republican majority in the House of Representatives has put in place many new rules and procedures, including a gutting of the budgetary pay-go rules that reflect the right wing insanity on budgets and deficits. In plain language what … Continue reading

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The Liquor Tax

Saw a couple of media stories on the end of the sales tax on beverage alcohol, including the symbolic dumping of wine into the harbor by store owners. As a former owner of a package store I have tried to … Continue reading

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Senior Whole Health on Mayors Corner

Lisa Tkachuk, from Senior Whole Health, guesting on the Mayor’s Corner Show on MCTV. Interesting program for seniors, and an intriguing model for health care payments for patients in the program. The model is the universal payment, as opposed to … Continue reading

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City of Methuen Storm News

Due to the severe winter storm I have, in consultation with the Director of the Department of Public Works, declared a state of emergency in the City of Methuen at 4:00 p.m. today. City Hall will be closed tomorrow, Monday … Continue reading

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