Tree Cutting on West Street

Posted on October 3, 2007 by billmanzi

National Grid tree crews plan to move into Methuen starting on West Street on Monday, October 1st. It will be contract crews from Nelson Tree Service. This is part of the National Grid program to trim or eliminate tree branches that could cause a problem for the transmission lines.

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Police Chief Placed on Leave

Posted on October 2, 2007 by billmanzi

Mayor Manzi Places Methuen Police Chief on Leave

Today, I have informed Methuen Police Chief Joseph Solomon that, effective immediately, he will be placed on paid administrative leave from his position. I stressed to the Chief that this leave is not disciplinary in nature, but is, however, necessary for my administration to continue to perform its investigation into matters regarding his conduct as Chief of Police, as well as the conduct of members of the department under his supervision.

The term of the leave is indefinite pending the outcome of the investigation. Any further information that becomes available will be produced and disseminated at that time.

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Arlington Neighborhood Community Center

Posted on September 22, 2007 by billmanzi

Methuen’s Arlington Neighborhood has taken delivery of the modular unit that will serve as the new home for their community center. I have worked closely with this neighborhood group for years as a City Councilor, and now as mayor. It has always been a major goal to expand and modernize the facility used to serve so many neighborhood kids. It was a major plank in my initial run for Mayor, and is a truly large step forward for this group.

Arlington

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Veterans Endorse Tsongas

Posted on September 21, 2007 by billmanzi

The Veterans and Military Families for Progress yesterday endorsed Niki Tsongas in Methuen. It was a wonderful outdoor event, with Methuen’s many Veterans monuments overlooking the gathered group. I was pleased to take part in the event, and there were many veterans on hand, including State Representative Linda Dean Campbell and Tuskegee Airman Luther McIlwain and the Citizens for Civic Courage, who endorsed Niki Tsongas last month. It was great to have Sam Poulten in Methuen. We are going to try to bring him back frequently. The event focused on Niki Tsongas’ real committment to our veterans, with light criticism of the Bush Administrations record in that area. The failures by this administration in the area of veterans affairs have been shocking, and the remarks by Niki Tsongas really did resonate with the veterans on hand. I really believe that providing quality services for our returning veterans should not be partisan, but the incompetence of the Bush Administration in this area has been glaring.

Tsongas Veterans Event

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Boomtown in Methuen

Posted on September 20, 2007 by billmanzi

I had the priviledge today of hosting the unveiling of Methuen’s monument to horses. Championed by equestrian fan Marilyn Long and former Fire Chief Ken Bourassa, this monument pays tribute to the role that the horse has played in our history. It was unveiled today and we had a very special guest to assist. Mr. Rex Trailer was on hand to help. As a fan of Boomtown (and having actually visited the show once) it was a delight to have him in Methuen. My thanks to Marilyn and Chief Bourassa, and a special thank you to Rex.

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monument.JPG

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California Dreamin

Posted on September 19, 2007 by billmanzi

A new G.O.P. effort is underway to change the method of selecting California’s electoral votes in the next presidential election. California is currently a winner take all state, with the winner of the state receiving all of California’s 55 electoral votes. With the state solidly in the Democratic camp Republicans are seeking to change that formula to distribute those votes by congressional district. With 53 Congressional districts this plan would award one vote to the winner of a congressional district, with two reserved for the overall state winner. In the Kerry-Bush matchup this scenario would have given Bush 22 of California’s electoral votes and negated Ohio’s battleground status. From yesterday’s New York Times:

“Their idea is to have California be the only big state to do this,” said Chris Lehane, a Democratic strategist who is supporting Senator Hillary Clinton’s candidacy. “If the Republicans can poach 20 electoral votes from the Democrats in California, that’s the same as winning all the electoral votes in Ohio. You’re basically giving them the election.”

And who is leading the charge in California?

The proposal has been dubbed the “Presidential Election Reform Act.” It is being led by Thomas Hiltachk of Bell, McAndrews and Hiltachk, a law firm that has represented both the state Republican Party and G.O.P. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

According to The Associated Press, the firm was also linked to a political committee, largely funded by Bob Perry, that targeted Democratic candidates in 2006. Mr. Perry, a longtime supporter of George W. Bush, contributed millions of dollars to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth, whose intense and deceptive campaign in 2004 was so damaging to the candidacy of John Kerry.

You can be sure that the Democratic Party will be involved in opposition, as the stakes are pretty high. The New York Times has opened their opinion section, ending the charges associated with it. Read the Bob Herbert column here.

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Primary Results in Methuen

Posted on September 18, 2007 by billmanzi

Congratulations to all of the City Council candidates who competed in the primary today. I have attached a spreadsheet detailing the results precinct by precinct. In the West District Jeanne Pappalardo led the ticket, followed by Deborah Quinn and Robert Andrew, with Bryan Sweet finishing fourth. In the Central District John Cronin led the ticket, followed by Phil Lahey, with Donna Talbot finishing third and James Atkinson finishing fourth. The top four in each district move on to the final in November.

campaign-2007-primary.pdf

campaign-2007-primary-central.pdf

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Primary Day in Methuen

Posted on September 17, 2007 by billmanzi

Tuesday is primary day in Methuen, with elections being held for West District City Councilor and Central District City Councilor. In the West District the field consists of incumbents Robert Andrew and Deborah Quinn, along with challengers Jeanne Pappalardo, Bryan Sweet and Jack Burke. One will be eliminated. In the Central District the field consists of incumbents John Cronin and Phil Lahey along with challengers David Lavallee, Fadi Chahine, Donna Talbot, Jamie Atkinson and Derrick Jones. In that race three will be eliminated. With no at large or mayoral primary turnout expectations are low, but I hope to see a larger than anticipated turnout. Good luck to all of the candidates, and to the voters I say lets reward the efforts of these candidates by participating. I will try to get the results up by early tommorow evening. For the West District the polling locations are the Park Garden Apartment complex and the Marsh School, and for the Central District voting is at the Donald Timony School.

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Casinos in Massachusetts

Posted on September 17, 2007 by billmanzi

Governor Deval Patrick seems poised to announce a three casino plan for Massachusetts sometime today. This plan contemplates the state selling three licenses centered in three separate regions, and then establishing a separate tax rate for those casinos (30 percent?) that would generate hefty numbers for Massachusetts. The political jockeying has already started, with prospective locations touting themselves as great casino sites. The anti-casino forces have begun to mobilize as well. In todays Boston Globe.

This is a tragedy and a social injustice,” said Kris Mineau, president of the Massachusetts Family Institute, which plans to join in opposition along with several other powerful groups, including the Massachusetts Council of Churches and the League of Women Voters. “What this state represents in historic and cultural terms will be forever changed with the glitter and ballyhoo of Vegas. This is not going to go by easily, believe me. This is about the soul of the Commonwealth.”

Locally Senator Sue Tucker can be expected to be a leading opponent of the casino plan. Speaker of the House Sal Dimasi has been opposed to casino gambling in the past, and Rep. Dan Bosley, on the House side, will be a major opponent. As far as what impact this type of proposal will have locally there are some critical questions that we do not know the answer to. The first is what impact would a major expansion of casino gaming have on lottery revenues, which are dedicated to local aid. My guess is that the presence of three casinos will have at least a constraining effect on lottery growth, which has slowed considerably even without Massachusetts casinos. If the effect is a drop then the political question, from a local perspective, is how do we make that up via this plan. A second question that may impact us locally will be the impact on gaming politics in New Hampshire. Many are convinced that if Massachusetts green lights casinos New Hampshire will follow shortly threafter. With Rockingham Park a potential site in New Hampshire I am keenly aware that Methuen may be impacted in ways that go beyond Massachusetts politics. This process will be an extraordinary one, with many different political players attempting to get to the table. Read the Globe story at this link.

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Fifth Congressional

Posted on September 16, 2007 by billmanzi

As I do a post on the Fifth Congressional results I know I will get some flames about being very late but I had essentially not posted for a week after the results came in. Congratulations to Niki Tsongas and Jim Ogonowski for their victories. I endorsed Eileen Donoghue in the race, and I congratulate her for running a strong campaign and being very gracious to Mrs. Tsongas after the primary. I attended the unity breakfast the next day and I look forward to a vibrant campaign that deals with the issues so critical to our region’s future. The post-primary positioning has begun, and I would like to point to Dick Howe’s latest post as one of great interest. . Kendall Wallace has penned a great column on the race that is worth a read.

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