Friday, February 26, 2010
Thursday, February 25, 2010
PSA: Food Drive
Pennies for Poverty
2 Cents 4 Change
We are looking for volunteers to make a difference in March!
On Fri., Sat., and Sun. March 19, 22, & 21 Pennies for Poverty: 2 Cents 4 Change will be holding a canned food drive at the Shaw’s Supermarket in Port Plaza. We will be collecting non-perishable food from shoppers to help stock local food pantries that are in desperate need of supplies. Can you spend 2 hours on one of those days to assist us with our collection? We will need to have volunteers there from 8:30am to 6pm Fri and 9am to 5pm Sat & Sun.
We will also need volunteers at the Belleville Church from 9am to 11am on Mon, Mar 22 to help us distribute the canned goods to the local pantries.
For more info or to volunteer please contact Eleanor Turke, Pennies Food Drive Co-Chairperson at eleanor.turke@comcast.net or call (978)337-0364
2 Cents 4 Change
We are looking for volunteers to make a difference in March!
On Fri., Sat., and Sun. March 19, 22, & 21 Pennies for Poverty: 2 Cents 4 Change will be holding a canned food drive at the Shaw’s Supermarket in Port Plaza. We will be collecting non-perishable food from shoppers to help stock local food pantries that are in desperate need of supplies. Can you spend 2 hours on one of those days to assist us with our collection? We will need to have volunteers there from 8:30am to 6pm Fri and 9am to 5pm Sat & Sun.
We will also need volunteers at the Belleville Church from 9am to 11am on Mon, Mar 22 to help us distribute the canned goods to the local pantries.
For more info or to volunteer please contact Eleanor Turke, Pennies Food Drive Co-Chairperson at eleanor.turke@comcast.net or call (978)337-0364
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Interesting
Gillian Swart is reporting that Mayor Holaday apparently reversed herself and opted not to reappoint planning director Sean Sullivan. He's apparently already left.
From the post-election article in The Daily News
From the post-election article in The Daily News
She also said she intends to reappoint the city's planning director, Sean Sullivan. The planning director's term ends on Jan. 5, 2010, one day after Holaday will take office.
The City Council will need to accept that appointment.
"I think Sean Sullivan has been very well received," Holaday said, adding that she has asked people both inside and outside City Hall. Sullivan comes prepared to meetings, she said.
"People speak very highly of him," she said. "I'm very pleased with his work and would like to keep him on."
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
A Supreme Concern
I'm embarrassed to admit this, but I only recently found out that recordings of the Charter Review Commission are available online. In fact, I discovered this quite by accident after viewing the PSA for tomorrow night's public hearing (and the inclusion of a questionnaire in the city's census.)
For the record, go here for the entire series.
The Feb. 4 meeting I stumbled on inlcuded included an interesting nugget presented by commission members Bruce Menin and Shelia Mullins. Just how could the Supreme Court's recent overturning of the ban on political contributions by corporations impact local politics? (Note: This conversation starts around 36 minutes in and accounts for only five minutes in an hour-long meeting.)
Menin, recalling his research of so-called "citizen safeguards" (think recall elections), says "stories are beginning to appear on the radar screen that corporations that want to do business in community are investing politically, not in infrastructure, but investing politically and moving people into office that are predisposed to decisions that are going to benefit the corporation."
The concern--as remote as it may be--is that such a thing could happen in Newburyport, a well-heeled individual could help initiate a recall election and insert a friendlier force in the office at the corner of Green and Pleasant Streets. (Steve Karp would be the obvious example of such a potential force, but no specific names ever came up in the short discussion, which accounted for roughly five minutes in the hour-long meeting.)
Commission member Shelia Mullins offered a hypothetical situation or two: "There is a major player, a developer, in town [again, no names were mentioned] who wants to do a big project that the citizens are not real keen on." Or, Mullins offered as another possibility, a union or any other type of entity that "wants to do a project that citizens are very much against ... what's to stop them from--I'll use a funny phrase--buying the election one way or another?"
The topic didn't generate much feedback from other commission members. Hugh Kelleher interjected for a moment, saying that commission members really couldn't do anything to counter the Supreme Court ruling, a point neither Mullins nor Menin disputed. But they asked that commission members just keep potential abuses in mind while exploring new ideas for the charter.
"Looking at it here in Newburyport there is nothing to stop potentially that kind of scenario from happening," Mullins says. "The point Bruce was trying to make is when you are looking at the things you are looking at in each of your subcommittees, tuck that piece of information in the back of your mind and use that as the devil's advocate in your thought process. It doesn't mean it's going to happen but, we're on an earthquake fault line, that's not likely to happen but we are overdue for one and it could potentially happen."
This is an interesting discussion given the current landscape of the city. Again, Karp's name never came up at the meeting, but it sure lingered over our last mayoral election. Some wondered if Karp and other business owners downtown asserted too much influence over the past mayoral election. James Shanley got the worst of it, unfairly in my book, after the Daily News article detailed how much support he'd received from business interests in town. (The irony of course is Mayor Holaday's gave her first state of the city address to the Chamber of Commerce. I guess the business community can listen but not participate.)
I'm guessing a similar knee jerk response would help thwart any attempts by a major business holder to buy an election, so I'm not certain what sort of safeguards could or should be in place as additional protections.
But if we're really concerned about a unscrupulous mayor entering office, perhaps the commission can entertain the idea of decentralizing the power of appointment.
At present, the mayor nominates and city council confirms citizens to sit on influential city bodies, such as the board of health, ZBA and planning board. Rather than have all appointments made by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council, I'd like to see a member or two from each panel be elected directly from the people.
I suggested this same idea last year. I'll leave it to the commissioners to determine whether this is an idea that should and even could be implemented. But it seems to me that if we're that fearful of the power a mayor might wield that we as city residents should accept more responsibility for assigning people to important town boards.
I concede such an arrangement potentially could open up the boards to same concerns of an election being purchased by an influential power broker. But I also think an regular election for these posts would shine some light on the boards that hold a great deal of power in this city but really only answer to one person--the Mayor.
p.s. I'll do a better job covering these meetings now that I know they're online.
For the record, go here for the entire series.
The Feb. 4 meeting I stumbled on inlcuded included an interesting nugget presented by commission members Bruce Menin and Shelia Mullins. Just how could the Supreme Court's recent overturning of the ban on political contributions by corporations impact local politics? (Note: This conversation starts around 36 minutes in and accounts for only five minutes in an hour-long meeting.)
Menin, recalling his research of so-called "citizen safeguards" (think recall elections), says "stories are beginning to appear on the radar screen that corporations that want to do business in community are investing politically, not in infrastructure, but investing politically and moving people into office that are predisposed to decisions that are going to benefit the corporation."
The concern--as remote as it may be--is that such a thing could happen in Newburyport, a well-heeled individual could help initiate a recall election and insert a friendlier force in the office at the corner of Green and Pleasant Streets. (Steve Karp would be the obvious example of such a potential force, but no specific names ever came up in the short discussion, which accounted for roughly five minutes in the hour-long meeting.)
Commission member Shelia Mullins offered a hypothetical situation or two: "There is a major player, a developer, in town [again, no names were mentioned] who wants to do a big project that the citizens are not real keen on." Or, Mullins offered as another possibility, a union or any other type of entity that "wants to do a project that citizens are very much against ... what's to stop them from--I'll use a funny phrase--buying the election one way or another?"
The topic didn't generate much feedback from other commission members. Hugh Kelleher interjected for a moment, saying that commission members really couldn't do anything to counter the Supreme Court ruling, a point neither Mullins nor Menin disputed. But they asked that commission members just keep potential abuses in mind while exploring new ideas for the charter.
"Looking at it here in Newburyport there is nothing to stop potentially that kind of scenario from happening," Mullins says. "The point Bruce was trying to make is when you are looking at the things you are looking at in each of your subcommittees, tuck that piece of information in the back of your mind and use that as the devil's advocate in your thought process. It doesn't mean it's going to happen but, we're on an earthquake fault line, that's not likely to happen but we are overdue for one and it could potentially happen."
This is an interesting discussion given the current landscape of the city. Again, Karp's name never came up at the meeting, but it sure lingered over our last mayoral election. Some wondered if Karp and other business owners downtown asserted too much influence over the past mayoral election. James Shanley got the worst of it, unfairly in my book, after the Daily News article detailed how much support he'd received from business interests in town. (The irony of course is Mayor Holaday's gave her first state of the city address to the Chamber of Commerce. I guess the business community can listen but not participate.)
I'm guessing a similar knee jerk response would help thwart any attempts by a major business holder to buy an election, so I'm not certain what sort of safeguards could or should be in place as additional protections.
But if we're really concerned about a unscrupulous mayor entering office, perhaps the commission can entertain the idea of decentralizing the power of appointment.
At present, the mayor nominates and city council confirms citizens to sit on influential city bodies, such as the board of health, ZBA and planning board. Rather than have all appointments made by the mayor and confirmed by the City Council, I'd like to see a member or two from each panel be elected directly from the people.
I suggested this same idea last year. I'll leave it to the commissioners to determine whether this is an idea that should and even could be implemented. But it seems to me that if we're that fearful of the power a mayor might wield that we as city residents should accept more responsibility for assigning people to important town boards.
I concede such an arrangement potentially could open up the boards to same concerns of an election being purchased by an influential power broker. But I also think an regular election for these posts would shine some light on the boards that hold a great deal of power in this city but really only answer to one person--the Mayor.
p.s. I'll do a better job covering these meetings now that I know they're online.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Charter Review Hearing
No doubt, a year or so from now when the Charter Review Commission unveils its recommendations for changes to the city charter, critics will complain about this process being done behind closed doors and away from the public eye.
Those critics will by lying.
The Commission is holding yet another public hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 7 pm in City Hall. And they're asking residents to answer some very specific questions. See this article in the Newburyport Current for more details.
Those critics will by lying.
The Commission is holding yet another public hearing on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 7 pm in City Hall. And they're asking residents to answer some very specific questions. See this article in the Newburyport Current for more details.
Google Me, More
Just posting an email from Ari Herzog with more details about the Google opportunity.
--
--
Ever notice how slow your internet connection is?
I'm downloading data along Comcast's electrical copper wires at 11 million bits per second. If a fiber optic network existed in Newburyport, that 11 million would jump to 1 billion. Sounds good to me. You?
The problem is Comcast and Verizon aren't building fiber connections anytime soon -- but Google is. The company behind Google Search and Google Mail announced a competition last week to install an experimental fiber optic network in test markets across the country and it seeks interested communities to be their guinea pigs.
As your newest city councilor at-large, I'd like Newburyport to be a guinea pig for Google.
In recent days, I've met with many residents and talked to several city officials. Mayor Holaday stands behind this proposal for she, too, would like to see a faster internet connection to enable city departments and the schools to operate more efficiently by sending and receiving data quicker than it takes today. Further, we'd offer Google the ability to lease or sublease our poles and other infrastructure; and that's one of many ways we can see some potential revenue out of Google coming here. That, and imagine the innovative stuff we can do with a wicked fast internet connection. Companies will beg to relocate here, wanting to tap into Google's network. With revenue comes jobs. Think about the possibilities.
If you visit http://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi/public/options you will see a button on the right side of the page that asks you to "Nominate Your Community." (The button on the left refers to the government response, which I'm coordinating with numerous departments and boards.)
I humbly ask you to nominate Newburyport. It takes 5 minutes to complete the online form. If you live with three other people, ask everyone to fill it out. If you have access to a video camera, record a video first sharing your reasons why you'd like a faster connection here, and upload it to Youtube; and then link to that video on your form.
Ask your friends, your co-workers, your colleagues, your neighbors. Residency is not required to nominate the city and share your reasons why Google should come here.
I outlined a few reasons at http://fibernbpt.blogspot.com and http://facebook.com/fibernbpt why Google should come to Newburyport, and why Newburyport should respond to its request for information. I think it's crucial that 1) everyone nominates the city as a host community for Google fiber; but 2) more importantly, everyone's on the same page.
I'd like to hear your thoughts -- and the thoughts of everyone you know who lives, works, or plays in Newburyport. Think about which Newburyport ideas and innovations should be shared with Google, and why Google should pick Newburyport out of other communities that apply. To this end, I've posted a public forum to occur on Monday, March 1 from 7 - 9 p.m. in the city hall auditorium. Please come if you can. Please spread the word about this forum -- and the initiative -- to everyone you know.
By working together and by unifying our ideas with one voice, we can bring Google fiber to Newburyport!
Thanks much. Have a great weekend! Please email fiberNBPT@gmail.com with any questions and/or to send an update when the nomination form is submitted.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Sound Famliar?
The Nantucket Independent has a report on the island's downtown. Mom and pops are gone; seasonal businesses moving in; real estate is too expensive, etc., etc.
Steve Karp is largely let off the hook since these trends took root before he acquired a good portion of the downtown. Same could be said for Newburyport as well.
Steve Karp is largely let off the hook since these trends took root before he acquired a good portion of the downtown. Same could be said for Newburyport as well.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Khaki Like Me
A few kind people have asked where I've been late or more specifically why I haven't been blogging. I gently put them off, but now I'm ready to reveal my activities of the past few weeks.
I've been deep undercover in the Khaki Tide.
I've spent the past month as one of them: the self-centered urban professionals who do absolutely nothing around here except raise their kids, care for their family, work hard at their job, and, when the carousel music winds down at 9 p.m., kick up their feet to watch some TV, read a book or just go to bed.
I'm here to tell you. IT'S AWESOME.
Seriously, what an existence. To focus on only a few things and do them well, do them better than you've done them before and to not worry about things like school accreditation, city councils, waterfronts and the like.
Ah, let someone else take care of those things. That's what we elected them for anyway.
Yeah, I didn't just pass the buck. I tied it to a brick, flung it right into City Hall, and plopped back onto my couch to catch up on my "Men of a Certain Age."
It's an attractive lifestyle, I assure you. So enticing in fact that I sometimes didn't want to come back. I now understand why Donna Holaday will have a difficult time attracting people to her March 6 at the High School. The 9 a.m. start will interfere with birthday parties, errands, some child's practice of some sort or just a general tendency toward enjoying a lazy Saturday morning. (For the record, I'll be coming back on a red eye that morning so I may not be able to attend.)
So what are we to do. How do we engage those who are understandably content in their day-to-day lives, leaving the heavy lifting to those that care? How can we broaden the circle of giving-a-crap and get people to fight for a stake in this city?
I'm not sure, to be honest. Having lived the existence for the past month or so I can say with some confidence.....Apathy Rocks.
Thoughts?
I've been deep undercover in the Khaki Tide.
I've spent the past month as one of them: the self-centered urban professionals who do absolutely nothing around here except raise their kids, care for their family, work hard at their job, and, when the carousel music winds down at 9 p.m., kick up their feet to watch some TV, read a book or just go to bed.
I'm here to tell you. IT'S AWESOME.
Seriously, what an existence. To focus on only a few things and do them well, do them better than you've done them before and to not worry about things like school accreditation, city councils, waterfronts and the like.
Ah, let someone else take care of those things. That's what we elected them for anyway.
Yeah, I didn't just pass the buck. I tied it to a brick, flung it right into City Hall, and plopped back onto my couch to catch up on my "Men of a Certain Age."
It's an attractive lifestyle, I assure you. So enticing in fact that I sometimes didn't want to come back. I now understand why Donna Holaday will have a difficult time attracting people to her March 6 at the High School. The 9 a.m. start will interfere with birthday parties, errands, some child's practice of some sort or just a general tendency toward enjoying a lazy Saturday morning. (For the record, I'll be coming back on a red eye that morning so I may not be able to attend.)
So what are we to do. How do we engage those who are understandably content in their day-to-day lives, leaving the heavy lifting to those that care? How can we broaden the circle of giving-a-crap and get people to fight for a stake in this city?
I'm not sure, to be honest. Having lived the existence for the past month or so I can say with some confidence.....Apathy Rocks.
Thoughts?
Google Me
Blogger and Councillor-at-Large Ari Herzog is on to something here. Please take a moment to read and act.
Agave in Malden?
This post in the Boston Restaurant Blog reports on an Agave Mexican Grill and Bar opening in Malden. It makes no mention of our Agave in Newburyport or the Agave in Portsmouth. I assume the three are related although neither Web site seems to acknowledge the other.
Really Daily News?
A fart joke? For those who wonder whether the Daily News runs every letter it receives, please check out today's editorial page. I'd link to it but I guess they wisely left it off the site.
Note
The city has announced a snow emergency parking ban from tonight at 11 p.m. through Wednesday at 7 a.m. Blue lights will start flashing at 4 p.m. today. Unmoved vehicles to municipal lots will be ticketed and towed.
-City of Newburyport Facebook Page
-City of Newburyport Facebook Page
Monday, February 1, 2010
Jan. 25 City Council Meeting
Your 2010 City Council at last Monday's meeting, just in case you wanted to watch.
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