meme noun \ˈmēm\
: an idea, behavior, style, or usage that spreads from person to person within a culture
The notion that the Council dare not refuse Rep. Murphy's advances, for fear that his wrath will create a barrier between Lowell and the funding levels we desire from Beacon Hill. Further, to defy Murphy, is to defy the station of the Rep's office. Doing so, could infuriate the other members of the delegation, compounding Lowell's fiscal woes.
Let's not refuse to notice the subtext of 'political extortion,' but, moving along ...
This meme, and complicit parallel "logic," depicts Lowell as this:
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| Self reliance? Pfft.. Gimmie! Gimmie more! |
It seems to me that Lowell has done rather well in harvesting bacon from Boston in the last 7 years, with many giving credit, solely, to the delegation.
This happened despite the buzz that the phone lines between Lowell City Hall and Bacon...uh....Beacon Hill were apparently severed. So, now we are supposed to believe that because there will be a State Rep in the corner office there will suddenly be more $$ coming into the city from the state?
Has the delegation been holding back?
Can anyone track the funding channels for the Ameresco Project and the Solar Panels? (I am opening myself to embarrasment here, as I don't know the funding sources.)
It seems to me, what bent the delegations nose out of joint was that Lynch didn't rely on them as the courier. Or worse, he got funding despite their follies on Beacon Hill.
Nangle gave it all away in 2007.
The Ring in Lowell's Nose(Link)
"That's the problem. There is no communication coming out of the city manager's office at all. Bernie is doing what he does best, circumvent everybody. He did it in Chelmsford, and he's doing it now," Nangle said.
-snip
Lynch added that regardless of who was invited where, "I'm sure (Nangle will) continue to do his job on the part of the city and I'll continue to do mine."
I got the sense that Bernie's ego may have made it hard to 'glory share.' A habit that our delegation does by reflex. Certainly, in the early part of his tenure, Lynch was observant to note the Council's partnership in the betterment unfolding. But, then Rodney Elliot opted to wage war and, Lynch pulled back in self defense.
It took two election cycles to stack the Council against Lynch's refusal to play by #lowellrules. But, now the deed is done.
###
I couldn't take it any longer
Lord I was crazed
And when the feeling came upon me
Like a tidal wave
I started swearing to my god and on my mother's grave
That I would love you to the end of time
I swore that I would love you to the end of time!
So now I'm praying for the end of time
To hurry up and arrive
'Cause if I gotta spend another minute with you
I don't think that I can really survive
I'll never break my promise or forget my vow
But God only knows what I can do right now
I'm praying for the end of time
It's all that I can do
Praying for the end of time,
So I can end my time with you!!
1 comment:
So, the City bonded the Ameresco project itself.
Repair grant for Lowell schools will save city money
The Sun (10/6/11)
Under that contract, Ameresco , a Framingham-based company, guaranteed that the projects would save enough energy to cover the cost of the $21 million bond.
Now that the MSBA is helping to pay for several of the projects on Ameresco 's list, other projects around the city may be able to move forward, according to Assistant Superintendent for Finance and Operations Jay Lang.
City Manager Bernie Lynch said the MSBA funding will also enable the city to reduce the size of the bond needed to pay for all the work.
"It will cost us less money from the city's budget now to complete all the work, and we'll also be able to whack away at a few more items with some pay back in terms of energy savings," Lynch said.
Lynch said it is too early to say how much less the city may have to borrow now, but he estimated it will be "a couple million" dollars.
...
Hmmm... Lowell borrowed the money, eh? Did our improved bond rating help that along?
Who wants to burn our reserves, now?!
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