Newstalk for Wednesday September 19th 2007

Elections for the Primary are this coming Tuesday, Sept. 25 – the only citywide primary is for mayor. We don’t think we’re going too far out on a limb here, but we predict Joe Curtatone with about 65-70 percent and Suzanne Bremer in second and Rick Scirocco in third…you think he will ask for a recount? The only other race is another slam-dunk with Rebekah Gewirtz (we can’t say Princess anyone, the Progressives get all upset with that moniker) and we predict candidate Charles Chisholm to nominate along with her easily in Ward 6. There will be a low turnout – too bad there weren’t primaries elsewhere in the city.    

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Last Saturday morning, Ronaine Quigley - lifelong resident of Winter Hill - was rushed to the Mt. Auburn Hospital and on Sunday was operated on. We hope she is home and mending real soon. Ronaine and John Quigley are very popular at St. Ann’s and in the Winter Hill neighborhood – they’re very nice people – and we are praying for her here at The News.

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At “The Urban Public Safety Alliance” (Alliance for minority Police Officers in Massachusetts) dinner on Saturday evening at the IBEW Local 103 Banquet Hall in Dorchester, Governor Deval Patrick and our own Mayor Joe Curtatone were both guest speakers. Also there (and sitting at The Somerville News table with us) was Register of Probate John Buonomo, Governor’s Councilor Mike Callahan and State Rep. Tim Toomey. We all had a great night.    

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By the way, we heard it from reliable souces that Somerville isn’t really a “Sanctuary City” - although it was voted and approved in the mid 80’s, it was supposedly voted out by the board in the early 90’s. So we’re wondering now how come no one has officially come out and acknowledged this?    

   
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Congratulations to Registrar of Motor Vehicles Anne L. Collins, who was recently reappointed by Gov. Patrick. Ms. Collins is from Winter Hill originally and her Chief of Staff – Gretchen Lucas - is also from Hudson Street originally. Both of these ladies are nice, down to earth individuals, as well as total professionals in their jobs – and hey, they’re both from Somerville - which is always good to know.

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Speaking of long time residents – Ron Craven - of Benton Road (his uncle was former Alderman George Cooley), seems he has interviewed twice and hopefully will get the job as “Player Development Director” for the Seattle Supersonics. A lot of us here in Somerville hope that he gets the job - we think he deserves it.      

 
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Condolences go out to the family of Sheila Boyle, who lost her father – Robert Boyle – to cancer this past Sunday. Robert was a nice guy and he will be missed.

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We were wrong when we said Bank of America was coming to Winter Hill – it’s Citibank – at the former Palmer Video Store directly across from the Barracuda of Winter Hill Bank. Just what Winter Hill needs is another bank!

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We hear from sources at City Hall that former Alderman Ken Joyce (old time hack?) from Ward 2 is being recommended for the City Hearing Officer’s job, we’re wondering what the requirements are for that job - is it being a former alderman? He must not like the pay scale he gets on the Condo Review Board and wants an upgrade – by the way, the last person to have the job was Jack Connolly.

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Update for those so-called “Progressives” (now down to 12 at their last endorsement meeting) - The Somerville News Web site has now reached over 1,100 daily visitors – this is directly from TypePad – the hoster of the site. From what we hear, the so-called “Progressives” couldn’t get 1,100 people in a room if they were giving out free four course vegan meals.

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Now that Gov. Patrick has come out and endorsed the idea of three casinos in the state and one right here in Boston, wouldn’t it be nice to have it right down behind the Holiday Inn? That huge strip of land going all the way to the old Prison Point Bridge would make a nice place for a casino.   

                        
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The “Ball Square Breakfast Club War” is off and running. First it was the new Sound Bites opening a few months and this week it was the opening of the new Ball Square Café, owned and operated by the Moccia family – which owns everyone’s favorite lunch spot – Victor’s – right next door. Mike Moccia and his entire family were there this past Sunday for a “soft opening” for friends and special invitations and the food was out of this world! We also know that the Boston Globe is now doing a story on the “Ball Square Breakfast Club War.” There’s always a huge turnout on front of Kelly’s, Sound Bites and now Ball Square Café – we here at NewsTalk want to say that the Moccia family did a great job on the new place, it really looks awesome!

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Somerville Democrats have finally united! Well, on a new Web site that is. Users of the new site, www.SomDems.org can request voter registration forms from the city, learn about current office holders and upcoming neighborhood meetings. In the future the committee plans to include a database of unregistered citizens in the city so their neighbors can help them register to vote --- as Democrats.

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Alderman-at-large candidate Frederick Berman is getting some strong support from our state delegates. On October 15, Pat Jehlen, Denise Provost and Carl Sciortino are jointly hosting a fundraiser for Berman. It’s good to have friends and Berman obviously has some powerful ones, but the quality of the candidate is what counts on election day. Here at NewsTalk, we’re wondering if Berman’s association with the Mystic My View Task Force will hurt him with the voters. The My View Task Force, after all, has not always been popular with the people. We’ll see.   

Comments

[Ron Newman]

The Sanctuary City resolution had a fixed term which expired, but it was then replaced by a similar "City of Hope and Opportunity" resolution which remains in effect.

[It was really.....]

replaced by:

"City of Dope and Criminal Opportunity"

[Whatever]

"The Somerville News Web site has now reached over 1,100 daily visitors"

Well, TWO of them are me: at work and at home. In fact, since you're in both computer's RSS feeds, you'll get hits even if I don't click through to read anything on the site on a particular day.

[Fp]

politicians are like diapers, They are soon full of crap and they need to be changed frequently.

[copter]

I visit this site occasionally and would like to know what all the controversy is with the Employees Union in Somerville. It seems that many of you have an opinion on it. Do tell!!

[IsIT]

Is it not true that the use of the City seal is not to be used for POLITICLE use or GAIN? come on Joey Cakes not even CLEAN Genie pulled that one.

[Ron Newman]

What misuse of the city seal are you referring to?

[Curt and Tony]

Came through ball square. Strangest thing. Curtatone's headquarters is lit up like Koty on a Friday nite payday, but Sirocco's joint is darker than Koty's heart(and lungs).

Has this guy finally realized that even his last Tuesday night girlfriend will not vote for him?

Speaking of not voting for someone, does anyone know if O'Drinkivan is using the same office space in Ball Square as the mayor is? I thought that was a no go with the state elections people. We'll check with them in the morning.

[Proud SMEA Member]

Copter,

The controversy with the Somerville Municipal Employees Association is summed up in one sentence. The SMEA has 12 Miserable Whine bags!

There are a dozen or so disgruntled employees who were on easy street under Mayor Capuano and Mayor Gay. They played the game and got anything they wanted. Now, Mayor Curtatone comes in and see’s through their bullshit and makes them accountable to the taxpayers for their paycheck and all hell breaks loose. This small group of misfits will do anything they can to start rumors, get people worked up, distort the facts and play both sides of the fence. The SMEA was moving in the right direction and the 12 whine bags couldn’t stand to see it succeed. There was a master plan in place. It may have hit a few bumps in the road; it may have involved some mistakes along the way. It was not moving as fast as some wanted but it was moving. The biggest flaw in the plan was it didn’t benefit certain people right away. Certain individuals only cared about themselves. So the 12 Whine bags decided to start a civil war. They didn’t allow the plan to succeed because the end result would have proved them wrong.

Deep inside the hearts of the faithful SMEA rank and file is a feeling that the SMEA has done many good things for them. They know the Teamsters (or any other organization) cannot give them the personal touch they deserve. They know they control their destiny and don’t want to lose that and be lumped in with 10,000 other people.

The Teamsters will tell you what you want to hear just to get your $$$$$$.
Once they get your $$$$$$ you will just be a number to them. I know, I was a Teamster!

I had to laugh at the latest letter they sent. They are having members from Cambridge, Chelsea, and Everett attend some meeting to tell the SMEA members how great the teamsters are. Are these speakers from the rank and file? Or are they on the teamster payroll.

Of course they are going to speak highly of the Teamsters. Wouldn’t you if your job depended on it?

The SMEA ( A NON PROFIT GROUP)is, has, and always will be the sole representation for The Somerville Municipal Employees regardless of the 12 Whine bags who are trying to sabotage all the things that can be fixed and all the things we have achieved as members of the SMEA. I like to refer to these disgruntled employees as the dizzy dozen.

Oh how I wish I could name names but I will respect JN’s rules and spare the whine bags the embarrassment.

The SMEA has been representing Somerville workers for over 50 years and will remain here forever. The teamsters (Vultures) have tried to take over in the past and failed. THEY WILL FAIL AGAIN!

Peace.

[SOMERVILLE SPY]

The SMEA is useless and a typical union. All they want is the money they get from people's union dues. But, if push comes to shove and any of their so called "members" need help from the union, they are no where to be found.

I agree, with another individual in this forum who referred to them as "vultures". I couldn't describe them better!

By the way, too bad Somerville can't get rid of "dead wood" employees who collect a paycheck for doing nothing. I understand the person responsible for janitorial services at the Police station is one such person.

[Mad SMEA member]

Hey Proud SMEA Member, if only 12 "Whine bags" are trying to sabotage everything, then why have so many of my coworkers sent in Teamsters Local 25 authorization cards? I think you are living in a fantasy world if you think that the SMEA is anything more than a criminal organization! The E-board and bargaining team has broken every bylaw that we have, they cannot answer any of our questions, they have negotiated dirty deals(D) with the mayor, and they sell us out for their own self gain. If this is the "personal touch" that you say we deserve, you can keep it. P.S. There are many eyes on your organization, you should be very concerned, bylaws are not the only laws that you have broken. Who will resign next to avoid prosecution????

[scared]

I see people who held signs for the mayor last time are now holding signs for scirocco

[IsIt]

The use of the City Seal on CAMPAIGN Lit. to give the appearence of Official Paper

[Ron Newman]

Which campaign literature has the city seal on it? (I haven't seen much literature from any candidate yet.)

[Somerspeak]

Ron Newman - last week, the voters were treated to the first of very expensive campaign pieces(paid for by contributions to the Curtatone campaign from every big developer to ever enter the city limits)from the sitting Mayor.

On one side of this very expensive and self glorifying piece of fluff, is the map of the city and its wards. This map displays very prominently the seal of the city of Somerville. It does give the appearance of an official document from the City. Once again the Mayor and his crew are on thin ice.

The state ethics phone lines should be burning up on this one.

[The Mole]

Well, he must be spending his contributions on something other than his yard signs. First you see the old Curtabaloney for Mayor, not re-elect for Mayor, then you see one side half Curtabaloney and on the other side of the same sign you see Kim Hirsh-Foster for Alderman.

What type of flipping is Joeycakes doing now? What are you saving the $$$ for Joeycakes? Are you still paying back to your campaign all the money it owes you from past donations you made to the Postmaster General?

Let’s go back a little further in your younger days of first running for Mayor. Did you settle out that botched lease car deal with Sentry Lincoln Mercury? Or did you let your title to the office help you out there buddy boy?

The Mole

[Mole Madness]

Mole,

Some of us are curious. Why are you so angry at everyone?
What went wrong in your life that you must spend so much of your time on this site trashing everyone?

Curious minds want to know.

[Truth Fan]

Mole Madness,

If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention. The Mole is paying attention. The information that he provides always checks out. So what went wrong in your life that you feel the need to deny the evidence that is all around you?

[The Mole]

Truth Fan, thanks for the vote of confidence BUT, I have been known to slip up with some force fed facts that were not so true. In finding those feeding facts not true, I have commented with an apology and tried to find the true facts.

In the 2003 campaign finance reporting from Curtabaloney, where in Gods' world would he ever come up with Thousands of dollars to donate to his campaign to pay for postage to the Postmaster General? At the time he was an Alderman at Large and a faltering Attorney. "My Cousin Vinnie" had a better cliental than he did, NO WAY did he have that in the bank. And yes, he did get out of a lease with Sentry Lincoln Ford in Medford on his leased vehicle 4 months early in 2005. I personally gave the Leasing Manager Curtabaloneys’ campaign sheets indicating how much money his campaign paid BACK to Joeycakes four months later for his so called personal loans he made.

Mole Madness can also see that Joeycakes paid back almost $60,000 to himself in June/July of 2005. It's a public document.

The Mole

[To]

scared,

If for one minute you think that people would jump "Ship Curtatone" to hold signs for Scirocco, then whatever you are on I want some! A few of LD friends maybe, but that's it. There are a lot of disheartened former Curtatone supporters from 1995 until he became Mayor and screwed over a lot of supporters but they wouldn't lower themselves to hold signs for this "candidate".Scirocco should stop making a fool of himself, a third place finish is a certainty.

As for those wondering about the Mayor's finances and how he was financed since 1995 up until the last election then you haven't done your homework. Think real hard and maybe the answer will come to you.
He doesn't need the financial backing from the source he was getting it from before. As an entrenched sitting Mayor with close ties to the governor people are falling over themselves to donate to his campaign.

[Go Figure]

And this is different from the past three times you posted it, how?

[getting boring....]

yeah, get over it, will ya? sheesh. no one cares.

[Ron Newman]

Speaking of "boring" ... next Tuesday's preliminary election doesn't seem to be stimulating much conversation here.

[it *is* funny]

I'll bite. Although I think it's been said ... Scirocco should stop embarrasing himself. I know you read those candidate statements, Ron, on the other paper's website. I think they speak for themselves. I support Mayor Joe and he shouldn't have much to worry about this time.

[it *is* funny]

What exactly is your beef, though? I mean it's not illegal or even unethical to have many members of the family working in municipal jobs. Would you feel the same way if there were a couple of generations of Bowlers who were cops or firefighters?

[Ron Newman]

Stop spamming!

[getting boring....]

i guess if ranting about a family you obviously don't like on a public blog helps you sleep better at night, then so be it. it is a free country. Me, i say sh#t to people's faces if i have a problem. i wouldnt hide behind some anonymous blog. but that's just me. if you can't do that yourself(and obviously you can't) and you really think there is something funny going on at your workplace, then bring it to the attention of the powers that be there. because really, i serioulsy doubt if anyone cares here.

[rachelfromtheville]

Why is Scirocco wasting his money? I would love to know the answer to that. He does not seem to be able to put together a sentence in english. how does anyone(even him) think he can run a city?

[cabbie]

"He does not seem to be able to put together a sentence in english. how does anyone(even him) think he can run a city?"

Yeah, like that's stopped Menino from being re-elected as Mayor of Boston around 15 minutes after dirt was invented.

Not that I'm a Scirocco supporter. I saw all three of those guys riding in a car down Broadway a couple of days back.

[rachelfromtheville]

At least Menino doesn't abuse women and then deny it.

and what 3 guys are you talking about?

[Happy member of the SMEA]

I would think the health inspector would get more money, our health inspectors have to inspect these rat and bug infested dwellings in this City, you couldn't pay me enough money for that job.

Maybe I can get a job at the brothel, it would be better than working for the City with you backstabbing low lifes.

[Ron Newman]

Menino may have trouble with public speaking, but he seems able to write coherently -- or at least able to find someone to write well on his behalf.

[James Norton]

Oh my lord you people just can't stop with the full names and crazy ass accusations. Knock it off or I will start being a jerk when I enforce my rules. Not only did it pass being annoying a long long time ago, it is now just really boring. It's OK to hate someone, just don't keep hammering this blog with the same old crap, and start using initials - the people you want to make squirm will squirm anyways, trust me.

Everyone else - enjoy this beautiful day!

JN

[Ron Newman]

There must have been 30 or more people holding signs for Joe when I passed through Davis Square around 11 this morning.

[Somerspeak]

I saw them all being picked up in white vans this morning at Foss and driven down to Davis. I'm glad he's doing something to keep the illegals occupied.

[Funny]

Talking about signholders for the Mayor, I saw the standout too. I did not recognize one face in that crowd that used to hold signs for him when he was running for alderman or the first time he ran for Mayor.

I wonder why?

[Somerspeak]

They're all hired extras from the talent agency "Bootlickers Movie Extras" out of Revere.

Go figure.

[See Sean Run]

I was just about to go off to bed and was flipping throught the channels when I caught the replay of Thursdays Board of Aldermen meeting.

Looks like Lynchie has O'Donovan really rolling this month. He put in more orders on Thursday than he has in the last five years. What's wrong Sean? The Mayor tired of carrying you on his back? Gotta start rowing the boat yourself?

Sooner or later Sean your act was bound to get stale.