Patriot Returns... but who is leading the charge?

It seems that the Peabody Patriot is back on live. However it seems like it has a new tone and a new email address... and this leads me to believe it might (again) be under new leadership.

To this I say... WELCOME! I think that multiple points of view are often the most conducive to an active and engaging conversation. Readers will find they sometimes agree and sometimes disagree with my points or take on issues, but that is often a good place to being to discuss these issues in depth.

Please be sure to visit the Peabody Patriot and say hello. Also be sure to visit back here.

Walnut Street Park Still Smart Choice

The Salem News has one again decided to show it's love for all things Peabody...

The Salem News: Council ponders park on cut-rate, polluted parcel

I am not quite sure why the Salem News feels the need to portray the situation in the worst possible manner... Perhaps they are jealous that Peabody is getting some small percentage of the massive amount of money the State and Feds pump into Salem each and every year... But you rarely see the SNews call for a rejection of any home town funds.But in this case we already have an existing problem...
> a derelict, run-down, polluted and dangerous parcel of land

Without any possible hope for a solution...
> the owner has been unable to interest any buyers, has no plans to deal with the safety and pollution issues and the City seems to have no legal recourse against the owner either

Except for an intervention by the City...
> which will be paid for with (at least) 60% State funding for the purchase

Purchasing the property...
> at a huge savings due to both the conditions (polluted) and the economy

And redeveloping it into a New Park (in an area of the City that can really use some help) and a (small) flood retention basin in a flood prone area
> with (potentially) much of the clean-up costs being borne by State and Federal clean-up grants only available to municipal properties

So.... let's consider this again...

The Owner gets to sell his troubled land
.. he wins
....He will then have the money to pay the back taxes (if any)
.... city wins
......The dangerous conditions at the site will be removed
....... neighborhood wins
.........The City will get reimbursed 60%+ for the purchase price
......... city wins
............The City will decontaminate the site
............. neighborhood wins
................The City will (potentially) be reimbursed for the clean-up costs
................. city wins
....................The City will build a new park
..................... neighborhood wins
.......................The Riverwalk will have a major connection point created
........................ city wins
...........................One parcel of crappy dangerous unused land will become a place for everyone to enjoy
_____WE ALL WIN_____

The Peabody Patriot - Gone Again?

I saw today that The Peabody Patriot has taken a little break from blogging. I certainly hope that this is indeed a temporary situation and that Jorge (or whoever) will be back to provide another place for discussion of the relevant topics to the City of Peabody and her citizens.

Let me say that I certainly did not always agree with Jorge, or the long line of Pat's (etc.) before him, but I had respect for the efforts put forth to try and create an engaging place for Peabody Citizens to discuss the issues of the day. And often... The Patriot was an early source for news that only hit the papers days later. Come back soon Jorge.

One Peabody poster (WhoGAF) recently said that the Peabody Roundtable is the Big Dog now. Well, speaking to that, let me make this brief statement (and for folks who have read my posts before... you know how hard a BRIEF statement is for me):

I plan on continuing posting commentary on issues of the day and interesting Peabody news items. I was not and will not be in the habit of publishing rumors without some hard evidence or to engage in unfounded speculation. I believe those who have asked us, the citizens, for the opportunity to serve us (as elected & appointed officials or as public servants) are subject to a certain level of scrutiny regarding their handling of public issues and City business. I also believe that they have a right to a certain amount of privacy that should not be breached unless it comes into conflict with their responsibilities to the citizenry. I think you know I prefer facts to attacks and open and frank discussion instead of mockery and name calling.

With your help the Peabody Roundtable can become a place for positive engagement for the citizens of Peabody.

PI
peabody_insider@yahoo.com

Walnut Street Park - a good idea and a worthy project

I am very pleased that the City Council, assisted with the guidance of the Community Development department, seems to be moving away from petty political agendas and is looking to embrace the proposed park on a currently vacant, derelict and contaminated parcel of land on Walnut Street.

Peabody & LynnfieldWeekly News: City prepares to move forward on Walnut Street park

I must take issue with City Councilor Rico Mello, who seems woefully under informed about a major project that will be happening in his ward. His clear misunderstanding of basic information makes me question why he would wish to undertake a demanding job that needs to deal with complex and complicated matters.

Frankly the job of steering our City is not one to be undertaken lightly. I have seen actions on the part of Councilor Mello which in the past have seemed to show a propensity toward grandstanding and playing to his ward. If this is the case here, I wish he would find a more suitable issue to champion - because this is a clear win-win for the City residents.

Now, if Councilor Mello is actually confused by the materials presented to him by the various City Department... then why is he using the public forum to show his ignorance and casting absurd assertions? Why not go directly to the parties in question and ask them to explain it to you in a way you can understand? Is this not the way to best serve the people who voted for you?

This is a wonderful project and if it does indeed all come together the City will be gaining an assett for little to no money while losing both a danger and an eyesore.

Budget Woes... but not 'til next year ???

I will admit it. I am as perplexed as everyone else about what to do with our City budget problems.

At first, I thought IF the cut in State aid was going to be a one time thing, then we could enact a small one-time payment from each household (<$50) and keep all the City services going as they are now. But now we find out that this is NOT very likely... and that an even larger cut in State aid is expected next year.

And I am upset because Mayor Bonfanti has decided to hunker down (my words) and not be proactive about the problems that are looming on the horizon. IF cuts are coming and there will need to be changes in the near future I say the time to prepare, plan and then even enact these changes is sooner rather than later.

The Salem News: City could see layoffs in next fiscal year

The solution is not to just leave unfilled positions vacant and to expect departments to continue doing their jobs without adequate supplies and other items or services needed to operate the City.

The solution is to take stock right now and see where cuts need to be made... see where positions need to be filled... and where they need to be lost. To give the departments back the money they need to actually serve the public well and not nickel and dime the City into inaction. The time for these action plans was YESTERDAY... but we still have time to make them right now.

Then the politically difficult (and personally distressing) task of actually making these changes needs to happen... and the sooner the better. If we are going to be losing people next year (for the sake of discussion let's say we will need to cut 40 jobs) then I say DO IT NOW and SAVE THE MONEY in salary and benefits TODAY because the news from the State next year might be even worse than we are all hoping or expecting.

I would rather not see anyone lose their jobs, but unfortunately that will not be the reality here in Peabody or many other places in this country. I have learned the hard way that delaying the inevitable only makes things worse for everyone involved... including the people who will end up being laid off.

Slow News Month?

I have been looking for more topics of interest... in the newspaper(s), on-line and even in Dunkin Donuts.

The basic opinion is that National events are holding dominance over local issues... and even though the economy is in terrible straits and the effects are playing out all around us, there is nothing concrete for me to bring up here.

So perhaps you have some ideas or concerns that you would like to air? Here's your chance. This blog is still getting a few visitors each day so maybe we can discuss how YOU are handling the current downturn in this thing we call an economy.

And, yes, I am still upset about the contract with the police union. But frankly, while others are predicting that elected officials 'heads will roll' in the next elections... I feel it will all be forgotten and we will forever have a 9/11 holiday for the cops here in Peabody.

UPDATED: City to lose almost $900K in latest State aid cut

UPDATED COMMENTARY

I must say that I have rethought my original idea presented below. I had proposed a ONE-TIME small tax payment on Peabody households and business to make up for the ONE-TIME state funding cut.

I no longer believe this is a good idea for the simple reason that these cuts are now NOT BEING SEEN as a one-time event. This became evident when the Mayor said that we need to prepare for additional cuts in State aid in the near future.

IF indeed this is the case, then a simple band aid of money (even small amounts) will simply allow the current business-as-usual mentality to persist despite further cuts coming down the road. Since this is what is now expected, then there is NO SENSE in postponing the inevitable... make the hard cuts that the current situation demands NOW which will allow the City as a whole to operate under a better (read cheaper) financial picture and then re-access when future cuts come along.

My reasoning is the same as I put forth regarding Salem's School budget loss (thanks to the crook they had in office) where it was not a simple one-time infusion of money that would help the City, but it was an on-going need for too much money. Thus, a one-time tax would become permanent... I am NOT advocating that.

More links on this story. The Peabody/Lynnfield Weekly:

==============================================================

The Salem News: Less state aid means $871,000 cut in Peabody budget
Lynn Item: Peabody bracing for 'real crisis' in budget cuts

Well... you can't say we didn't see it coming. It actually turned out a bit better than the Peabody Patriot has been predicting ($1.2M cut).

So now what do we do. We have the lowest taxes around and the services and educational system to prove it. Where do we begin to cut the $900,000.00 Even if all the cars went away and we enacted all the moves discussed in previous posts it doesn't come to that figure without BIGGER items... like a school closure and sale (because you won't reap much $$$ immediately without a sale).

Or what about this? A poster at the Salem News said every resident should pay around $17.50 each.... and the budget is back to normal.

But that would be unfair to larger families in my opinion. Here is one other idea...

Have a special assessment. In 2006 there were approximately 1,160 businesses in Peabody. In 2000 there were exactly 18,581 households in the City.

If each household paid a one time charge of $35 and each business paid a one time charge of $215 ~~~P~O~O~F~~~ Budget problem reversed and solved.

I personally do not have money to throw around these days (well almost any days to be honest) but I would be willing to pony over $35 per household to keep the City in the black and prevent cuts in services.

What do you think?

Next School Closing Meeting?

I was asked to pass this along...

Meeting: Monday, February 02, 2009 at 6:30 in the Kiley School Auditorium.
Discussion of closing the Burke School is a possibility.

Consider this a public service announcement.