By: Robert O’Koniewski – November, 2009 The votes are in and Lawrence finally has met demographic expectations to attain its first popularly elected mayor of Hispanic descent. We will not use the trite adjective of “historic” to describe State Representative William Lantigua’s victory over District E City Councilor David Abdoo, as that has really […]
VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL November, 2009 In last month’s race for the Mayor’s office in Lawrence, Willie Lantigua (da chief) defeated David Abdoo. While we have some serious reservations about Lantigua’s ability to manage the city of Lawrence, as well as the character of those insiders he has surrounded himself with, today is a new day. The election is […]
VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL October, 2009 Last month, the city of Methuen held a preliminary election for mayor and city council and only 9% of the registered voters bothered to participate. In Lawrence, only 30% of the registered voters participated in their preliminary and that was considered unusually high. Though many candidates would like to blame their opponents or the […]
VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL September, 2009 It took centuries of economic and political experimentation coupled with tremendous intellectual effort for human beings to discover the concept of individual liberty. It took the blood of millions to establish a beachhead for freedom and to protect it so it could grow and prosper. Now that precious legacy is being squandered […]
VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL August, 2009 Harvard’s Professor Gates and a friend, who are both black, locked themselves out of his Cambridge home and had to break into his house. This activity is spotted by a passer-by and reported to the police. No mention of the men’s skin color was mentioned during the call. The police arrive […]
By: David Abdoo – August, 2009 The City of Lawrence has a public works problem. You know that. I know that and anyone who lives or visits Lawrence knows that. What we present to the world is the following: pockmarked streets, heaving sidewalks, ballparks with 18 inch grass, public rights of ways strewn with […]
VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL Look up in the sky! It’s a bird … It’s a plane … May, 2009 No … it’s Representive David Torrisi (DNorth Andover) coming to rescue the beleaguered taxpayers and business owners of the Merrimack Valley. Joining Rep. Torrisi, in voting against an increase in the state sales tax from 5% to 6.25% was Representative. Linda […]
VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL April, 2009 Last month, The Eagle~Tribune website reported that a suitcase with a cell phone taped to it was left on the steps of Lawrence District Court with a note that read “Call police, call the Tribune, call Tom Duggan”. (Tom Duggan is editor of The Valley Patriot). The story was picked up by […]
VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL May, 2009 President Obama has pledged $900 million dollars of our tax money to help rebuild the Palestinian territory called Gaza. Not surprisingly, the terrorist group Hamas has pledged $45 million for the rebuilding of Gaza. Apparently, the goal of the Obama administration is to rebuild Gaza’s infrastructure so that the Palestinian Authority and Fatah Government […]
VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL Tax Cheat Patrick Blanchette February, 2009 Lawrence City Council President Patrick Blanchette has refused to pay nearly $9,000 in federal taxes to the IRS. The feds placed a lien on Blanchette and, according to reports, tried to garnish his wages early last year. The IRS sent a letter to officials at Lawrence City Hall demanding […]
VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL February, 2009 In March and August of 2008, the City of Lawrence did not perform the states’ required monthly chlorite testing on the city’s drinking water. The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection fined the city of Lawrence $5,750 for failing to do those mandated chlorite tests and has warned the city it will face […]
From the Desk of Congressman Niki Tsongas By: Congressman Niki Tsongas – January 12, 2009 WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Niki Tsongas today reintroduced two bills to address and improve the quality and continuum of mental health care available to veterans. Recognizing the sharp increase in post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health wounds […]
VALLEY PATRIOT EDITORIAL January, 2009 The people of Israel endure immanent destruction on a daily basis from a number of terrorist organizations, governments and civilian populations in the region. The threat they face is something that most Americans cannot fathom. Palestinian terrorists, civilians by definition, use ambulances to transport weapons and terrorists from place to place on the […]
North Andover woman recounts how she and her family became caught up in India’s terrorist attack By: Erin Mary Ackerman – January, 2009 Editors note: The following is a first hand account of North Andover resident Erin Mary Ackerman (and her family) who went to Mumbai, India last month just as the terrorist attack began […]
Israel Reyes at the center of lawsuit over allegations on May Street By: Paula Porten December, 2008 Former Lawrence City Councilor and candidate for Mayor, Israel Reyes, is wrangled in a lawsuit involving May Street Partners, LLC, Reyes Group, Inc. and several properties on May Street in Lawrence. May Street Partners owns the […]