By, Dani Langevin, Lesbian Columnist – July, 2012 This month, as we do every July here in America, we celebrate Independence Day. It is on this day over 230 years ago we declared our independence from an unjust government stating that we, as Americans, have the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of […]
Feds Pump $750,000 more into Lawrence
Lawrence Receives Federal Funds to Hire 6 Police Officers Lawrence Must Pay $125,000 and pick up full tab after 3 years. “This year all new officers hired under the grant must be military veterans that have served at least 180 days of active military service, any part of which occurred on or after September 11, 2001.” […]
DOE: No Exit Plan in Lawrence
Massachusetts Officials Have No Plan to Fix Lawrence Schools and No Exit Plan or Timetable to Leave By: Tom Duggan – June, 2012 Massachusetts Commissioner of Education Mitch Chester stood on a stage at the South Lawrence East School last month flanked by Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua, City Councilor Dan Rivera, State Representative Paul Adams, Maura […]
Receiver Riley’s Millions
Free Dental for all LPS Students and their Families By: Tom Duggan, July, 2012 LAWRENCE – With the Lawrence Public School under the complete control of the State Department of Education there are a lot of changes coming to the school system, and a lot more money being spent.Where we are – State Commissioner […]
Moran Answers Tough Questions in Bid for State Rep.
Will not commit to quitting council or stepping down as council President if he wins By: Valley Patriot Staff – May, 2012 Lawrence City Council President Frank Moran is a candidate for State Representative in the 17th Essex District. The newly created rep. district was created by the state legislature last year as a […]
Methuen Superintendent Scannell Helps Graduates Gain Job Skills
Summer Job Training Program in Methuen By; Tom Duggan – May, 2012 Methuen School Superintendent Judy Scannell has reinstituted a jobs training program for graduating students who are not attending college after they get their diploma. Scannell says the “Pathways” jobs program is funded by a federal grant and was in place “for about ten years […]
Daniel Lahiff Pays $5,000 Civil Penalty, for Conflict of Interest Law Violations
Lowell Regional Water Utility Executive Director Improperly used Utility generators and employees for personal purposes April, 2012 The Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement in which Lowell Regional Water Utility (“LRWU”) Executive Director Daniel Lahiff admitted to violating MG.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, by using an LRWU generator in his home, by soliciting […]
Lawrence State Representative Marcos Devers Named Legislator of the Year
April, 2012 State Representative Marcos Devers (DLawrence) was honored as the Legislator of the Year from CLASS, Inc. on Thursday, March 22, 2012. “I feel humbled and honored with this unexpected and delightful distinction.” said Representative Devers “My commitment to families, children and persons with disabilities is one of the main aspects that drive my performance and advocacy at the […]
15% of N.A. Voters Choose New Town Officials
By: Tom Duggan – April 2012 Less than 16% of the Town’s registered voters bothered to go to the polls last month and cast a ballot for Selectman, Town Moderator, School Committee and Housing Authority. With only 3,053 in town caring to participate in the election, long time political activist Mark DiSalvo defeated political newcomer […]
An Exclusive Interview with Elizabeth Warren
Warren Talks about Wall Street, A Border Wall and Scott Brown By: Tom Duggan – April, 2012 Professor Elizabeth Warren is one of two Democrats seeking their party’s nomination to square off against incumbent Senator Scott Brown (R) in November. Last month she toured portions of the Merrimack Valley including a new solar farm at […]
Will Rogue State Agency Close Animal Shelters?
Mass. Dept. of Agriculture has Conflicts of Interest: DOA Employees In Bed with Dog Breeders Tom Duggan – May, 2012 The Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) has been targeting and harassing dog “rescues” in Massachusetts for years. They are the state agency in charge of regulation and enforcement of the animal industry it the […]
Conservative Frank McMillan Running for North Andover Town Moderator
March, 2012 Dr. Frank MacMillan, Jr. is running for Town Moderator in North Andover with a campaign theme of finding “The Right Balance.” In these tough political and economic times, Frank brings a varied background in leadership, learning and character, the Right Balance of qualities that will serve North Andover well. As a medical doctor […]
Newcomer Defeats Lantigua on Democrat Committee
By: Gary Manion – March, 2012 On Super Tuesday the voters of Lawrence, Tewksbury, Dracut and Andover not only cast votes for President but voted for local and state party committees. Lawrence’s Mayor William Lantigua was on the ballot to be reelected to the Democrat State Committee. His only opponent was Lawrence District “C” City […]
Reform Before Revenue
By: State Senator Steven Baddour When I was the Senate Chairman of the Joint Committee on Transportation, I helped coin the phrase “reform before revenue” to describe an approach to transportation reform that sought to ensure that tax- and toll-payer money was being spent efficiently and effectively so that the Legislature didn’t pump new […]
Noose Tightens on Lantigua Admin
Feds Serve More Subpoenas in Corruption Probe By: Tom Duggan – March, 2012 Since the days of Willie Lantigua’s first campaign for state representative, The Valley Patriot has reported extensively on his failure to report campaign contributions, failure to declare campaign expenses and accepting illegal contributions such as cash, dollar amounts over the legal contribution […]