If there is one thing that Michael Gorman and his volunteers at TMF (The Movement Family) have proved over the last six months, it’s that helping the homeless and making people’s lives better only takes one thing: effort. For six months TMF offered food, clothing, detox services, transitional housing, and other counseling services to the […]
“If Dan Rivera isn’t interested in feeding the homeless in Lawrence or helping them make their lives better, that’s fine. I just wish he would stop getting in the way of people who are willing to do his job for him at no cost.” ~ Valley Patriot Publisher Tom Duggan Nov. 28 ,2018 Nearly […]
Despite Proof That Photos of Garbage and Needles Were Not from TMF, Rivera Doubles Down For the past 6 months a volunteer group of teens and young people from Lawrence called “The Movement Family” (TMF) have been serving a family style dinner to the homeless at the Buckley Garage on Common Street. The group, run by […]
THE DISASTER Sitting in my office listening to the police scanner it was obvious from the time the first call went out that the explosion on Chickering Road in Lawrence was not a routine call. Not long after that call went out I was jarred out of my seat by the urgency and bewilderment in […]
By: Tom Duggan – Oct. 21, 2018 Just days after Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera ordered Dorchester Gas Contractor Feeney Brothers out of his city for their role in the gas explosions on September 13th, Valley Patriot news spotters sent us these photos of Feeney Brothers on Loring Street in Lawrence doing gas work Sunday. Within […]
By: Tom Duggan – Oct. 20, 2018 RIVERA THROWS FEENEY OUT OF LAWRENCE Despite denying responsibility for the gas explosions in the Greater Lawrence area on September 13th, and an NTSB preliminary report saying that sub-contractor Feeney Brothers may not have been responsible, Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera has thrown Feeney Brothers out of Lawrence during […]
WHEN YOU THINK YOU HAVE IT WRONG BUT YOU DON’T On two occasions last month we reported a story on line that we thought we got wrong after it was posted. In one story we reported that a shooting victim from East Haverhill Street had died. Minutes after we reported the victim’s death we were […]
HELP THE HOMELESS Every Wednesday night a volunteer group called “The Movement Family” serves a family style meal for the homeless at the Buckley Garage on Common Street in Lawrence. In the last five weeks The Valley Patriot has put out a call on Facebook looking for local business in the community to help with […]
MAY, 2018 Driving through the City of Lawrence it’s almost impossible not to notice the homeless population, whether they are pan-handling on the corners of the busiest intersections, or hassling people for a cigarette or a dollar outside local establishments. Unfortunately, most people turn their heads and pretend not to see the human carnage […]
According to the Massachusetts Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF), mayoral finalists in 35 cities reported $6,092,517 in expenditures during the 2017 election. HERE ARE THE TOP TEN BIG SPENDERS Name City Expenditures Won/Lost 1) Martin Walsh (I) Boston $2,208,827 Won 2) Ruthanne Fuller (O) Newton $376,984 Won 3) Tito Jackson Boston $333,656 Lost […]
Last month, President Trump accurately pointed out that because the City of Lawrence is considered a “sanctuary city” it attracts criminals who are here illegally, because they know they won’t be deported. Within a day, Lawrence Mayor Dan Rivera held a press conference where he went into a predictable “defend my city” mode, denying Lawrence […]
LAWRENCE – Mayor Dan Rivera has named the members of the Police Chief Applicant Review Committee to replace Chief James Fitzpatrick who stepped down two months ago. Mayor Rivera has appointed Roy Vasque as Chief during the application process for a permanent replacement. Police Chief Job Posting The committee, which is made up of five […]
Tom Duggan: March 13 .2018 Residents of the Museum Square Apartments in Lawrence have long complained about the safety hazards in the public parking garage owned by the City of Lawrence, but managed – partially – by the owners of Museum Square. Since 2010 The Valley Patriot has fielded complaints about concrete falling […]
State, local and federal law enforcement charged three members of the Latin Gangsta (sic) Disciples with illegal gun running Friday. 26 year old Jose Ilarraza of Newburyport (AKA “Kae-Kae”), Bryan Torres-Almanzar, (AKA FLEX) 19, of Lawrence, and 22 year old Eric Valentin (AKA Jefe)also of Lawrence were charged with illegally dealing firearms without a license, […]
Nov. 2017 Since the late ’80s or early ’90s Willie Lantigua has been involved in every city election in Lawrence in some capacity or another. Whether as a candidate, adviser, campaign manager, or as someone who recruited candidates, Lantigua has always been a force to be reckoned with in Lawrence elections. He has been […]