By: Kathy Runge – Oct. 2015 I heard that the real reason for the extreme shortage of poll workers for the Preliminary Election was that the city required the poll workers to be citizens (of the United States). Does that mean that there were non-citizens working the polls for the other elections? There was at […]
By: Tom Duggan – 9.22.15 With only 9% of registered voters in Lawrence participating in the city’s preliminary elections, at least one candidate has found himself one vote shy of being nominated for city council. Rich Russell, a Viet Nam veteran and activist at council meetings, placed seventh in an eight way race, being eliminated […]
By: Tom Duggan – August, 2015 Explosive new details have come to light revealing that viral media reports on a 911 dispatcher in Lawrence, whose “job is on the line” over hanging up on Spanish-speaking callers … is false. CBS news and other outlets reported this week “A 911 dispatcher’s job is on the line […]
By: Kathy Runge – August 2015 We’re starting campaign season and I’m already preparing myself for the onslaught of robo-calls and junk mail we’ll be receiving in a couple of months. Please don’t vote for candidates that spend thousands of dollars trying to impress you. The more money a local candidate receives in donations, the […]
FULL INTERVIEW WITH IKE GABRIEL OF THE SEIU (Produced by Zach Murhpy) Explosive new details have come to light revealing that media reports about a 911 call taker in Lawrence, whose “job is on the line” over hanging up on Spanish-speaking callers… is false. CBS news and other outlets reported this week that “A 911 […]
By: Tom Duggan – July 14, 2015 BOSTON – Lawrence City Councilor Marc Laplante was on Beacon Hill Tuesday testifying for passage of his legislation to increase fines for illegal dumping in Lawrence. If passed, House Bill 1258 would let the City of Lawrence increase the maximum fine for illegal dumping from $300, to between $5,000 and […]
By: Kathy Runge – May, 2015 Although, in my opinion, violating the Open Meeting Laws is not unusual for our city council, the newest show of disrespect for city residents has to be the placing of this month’s Semana Hispana fundraising carnival at the South Common with no prior notice given to the neighborhood residents. […]
By Kathy Runge – April, 2015 Council meetings in February and March were a train wreck, but everyone got their vacations in. Councilor Maldonado opened the meeting of March 3 by saying that he hoped meetings would be regular now and they wouldn’t get snowed out anymore, as if that’s the reason their meetings haven’t […]
Last month, The Valley Patriot held our 11th Anniversary BASH at the Firefighters Relief’s In in Lawrence. As we celebrate our amazing success over 11 years we would be remiss if we didn’t thank our sponsors, readers, advertisers and those who donated to our raffles. This was our biggest and most successful BASH ever and […]
Lawrence City Councilor Marc Laplante (District F) has filed an Opening Meeting Law complaint to the City Clerk claiming that the city council approved the use of the South Lawrence Common (O’Connell Park) for a carnival without giving proper notice to city residents. The Lawrence City Council has held several illegal meetings without notifying the […]
By: John Macdonald – April, 2015 Every so often I like to sit back and observe local elected officials. I often rate them for their real leadership ability, political courage (if any) and potential for higher office. I’ve come to the realization that we have some real political stars in our midst. Some of these […]
Join us as We Celebrate The Valley Patriot’s 11th Anniversary ORDER TICKETS ON-LINE HERE or mail your check to The Valley Patriot, PO BOX 453, North Andover, MA 01845 March 20th, 6:30PM @ The Relief’s In, 1 Market St. Lawrence, MA With Food, RAFFLES, Music, 50/50, Comedy, and SO MUCH MORE! WHY DO WE HOLD THIS EVENT […]
By: Katy Runge – January, 2015 Happy New Year to all of The Valley Patriot readers! If you missed the City Council meeting of December 16 you should watch it on YouTube (Channel: LawrenceCityCouncil), because it was a gem. Public safety loans were denied, a vote of no confidence in the mayor was attempted and confusion […]
BOZO OF THE YEAR – LENNY DEGNAN – It takes a lot to get bozo of the year but Lenny Degnan, (former Chief of Staff for Lawrence Mayor Willie Lantigua) has managed to do just that. Degnan was convicted of fraud and corruption earlier this year as the result of his role […]
By: Kathy Runge – December, 2014 The election has come and gone, the employee residency requirement has been discussed ad nauseam by the council with more to come, and we’ve had more senseless deaths of young people in Lawrence. The residents of Lawrence can breathe a sigh of relief that William Lantigua isn’t on the […]