$66K LAST MINUTE CASHOUT FOR LANTIGUA CRONIES By: Tom Duggan – February, 2014 Four Lawrence city workers took home checks totaling more than $66,000 for unused sick and vacation time on their way out the door, as part of the defeated Lantigua administration. (See documents at bottom of page). The City of Lawrence paid out […]
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December, 2013 Right to the bitter end, Lawrence Mayor Willie Lantigua went down swinging as he told reporters on the day he conceded that if he were white, he would be on the cover of Forbes or Money magazine for his financial achievements as mayor. “Those who are not blind of conscience, as I always […]
Marc LaPlante Calls Lantigua “Wayward Mayor” BREAKING – September 11, 2012 In the wake of indictments against Lawrence Mayor Willie Lantigua’s Chief of Staff and Deputy Police Chief today, Lawrence City Councilor Marc LaPlante says that he is concerned the “conspiracy” charges against Lenny Degnan and Melix Bonilla may lead to Lantigua himself. “It is […]
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 […]
Corruption, Law Breaking, And No Solutions for Troubled City PAYING ATTENTION WITH TOM DUGGAN By: TOM DUGGAN, FEBRUARY 8, 2011 Well, the Willie Lantigua administration celebrated it’s one year anniversary last month and a quick review of his first year in office has proven to be one of the most disastrous years for the […]
Blanchette is Mayor Lantigua’s Economic Development Director and Former City Council President By: Tom Duggan – October, 2010 The State Office of Campaign Finance (OCPF) has fined former Lawrence City Council President Patrick Blanchette $20,000 for taking money from his city council campaign account going back to 2006 among other violations. Blanchette has admitted to […]
By: Attorney Robert O’Koniewski – September, 2010 The financial crisis plaguing our fair city is well documented and requires no re-hashing. You’d have to be living in a cave at this point not to know about the $35 million state bailout of our community and the accompanying controversy. Surely a steady string of incompetence, […]
CHAOS in LAWRENCE Fiscal Disaster in Lawrence Could Lead to More Money Pouring into The City of Waste By: Tom Duggan – February, 2010 If Governor Deval Patrick has his way, the City of Lawrence will be able to borrow $35 Million to pay for their (to date) $24.5 million deficit. House Bill 4421 […]
By: Bob Okoniewski – January, 2010 As we go to print, the City of Lawrence stands on the threshold of history. On Monday, January 4, Lawrence state representative William Lantigua was sworn in as the city’s first elected mayor of Hispanic descent. As a newly elected mayor, however, Mr. Lantigua is now faced with a challenge […]
By: Robert O’Koniewski, Esq. – January, 2010 As we go to print, the City of Lawrence stands on the threshold of history. On Monday, January 4, Lawrence state representative William Lantigua was sworn in as the city’s first elected mayor of Hispanic descent. As a newly elected mayor, however, Mr. Lantigua is now […]
Blanchette Pats himself on the back while purposely trying to create budget deficit, state takeover By: Tom Duggan, December, 2009 Under the leadership of Council President Patrick Blanchette, the Lawrence City Council spent the last two years taking “symbolic” budget votes, blaming the Sullivan administration for their own inaction, and refusing to pass […]
PAYING ATTENTION with Tom Duggan – November, 2009 Few people can really understand the magnitude of the changes that are about to occur in the City of Lawrence with the election of State Representative Willie Lantigua (da chief). Not only did Willie win an overwhelming victory on Election Day, but almost every one of […]
By: Tom Duggan – October, 2009 ELECTION EDITION Lawrence Mayor Michael Sullivan is finishing his final term because the city charter limits the mayor’s job to two, four year terms. Sullivan defeated Isabel Melendez in 2001 and Marcos Devers in 2005. Ironically Willie Lantigua endorsed and supported Isabel Melendez in ’01 but flipped in ’05 […]
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 […]