Walthamguy
-
The Basics
-
Walthamguy on Patch
-
More Stuff
Comments
-
On the Blog Post Rep. Stanley Helps Pass Housing Bond Bill
-
On the article Do Waltham City Council Meetings Run Too Long?
Walthamguy
12:57 am on Saturday, June 15, 2013
Reply@ Ryan - Thanks for posing the question.
@Adam - Outstanding summary of the Council meeting!!!Call me a "broken record" if you wish, but the above is simply a symptom of how our council procedures are dominated by career politicians. Anyone who has ever watched a council meeting knows how much time is wasted by the City Clerk having to repeat over-and-over each councilor's name for roll call and every time there is a motion or vote to be taken. (The US Congress is bad enough as it is, but at least they have an App for all this.)
Ah, but where can any of us find the "voting track record" for any councilor or school committee member? Tom Stanley's record at the State House is readily available, but but the voting records of our career politicians are forever obfuscated.
My humble approach to solving this is to never vote for any Waltham elected official who has already been in office for eight years. Join me anyone?
-
On the article Gomez, Markey Spar in First Senate Debate
Walthamguy
11:29 pm on Tuesday, June 11, 2013
ReplyBoston Herald endorses Gabriel Gomez for U.S. Senate
http://bostonherald.com/news_opinion/opinion/editorials/2013/06/herald_endorses_gabriel_gomez_for_us_senate -
On the article Gomez, Markey Spar in First Senate Debate
Walthamguy
1:30 am on Tuesday, June 11, 2013
ReplyAs each of us works to learn more about the candidates, in preparation to vote on June 25 here is another another article:
http://washingtonexaminer.com/obama-scandals-take-toll-on-ed-markeys-bid-for-massachusetts-senate-seat/article/2531516 -
On the article Waltham School Committee Member Planning City Council Run
Walthamguy
1:06 am on Tuesday, June 11, 2013
ReplyKudos to Bob Cincotta for stating:
A- “I've always believed that there should be more parents on the School Committee as opposed to professional educators."
B- Cincotta also said 20 years is “long enough,” and that he was proud of his accomplishments.
Unfortunately Bob Cincotta then gets caught up with wanting to hang-on as a career -politician, as councilor at-large. Too bad he then so blatantly ignores his own wisdom, when he earlier had said "20 years is long enough".
-
On the article Waltham Budget Hearing Starts Tomorrow
Walthamguy
3:49 pm on Monday, May 20, 2013
ReplyWhat would be interesting to know is the spending track record for the two key items commonly causing some cities to go bankrupt, pensions and healthcare benefits.
Does anyone know where/how one could obtain the last five years of data for total-cost and percentage of budget for each of these two items?
-
On the article Waltham City Councillor Resigns
Walthamguy
2:41 am on Sunday, May 19, 2013
ReplyFrom the Boston Globe: 'The assistant clerk position pays around $80,000 for the first year, Malone said, and then increases according to city law. The job's final compensation could also eventually include certain bonuses like longevity pay.' http://www.boston.com/yourtown/news/waltham/2013/05/waltham_councilor_thomas_curti.html
Oh how nice! Guaranteed increases according to city law and bonuses for longevity pay. Everyone here is getting the same at their place of employment, right?
I have no doubt these (self-serving?) laws were enacted by long-gone councilors of yesteryear, but it would take a lot of 'fresh blood' on the council before these ancient practices could be reviewed.
Meanwhile shame on the city council simply appoints Curtin as the new Asst City Clerk without credible due process that includes other candidates, including from outside of Waltham.
-
On the article Waltham Teacher Announces Run For City Council Seat
Walthamguy
2:30 am on Sunday, May 19, 2013
ReplyHow wonderful to have a new candidate for Ward 8! With no disrespect to Mr Steve Rourke, after well over 10 years as city councilor for Ward 8 it is high time for him to move on. And shame on him for being one of six councilors that have been (what I call "milking the system") by getting his healthcare benefits (for life, incl dependents) paid for by us the Waltham Tax payers! (Hard to believe? Ask and I will provide informative links.)
Is there a website that provides info on Francis X. Stanton?
-
On the article Former Waltham Councilor Plans Seeking Return to Council
Walthamguy
1:49 am on Sunday, May 19, 2013
ReplySally once said: "we do have term limits, it is called going to the polls to vote" (Starts at 1:07 min on this video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1bMcKyfIYA)
Sally would do well to heed the advice of her colleague McMennimen, once you get voted out it is time to forget trying to get back on the council. Why would she demean herself with all that will be coming her way?
-
On the article LETTER: League of Women Voters Applauds Zoning Rule Withdrawal
Walthamguy
3:40 am on Saturday, April 6, 2013
ReplyOn the one hand I'm thinking the Waltham City Council is misguided in their evident quest to clamp down on everyone's rights by continuously inventing new "regulations", including many seemingly aimed to restrict commercial development in Waltham. (Thus I will never vote for incumbent councilors who have already been in office 8 years.)
On the other hand, sorry to say... I'll spare you my dim thoughts about what I consider inherent biases in the typical LWV endorsements - Cheers!
Walthamguy
9:27 pm on Monday, June 17, 2013
Tax, borrow & spend, then sooner or later you'll run out of other people's money.