Recently there has been a lot of conversation in and around our fair city of Lawrence.  Many of us have struggled to find clear answers as to,”What is going on?” 

Here is a clip from the PBS show Greater Boston, hosted by Emily Rooney.  It features interviews with Mayor Lantigua, Representative Torissi and Senator Tucker.  The clip addresses many of the conversations that have been happening in and around our city about the deficit borrowing bill.  Check it out!

Continue Reading

1. Ask for your  social security number, bank account number, pin number, or credit card number. 
2. Ask for donations. 
3. Contact you by email.

For more information visit www.2010census.gov

Continue Reading

From left: State Overseer Bob Nunes, Councilor Dan Rivera, and Councilor Roger Twomey answer questions at the 6/14/10 Budget Forum at Lawrence CommunityWorks.

As many of you already know Lawrence Mayor William Lantigua has presented the proposed FY 2011 municipal budget to the City Council on June 1st.  Due to the city’s $24 million dollar defecit this budget includes many cuts and reductions of services and positions in the city.

This budget is very important for the city and it’s residents and it is important doe us to know what is going on.

Here is a list of upcoming budget events:

Thursday, June 17th, 2010 – 6:30 pm Mt Vernon Neighborhood  City Budget Public Forum- Frost School – 33 Hamlet St. Lawrence

Monday, June 21st, 2010   – 6:30 pm Tower Hill Neighborhood City Budget Public Forum - Our Lady of Good Council School’s Judson Hall; 128 Ames St., Lawrence.

Thursday, June 24th, 2010 – 7:00 pm Public Hearing on the City Budget - Lawrence City Hall; 200 Common St. 

Before you go check out the Lawrence City Budget here Fiscal Year 2011 Budget and Mayor Lantigua’s budget presentation Fiscal Year 2011 Budget Presentation .

Also, to find a lot of good Lawrence information, Lawrence budget documents, and Lawrence union contracts visit http://citybudget2011.blogspot.com/ !

Continue Reading

It’s almost time to head back to the polls! As we enter the 2010 election season, here are some important dates to remember:

Wednesday, August 25: Last day to register to vote in the State Primaries

Tuesday, September 14: State Primaries

Wednesday, October 13: Last day to register to vote in the State Elections

Tuesday, November 2: State Elections!

Keep posted for more about this year’s elections–information on candidates, ballot initiatives, and other important things to know!

Continue Reading

Frank G. Cousins, Jr. has been the Sheriff of Essex County since 1996, when he was appointed by Governor William Weld and has since been re-elected twice. Before becoming Sheriff, he earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services and a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Springfield College. He served two terms as a state representative, four years as a Newburyport City Councilor, and was the chairman of the Massachusetts Black Legislative Caucus in 1996. In his tenure as Sheriff, he has implemented reforms in the department, has provided assistance and services to the administrations of both Governor Romney and Governor Patrick, and was chosen in 2006 for a two-year term as the President of the Massachusetts Sheriffs’ Association.

Priorities:

Open a regional police lock-up

Introduce new rehabilitative programs to reduce incidence of repeat offenders

Get American Correctional Association accreditation of the Lawrence Correctional Alternative Center

Website: http://frankcousins.net/

Continue Reading

For the ten years from 1995 to 2005, Damian Anketell was a Correctional Officer at the Middleton House of Corrections and Jail. After that, he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree with a Concentration in Public Law from Salem State College and during that time had an internship at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office in the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) division. Following his time there, he worked as a Community Specialist and Juvenile Probation and Parole Officer with the South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice. Anketell has since worked as an Opiate Prevention Specialist for the City of Gloucester’s Health Department. He lives in Peabody with his wife, Lori, and their two dogs.

Priorities:

Competency Development- to better promote offender rehabilitation

Offender Accountability

Public Safety

Website: http://www.anketellforsheriff.com/

Continue Reading

Frank Bonet is a Lawrence resident. He served in the Army and meanwhile studied business administration at Thomas A. Edison State College in Trenton, NJ, business management at Jefferson Community College in Watertown, NY, and computer science at the University of Maryland in Heidelberg, Germany. Bonet was a Senior Human Resources Specialist at the IRS and has served as the Lawrence’s personnel director and on the School Committee.

Continue Reading

Pat Commane grew up in Milton, MA and was educated by the Sisters of St. Joseph. She received her Bachelor’s Degree from Regis College and her Masters Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Boston University. She works as a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor for the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission and helps disabled individuals, specifically disabled Veterans and high school seniors, transition into the workplace. She has volunteered for the Andover Commission on Disability for the past ten years, has worked with the Andover Police Department to acquire Project Lifesaver for the town, and last year organized the first annual town-wide clothing drive for Cradles2Crayons. She lives in Andover with her husband Tom.

Priorities:

Economic Development- Commane thinks that directing federal stimulus moneys to industries with potential for growth, like biotechnology and other green businesses, would boost the state economy and jobs. She believes that small businesses should get some relief from tax burdens, more affordable health care, and easier access to credit.

Local Health Care- She thinks that state municipalities should be able to provide their employees with health care from the Group Insurance Commission without needing union endorsements.

Lawrence- She believes that Lawrence should have a five-member control board to oversee fiscal issues and to put Lawrence on the track to economic recovery. Mayor Lantigua should be included in this board, and they should implement a public recovery plan with weekly and monthly benchmarks.

Website: http://www.patcommane.com/

Continue Reading

Paul Adams grew up in Andover, where he played tennis and became an Eagle Scout, prior to attending Suffolk University and earning his Bachelor’s degree in International Relations. Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, he spent two years in South America as part of a faith-based volunteer program and spent two summers working with the Council on Hemispheric Affairs in Washington D.C., where he focused on Latin American affairs and policy. Since Mitt Romney’s U.S. Senate campaign in 1994, Adams has been involved in many political campaigns, most recently that of Scott Brown. He has also served on the Massachusetts Republican State Committee since 2008.

Priorities:

Economy- He wants to pursue pro-growth business policies, place a moratorium on new business regulation, roll back the income and sales taxes to 5%, and establish sales tax holidays once a month.

Government Reform and Spending- He would like to seek program funding through grants and other non-budgetary measures, reduce municipal health care costs, and establish a non-partisan Debt Reduction Commission.

Accountability- Adams wants to reform the state pension system, end pensions for politicians, privatize MassHealth, and establish yearly performance reviews for state programs.

Website: http://www.votepauladams.com/

Continue Reading

Sal Tabit is the son of Cuban immigrants and grew up in Brockton. He graduated from Carleton College and received his law degree from Boston College Law School. After serving as a prosecutor in the Essex County District Attorney’s Office, he started his own law firm, Broadhurst Tabit LLP. Tabit is a member of the Massachusetts and Greater Lawrence Bar Associations, the Merrimack Valley Chamber of Commerce, St. Augustine’s Parish, and the Board of Directors at the Andover School of Montessori. He and his wife Jean live in Andover with their two daughters.

Priorities:

Taxes- Tabit wants to roll back the State’s income tax, roll back and reduce the State’s sales tax, and to repeal the State’s alcohol tax.

Reform the State pension program

Prevent more cuts to local aid

Give cities and towns flexibility to manage health care costs

Website: http://www.tabit2010.com/

Continue Reading