jackiedoherty.org

Today’s Boston Globe had an interesting column by Adrian Walker in support of Election Day Registration. I agree with Walker: “The real issue here isn’t lack of money, or fraud. It’s inertia. There just isn’t any sense of urgency about voting issues. The way people register and vote now has worked just fine for the people who already hold office. Why change it now?” In an earlier post, I discussed reasons why Massachusetts should join many other states, including neighbors New Hampshire and Maine, and allow people to register AND vote on election day. According to this New England Cable News interview between Chet Curtis and Avi Green, executive director of MassVOTE, a non-partisan voters rights organization; Massachusetts ranks 21^st in voter turnout. (Green does a decent job of addressing opposing concerns during the interview.)

As our own recent local elections have shown, we in the Merrimack Valley are not strangers to voter apathy. What is strange, however, is the apparent silence from the Lowell Sun on this issue. Despite its regular lament on poor voter turnout, which is often accompanied by a suggestion for an appointed school committee as if that would induce more folks to vote (a pet peeve of mine), the local paper has not written one editorial on Election Day Registration. Meanwhile, the bill languishes while the clock is ticking to pass this legislation in time for the upcoming presidential election. I heard our own State Senator Steve Panagiatakos is working out a compromise to make it happen—thanks Steve! But from where I sit, S2514 should pass: We’re looking at voter increases of about 250,000 more young people, minorities, and perhaps even those who had given up on the system. The fact is, without voters, we don’t have a democracy, and this bill will help bring voters back. Then again, we could just go to appointed school committees (selectmen, councilors, whatever) and forget the whole election thing…

LiL has also written on this issue with 30 comments responding to this post.

I tuned in late, but was impressed by the school department panel who answered parent questions (see below for full panel) at last night’s Citywide Parent Council meeting.  The CPC had three broad questions for the whole panel: 1. How will budget changes affect their jobs and the students they serve (I missed this one, but the meeting will be rebroadcast on LET Channel 22, starting next Monday night.) 2. What can a parent expect from their school, and what is the best way to communicate a concern (one way to answer the last part of this question is to see the CPC’s excellent “How-to Guide for Parents in the Lowell Public Schools.”) 3. What change would they make if money were no object? The answers to the last question were great, especially from Jim DiProfio, who wished for money to “level the playing field,” and give kids what they need, whether it’s a bus pass, a meal, or a visit to a college campus.  Eilish Connaughton agreed, adding she’d restore Allied Arts to the middle schools. Cut in 2003, industrial arts, cooking and sewing programs may seem like fluff to budget hawks, but as Principal Connaughton pointed out, they offer hands-on opportunities that open doors for some struggling students, especially during those difficult middle years.  

A timely question, this one by email, was whether a young family should leave Lowell because of budget cuts to our schools (see comments under previous post). The answers were illuminating: Pam Buchek shared testimony about Lowell teachers who have been to workshops in other districts returned marvelling at how far ahead our schools are in curriculum and instruction; Jean Franco spoke of student diversity; Wendy Jack mentioned that four LHS graduates will attend MIT and one will go to Harvard this year. And Fred McOsker talked about the ability to go from pre-K to a doctoral degree without leaving Lowell. (Lots of our local leaders talk about the K-16 and beyond pathway available in Lowell which is an exciting way to think about it!) It was great to see the commitment and passion these educators bring to their jobs; thanks to the CPC and the Lowell Public Schools for producing such an informative meeting!  more »

A subcommittee meeting tonight, May 20, at 5 pm in Council Chambers may determine the fate of recycling efforts in Lowell, according to an update from my husband Jay Mason, who is a member of the Citizens Action Committee (CAC) for recycling. Interested folks should attend the meeting because even though it looks like the recycling program will continue—at least for now—how that happens has not been decided yet. The manager and council must modify the program, which has been costing the city millions, to see whether residents will improve recycling from the current rate of 10% up to 30% at least. The CAC advocates a plan that combines an increased base fee with a pay as you through (PAYT) program. The base fee would increase from $100 to $150 per year, and residents would pay $1.50 per bag for trash disposal. Even with this plan, however, Lowell’s recycling program will not pay for itself, but the city’s cost would plummet from a $4.4 million deficit to a $200,000 deficit—a major step in the right direction. Also, depending on ordinances for bulky items and electronics, the city could do better financially. The increased base and PAYT system will offer citizens a disposal program that incentivizes recyclers, makes those who don’t recycle pay for it, and provides an affordable way for the city to be environmentally responsible. How can we not do it? Note: Earlier posts on this topic can be found here, on Dick Howe’s blog, as well as on LiL.