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Flynn is a Brewer, Déjà vu for Fitchet…

By wmasspi on November 16, 2007 in
Today, the city of Milwaukee formally offered the job of Police Chief and the Springfield Police Commissioner, Edward Flynn, has accepted.

This has been confirmed by reports from CBS 3 Springfield and the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel website.

Flynn’s acceptance spares the city of the $155,000 it would have to pay in severance if asked to resign, as Sarno demanded.

The Journal-Sentinel news report mentioned the political implications in Springfield, namely that Milwaukee’s addition of Flynn to the list was a contributing factor in Mayor Charles Ryan’s loss to Domenic Sarno. The Milwaukee report also noted how given that Flynn’s temporary successor is already in place, Deputy Chief William Fitchet, Flynn may be permitted to leave sooner than the 30 days his contract requires. Fitchet served in that capacity after former Police Chief Paula Meara was bought off and before Flynn was chosen.

With the election and Milwaukee’s police chief selection behind us, it is time for Springfield to move on. It is not necessary that action be taken immediately, but Fitchet cannot effectively run the Police Department with an “acting” affixed to his name indefinitely.

Given that Fitchet was a finalist in the original search, it only stands to reason that to give him the position officially is hardly out of order. Another nationwide search will only yield more drama and more trauma for a city that has been rattled by these recent political/governmental tremors. In other words it’s a waste of time. This feeling is shared by Sarno and outgoing City Council President Kateri Walsh, according to the Republican.

That being said, the best tenure to offer Fitchett would be what remains on Flynn’s contract. Whenever it was programmed to terminate is when Fitchet’s potential contract would end. At that point, there may be a new mayor and God-willing a new city council (ward-rep aside) and we can take stock of the situation. Maybe by then Fitchet will retire or maybe we will have gone through a historic drop in crime and we’ll be clamoring to keep him. Who knows.

In the short term, the efforts should be focused on the rank and file in the department. They need effective leadership and the necessary resources. The Control Board can give them that. What their next move will be is anybodies’ guess. When the Control Board convenes in January, there will be nobody present who took part in Flynn’s selection process.

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(Re)Building Bridges…

By wmasspi on November 11, 2007 in
It should surprise nobody that last Tuesdays results in Springfield disappointed WMassP&I mightily. However, the people, however, few of them did speak. It would pathetically easy to go on a tirade about what’s wrong with them, but not today. Let’s save that for 2009.

To that end, it is important that the self-described vitriolic comments made on the endorsement page be taken with a grain of salt. The positives remains true and WMassP&I will stand by them. That is unless we all find out one or more of them is an axe murderer.

The negatives are a stickier situation. It is important that we move on from them. Much of the negativity came from frustration. The opinions rendered in some of that negativity perhaps do tender a challenge toward those to which it was directed. Prove us wrong.

The election night round-up and opinion stand as they are.

The important thing is that we move and try to work together to improve the city. Change needs to happen in our government and it will in 2009, but until then we must work on sustainable policies that benefit everybody, not an interest group, not a politician, and so on.

Luckily for WMassP&I, whatever mudslinging we engaged in won’t really hurt us. That’s compared to Boston At-Large City Councilor-Elect John Connolly who made a campaign against current At-Large City Councilor Stephen Murphy. Let’s just say it got pretty nasty. Low and behold, Connolly won and Murphy got reelected; so lucky them, now they get to work together. O Irony!

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Decision 2007: The Shoe Drops…

By wmasspi on November 7, 2007 in
The people have spoken, well, approximately 27% of registered voters spoke. Uncle Charlie is out, Sarno is in [shriek]. The City Council stayed mostly the same, although the good guys already there hung in, and a new face will join their ranks.

With 100% of precincts reporting, Charles Ryan lost to Domenic Sarno for Mayor. Sarno garnered 11096 votes to Ryan’s 9964. This loss is a shock, though not entirely surprising. Unfortunately, Ryan was impaled upon the October Surprise of Flynn’s job-hunting and other recent developments. Odds are implementations such as the Trash Fee did not help. Do expect the city losing about $100,000 around January 1st, when the new mayor is sworn in. Surely he will ask Flynn to tender his resignation then.

Sarno’s election, partly luck, partly October surprises, and partly voter apathy in Springfield, will require the nascent reform movements in the city to work twice as hard. It is impossible to truly know Sarno’s plans, and with the Control Board in power, little is likely to change…until this time two years from now when local control will resume.

May I be proven wrong, but I issue a call to all residents of Springfield and anybody to who cares about Springfield near and far. BE ALERT! Know what is going on. Be on the look out for moves made by Sarno that could jeopardize the city’s financial disposition-anywhere. Please pardon my paranoia, but he was a member of the city council during the previous administration and thus has blood on his hands.

To Mr. Sarno, I would say this. “…Watch, for you do not know when the master of the house will come…” Mark 13:35. We, the people, Mr. Sarno are the master of the house and the house is our city of Springfield.

On to the City Council. No big surprises here. The vitriol on this blog proved no match for the thousands of voters who believe that this 16 Acres resident stands for anything other than getting re-elected and at the top slot (11023 votes). For you Mr. Tosado goes the same as for Mr. Sarno.

Luckily behind him was Tim Rooke (9657). It is nice to see a man of action and integrity near the top of the list. Political relic Bill Foley took number slot 3 (9583). Bud Williams (9551), Kateri Walsh (9135), and Idea bank Rosemarie Mazza-Moriarty (8966) rounded out the top six.

Newcomer Patrick Markey (8477) rocketed past two incumbents to take slot number 7. Typically, the new additions to the City Council occupy the last space. However, Markey’s candidacy resonated with voters. Perhaps it was his work as City Solicitor or fresh face that gave him the strength for a reletively strong showing. Jimmy Ferrera, whose tenure began this year after Angelo Puppolo left for his State Rep job, came in eighth (8347). Ferrera has not been on the council long enough to have record either in the council or in the press. His youth and enthusiasm are pluses, but WMassP&I still declined to endorse him because his loyalties are unknown. If he allies himself with the reform elements of the city in next year’s council, he will find support here. Finally, Bruce Stebbins capped the City Council (7372). Another term for Stebbins is definitely a good thing for the city and the council as it seeks level-headed and intelligent decisions and options.

Notable among those who did not make it is Morris Jones whose alleged connections to the Asselin clan make even his 10th spot finish a disturbing proposition. For the love of God, may none of the City Council have to leave their position early lest he return to 36 Court St. Sadly low down on the list was Karen Powell. The dedicated city activist finished with 6031 votes. However, her efforts were not in vain. She generated a great deal of enthusiasm and showed real courage and fortitude in this election. Expect to see her in a future race in 2009, when the city council will be a bit different.

Not surprisingly, Ward Representation succeeded in Springfield. Effective with the 2009 election, the city of Springfield will move to a City Council with 5 At-Large seats and 8 ward seats. This will make breaking onto the political scene easier, but it will lead to back-scratching and logrolling where municipal issues are concerned. It will not lead to a more representative council and while based on this night’s results the bottom four candidates, being white would not have won, there are no guarantees that the other 8 ward-based candidates will be significantly diverse.

The system may be even be unconstitutional. In Board of Estimate of City of New York v. Morris the US Supreme Court found that the city’s board of estimate, which gave each borough an equal vote on the board, violated the one person one vote principal. Under the ward system, it is not difficult to extrapolate that the wards where voter turnout is dismal will yield proportionately more power where turnout is high. However, it is worth noting that courts do not look at turnout as a determining factor.

In other news. Susan Dawson beat out incumbent mayor of Agawam Richard Cohen by 44 votes. In Westfield, mayoral candidate and former Air National Guard Cmdr. Michael R. Boulanger beat City Councilor Brent Bean 61-36%. Elsewhere, it all pretty much stayed the same.

In any event, it has been a whirlwind election season for Springfield. Charles Ryan, venerable once and future mayor has seen his time come and go. Perhaps one day, if his efforts (and the Control Board’s efforts) are not sabotaged by the corrupt elements of the city, they may raise a statue to him somewhere. Maybe not. Still, WMassP&I’s salutes this man for standing up for Springfield and shepherding the city through this period with integrity when everybody else all but gave up.

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Decision 2007-Springfield Mayoral Race…

By wmasspi on November 1, 2007 in
For the Mayor of Springfield, Western Mass Politics and Insight endorses Jason Varitek.

But seriously, folks.

Election Day in the Pioneer Valley is steadily approaching. All of the candidates are spending their final remaining hours as candidates in the hope of becoming elected officials. As WMassP&I has explained before this election season is pivotal for the city of Springfield. As such to avoid distraction, endorsements will be broken up in three separate postings. Today Springfield Mayor, next Springfield City Council, and then if there is anything contentious to talk about miscellaneous city/town elections. It is not my intention to look down on other area communities, but Springfield’s future may hinge more so on these elections and the succeeding ones than any other in recent memory in or out of Springfield.

Anybody who reads this blog should not be surprised who will receive WMassP&I’s first mayoral endorsement. This race has been more contentious than the one that came before it. The incumbent faced numerous challenges since 2005 and in particular since this year began. Many such challenges have sullied his name. Still, his challenger has been unable to provide any real alternatives.

Domenic Sarno has served on the City Council for a long time. However, he is horribly tainted by his years during the previous administration when the Council was little more than a rubber stamp. His solutions offer a populist appeal, but lack wisdom and timing. They do nothing to move the city past the entrenchment and inertia that has dogged it for nearly 20 years. There is a very real fear among city residents and leaders of the nascent reform efforts in the city that a Sarno administration would only open the floodgates once more, despite the Control Board’s work, and leave our city in ruin again.

In 2003 and into 2004 after the election, WAQY radio personalities Michael A. “Bax” Baxendale and John O’Brien offered referred to the once and future mayor Charles Ryan as “Uncle Charley.” In tribute to the character of the same name from the show My Three Sons, “Bax & O’Brien” would play the theme from that show. The entire process contributes to a persona of an old man who better fits the title “Grandpa” than “Mayor.” Indeed he was thought to be out of date and out of touch. I personally did not support him and urged people to do the same.

I was wrong. (You may want to mark that on the calendar or something).

Mayor Charles Ryan has proven himself as an apt city manager and tireless advocate for the city. He knew from the get-go that reform could only happen in the City with direct state intervention. Removing the power from the past administration’s flunkies on the Council, and as a member of the Control Board, he guided the city back from the fiscal brink. Granted these successes were not done alone. The Control Board played a huge part in it. However, he completely immersed himself into the job and with the FCB Executive Directors, Phil Puccia, and later Stephen Lisauskas, real progress was made in the city. By using all forms of technology at his disposal he has transcended his age and did not allow it to be a deterrent in his efforts to right the city. Above all, his credibility and honesty are above reproach. Therefore, WMassP&I endorses Mayor Charles Ryan for re-election.

In many ways, Ryan, will always maintain that “Uncle Charley” persona. It is comforting for some and coupled with the results over the past four years, quite befitting, if you know the show. He is not perfect, but this once and future mayor’s dedication is unimpeachable. He deserves and must be the Mayor the City of Springfield one more time.
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Boston Beat: The Heavy Side of Victory…

By wmasspi on October 29, 2007 in
Last night/early this morning, the Boston Red Sox won the World Series in Denver. The local nine swept the Colorado Rockies defeating them 4-3 in game four.

Minutes after the result was announced, fans began to pour out onto the streets from all quarters of the city. The city had cordoned off Kenmore Square before the game even ended and the barricade kept crowds out of the square.
The extraordinary measures are not surprising given the reputed rowdiness of Boston fans. In addition, the city also has the memory of the 2004 ALCS championship after which Emerson College student Victoria Snelgrove was killed by a pepper spray pellet. The city accepted responsibility for Snelgrove’s death and paid out over $5 million to her family. A bargain frankly, as macabre as that may sound. Although the pellet was only fired after a mob turned violent, the tactics and weapons employed by the Boston PD were extreme.
During yesterday’s ad hoc victory celebrations police stood in formation steadfastly blocking passage by gathering fan into restricted areas. Armed with batons and sporting riot gear, the lines of police remained the most visible and effective deterrent against drunken idiocy on the part of fans. Still, excluding the routes to Kenmore Square and Fenway Park, a number of closed paths seemed suspect.

Around quarter past one, the situation suddenly turned grim. Perhaps spurred to action by an overturned car or a fan-fueled fire, the police marched from their position at the Kenmore Square side of the Beacon Street bridge and over the Turnpike. They held there for a moment. Fans, up to this point were undeterred and did not appear fazed. Then the lines of police became several men deep and enveloped the width of Beacon. Police on horseback led the mass of cops. The crowds got the picture and pulled back, but continued to go about with rear-guard cheering.

It appeared that the Boston Police were going to hold at the Brookline-Boston city line. Instead, the legion of police in dark riot gear turned south onto Park Drive, the heart of Boston University’s South Campus. Voices on bullhorns demanded that everyone return to their homes. The line’s march remained in semi-formation thundering loudly and ominously as the police rumbled down Park Drive. Some shouted in protest, but most just turned and walked–or ran–away.
Certainly the need to protect property and people last night was necessary. Drunken idiots are dangerous. Closing off Kenmore Square simply made sense. As a wide area, also crawling with never-finished half constructed MBTA structures, the danger was obvious. The same goes for the blocks that border Fenway. We could debate the need for the length and breadth of the barricades, however. The frightening part was the march down the streets. Suddenly, Kenmore Square looked a little more like Red Square twenty years ago. Decked out in all the riot gear, with helicopters buzzing overhead, the scene resembles, minus the gas masks and bayonets, this portion of Diego Rivera’s Man Controller of the Universe, which is in the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City.

Rivera’s themes are obviously socialist and the military men and the police beating the crowds on horseback represent attacks on Communists like those in 1930′s Germany and Italy. Plus it bears noting that Rivera was a pretty crappy Communist. Still weather its Fascists putting down Communists or Communists putting down Democracy or Democracy putting down Democracy it all smacks of a police state. Granted last night it was Democracy putting down Sox-happy anarchy, but the comparison cannot–and should not– be ignored. Many police departments across the country are too easily prepared to turn into quasi-military garrisons.

All of this is something of a holdover from the Vietnam era. Luckily very rarely do we see incidents such as Kent State anymore (although that was National Guard, not police). Still as Snelgrove’s death shows us, it still does happen. It is far too easy to blame the out of control rioters for her death. It is more complicated than that and we can have a debate about the lack of self-control among revelers. Nor can we blame the cops. They are just doing their job and trying to secure the peace. But peace at what cost? That’s a politician’s problem. And ours.

We cannot help but ask ourselves, is Snelgrove’s death even more in vain if we live only a few inches or one drunken idiot away from a night in Rangoon right here in Boston? Put more simply, are we able to balance our need for security and law & order with our democratic ideals without transforming, even for a moment, into the intimidating fascist police state we are so accustomed to seeing “over there” and resisted for 2 and 1/4 centuries?
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VICTORY

By wmasspi on October 29, 2007 in

RED SOX ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS

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The Skies are Friendly to Springfield…

By wmasspi on October 26, 2007 in
NBC affiliate WWLP and the Republican (look for the full story in tomorrow’s paper) both reported today that US Airways is featuring Springfield in an article detailing its recovery and highlighting the advantages of the city and the Pioneer Valley.

The article itself was warmly received by Mayor Charles Ryan and Economic Director David Panagore. Western Massachusetts businesses reported bought ad space throughout the articles pages when news of the story broke.

The timing of this article is quite important. The city has more or less weathered the financial crisis. The challenge now rests with improving the city’s economy and reducing the high poverty rates. The US Airways Magazine, like other airlines and Amtrak, is found aboard flights and its available to passengers. A positive article in such a magazine with wide reach can double as a promoter to the eyes of potential investors traveling here there and everywhere.

Of course this is the good news. However, it is also as good as a time as any for city officials and residents to remember that the job is hardly done. Widening Springfield’s exposure can generate interest, but that is not development.

There is a second factor that cannot be ignored. US Airways does serve Bradley Airport and connects the airport to high profile locations like Washington. Incidently, somebody going to Hartford for familyreasons or to the Connecticut coast for vacation may daytrip to Springfield.

Springfield’s exposure to those willing to invest the capital is going to be key to any long term recovery. This magazine article is not enough. New York Times articles are not enough. They help, but what will really help is results…and some optimism rising from residents themselves.

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You Can Go Flynn, You Can Go Out…

By wmasspi on October 17, 2007 in
The flap over Springfield Police Commission Edward Flynn’s potential cross-country move has reverberated throughout city government and into this year’s election season.

First of all, the outrage (while mostly confined to City Councilors running for re-election), is to a point justified. People expected that Flynn would be making an investment in the city and this appears that he will not be.

That being said, all of the evidence suggests that Flynn’s story, that Milwaukee’s national search committee came to him, is true. The stories from the Sentinel-Journal and the Milwaukee blogosphere support his version of history.

Once again calling on the administration to act as a substitute for having a real campaign, Mayoral Candidate Domenic Sarno called upon the city to fire or ask him to tender his resignation rather than wait for the results of the Milwaukee search.

According to Heather Brandon’s Urban Compass, reporting from a City Hall press conference, such an action would cost the city severance pay. City Solicitor Ed Pikula stated that were Flynn to resign at the City’s suggestion, Flynn could expect a year’s pay as severance. Luckily, Pikula indicated that Sarno’s demand isn’t likely to count. Only an official city request count. Still, Mayor Ryan requested that Sarno not make such a demand again to be on the safe side.

Incidentally, Urban Compass also discussed the political implications of the city acting on Sarno’s pontifications. While Ryan and the city have followed through on only a few issues, it created potential political problems for Ryan. Interestingly, while Flynn’s possible departure does not look good, the legal wranglings of Flynn’s contract could benefit Ryan.

Speaking to the City Solicitor is a wise common sense decision, not politically based at all. However, finding out that asking Flynn to resign could cost the city a hundred grand make Sarno’s demand look bad and Ryan’s refusal to ask for the resignation look smart. Now, Sarno looks foolish and more importantly uninformed. Do we really want a mayor who doesn’t get all the facts or just blurts out what sounds good neglecting the ramifications?

The entire Flynn debacle also brings up an interesting problem in looking for important city officials. Obviously, it is beyond me to say how Milwaukee runs itself, but these national search groups have often created problems. There are problems with the “public hearings,” which often cow to public input defeating the purpose of removing the decision from politicians. Similar problems were encountered as Boston sought out a new Schools/Education Director. It creates situation such as this one where cities end up trying to steal each others officials. Springfield will be undergoing this process sooner or later as School Superintendent Joseph Burke will not be around too too much longer.

What is the solution? Who knows. But the system that is in place to find the “best” candidate often falls short and discredits itself amidst a different set of political circumstances.

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A Fifth Redux…

By wmasspi on October 16, 2007 in
Well it seems very likely that the Massachusetts Fifth Congressional District will have in the history books a husband and a wife as its representatives. Niki Tsongas maintains a substantial lead both monetarily and in the polls over her opponent Jim Ogonowski. While the Dracut Republican remains in striking distance, in blue-state Massachusetts, it seems unlikely that he can trump Tsongas’ advantage.

Earlier on, WMassP&I commented that Tsongas was waging a silly campaign by making it all about Bush. That tactic was part of what kept this race from being a runaway for her. Sadly the things that for which Ogonowski has criticized her, are true. She will be something of an insider due to the late Sen. Paul Tsongas, her husband, and his old connections. Not having built her political prowess up herself, she is at risk to becoming a follower or “proxy” in Congress, rather than a leader as Marty Meehan was from time to time. When her husband was in office, she was no Hillary to Paul’s Bill. But maybe I’m wrong.

Ogonowski, too, made mistakes. He tried to appeal to the more conservative tendencies of many Massachusetts’ voters. However, he promised to be independent and not beholden to the GOP leadership. Granted that didn’t work for former Sen. Lincoln Chafee R-RI. However, Ogonowski performed a classic form of political foot in mouth, when he said he’d be willing to support a Democratic issue/bill, only to not think of one such issue. Sadly, the now-vetoed Children’s Insurance Bill (SCHIP) was before Congress then and Ogonowski could not think of it.

Ogonowski’s challenge might have had more chances, if this was not a special election, but a regular even year race. Instead, the DNC can pull out the stops to support Niki Tsongas and trash Jim Ogonowski.

What is unfortunate is the entrenchment of Massachusetts (and other states) politicians and that when they are replaced it sometimes seems to be anybody new as in Tsongas’ case. The paradox is, however, that many who are entrenched are wonderful.

Anyway, WMassP&I, in this eleventh hour, hoping to strengthen the Democratic Congress to pass critical legislation like SCHIP, endorses Niki Tsongas for Congress.

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A Debt of Gratitude?…

By wmasspi on October 10, 2007 in
Today’s Republican reported that City Councilor Tim Rooke suggested that the state forgive the loan that came with the arrival of the Springfield Finance Control Board. However, his suggestion was not one made out of a plea for charity. Rather, Rooke said the forgiveness could be seen as a trade for the millions of dollars the state does owe the city for school-related bussing. Estimates in the article put that figure at around $60-70 million dollars.

The proposal is a novel approach and indeed a great way to help the city by both vindicating the city in this dispute with Beacon Hill and saving the city a few pennies. However, Beacon Hill is unlikely to go for it. For the past thirty some odd years it has been unmoved by arguments that the legislature itself passed the law requiring bussing and promising to pay for it. While it is wrong, the legislature as a whole long ago washed its hands of that issue, especially after cutting all bussing money off amidst the financial crisis four years ago. Secondly, the leaders on Beacon Hill are not receptive to Springfield handouts. While the political climate has changed since the FCB was established and leaders in both Houses and the Corner Office have changed, the statewide mood has not. Gov. Deval Patrick can open all the offices he wants in Springfield and it will not heal the divide between east and west.

That does not mean that everybody is opposed to bridging the gap somewhat. Inevitably, though, while Rooke is right about the money, if taken as a trade like that, Eastern Mass legislators will see it as a handout. The answer to the solution may be able to evolve out of Rooke’s suggestion.

The first issue with the loan is the repayment timetable. Current legislation calls for full repayment by 2012. That deadline is thought by both Springfield and Beacon Hill officials as being a bit too soon though not impossibly so. Given that a number of municipal employee contracts will be expiring around then, the run up to paying off the debt may end up being a thorn in everybody’s side. Bills calling for an extension of about 20 years are circulating on Beacon Hill, but most movement has been halted since area legislators called into question the FCB decision to move the remaining money into a finance stabilization fund. One way or another some kind of extension will happen. When and how long is anybody’s guess.

The money itself should be paid back at least in part. A modest suggestion might call for the state to not expect repayment for any cost directly incurred by the Control Board’s presence. Salaries and expenses for staff and the costs of the once controversial, but now accepted, reports at the beginning of the FCB’s tenure. That figure is likely only about a million or two. From there, the city and state could haggle over some of the nickel and dime stuff ending up at a reasonable figure that the state would forgive.

While the act paying the debt itself seems like a drag, forcing the city to repay the debt will be an important part of disciplining city government. Once the FCB packs up and leaves, it will be up to the mayor and city council to exercise fiscal discipline and it will up to future councils and mayors to do the same. With this load around the city’s neck, one which it cannot shirk (as legally, the city must defer to the state except where the Mass. Constitution says otherwise), wasteful spending, handouts to friends, and unaffordable contracts will become that much harder to happen.

On a separate note, the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reported that Edward Flynn is a finalist in the search for that city’s police chief. This was confirmed by the Republican. Snooping around the Milwaukee’s media, it seems that Flynn has been a shadow candidate for sometime and only today came out from behind the curtain. The details also suggest that Flynn was approached; he did not seek it. Flynn has done a great deal of work in Springfield and it would be a tragedy for him to leave only 19 months into his contract, necessitating another search for Springfield’s top cop. He is up against 7 other candidates so his selection is not assured, however, given the secrecy, it seems that somebody over there really wants him to lead the Milwaukee PD.
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