Disqus - Latest Comments for haverhill500

Re: Hall, Young ousted from council

haverhill500 — Wed, 09 Nov 2011 16:17:57 -0000

excellent results

Re: Fiorentini, Manzi both eyeing Baddour's state Senate seat

haverhill500 — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:55:49 -0000

No comment on the below reprint

****
Fiorentini's interest in the job is contradictory to comments he made at an October mayoral debate, where he said he was not interested in running for state senate should Baddour's seat open up.

"I'm committed to being mayor, remaining as mayor — I love the job as mayor," he said at the debate. "I said today, 'They're gonna have to pry me out of office.' I love what I'm doing. I get up every day, I'm excited to do that, and I'll be happy to remain as mayor if the voters re-elect me."
********

Re: Editorial: Haverhill must control health expenses

haverhill500 — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 08:29:49 -0000

The content of this editorial has been known for years, heath care costs have been rising everywhere but notably for Haverhill which is also paying for the pensions/benefits for the Hale hospital retirees.

Too bad the ET didn't write about this pre-election.

This story is just like writing an editorial about the impending snowfall coming this winter, that there will be 3-4 cancelled school days, at least one tractor trailer jackknife on a Rt 495 off-ramp, and avg daily temperature will be between 30-40 degs.

What this unfortunate editorial staff neglects to write is the following

The Hale burden this year (FY10) will be approx $8M ($5M former Hale employee pension/benefits plus $3M debt service/deficit funding)

Hale burden (pension/benefits + debt service) in FY13 will be at least $9M/yr

Hale burden (pension/benefits + debt service) by FY16 will be at least $10M/yr

Hale burden (pension/benefits + debt service) by FY20 will be at least $12/yr

Hale burden (debt service only) ends in FY23 …the formal employee/pensions will go on for a long-long time)

NEWS FLASH: Haverhill is getting clobbered by cost increases this year; Mayor has NO plan except to cut services; why isn’t the Editorial staff asking "Where is ALL this new revenue the Mayor touted as bringing into the city? As I said many many times…the only new revenue the Mayor has brought into the city has barely covered the LOST revenue due to business' closing/evacuating Haverhill …there has been NO new incremental business revenue that has materially added to the bottom line

What a shame....

Re: $2.5M insurance hike threatens services to residents

haverhill500 — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 08:38:11 -0000

30days since the election and...

Bradford to remain open by state hand-out, not Mayor heroics

property taxes increased again by prop 2.5% max incr allowable

Mayor is going to clobber COMCAST for a miniscule increase in fees to about 5% of Haverhills households

$2.5M increase in insurance premiums (this is kinda of like saying, huh? winter is here? we didn't budget for snow removal?)

I agree PoliticalMadman...all these topics were on the table pre-election, too bad the ET is spineless..

Re: High school lot redesign underway

haverhill500 — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 16:15:48 -0000

If this were a private project like reworking the parking lot at Rockingham Mall, it would be done in 4wks. Add state money + Haverhill money + jr-grade project mgmt and you get a 1yr long project

Re: Editorial: Complaints about cable TV rates are hypocritical

haverhill500 — Sat, 21 Nov 2009 05:50:45 -0000

No comment

Re: Fire Department loses staff; Bradford station's future uncertain

haverhill500 — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:41:22 -0000

As I've said before, Bradford will close NLT early December but Shawn (who is the Mayor's BFF) and the collective ET Editorial board spend too much time fawning over Fiorentini...

Shawn Regan & Obama Girl are one-in-the-same

Re: Fiorentini wins big in Haverhill mayoral race

haverhill500 — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 08:16:27 -0000

Must commend the Mayor for the 58-42 victory

Now that the election is over, there will be changes/annoucements that have been withheld..

Bradford will be closing in early December

Bond rating Baa1 is likely to slide into junk bond status

Hale Debt override

The 7 policemen, that were covered by budget money in FY09 but were slid-over to grant-money coverage for FY10, are at risk; grant money for FY11 is unlikely, HPD layoffs forthcoming

etc

Re: Voters face big decisions Tuesday

haverhill500 — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 12:47:15 -0000

Carrot- The questions still stand:

Should a Mayor of a 60,000 person city with a $150M budget be blogging under ficticious names?

Paying his campaign mgr w/city money?

As you have said many many times in the past to other bloggers...I await your answer....

Re: Voters face big decisions Tuesday

haverhill500 — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:11:40 -0000

I hear 'cricket' sounds....

sorry, I had to borrow your phase used many many times when a blogger didn't respond to your question :-)

Re: Voters face big decisions Tuesday

haverhill500 — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:56:53 -0000

..
Recent vidoeo of an ET Editorial staff interview w/Mayor Fiorentini...

http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Sometimes I crack myself up...

Don’t run, walk, Haverhill is thriving, all is well, give your kids an extra hug today, smile, don’t worry, be happy, when I get to the bottom I go back to the top of the slide where I stop and I turn and I go for a ride till I get to the bottom and I see you again…. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah Yeah, Yeah, Yeah, Yeah...

“I see dumb people, they’re every where”

“Forward with Fiorentini”

“I am responsible for everything good, I have no accountability for the bad”

“Proven Leadership"

“Contrary to popular belief, I am not Sabado Gigante”

“Table for one” Fiorentini

"CEO of the City of Haverhill"

"ex officio Chairman of the School Committee"

“Commander in Chief of the Rouge Nation Waste-Water Department”

Re: Voters face big decisions Tuesday

haverhill500 — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:43:15 -0000

Chairman- The questions still stand:

Should a Mayor of a 60,000 person city with a $150M budget be blogging under ficticious names?

Paying his campaign mgr w/city money?

As you have said many many times in the past to other bloggers...I await your answer....

Re: Voters face big decisions Tuesday

haverhill500 — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 06:59:47 -0000

.
PROVEN (disingenuous) LEADERSHIP:

The Haverhill Citizens Volunteer Corps would be run by newly-appointed Program Manager Karen Buckley who was to be paid from this grant.

On May 4th Mayor Fiorentini announced, in a campaign email, that Karen Buckley would be leading a city-wide volunteer group collecting signatures for Mayor Fiorentini’s re-election campaign.

Then on May 8th the Eagle-Tribune gave the appointment decent coverage and appropriately outlined legitimate concerns on the ethical nature of this hiring.

http://www.eagletribune.com...

All concluding that on May 11th Karen Buckley quit as the Volunteer Corps Director.

The Eagle-Tribune appropriately conducted a follow-up article on including the publication of a citizen letter and an Editorial article.

http://www.eagletribune.com...
http://www.eagletribune.com...
http://www.eagletribune.com...

What was not addressed was

#1- Wasn’t this a conflict of interest or a violation of ethics and, possibly, campaign contribution laws?

#2- What about the money trail…using Brightside money for this position? The Mayor has been crafty by withdrawing funds to balance budget short-falls (re: enterprise/wastewater, trusts, interfund, etc) but this activity is very interesting…

#3- What conclusions can be drawn from a decision that was then immediately withdrawn? …doesn’t this indicate anything to anyone? It does for me….

Re: Voters face big decisions Tuesday

haverhill500 — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 06:57:01 -0000

PROVEN (blogger) LEADERSHIP:

Haverhill City Councilor James Donahue was appropriately censured for his blogging activity and very likely resulted in his decision to not run for re-election.

However, the ET and the citizens of Haverhill neglected to pursue the other tidbit that was produced from this effort:

Mayor Fiorentini ALSO admitted that he ALSO blogs, under multiple screen names, on a wide range of topics. The following is a verbatim quote from the published ET article (link provided below)

_______________

Donahue isn't alone: Fiorentini said he, too, has blogged on The Eagle-Tribune's Web site under fictitious screen names.

"I wish I didn't, but once in a while I get tempted and respond," the mayor said. "Certainly not anywhere near 38 times," he said when told about the many screen names attached to posts from Donahue's computer.

Fiorentini said he has never blogged on the Merrimack River issue, but he declined to tell the newspaper what subjects he has commented on or what screen names he uses.

http://www.eagletribune.com......

_______________

What was not addressed and more specifically, what was not asked by the ET Reporters/Editorial Staff was:

#1- Mayor Fiorentini- even though you have declined to provide the multiple screen names of your blogging, don’t you think as a Mayor of a 60,000 person city with a budget of $150M and that you refer to yourself as the CEO …do you think it is appropriate that you blog under multiple names? …or even blog at all? Isn’t this a conflict of interest or a violation of ethics ....are you stupid??

#2- Although Councilor Donahue was censured because he admitted who the screen names were which then led to the determination that he, as a Councilor, wrote inappropriate statements about his co-Councilors…. Don’t you think the public has a right to know who your screen names were/are and then, on a level-playing field, determine if you ALSO wrote inappropriate statements about the City Council, or other elected or public officials? I mean, this isn’t on the same scale as Watergate however, one blogger ‘Dave’ wrote “I'd like to know how in fact the Tribune obtained the information that pointed to Donahue in the first place? If it was his ISP, isn't some sort of warrant or subpoena required? If it was somebody on the inside of the ISP doing a favor for someone, there's going to be at the minimum a lawsuit and the maximum possibly indictments. What shall we call this - Bloggate?” …the premise/question still stands: Mayor Fiorentini, don’t you think it is minimally unseemly for a Mayor of a City to blog under multiple screen names?”…

#3- Why did the ET single out Donahue ….unless they were requested to do so by someone. I’m very certain the ET is not staffed by Bernstein & Woodward equivalent literary gum-shoes..…and doesn’t this, either directly or indirectly, violate some type of decent/civil terms of use where the ET permits “anonymous’ blogging, but, what the hect, we’ll disclose who you are to everyone in the Merrimack Valley if we want to…isn’t this a schizophrenic policy?….

#4- Mayor Fiorentini, what were ...and are...the screen names you use for blogging?

Re: Letter: Fiorentini was there in a crisis

haverhill500 — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:06:49 -0000

I find it more interesting you have no knowledge of the Mayor-Donahue blogging issues, the ET story/link is embedded in the above blog, you should read up on it, it was an interesting issue here in the city of Haverhill about a year ago...

Re: Letter: Fiorentini was there in a crisis

haverhill500 — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:56:00 -0000

Your refusal to acknowledge his childish behavoir speaks volumes ....

Re: Letter: Fiorentini was there in a crisis

haverhill500 — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:52:02 -0000

I am asking you ...do you think the Mayor of the City of Haverhill should be blogging under diffferent screen names?

Can you answer this question?

Re: Letter: Fiorentini was there in a crisis

haverhill500 — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 21:43:03 -0000

Stick to the topic and answer the blog.... your candidate admits he blogs using different screen names....

Do you think that is Proven Leadership ... or ....childish?

Re: Letter: Michitson is best choice for mayor

haverhill500 — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 20:21:01 -0000

Mr Mayor, I mean Chairman, I mean Dorothy, I mean Carrot or CityofSin, Taxguy, Martha, Karen B or...??

This 'blog' is for you...

Haverhill City Councilor James Donahue was appropriately censured for his blogging activity and very likely resulted in his decision to not run for re-election.

However, the ET and the citizens of Haverhill neglected to pursue the other tidbit that was produced from this effort:

Mayor Fiorentini ALSO admitted that he ALSO blogs, under multiple screen names, on a wide range of topics. The following is a verbatim quote from the published ET article (link provided below)

_______________

Donahue isn't alone: Fiorentini said he, too, has blogged on The Eagle-Tribune's Web site under fictitious screen names.

Fiorentini said he has never blogged on the Merrimack River issue, but he declined to tell the newspaper what subjects he has commented on or what screen names he uses.

http://www.eagletribune.com...

_______________

What was not addressed and more specifically, what was not asked by the ET Reporters/Editorial Staff was:

#4- Mayor Fiorentini, what were....and presently are.... the screen names you use for blogging?

....

Re: Letter: Fiorentini was there in a crisis

haverhill500 — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 19:00:11 -0000

Mr Mayor, I mean Dorothy, I mean Chairman, I mean CityofSin, Martha, Carrot, Taxguy or Karen B....

This 'blog' is for you....

Haverhill City Councilor James Donahue was appropriately censured for his blogging activity and very likely resulted in his decision to not run for re-election.

However, the ET and the citizens of Haverhill neglected to pursue the other tidbit that was produced from this effort:

Mayor Fiorentini ALSO admitted that he ALSO blogs, under multiple screen names, on a wide range of topics. The following is a verbatim quote from the published ET article (link provided below)

_______________

Donahue isn't alone: Fiorentini said he, too, has blogged on The Eagle-Tribune's Web site under fictitious screen names.

Fiorentini said he has never blogged on the Merrimack River issue, but he declined to tell the newspaper what subjects he has commented on or what screen names he uses.

http://www.eagletribune.com...

_______________

What was not addressed and more specifically, what was not asked by the ET Reporters/Editorial Staff was:

#3- Why did the ET single out Donahue ….unless they were requested to do so by someone. I’m very certain the ET is not staffed by Bernstein & Woodward equivalent literary gum-shoes..…and doesn’t this, either directly or indirectly, violate some type of decent/civil terms of use where the ET permits “anonymous’ blogging, but, what the hect, we’ll disclose who you are to everyone in the Merrimack Valley of we want to…isn’t this a schizophrenic policy?….

#4- Mayor Fiorentini, what were ..and presently are....the screen names you use for blogging?

...

Re: Letter: Fiorentini is a proven leader

haverhill500 — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:04:36 -0000

PROVEN LEADERSHIP

Haverhill City Councilor James Donahue was appropriately censured for his blogging activity and very likely resulted in his decision to not run for re-election.

However, the ET and the citizens of Haverhill neglected to pursue the other tidbit that was produced from this effort:

Mayor Fiorentini ALSO admitted that he ALSO blogs, under multiple screen names, on a wide range of topics. The following is a verbatim quote from the published ET article (link provided below)

_______________

Donahue isn't alone: Fiorentini said he, too, has blogged on The Eagle-Tribune's Web site under fictitious screen names.

Fiorentini said he has never blogged on the Merrimack River issue, but he declined to tell the newspaper what subjects he has commented on or what screen names he uses.

http://www.eagletribune.com...

_______________

What was not addressed and more specifically, what was not asked by the ET Reporters/Editorial Staff was:

#3- Why did the ET single out Donahue ….unless they were requested to do so by someone. I’m very certain the ET is not staffed by Bernstein & Woodward equivalent literary gum-shoes..…and doesn’t this, either directly or indirectly, violate some type of decent/civil terms of use where the ET permits “anonymous’ blogging, but, what the hect, we’ll disclose who you are to everyone in the Merrimack Valley of we want to…isn’t this a schizophrenic policy?….

#4- Mayor Fiorentini, what were the screen names you used for blogging?

Re: Letter: Fiorentini is a proven leader

haverhill500 — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 17:03:45 -0000

PROVEN LEADERSHIP:

Mayor Fiorentini announced in his April 2009 “From the desk of: Mayor Fiorentini” newsletter to supporters that he had formed the Haverhill Citizens Volunteer Corps (funded by a grant from Trinity Ambulance Company for Brightside efforts). The Haverhill Citizens Volunteer Corps would be run by newly-appointed Program Manager Karen Buckley who was to be paid from this grant.

On May 4th Mayor Fiorentini announced, in a campaign email, that Karen Buckley would be leading a city-wide volunteer group collecting signatures for Mayor Fiorentini’s re-election campaign. Then on May 8th the Eagle-Tribune gave the appointment decent coverage and appropriately outlined legitimate concerns on the ethical nature of this hiring.

http://www.eagletribune.com...

All concluding that on May 11th Karen Buckley quit as the Volunteer Corps Director.

The Eagle-Tribune appropriately conducted a follow-up article on including the publication of a citizen letter and an Editorial article.

http://www.eagletribune.com...
http://www.eagletribune.com...
http://www.eagletribune.com...

What was not addressed was
#1- Wasn’t this a conflict of interest or a violation of ethics and, possibly, campaign contribution laws?
#2- What about the money trail…using Brightside money for this position? The Mayor has been crafty by withdrawing funds to balance budget short-falls (re: enterprise/wastewater, trusts, interfund, etc) but this activity is very interesting…
#3- What conclusions can be drawn from a decision that was then immediately withdrawn? …doesn’t this indicate anything to anyone? It does for me….

Re: Our view: Fiorentini has earned 4th term

haverhill500 — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:41:17 -0000

WOW... I wonder if the ET consdered this???

Another walk down memory lane…Haverhill City Councilor James Donahue was appropriately censured for his blogging activity and very likely resulted in his decision to not run for re-election.

However, the ET and the citizens of Haverhill neglected to pursue the other tidbit that was produced from this effort:

Mayor Fiorentini ALSO admitted that he ALSO blogs, under multiple screen names, on a wide range of topics. The following is a verbatim quote from the published ET article (link provided below)

_______________

Donahue isn't alone: Fiorentini said he, too, has blogged on The Eagle-Tribune's Web site under fictitious screen names.

Fiorentini said he has never blogged on the Merrimack River issue, but he declined to tell the newspaper what subjects he has commented on or what screen names he uses.

http://www.eagletribune.com...

_______________

What was not addressed and more specifically, what was not asked by the ET Reporters/Editorial Staff was:

#4- Mayor Fiorentini, what were ...and are...the screen names you use for blogging?

Re: Our view: Fiorentini has earned 4th term

haverhill500 — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:40:18 -0000

WOW, I wonder if the ET Editorial staff (sic) considered the below when drafting the endorsement.....

A Walk Down Memory Lane…Mayor Fiorentini announced in his April 2009 “From the desk of: Mayor Fiorentini” newsletter to supporters that he had formed the Haverhill Citizens Volunteer Corps (funded by a grant from Trinity Ambulance Company for Brightside efforts). The Haverhill Citizens Volunteer Corps would be run by newly-appointed Program Manager Karen Buckley who was to be paid from this grant.

http://www.eagletribune.com...

All concluding that on May 11th Karen Buckley quit as the Volunteer Corps Director.

The Eagle-Tribune appropriately conducted a follow-up article on including the publication of a citizen letter and an Editorial article.

http://www.eagletribune.com...

What was not addressed was

#1- Wasn’t this a conflict of interest or a violation of ethics and, possibly, campaign contribution laws?

#3- What conclusions can be drawn from a decision that was then immediately withdrawn? …doesn’t this indicate anything to anyone? It does for me….

Re: Letter: Fiorentini was there in a crisis

haverhill500 — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 12:33:38 -0000

QUESTION

Susan- If the Mayor was so helpful last December 2008 during a snow storm, why did it take you until February 28, 2009 for you to donate $250.00 to the Elect Fiorentini campaign?