tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50114631821471616142024-03-05T06:52:37.554-05:00Fall River-tasticshamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.comBlogger257125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-83868511160611482932011-02-16T10:58:00.005-05:002011-02-16T11:23:18.210-05:00Howie Carr, Calling it like it is.I was pleasantly surprised to see this accurate depiction of the life and times of Joan Menard in the Boston Herald today. <a href="http://www.bostonherald.com/news/columnists/view.bg?articleid=1317114&format=comments&cnum=2">Click Here</a><br /><br />Bristol Community College had made great progress over the past years, but recent decisions make me question its path for the future. With all the political hirings lately, and pandering to special interests (offering blackjack dealing courses) it seems as though it could be the new 'probation department'.<br /><br />Speaking of political hacks...there is an opening at UMass Dartmouth Center for Policy where Ed Lambert used to rake in the big bucks for doing something or other (that I think involved counting Massachusetts license plates in Connecticut casinos for $100k+ annually)....Any guesses on which former lackluster politician will begin taking that paycheck?shamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-79120978589260589172011-01-20T23:30:00.005-05:002011-01-21T01:09:24.213-05:00Over the LimitMayor Will Flanagan finally filed his campaign finance report and it looks like he may have to return thousands of dollars.<a href="http://www.mass.gov/ocpf/chap55.htm#7A"> Massachusetts law limits</a> the amount of money an individual can donate to a campaign. That limit is $500 per calendar year.<br /><br />Despite the $500 maximum, the following campaign contributions were reported by Flanagan in the 2010 calendar year:<br /><br />James P. Antonio $600<br />Todd Benevides $725<br />Brian Bishop $650<br />Anthony Cordeiro $550<br />Laurenio Couto $1000<br />Emilio Estacio $850<br />Carl Garcia $650<br />Fernando Garcia $650<br />Loretta George $1425<br />Alan S. Johnson $1000<br />James Karam $650<br />Robert Karam $700<br />Deborah Kenney $950<br />Mark Levin $850<br />Gilbert Lopes, Jr. $800<br />Mario Lucciola $600<br />Wayne Rego $1000<br />Kenneth R. Rezendes $1100<br />Daniel Silvia $600<br />Dennis D. Silvia $600<br />Robert Smith $550<br /><br />Is this a case of careless accounting by the Flanagan campaign, ignorance of the law, or perhaps just intentional disregard? <br /><br /><a href="http://www.efs.cpf.state.ma.us/DisplayReport.aspx?reportId=129970&schedule=DisplayScheduleA">Full Report can be Seen HERE<br /></a>shamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-44788957049939923582011-01-11T11:21:00.002-05:002011-01-11T11:23:41.293-05:00Another Oops for Steve Torres<a href="http://www.tauntongazette.com/topstories/x703876860/Taunton-City-Council-Preview-Airing-It-Out">http://www.tauntongazette.com/topstories/x703876860/Taunton-City-Council-Preview-Airing-It-Out</a>shamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-18012960352027353062010-12-01T21:42:00.003-05:002010-12-01T21:46:03.510-05:00The Stupidest Bet EverSo City Councilors Pat Casey and Ray Mitchell triumphantly turn in over 1,000 signatures to the Mayor because a local activist Stefani Koorey dared her to.<br /><br />Obviously the thought of Casey, who bears a striking resemblance to Sophia Petrillo from the Golden Girls, shuffling around town trying to collect 1,000 signatures in one day, was too humorous for Koorey to pass up. This stupid bet had the virtue of being amusing until a couple of councilors took it a bit too seriously and made the goal 1,000 signatures at all cost! It wasn’t Pat alone anymore; nope Ray manned his post at Stop and Shop collecting signatures from patrons who were probably relieved all he wanted was a signature and not some money or a ride somewhere. The two of them collected 900 signatures, so Team Pat also had a handful of other volunteers collecting signatures so they could reach the goal! So it was no longer just Pat and it doesn’t even seem like was just one day. She told the Herald she did it all on Monday but apparently was going around getting signatures the day before!<br /><br />What did this prove?<br /><br />Um.. that at least 1,000 people in a city of 90,000 want a casino. Big shock! Did anybody doubt that you could get 1,000 signatures? THE CHALLENGE was to do it herself in ONE day.<br />Um... that Pat didn’t understand the terms of her own bet because she is the one who boasted that SHE (alone) could get 1,000 signatures in one day. What other things does Pat say that really doesn’t understand?<br /><br />That Ray Mitchell is the smarter of the two. While Pat went around for hours going door to door Ray went to where a bunch of people were. Maybe if Pat had simply gone to Wal Mart on Black Friday she could have gotten these signatures all by her lonesome?<br />That if you’re a City Councilor and you’re going to stand in front of a store for a few hours maybe you should get a red kettle and collect some money and really do something that will benefit all these people you say need help. I now DARE both these councilors to do just that. I’m sure the Salvation Army would be grateful for their time and assistance.<br /><br />That you can totally waste the time of TWO elected officials simply by DARING THEM to do something! THIS is fantastic and I am going to make it a point to DARE Will Flanagan to lick a flagpole on a freezing cold day. I might even see if I can get Joe Camara to lick his own elbow or Brian Bigelow to run around downtown in his undershorts. Oh, skip that last one.shamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-64516991078141963252010-11-11T11:00:00.002-05:002010-11-11T12:19:39.386-05:00Down with the propaganda machine!On Tuesday, Fall River City Corporate Counselor, Steve Torres, opted to send a last minute letter to the City Council rather than appearing before the Council, as planned, to discuss the formation of a non-profit cable board. Not a politically smart move on his part because I am sure it caused added friction to the already tense relationship between the Council and the Mayor's office. But it gets worse.....<div><br /></div><div>Torres' letter to the Council quickly said that he researched the issue and that there is no legal authority to form such a board. Thereby, completely dismissing the Council's desires to form such a board and more importantly, the demands of the citizens to form such a board.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxb8rwUFW1R6CuN6d1ZA-ROszSZ9Qd34KiyPcir-EDhrF2swsmljBDrWwJmNjKWY0fbgpOyCH8oaA1D-ec35WJ-6kJPP6KEnMlL8tv96nRAsVTLQ2k5Wp-0_weOn4P_alGm050M1C_d4/s1600/torres+%25281%2529.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 291px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxb8rwUFW1R6CuN6d1ZA-ROszSZ9Qd34KiyPcir-EDhrF2swsmljBDrWwJmNjKWY0fbgpOyCH8oaA1D-ec35WJ-6kJPP6KEnMlL8tv96nRAsVTLQ2k5Wp-0_weOn4P_alGm050M1C_d4/s400/torres+%25281%2529.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5538338827440045010" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj-MfDvG4RzDKO5vzVC35qk2qZHNKmGPnOwh0gRnOh8FFFQcnIjoON5ZiDaUcGw-GtUXnQNqgSZcu2rKIJGWfKdtdoPDJ8v4-_by2Z0GuSd7tDKs3_f4-EMWUMvUQGgqrf61k97AnI19M/s1600/torres+%25281%2529.jpg"><br /></a><br /><div><br /></div><div>Then on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">WSAR</span>, Torres defended his decision not make his scheduled appearance by again saying that he had researched the formation of a non-profit board for cable television, it can't be done, there was really nothing to discuss, and that the letter was sufficient.</div><div><br /></div><div>My question to Torres is: How well did you research this subject Steve Torres, Attorney, bound by ethical cannons, subject to sanctions for malpractice? Did you willfully withhold relevant information from the Council? Did you give bad legal counsel?</div><div><br /></div><div>I ask because on June 28, 2006, as the Corporation Counsel for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Taunton</span>, you formed a non-profit corporation for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Taunton</span>, nearly identical to the one being requested by the City Council and the people of Fall River. You even cited the laws that support such a non-profit cable board.</div><div><br /></div><div><embed src="http://fliiby.com/embed/gadget.swf" wmode="transparent" bgcolor="#ffffff" width="360" height="330" allowscriptaccess="always" flashvars="&fileID=946927&fileShort=qfhhv5fuek"></embed><br /></div><div>or click here to view <a href="http://fliiby.com/file/946927/qfhhv5fuek.html">http://fliiby.com/file/946927/qfhhv5fuek.html</a> </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>I know you will attempt to rebut by trying to say that Fall River's "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">FRG</span>" channel is government only so it is different than <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Taunton</span> - but the money all comes from the same <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Comcast</span> money - the money that the non-profit cable board of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Taunton</span> controls. </div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(101, 101, 101); "></span></div><blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(101, 101, 101); ">Our operating budget is made possible through an agreement between the City of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Taunton</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Comcast</span>, providing us with 2% of their net cable revenues. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(101, 101, 101); ">This corporation is overseen by a five member Board of Directors, which is responsible for setting studio policy, and the overall finances of T.C.A.M.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(101, 101, 101); "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(101, 101, 101); ">Our Executive Director is in charge of the day to day operation of our studio, and determines our programming schedule, the use of our studio and equipment, and all other issues relating to the programs you view on T.C.A.M. </span></div><a href="http://www.tcamtv.com/">http://www.tcamtv.com/</a></blockquote><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; color: rgb(101, 101, 101); "></span></div>shamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-62345966597326650242010-11-07T19:26:00.002-05:002010-11-07T20:06:49.403-05:00Casino is not on the Governor's agendaI wish Will Flanagan had played some Sim City before, without having any relevant experience to his name, he opted to run for mayor of Fall River. Sim City would have allowed him to act out his city building fantasies without actually harming real people. <br /><br />Flanagan's current fantasy plans for a casino in Fall River were knocked down, yet another peg*, today when Governor Deval Patrick, in an interview with the Boston Globe, <a href="http://www.boston.com/news/politics/articles/2010/11/07/bruised_but_emboldened_patrick_maps_road_ahead/?page=1">stated that he has no intention to put casinos on his agenda this term. </a><br /><br /><br />*Hurdles to casino-topia<br /> 1) Casino Gaming in MA is illegal<br /> 2) Taxpayer 10 lawsuit<br /> 3) Open bidding law violations<br /> 4) Referendum vote of Fall River residents<br /> 5) Legislature needs to select Fall River as the region's location for a casino,<br /> over Taunton, New Bedford, etc.<br /> 6) Funding for a casino needs to come through despite the horrible gaming economy<br /> 7) Governor has no plans to work on legalizing casino gambling this termshamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-53127975247534559682010-10-13T00:08:00.003-04:002010-10-13T00:14:12.888-04:00MoonlightingIn February of this year, Attorney Steven A. Torres, sat before the Fall River City Council and defended his recently signed contract, for his position as the city's corporate counsel. The city councilors questioned the fact that Torres was making more money than any previous corporate counsel for Fall River. Torres and Mayor Flanagan justified the $115,000 salary by asserting that the pay reflected the fact Torres would be eliminating his private practice to focus on Fall River full time. (note: At that time, I couldn't find any information supporting the claim that Atty Torres even had a private practice and the MA board of bar overseers website indicated Torres did not carry any attorney malpractice insurance because he was a government employee.)<br /><br />Consider the fact that Torres justified his increased salary with the notion that he was losing money by giving up his private practice. Then imagine my surprise when I read an <a href="http://wareham-ma.villagesoup.com/news/story/computer-audit-again-delayed/3206">article out of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Wareham</span> recently </a>which evidenced the fact that, 10 months into his contract with Fall River, Torres was still working side jobs:<br /><blockquote><p>"A report on the forensic audit of town computers, which has been in progress for nearly a year and a half, is once again delayed. Town Administrator Mark Andrews and the Board of Selectmen had been told that special counsel, the Law Offices of Steven A. Torres, would be prepared to present the results of the audit on Sept. 28 or October 5."</p></blockquote><p></p>Pretty sneaky of Torres and Flanagan considering the fact that the City Council approved <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Torres'</span> increased salary based on the premise that Torres was eliminating his private practice to, presumably, focus all of his efforts on the matters of Fall River. This is clearly not the case.<br /><br />I think Torres is already overextended in his capacities as co-mayor of Fall River. I kid, I kid........... However, there have been many occasions where I have read in the Herald News, or heard at city council meetings that Corporation Counsel hadn't completed some task requested of them. Also, Torres went before the city council to get approval for another $45,000 budgeted so he could hire another attorney for the office - I certainly hope the addition of a new attorney wasn't to free up time for Torres to moonlightshamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-64739636079766118192010-09-16T23:47:00.000-04:002010-09-16T23:47:37.876-04:00Recalling Brian BigelowI think Brian Bigelow should resign from his elected position on the Fall River City Council. I was hoping he would come to this decision on his own, but that is alot to expect from someone whose decision making skills are so lacking that soliciting a hooker, for a $20 blow job, seemed like a good idea. <br /><br />I have heard several people supporting Bigelow, and even defending his crime by saying it is a minor crime, a victimless crime, there are worse crimes to worry about, this crime should be decriminalized, etc. I cannot agree with those arguments. Bigelow committed a crime. He attempted to fund a criminal activity that operates in the shadows of our neighborhoods.... A criminal activity that funds the purchase of illegal drugs and makes drug dealers rich in our community. It is particularly inexcusable for an elected official who is charged with bettering our city.<br /><br />In my opinion, Brian Bigelow was never an effective councilor to begin with; starting at that low point, he has only gotten worse. In the past week Bigelow missed the Arts United meeting, which he is supposed to attend in his role as City Council arts liason. He then missed last night's finance committee meeting. In the meetings he has attended since his arrest and subsequent plea to the crime, he only gave input one time.<br /><br />As a reminder, Bigelow voted against allowing strip clubs in Fall River because of the harm he alleged they would do to our neighborhoods. What kind of hypocrite liar votes against allowing partially nude people in completely private facilities yet contributes to public nakedness, and publicly visible oral sex for money?<br /><br />In light of everything I just said, and as a disgruntled voter in Fall River, I am demanding Brian Bigelow's resignation from the city council. I have a strong group of voters supporting me on this demand. If Bigelow does not resign by this time next week, we will begin the recall process whereby he can be ousted from office.<br /><br />Who's with us?!shamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com30tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-82121284432036068082010-09-10T17:11:00.005-04:002010-09-10T17:25:27.838-04:00A few words from Candidate Rodrigues, protector of pigeonsThank you to a wonderful blog reader for this very funny submission.<br /><br /><object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/jwplayer.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="flashvars"value="height=390&width=480&file=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/web_final_lo/63e05a3c-bb8d-11df-b346-003048d69c21_30_web_final_lo_web_finallo-flv.flv&image=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/web_final_lo/63e05a3c-bb8d-11df-b346-003048d69c21_30_web_final_lo_poster.jpg&link=http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/7101969&searchbar=false&autostart=false"/><embed src="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/jwplayer.swf" width="480" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="height=390&width=480&file=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/web_final_lo/63e05a3c-bb8d-11df-b346-003048d69c21_30_web_final_lo_web_finallo-flv.flv&image=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/web_final_lo/63e05a3c-bb8d-11df-b346-003048d69c21_30_web_final_lo_poster.jpg&link=http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/7101969&searchbar=false&autostart=false"></embed></object><object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/embedded-xnl-stats.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/embedded-xnl-stats.swf" width="1" height="1" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object>shamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-40741491555630113462010-09-01T20:48:00.004-04:002010-09-01T22:20:32.562-04:00RA Meeting Video and Analysis<a href="http://vimeo.com/14623154">WATCH TODAY'S RA MEETING HERE</a><br />Thanks Skoorey for filming it!<br /><br /><br />Excellent analysis by Puck which I ripped from the comment section -<br /><br />OMG. What a joke. First, the Chair hadn't even read the contract(s), then asks for 30 seconds to do so. 30 seconds??? But, he decides after that thorough review that Jobs for FR, i.e. FROED,--for no given reason--deserves the contract. FROED wants more money per month than CRES-RI, while CRES-RI asks for a lower monthly fee, but includes a 2.5% commission for real estate transactions. The RDA members' vote to award the contract to FROED and then negotiate the monthly fee with FROED. But they never considered awarding it to CRES-RI and then negotiating the real estate commission with them. Why solicit proposals in the first place if you can change the terms of them after the fact? Doing so means that neither proposal was set in stone and that either one could be revised after it was selected for award. That makes no sense at all.<br /><br />Worse still, the Chair said the RDA doesn't even know if it has enough money to pay for the services they want FROED to provide.<br /><br />And since when is one of the bidders--in the person of Ken Fiola--allowed to walk in on the award conference? Why wasn't the other bidder there as well? Were they invited?<br /><br />Nothing about this theater of the absurd should surprise me, but I foolishly hoped these vaunted leaders would at least be better actors and present the illusion that this was a fair, well-considered award. Duh. My bad.<br /><br />Stephanie, thank you for recording this. It's people like you, Shamrock, Lefty and a few others that keep my long-strained hope alive that someday this city's potential will stop being squandered by selfish, feeble-minded fools.shamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-69414103581197455112010-09-01T10:41:00.001-04:002010-09-01T10:42:42.584-04:00FROED Wins Another 3 Years...............Ridiculous.................shamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-55195308861148472272010-08-28T23:48:00.006-04:002010-08-29T01:07:37.172-04:00FROED's FateThe Fall River Redevelopment Authority contract with their staffing agency, the Fall River Office of Economic Development, aka "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">FROED</span>," aka "Jobs for Fall River," aka Ken <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fiola</span>, expired in May. At that time the RA opted to extend <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">FROED's</span> service by 90 days. That 90 days expired last week. This prompted me to search for whether the city/RA made a public request for proposals to fill the staffing position upon the termination of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">FROED's</span> contract.<br /><br />Consider this quote from RDA attorney, Peter <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Bogle</span>, regarding <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">FROED's</span> past bids for the RA staffing contract "<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">FROED</span> was the only qualified respondent on proposals to staff the RA for past contracts. Its staff management includes accounting, clerical support, marketing and negotiating on behalf of the Redevelopment Authority." So where does the RA/city advertise this opening? I did not see an advertisement on the city website, the Central register, the Herald News....google...... A friend of mine was able to find an ad in a publication I had never heard of and that now escapes me.<br /><br />If the RA truly wanted to replace <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">FROED</span>, they would have advertised the opening with more than a trivial amount of effort. Somehow, despite the clear lack of publicity for the opening, a competing bid was submitted against <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">FROED</span>. I have little detail on the submission but I do know the RA is voting on it Wednesday at 9:15am.<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">FROED</span> is just plain terrible and I don't think any competing organization could do a worse job. However, realistically, is the RA ever going to replace <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">FROED</span>? The Mayor sits on <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">FROED</span> along with some highfalutin Fall River residents and business people who, while some may not live in Fall River, probably enjoy the perks of a <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">FROED</span> board of directors position (*read: loans): This is not easily let go.<br /><br /><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Anyhooo</span>, I urge anyone who can make it to the RA meeting on Wednesday at 9:15am (presumably at government center) to attend. Express your concern the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">FROED</span> has 32 (founded in 1978) years to improve Fall River and has not. We can't afford to continue paying Ken <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fiola</span> $170,000 a year to loan our tax money to his board members, let buildings sit and rot, and give <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">TIF</span> agreements to chain doughnut stores and gas stations.shamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-48887230676379005522010-08-18T00:35:00.006-04:002010-08-18T00:39:07.853-04:00Brian Bigelow Explains<object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/jwplayer.swf"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><param name="flashvars" value="height=390&width=480&file=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/web_final_lo/00fcc08e-aa78-11df-87be-003048d6740d_2_web_final_lo_web_finallo-flv.flv&image=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/web_final_lo/00fcc08e-aa78-11df-87be-003048d6740d_2_web_final_lo_poster.jpg&link=http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/6947669&searchbar=false&autostart=false"><embed src="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/jwplayer.swf" width="480" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="height=390&width=480&file=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/web_final_lo/00fcc08e-aa78-11df-87be-003048d6740d_2_web_final_lo_web_finallo-flv.flv&image=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/web_final_lo/00fcc08e-aa78-11df-87be-003048d6740d_2_web_final_lo_poster.jpg&link=http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/6947669&searchbar=false&autostart=false"></embed></object><object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/embedded-xnl-stats.swf"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/embedded-xnl-stats.swf" width="1" height="1" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object>shamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-4393822094314616222010-08-15T18:10:00.002-04:002010-08-15T18:13:32.181-04:00Brian Bigelow gets a hooker part 1<object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/jwplayer.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><param name="flashvars"value="height=390&width=480&file=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/web_final_lo/11983daa-a8ad-11df-8101-003048d6740d_4_web_final_lo_web_finallo-flv.flv&image=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/web_final_lo/11983daa-a8ad-11df-8101-003048d6740d_4_web_final_lo_poster.jpg&link=http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/6934185&searchbar=false&autostart=false"/><embed src="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/jwplayer.swf" width="480" height="390" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="height=390&width=480&file=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/web_final_lo/11983daa-a8ad-11df-8101-003048d6740d_4_web_final_lo_web_finallo-flv.flv&image=http://newvideos.xtranormal.com/web_final_lo/11983daa-a8ad-11df-8101-003048d6740d_4_web_final_lo_poster.jpg&link=http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/6934185&searchbar=false&autostart=false"></embed></object><object width="480" height="390"><param name="movie" value="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/embedded-xnl-stats.swf"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.xtranormal.com/site_media/players/embedded-xnl-stats.swf" width="1" height="1" allowscriptaccess="always"></embed></object>shamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-78990774300978288442010-08-13T00:05:00.000-04:002010-08-13T00:05:14.020-04:00Dumb Dumb DumbThis is Pat Casey's speech in support of allowing out of towners to hold positions on Fall River city boards like the redevelopment authority. And, I think she gives permission for anyone to trespass on her lawn.<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxdQOAo8b2IxNQFDlBTGpB_dldtHBTRA6nK6J4a0v-pfVHySvzW-CWgXVRSO4Dm2mFAC7c-loRDL86ppa1AEQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe>shamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-29755971378224622642010-08-11T22:58:00.002-04:002010-08-11T23:02:48.582-04:00Funny but true<a href="http://gladyskravitz.blogspot.com/">Gladys Kravitz, Middleboro's Nosey Neighbor</a>, has a series of really funny casino related blog posts. Definitely worth a visit for a good laugh. This is one of my favorites:<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5XI89_8lEQzf-cW31N5p95yBEDeSnD-GAOJAkCa8YaC3QM77zqPctm4L9Y1c6jkDgSg8pOWHa1XrncLTYqnQFajXtzg4r-xfTIUlRFpq8vw4uRDnlSUKhu_wKZaqM_xdy2P-XtmEKQ4/s1600/gladys.gif"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 304px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5504352758784877026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz5XI89_8lEQzf-cW31N5p95yBEDeSnD-GAOJAkCa8YaC3QM77zqPctm4L9Y1c6jkDgSg8pOWHa1XrncLTYqnQFajXtzg4r-xfTIUlRFpq8vw4uRDnlSUKhu_wKZaqM_xdy2P-XtmEKQ4/s400/gladys.gif" /></a><br /><div></div>shamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-41701044804153872262010-08-10T18:26:00.003-04:002010-08-10T19:08:04.697-04:00B.S.It is pure bullshit that when Will Flanagan pulled the YMCA funding for 42 low income units, Flanagan gave a chunk of that money to E.A. Fish/Winn's Wampanoag Mills low income development in the city.<br /><br />The Y currently has 13 units with up to 4 people each for a max of 52 residents (48 are currently in there). The Y proposal is for 42, 1 person units. This means the Y is decreasing the number of low income residents there.<br /><br />The Wampanoag Mill project has 97 NEW low income, multi person units. The Y project is decreasing low income units by 10....how can the administration say that they are against MORE low income housing downtown...this is less, and basic math.<br /><br />Will Flanagan opted to support a large low income project by a company that has made millions on low income housing developments in this city. Will Flanagan pulled the funding from the non-profit organization where I learned to swim, that offers housing to the homeless, that has been an amazing community partner.<br /><br /> Facts about the Y project:<br />The neighborhood association supports it<br />They don't allow overnight guests<br />No alcohol is allowed<br />Cori checks are done<br />Money was also going to be used to install sprinklers in the building<br />Money was also allocated for handicap accessibility improvementsshamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-34606527906852384972010-08-08T12:47:00.003-04:002010-08-08T12:52:57.750-04:00Deuce Bigelow against strip clubs in the neighborhoodsCouncilor Brian Bigelow, saying he grew up in that neighborhood, showed his opposition to a neighborhood strip club in a dramatic way. “Put LNG (the proposed liquefied natural gas terminal) in the middle of the ocean, put in a pole with a strip club on top of it, and blow it up.”<br /><br />“I would not want a strip club in any neighborhood,” Bigelow said to cheers.<br /><a href="http://www.wickedlocal.com/fall-river/news/business/x12071787/Council-advances-strip-club-alternative">Click here for article</a><br /><br />But its ok to buy a hooker in someone elses neighborhood?<br /><br />RESIGN NOW DEUCE. If you do not, your scrutiny in the public eye will only get worse.shamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com21tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-2752932928612386122010-08-02T20:04:00.001-04:002010-08-02T20:07:38.272-04:00The Headlines Say it AllThe casino industry is in a major slump. Casino layoffs and bankruptcy are becoming par for the course in the casino industry. Yet, many casino supporters and their leader Will Flanagan insist that the casino will end Fall River's problems. Will it? A recently opened casino in the similarly situated town of Bethlehem, PA laid off nearly 100 people within their first year. Can Fall River handle that? Because it is a distinct possibility. Casino revenues are down, casinos are going bankrupt, casino workers are losing their jobs.<br /><br />No need to read the following articles, these recent headlines pretty much say it all:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38264340/">Connecticut slots revenue down at Foxwoods, Mohegan Sun</a> 7/15/2010<br /><br /><a href="http://newsblog.projo.com/2009/06/twin-river-file.html">Twin Rivers files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy</a> 6/23/09<br /><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/02/nyregion/connecticut/02norwichct.html">Casino layoffs destined to affect Norwich</a> 10/30/2008<br /><br /><a href="http://www.onlinepoker.net/poker-news/casino-news/atlantic-city-casino-revenue-declines-22nd-consecutive-month-june/6611">Atlantic City Casino Revenue Declines For 22nd Consecutive Month In June</a> 7/12/2010<br /><br /><a href="http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/jul/28/moodys/">Analysts: Weakness in Gaming Industry Continues</a> 7/28/2010<br /><br /><a href="http://www.philly.com/philly/news/20100501_Layoffs_at_casino_in_Bethlehem.html">Layoffs at casino in Bethlehem: Less than a year after a grand opening that rivaled the glitz and glamour of a Las Vegas revue, Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem is laying off 80 employees.</a> 5/1/2010<br /><br /><a href="http://www.globe-democrat.com/news/2010/apr/22/200-plus-layoffs-president-casino-gambling-boat/">200 plus layoffs for President Casino gambling boat</a> 4/22/2010<br /><br /><a href="http://indiangamingnow.com/blog/slipping-bankruptcy-foxwoods-struggles-debt-gaming-revenue-slumps">Slipping into Bankruptcy? Foxwoods Struggles With Debt as Gaming Revenue Slumps</a> 9/3/09shamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-55596523539465299812010-07-31T15:06:00.006-04:002010-07-31T16:03:39.704-04:00Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas - Fall River is about to get itchyWhat?! Government officials are getting bribed? .... Fall River wants in on that action.<br /><br />A few months ago I read an article in the Providence Journal titled something like "City Councilors Arrested by FBI on Bribery Charges." I clicked on the article hoping it wasn't Fall River but with a suspicion that it was. It was not Fall River, it was North Providence so that was a bit of a relief.<br /><br />The <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">ProJo</span> article told the tale of 3 North Providence city council members and a developer by the name of Richard <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Baccari</span>. The councilors agreed to change zoning laws for <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Baccari's</span> development in exchange for $25,000.<br /><br />Having recently been implicated in a $25,000 bribery scheme, any sensible government officials would probably hesitate to deal with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Baccari</span>. But not our dear <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">FROED</span>/Ken <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Fiola</span>/RDA/Mayor Flanagan. They have proposed to build the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">UMass</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_7" class="blsp-spelling-error">biopark</span> on land <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_8" class="blsp-spelling-error">Baccari</span> owns in Freetown.<br /><br />Last year, it was brought to my attention that the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_9" class="blsp-spelling-error">offramps</span> being built to the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_10" class="blsp-spelling-error">biopark</span> originally had a different plan. For some reason unknown to me, the plans for the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_11" class="blsp-spelling-error">offramp</span> were changed so that they would run directly through <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_12" class="blsp-spelling-error">Baccari's</span> land in Freetown. And, that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_13" class="blsp-spelling-error">Baccari</span> could potentially make <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_14" class="blsp-spelling-error">alot</span> of money as a result of the new plan for the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_15" class="blsp-spelling-error">offramps</span>. I thought nothing of it at the time because the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_16" class="blsp-spelling-error">biopark</span> was coming along as planned. In retrospect, the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_17" class="blsp-spelling-error">offramp</span> plan changes certainly seem suspicious.<br /><br />How convenient for this private developer <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_18" class="blsp-spelling-error">Baccari</span>, recently implicated in a government bribery scheme, that he could potentially make a ton of money with <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_19" class="blsp-spelling-error">FROED's</span> (and Will Flanagan too) help.<br /><br /><strong>"Flanagan acknowledged business talks with the company’s Richard <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_20" class="blsp-spelling-error">Baccari</span>, the company’s president and CEO." </strong><em><a href="http://www.heraldnews.com/topstories/x479056477/FROED-pitches-Freetown-as-alternative-biopark-site">Fall River Herald News July 23, 2010</a></em><br /><br /><strong>"<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_21" class="blsp-spelling-error">Baccari's</span> relationships have always drawn the attention of law enforcement"</strong> <em><a href="http://www2.turnto10.com/news/2010/may/07/i-team_developer_investigated_in_alleged_bribery_s-ar-109358/">Channel 10 I-team investigates </a><br /></em><br /><object width="429" height="295"><param name="movie" value="http://vp.mgnetwork.net/viewer.swf?u=2bdb37f4ab71102da6fd001ec92a4a0d&z=JAR"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><embed src="http://vp.mgnetwork.net/viewer.swf?u=2bdb37f4ab71102da6fd001ec92a4a0d&z=JAR" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" width="429" height="295"></embed></object>shamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-88328439764264135212010-07-09T12:59:00.007-04:002010-07-09T13:20:22.567-04:00My blog template is causing this video to have the right side cut short. Sorry about that. For the full size go <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93c8F6rUkEw&feature=player_embedded">here</a
<br /><object width="640" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/93c8F6rUkEw&hl=en_US&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/93c8F6rUkEw&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>shamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-49528617271037742502010-07-07T20:36:00.000-04:002010-07-07T20:38:16.593-04:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjM4mxOGzQweavCxIOMvRdTBhwo5kHldKZakxky6gzDefudlJtl9OwvYFUJbdGNXehyphenhyphenP92hQJnPNMzzRFTpoZ_8n3sXXqE-dl6j6OlyH2P-UneFg4HcuwI-QT8DHiDrExOZJopoazU-g/s1600/budweiser.JPG"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 400px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5491328154948923330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWjM4mxOGzQweavCxIOMvRdTBhwo5kHldKZakxky6gzDefudlJtl9OwvYFUJbdGNXehyphenhyphenP92hQJnPNMzzRFTpoZ_8n3sXXqE-dl6j6OlyH2P-UneFg4HcuwI-QT8DHiDrExOZJopoazU-g/s400/budweiser.JPG" /></a>shamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-58343802130959560652010-07-06T11:10:00.004-04:002010-07-06T11:17:50.034-04:00Menard in Action<object width="480" height="385"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/-WrO3ZpJKG0&hl=en_US&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/-WrO3ZpJKG0&hl=en_US&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="480" height="385"></embed></object><br /><br />Thanks to Beattie Ledge for creating this video and to Charlotte Despard for bringing it to my attention. And a very special thanks to Joan Menard for saying ridiculous things, for inspiration.shamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-33705236079442393322010-07-01T23:02:00.006-04:002010-07-01T23:39:43.859-04:00Lawyers and stuffAfter a vote to give the part time Fall River School Committee attorney, Bruce Assad, a $32,000 raise, Assad now makes ($77,500) approximately double the median income of Fall River (for a PART TIME <strong>CITY</strong> JOB). I am not begrudging him for trying to get the most money he possibly can, I would probably try to do the same thing; BUT damn you School Committee for allowing this!! I hope when teachers are paying for classroom supplies out of their pockets, they think of you.<br /><br />I think this quote from Tim McCoy, in support of Assad's raise, sums up the egregiousness of the raise pretty well, "..<strong>.he is a guy that has spent several hours in negotiations during the past couple of months</strong>."<br /><br />I am additionally frustrated because, on the city side of things, co-mayors Torres and Flanagan are about to add ANOTHER attorney to the legal department. I distinctly remember Flanagan selling the city a bill of goods that included cutting the costs of the "overpriced" legal department under the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Correia</span> administration. The city clearly survived all these years on one full time attorney and 2 part time attorneys....why do we now need 3 full times and a part time? On this subject, the law department proposes to pay the new Assistant Corporation Counsel $47,000 for a full time job. How does that reconcile with the $77,500 for the part time Assad?<br /><br />These people are in the "public service" sector.....I always thought that meant they served the public, but it seems like it is the other way around.shamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5011463182147161614.post-33764320931052408692010-06-21T22:39:00.008-04:002010-06-21T23:06:56.360-04:00And there goes the casino.......In response to the Senate legislation that does not reserve a casino license for an Indian tribe, Mashpee Wampanoag chairman, Cedric Cromwell, threw a temper tantrum today. <a href="http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1263094&srvc=rss">An article in tomorrow's Boston Herald </a>quotes Cromwell:<br /><blockquote><p>“If the state gives a commercial license to another casino operator, <strong>we won’t pay the state a cent</strong> when we build a casino in Southeastern Massachusetts once expanded gaming is approved,” said Cedric Cromwell. “We will destroy the competition because <strong>we won’t pay licensing fees or taxes</strong> and we will provide a great player experience with more wins.”</p></blockquote><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicW8rF6c96z6-w9iyWB_fy2tiK0-MXp0gVwiO64qPwzKONsO0dZw1QGKVyYuX6pPZck1tEMsx-F0HGg8-IAfzgNa-bGN-Q27GkUF63AmGaLT7B2Ke-ZJ7r2l9p60frdzv2lYzMTFutSac/s1600/Extortion_for_Dummies.png"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 252px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5485428555902711714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicW8rF6c96z6-w9iyWB_fy2tiK0-MXp0gVwiO64qPwzKONsO0dZw1QGKVyYuX6pPZck1tEMsx-F0HGg8-IAfzgNa-bGN-Q27GkUF63AmGaLT7B2Ke-ZJ7r2l9p60frdzv2lYzMTFutSac/s320/Extortion_for_Dummies.png" /></a>Extorting the state with a threat he can never follow through on seems like such a bad idea. I am pretty sure with these remarks, Cedric Cromwell just bumped the Fall River Casino plans to the bottom of the list.<br /><br /><br /><br />Mayor Flanagan and Counselor Torres, please rethink this.shamrockhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10081731309346415947noreply@blogger.com24