Last week David Gass, director of the Highlands Coalition, along with volunteers from Blue Cross/ Blue Shield built gardens for various home owners. Below is an excerpt from an e mail blast on the event:
Rich Randall and the Blue Crew from BC/BS crew built two raised-bed gardens at Mary & Grace Ishkanian's on Lily St.
They can sit and garden with the best soil and less toil.
They have lived in the Highlands for 67 years. Mary taught English at LEHS. Grace is an artist.
Last week, the Highlands Coalition built eight gardens.
We received a grant from the New England Grassroots Environmental Fund to defray costs.
Brick Ends Farm in So. Hamilton donated compost.
Nick Meninno donated a dump truck. Lynn Lumber discounted the lumber.
Saturday, May 28, 2011
Friday, May 27, 2011
Keep Up The Good Journalism Boys!
I want to thank today's ITEM for fleshing out a story I reported last week on two DIFFERENT blogs, THE HIGHLANDS WATCH and the LYNN SCHOOL WATCH.
But City Clerk Mary Audley said the state left Lynn with few choices when it declared the school handicapped inaccessible in 2004.
In her complaint filed with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD), Highlands resident Leslie Greenberg said she suffers from arthritis and must travel over a mile to North Shore Community College as a result of the city's decision to close the Ford School as a polling place.
She said the city has repeatedly denied her requests and requests by other Highlands Coalition members to reopen Ford as a polling place.
"The racial makeup of voters originally assigned to Ford, and thus living closest to that polling station, is so diverse that the majority of voters are minorities," she stated in the complaint, adding, "I believe the discontinuation of Ford as a polling station has disproportionately affected racial minorities and the disabled."
Highlands Coalition Director David Gass said coalition members have spoken with Highlands residents and found that "hundreds of voters would support returning (the) poll to the school. It's an incentive for immigrant families to vote at the school where they pick up their children," Gass said. MCAD spokeswoman Barbara Green said Greenberg's complaint and the city's "position statement" will be reviewed by an agency investigator. Greenberg will be allowed to file a rebuttal to the city's statement.
"It will help determine if discrimination occurred or did not occur based on state civil rights laws," she said.
Audley on Thursday said she is preparing a written response to the complaint that will include documentation outlining the state's 2004 order warning the city about lack of access for disabled voters to Ford, Sisson, Shoemaker and other polling places.
She said state officials warned that the concrete ramp running from the Ford School's yard to the gymnasium was not in compliance with access requirements.
Audley said city Inspectional Services Director Michael Donovan told her the only way to fix the ramp was to demolish it and rebuild it at an expense to the city.
To comply with the access warnings, Audley said the city changed several polling places.
Ward 4 voters who cast ballots at Ford, the McGee House and Harrington School now vote at the college. Ward 5 and 6 voters who previously voted at four locations now vote at the School Department building on Commercial Street with the exception of Ward 5, Precinct 4 voters who cast ballots at the Housing Authority office on Church Street.
In her complaint, Greenberg stated "the Lynn City Council has shown a pattern of racial discrimination." She refers in the complaint to "a Latino candidate" who ran for City Council in 2000.
"During that election cycle, several members of the Lynn City Council stopped Hispanic voters outside of polling stations to question them about their residency status," Greenberg stated.
"I heard that," Manuel Nunez, a Ward 4 council candidate in 2001, said Thursday.
Nunez said Ward 4 voters also told him during his run for the ward seat that "a few councilors" came into the ward to support incumbent Councilor Richard Colucci.
"I didn't have any problems with that; it's the way it works, it's politics," Nunez said.
Colucci beat Nunez 1,004-641 votes in the 2001 final election for the ward seat.
Greenberg in her complaint said voter turnout by Highlands residents has dropped "30 to 40 percent" since 2004 but Audley said voter participation has declined across the city.
"The fact that the poll is not at the Ford School does not make a difference," Audley said.
Green said once the investigation into Greenberg's complaint is completed, MCAD has three options for ruling on the complaint. The commission can state there is probable cause to indicate discrimination occurred, it can state there is no probable cause and it can determine MCAD does not have jurisdiction over the complaint.
Green did not know how long the investigation will take to complete.
"There is no set time frame; every complaint is different," she said.
Discrimination alleged in Lynn poll complaint
LYNN - A Highlands resident has filed a complaint stating that the lack of a polling place in the Ford School has "disproportionately affected racial minorities and the disabled."But City Clerk Mary Audley said the state left Lynn with few choices when it declared the school handicapped inaccessible in 2004.
In her complaint filed with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD), Highlands resident Leslie Greenberg said she suffers from arthritis and must travel over a mile to North Shore Community College as a result of the city's decision to close the Ford School as a polling place.
She said the city has repeatedly denied her requests and requests by other Highlands Coalition members to reopen Ford as a polling place.
"The racial makeup of voters originally assigned to Ford, and thus living closest to that polling station, is so diverse that the majority of voters are minorities," she stated in the complaint, adding, "I believe the discontinuation of Ford as a polling station has disproportionately affected racial minorities and the disabled."
Highlands Coalition Director David Gass said coalition members have spoken with Highlands residents and found that "hundreds of voters would support returning (the) poll to the school. It's an incentive for immigrant families to vote at the school where they pick up their children," Gass said. MCAD spokeswoman Barbara Green said Greenberg's complaint and the city's "position statement" will be reviewed by an agency investigator. Greenberg will be allowed to file a rebuttal to the city's statement.
"It will help determine if discrimination occurred or did not occur based on state civil rights laws," she said.
Audley on Thursday said she is preparing a written response to the complaint that will include documentation outlining the state's 2004 order warning the city about lack of access for disabled voters to Ford, Sisson, Shoemaker and other polling places.
She said state officials warned that the concrete ramp running from the Ford School's yard to the gymnasium was not in compliance with access requirements.
To comply with the access warnings, Audley said the city changed several polling places.
Ward 4 voters who cast ballots at Ford, the McGee House and Harrington School now vote at the college. Ward 5 and 6 voters who previously voted at four locations now vote at the School Department building on Commercial Street with the exception of Ward 5, Precinct 4 voters who cast ballots at the Housing Authority office on Church Street.
In her complaint, Greenberg stated "the Lynn City Council has shown a pattern of racial discrimination." She refers in the complaint to "a Latino candidate" who ran for City Council in 2000.
"During that election cycle, several members of the Lynn City Council stopped Hispanic voters outside of polling stations to question them about their residency status," Greenberg stated.
"I heard that," Manuel Nunez, a Ward 4 council candidate in 2001, said Thursday.
Nunez said Ward 4 voters also told him during his run for the ward seat that "a few councilors" came into the ward to support incumbent Councilor Richard Colucci.
"I didn't have any problems with that; it's the way it works, it's politics," Nunez said.
Colucci beat Nunez 1,004-641 votes in the 2001 final election for the ward seat.
Greenberg in her complaint said voter turnout by Highlands residents has dropped "30 to 40 percent" since 2004 but Audley said voter participation has declined across the city.
"The fact that the poll is not at the Ford School does not make a difference," Audley said.
Green said once the investigation into Greenberg's complaint is completed, MCAD has three options for ruling on the complaint. The commission can state there is probable cause to indicate discrimination occurred, it can state there is no probable cause and it can determine MCAD does not have jurisdiction over the complaint.
Green did not know how long the investigation will take to complete.
"There is no set time frame; every complaint is different," she said.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Here's An Olde But Goodie
Monday night's meeting of the HIGHLAND COALITION both councilmen Colucci and Trahant were present at the meeting. I reminded them of their promise last fall and that nothing has been done. They had no comment.
So I am posting here my follow up letter approximately a month after their promise was made.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mr. William Trahant and Mr. Richard Collucci,
This letter is addressed to both of you because both of you were present at the September meeting of the Highlands Coalition, Inc. stated that you were going to have the state come to the Ford School to verify whether or not the modifications made to the wheelchair ramp are adequate to meet ADA accessibility standards,
I was wondering about the status of the progress of your promised request. As both of you are aware, reestablishing the Ford School as a polling place is of vital importance of the citizens of the Highlands. For me, Ford School is a much more readily accessible location and I am sure it would be for other disabled and elderly citizens that have mobility issues.
I realize when you made the promise it was the night before the Primary and too late for that election but I was wondering when your promise was going to be fulfilled. I am requesting to be updated on your progress going forward.
Sincerely,
Stanley H. Wotring, Jr.
So I am posting here my follow up letter approximately a month after their promise was made.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Mr. William Trahant and Mr. Richard Collucci,
This letter is addressed to both of you because both of you were present at the September meeting of the Highlands Coalition, Inc. stated that you were going to have the state come to the Ford School to verify whether or not the modifications made to the wheelchair ramp are adequate to meet ADA accessibility standards,
I was wondering about the status of the progress of your promised request. As both of you are aware, reestablishing the Ford School as a polling place is of vital importance of the citizens of the Highlands. For me, Ford School is a much more readily accessible location and I am sure it would be for other disabled and elderly citizens that have mobility issues.
I realize when you made the promise it was the night before the Primary and too late for that election but I was wondering when your promise was going to be fulfilled. I am requesting to be updated on your progress going forward.
Sincerely,
Stanley H. Wotring, Jr.
High Rock Tower Meeting News!
The following is a summary of last night's meeting for the Preservation of High Rock Tower. It came in an e mail from Lisa Connolly. Things are moving in a positive direction for the Highlands!
I think we had a productive first meeting. Unanimous sentiment on the preservation and expansion of this unique community resource!
Wonderful ideas to use and protect High Rock Reservation and the Historic Cottage
3 specific events were discussed;
Plans are already under way for the Frederick Douglas event, Lisa will follow up on the Gala and Kim is looking into the ArtsFest.
I think that the Gala should be a fundrai$er for the restoration of the cottage and I would like that (the cottage restoration) to become the focus for the the Friends of High Rock. I will be sending out a letter to the members. I also thought that perhaps a trolley to High Rock from Downtown tying in with the other events i.e. LynnArts Festival, Third Thursday. I will look into this further as well.
I think we had a productive first meeting. Unanimous sentiment on the preservation and expansion of this unique community resource!
Wonderful ideas to use and protect High Rock Reservation and the Historic Cottage
3 specific events were discussed;
- the Frederick Douglas re-enactment speech,
- The Gala Under the Stars
- and Youth ArtsFest.
Plans are already under way for the Frederick Douglas event, Lisa will follow up on the Gala and Kim is looking into the ArtsFest.
I think that the Gala should be a fundrai$er for the restoration of the cottage and I would like that (the cottage restoration) to become the focus for the the Friends of High Rock. I will be sending out a letter to the members. I also thought that perhaps a trolley to High Rock from Downtown tying in with the other events i.e. LynnArts Festival, Third Thursday. I will look into this further as well.
Tuesday, May 24, 2011
Efforts To Save Caretaker's Cottage At High Rock Tower
Great meeting tonight regarding concerns about threats to tear down the caretaker's cottage at High Rock tower. One way to fight this is to develop a regular schedule of events calling attention to the area. Details soon to follow along with a picture of tonight's event.
Bring Back Voting To FORD SCHOOL!
The HIGHLANDS COALITION is on the move to restore voting in to the FORD SCHOOL. A lawsuit was filed.
Report On Last Night's Meeting!
| Mary Ellen Palermo | 11:24pm May 23 |
Great meeting by the Highland Coalition tonight but the shocking part to me is learning there are 120 children in Ford School that are homeless! What is the community doing for them?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)