December 31, 2011

Happy New Year

This past week has been quite interesting for the blog.  Either I have realized this is a great venue to make change in the City of Worcester or a complete waste of time.  Not sure of the answer just yet?

Many people have sent me e-mails and comments asking for links to the cached StuckInCow Blogs: Here they are:

November
September
August
June


Happy New Year and be safe out there, including all the Cyber Bullies.

December 30, 2011

Main South new construction

If you are driving around Main South, check out the new construction projects:
  1. Hammond Street--both sides on the hill intersection of Beacon Street
  2. Garnder Street--one block down from Main Street
All new construction projects.  In this real estate market,  a private developer can not make any money in this real estate market in this area building new.   The marketplace, however, has nothing to do with CDC developments funded by govt grants.

December 29, 2011

Gary Indiana lands Allegiant

An airport update.  

Gary is another one of those secondary airports outside a major city (Chicago) like Worcester, who current have no commercial service.  They get service with Allegiant starting in February.  We should reach out to them.   Press release.  

Allegiant Air is launching twice-weekly service between Gary, Indiana and Orlando Sanford International Airport on February 15, 2012.

Response to another StuckInCow blog

Click here  (blog has been taken down) bascially rips me for posting videos of some of Governor Christie's press conferences.   Truth be told I think the guys has some hilarious youtube videos, but as far as what his polices are, I don't know.    Here are the key lines from the post:

It's more he idol worships the man to the point where he'd probably get on his knees in the Governor's mansion and pull a Monica....But I digress.   This my friends is who Bill wants running our state, A buffoon with the IQ of a sea monkey.

Here is one of the videos I have posted

December 28, 2011

Logic Class

At Boston College there was a logic class I took.  Trying to imagine my professor coming up with the following:
  • Suppose Person A contacts Person B and tells him that he know that he is the owner of an anonymous Blog C, that attacks people. 
  • Blog C is listed on Person B's  Facebook as a site he owns.  
  • The on-line profile of Person B's Facebook is identical to the on-line profile of Blog C.  
  • Within 12 hours of Person A's initial contact with Person B, Blog C, which has been around for 2+ years, suddenly disappears.
Class what conclusions or assumptions can your draw?

Comments from the Count

The two comments from the Count, founder of the StuckinCow blog, posted on Wild Will 's blog Sunday were forwarded to me and I posted below in bold.      I am confused...
  1. The Count says that the person he is defending was only the administrator of his blog (StuckinCow) and that person did not actually write anything.
  2. Then the Count says he wants to come out of the closet, but the person he is defending (the administrator of the blog) will not let him.
Assume for a second you are only the administrator of a blog, aren't you just as responsible for the posts as the person who actually wrote them?    More importantly, why would you not let someone who wants to reveal themselves do it?

1)  The Count said...       As is typical is a typical slogan in Worcester close but no cigar. scooby doo and shaggy found a family friend of mine.  I would like to apologize to P---- for being dragged into this.  In truth P---- is a family friend of mine he helped me set my profile up and introduced me to the Worcester blogs.   I am deeply saddened by the fact some nut job was willing to post this with so little evidence.  I have spoken to P----- apparently Paulie threatened him on Facebook a few nights back. I asked him to close everything down for a while until we could straighten this out.      So Paulie to you I will quote Mr Welch at the McCarthy Hearings  "Let us not assassinate this lad further, Senator. You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency sir, at long last? Have you left no sense of decency?"  You want me not Peter. So come on big man have some class and check you facts              Monday, December 26, 2011

2)  The Count said...     I would also like to add that I was planning on coming out on your blog today. However P------ has asked I not.   He is great kid who didn't deserve this. I can't stress this enough.    Monday, December 26, 2011

December 27, 2011

South Worcester Industrial Park

Remember Pharmashpere.   Latest news, click here

We almost had Medical Marijuana !!   About Medical Marijuana Inc. (OTC: MJNA)   The world's first publically traded Medical Marijuana company. Our mission is to be the world's premier cannabis and hemp industry innovators,


SAN DIEGO, Nov. 18, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Medical Marijuana Inc. (OTC: MJNA) is proud to announce the execution of an option to acquire 100% of PharmaSphere, LLC. PharmaSphere, a cutting edge biotechnology company which has a solution for the production of high value bio-compounds sourced from plants that can be used as active pharmaceutical ingredients. The production of transgenic plants (genetically engineered plants) for the biotechnology revolution is the cornerstone of PharmaSphere's focus and overall development for the plant based medical industry. PharmaSphere holds the exclusive worldwide license for medical herbs from TerraSphere systems.

Blogging

This use to be alot of fun.    Remember when a guy stopped by the store and introduced himself , Jeff Barnard (WormTown Taxi).  We talked for a while and he left saying we should meet for coffee.  After that we met either two or three times on Cambridge Street, not to mention several e-mails.  

It reached a high point when WoMag did a story and a bunch of us, with a wide range of perspectives, all met on Park Ave.   It really was a great time.  Through the blog I have also gotten to know alot of real good people like Dave Z, Sprout and Harry T that I never would have met

Flash forward to today.  .   A good thing where people could express their varying views  has been turned into a place where people attack other people anonymously.    Just like to take a second for a shout out to Jeff, you are missed. 


December 25, 2011

Direct Air

I swear every day or seriously 3 or 4 times per week I get an e-mail about some Family Ties discount or some buy 1 get 1 free ticket deal.    

Update on lawsuit

A group of seven former Pace Airlines Inc. officials and employees could be required to testify in the lawsuit involving the defunct Winston-Salem airline and a South Carolina tourism company.  A legal filing in the Florence division of the U.S. District Court requires Edwin Allman III, bankruptcy trustee for Pace, to offer by Jan. 30 a list of expert witnesses regarding Pace's $1.46 million breach-of-contract lawsuit filed by Pace shortly before its September 2009 collapse.   The lawsuit involves a contract dispute with Southern Sky Air & Tours LLC, doing business as Direct Air. It represents the largest potential settlement amount that could go to former Pace employees through the bankruptcy estate.

Former Pace officials mentioned in the filing are Charlie Creech, its president during the time of the contract dispute; Jim McPhail, a vice president; Phil Rolison, operations director; Catherine Roberts, finance director; and Bill Ivie, crew scheduler. Also mentioned are employees Christie Parker and Beth Collins. They were chosen because they may have had direct knowledge of the negotiation of the contract with Direct Air.  Two Direct Air employees and an attorney representing the company also are listed as potential witnesses. Direct Air has until March 15 to determine its witness list.

In August 2010, the N.C. Labor Department filed a claim for $1.5 million in back wages for 423 employees with the trustee. The department is requesting interest on the back wages.  Allman has collected about $435,000 for the Pace estate's account. On Nov. 22, a U.S. Bankruptcy Court judge approved a $400,000 settlement between Pace and the estate of former Pace owner Bob Brooks.

Response #2 to another Stuck in Cow blog

Click here.     Sorry , again the blog was taken but here is a section from the blog that I copied before it was taken down.

Reported to me today.    When Governor Patrick Came to visit, Bill Randell was yelling at him form his booze shop. Which I might ad gets caught all the time for peddling booze to kids.    "You're not doing your job" and "Get off my lawn you Crazy kids"  Bill Randell, I would equate him to an even more delusional Frank Burns.   Now he's got this out of date map he keeps bringing u p on his blog (like anyone give a shit)

I actually remember the day that Governor Patrick showed up for this, but I was not even around that day.   If I was, I would have most likely been on the porch across the street, where Governor Patrick actually stopped and had a picture take with Bill LeHane that appeared in the Telegram.
  
"The Count", I was not standing outside the liquor store, which has been cited once from 1976 for selling alcohol to minors, yelling at Governor Patrick??  If I did talk to him,  however, I would have asked him to stop sending any more grant to money to Worcester to build any more low income housing.

December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas

On a serious note.  

Merry Christmas   Hope everyone has a safe holiday season.


Bill


Even you too Wild Will and the Count

Response #1 to Stuck in the COW

For a link to the post, click here.     Sorry the blog was taken down on December 23rd , but I was able to copy all of it.   Here is  a section from the post in question:


Same thing with the Chandler Street NRSA. Bill Randall (another Worcester loud mouth) Takes a good thing and ruins it by sucking all the credit. It's a good thing they are doing, cleaning up the streets and getting local kids to work. However Bill doesn't deserve the pat on the back he gives himself. In fact he neglects and even looks down on the other NRSA's around the city for the work they do.


I have spent alot of time, with no pay, to make the Chandler NRSA the most successful NRSA out of the 5 programs in the City of Worcester.   this is not just our opinion but has in fact been has asserted many times by Dennis Hennessy , that we (Chandler Street) has been the most aggressive and successful NRSA. I am very proud of the work that we have done. Am I patting myself on the back?   Yes.   

I have, however, always maintained that it has been a group effort.   Andy Serrato,  Paul Collyer, Rich Kazarian, Arthur Mooradian, Al Maykiel and many others put much time and effort into this.  In fact the main reason that it was the most successful was that their was an actual collaboration of businesses, unlike any of the other 4 NRSA's.

Maybe we should look at the results of other NRSA's like South Worcester that had no businesses involved and even had an employee (paid), who was in charge of it.   .  It was the least successful of the 5 NRSA's.   In fact a majority of the monies were never even invested back into the neighborhood and most recently one of the employees (may have been a sub-contractor) co-ordinating the housing portion has had bribery charges filed by the FBI.

Any time anyone wants to sit down and compare the results of a bunch of guys volunteering their time to make the Chandler NRSA successful, versus the failed results from South Worcester, I am available.    I do not look down at the other NRSA's , but feel the success of the Chandler Street NRSA, run buy a bunch of loud mouthed businesses who were not paid one penny and volunteered their time, should be an example for the other NRSA's to emulate.

December 23, 2011

Adult Cyber Bullying

My daughter is in the 2nd grade now and I really can not believe all the emphasis on bullying.   Dawson School does a great job explaining to kids what bullying is, what they should etc.   Kudos to Dawson.

A friend of mine mentioned this to me, but referred to adult bullying when people run anonymous blogs or post anonymous comments ripping people apart personally.  No facts, no counter points but just an outright attack on someone.   I never thought of that, but how true!!  

Actually the technical term is Cyber-bullying.

Will from Wonderland, Stuck In Worcester and any of you other anonymous commenters/bloggers, who personally attack people are nothing but a bunch of weak bullies and I truly feel sorry for you.    You probably shake the hands and say "hi" to the same people you attack. 

To the rest of you may you all have a great holiday season.    

December 22, 2011

Cutler Files

Very interesting story


.At the heart of the case is the conflict between the right to anonymous political speech and the public's right to know who is putting out information during an election campaign.

The case concerns two 2010 gubernatorial candidates, independent Eliot Cutler and Democrat Rosa Scarcelli, and well-known political operative Dennis Bailey, who's being assisted by the ACLU of Maine Foundation.



MaineToday Media, which owns The Portland Press Herald, is seeking to make the documents public and has asked to be a party in the case.


The Cutler Files website was active last year from about Aug. 30 through the election on Nov. 2. After weeks of denying any connection, Bailey admitted in December 2010 to being a co-creator of the anonymous website targeting Cutler

December 21, 2011

E-mail I got today

My name is Sean De Simone and I am a Casting Director with Back Roads Entertainment in NY. We are in the process of developing a non-scripted docuseries TV concept based on airports.

We are in search of airports with a fun staff filled with interesting and colorful characters to be featured in a show following the day to day in’s and out’s of running an airport.

To learn more about the project please email Sean De Simone at airportcast@gmail.com with info about the boat and possible staff along with a link to the website or photos.
Thanks

Sean De Simone

Casting Director

Back Roads Entertainment

www.backroadsentertainment.com

________________________________________

242 Canterbury Street--Kesseli & Morse Building

This property is for sale and rumor has it a church has purchased the building.  Last year the taxes was 28,000 per year.  

If this is true, the City of Worcester can say good bye to $28,000 per year. 

Airport story in Telegram

Click here for Telegram link.

I am a huge believer that this airport can be huge to the ecnomy of Worcester, but some of the numbers in this study are incredibly hard to believe.   Matter of fact they are impossible.

 The study released by the Department of Transportation said the airport supports 418 jobs and has an annual economic benefit to the tune of $51.4 million.  

December 15, 2011

Interesting Link

click here


Telegram headline

Housing rehab official charged with taking bribes



Allegedly rigged bids for pay

December 09, 2011

May & Woodland Street

New streetlights?

December 07, 2011

Pearl Harbor Day

SMOC relocation final thoughts

How can people tell other people that the PIP is no longer the PIP but a safe well run triage center and is o'kay for another neighborhood, but when the center is moved back to their neighborhood complain that it is not fair to their neighborhood? 

In the end it only made sense for SMOC to move back to a buidling that they already own until the new center is built.  Looking back I think this process is a perfect example of how things actually work well in the Democratic process.    Meetings were held, the concerns of the constitutents were heard and the right thing was done.

November 30, 2011

Comments

Sorry if you have been trying to post comments?  Something up with blogspot today?

Kudos to City Mgr, State Rep Binienda/Moore and the neighborhood

I am a huge fan of the City Mgr.

That said, I think he made a mistake when he felt a move to the Anna Maria site for 12 months was acceptable since a promise (my opinion) was made to close the PIP at 701 Main Street and never return.    Upon seeing the reaction from the neighborhood, he realized that a move back to 701 Main made the most sense!!    This opposition was not some fake group with some long name that really only represented a couple people, but a group with no name that had , from what I heard, packed a 800 seat auditorium.    Real people, who actually were mad!!!

Rep Binienda and State Senator Moore..  They did not incite this group, but merely represented a group that was rightfully already incited.    Many other elected pols would merely follow the lead from above and not listen to what their constituents were saying below.   Great  job by State Rep Binienda representing his district.

If you ask me, this process was a perfect example of how the process should work.      In the end the right thing was done and applaud everyone involved for doing the right thing.     The real question is whether or not the current triage center which became "crowded and dangerous"  as the legal counsel for SMOC asserted can be run uncrowded and safe wherever it is located.

November 29, 2011

Chris Christie

November 28, 2011

Legal Bills

Check out South Middlesex Opportunity Council  tax return on line


2010  IRS  990    check out page 10 and the top two indepedent contractors

South Middlesex

Real estate holdings.  You can add 1398 Main Street (at least leasehold interst), MLK building and new triage Center to their holdings


  1. 09-011-17+36 25 STURGIS ST SOUTH MIDDLESEX NON PROFIT HOU
  2. 02-040-00070 26 DAYTON ST SOUTH MIDDLESEX NON-PROFIT
  3. 09-017-00048 14 DUXBURY RD SOUTH MIDDLESEX NON-PROFIT
  4. 01-011-00012 27 CATHERINE ST SOUTH MIDDLESEX NON-PROFIT HOU
  5. 06-036-00018 14 CLAREMONT ST SOUTH MIDDLESEX NON-PROFIT HOU
  6. 11-029-00006 2 JUNE ST SOUTH MIDDLESEX NON-PROFIT HOU
  7. 03-027-00013 FRUIT ST SOUTH MIDDLESEX NON-PROFIT HOUSING CORP
  8. 03-027-00012 16 COTTAGE ST SOUTH MIDDLESEX NON-PROFIT HOUSING CORP
  9. 03-027-00011 12 COTTAGE ST SOUTH MIDDLESEX NON-PROFIT HOUSING CORP
  10. 03-027-00014 20 COTTAGE ST SOUTH MIDDLESEX NON-PROFIT HOUSING CORP

City Manager

I have been watching and hearing alot about this SMOC issue.  As you know my feelings is that they should return to the building that they already own on Main Street until their new facility opens.    

What I really dont understand is that the City Manager, or really any elected official,  getting any heat on this?   SMOC is a private entity and big (real big) business that can do pretty much anything they want using the Dover Amendment as cover.     Add to this our current dual tax real estate system makes big buildings like this ripe for groups like SMOC (non-profit) to buy on the cheap in this depressed real estate economy.

At the state level changes need to be made in the Dover Amendment to give city officials power.  Currently neither the City Manager or any elected official can really do anything to stop SMOC and anything they want.     

November 23, 2011

Crompton & Knowles

Shccker--more afforable housing

Clikc here for story

SMOC

Real estate holdings

  1. PIP shelter on Main Street
  2. Brand new building in 12 months next to the old City Hospital
  3. MLK building
  4. Leasehold interest on upper Main Street
If you have second read this link.    Matter of fact check out this whole page.   for an indication of future programs that may be planned for Worcester. 

November 22, 2011

SMOC lease

Am i to get this right, their lease is only for 12 months?     I doubt it.   I have no doubt that the City Manager will ensure that SMOC is moved into their new location within 12 months, but what happens then?    Guarantee you that SMOC has at the very least an option to a) renew the lease or b) an option to buy.

In the end there is not much anything anyone can do.

November 21, 2011

Triage Center

Here is how I see it:

  1. Community Healthlink owns the property (City Hospital) and had a contract to run the triage center
  2. Community Healthlink lost the triage contract to SMOC
  3. Community Healthlink does not want to rent to SMOC, which is the best location, but it is their right to rent or not rent to whom they want
  4. Within 12 months SMOC will build a new "state of the art" triage center that will be located next to City Hospital.
  5. This leaves us with one problem, where does SMOC run the triage center until their new building is built?
Call me crazy but why can't they simply move back to the building that they already own, the former site known as the PIP shelter????   Seriously someone give me one reason why this does not make sense..

Gingrich on occupy

Direct Air flight

Rumor has it, yesterday's flight did not leave till 1AM arrived this morning at 5AM.   Can anyone confirm?

November 19, 2011

Family Ties extended

I swear that I have been getting e-mails every other day that the Family Ties program has been extended.    Again let me caution people that if you buy vouchers, since these are not tickets, these monies are not put into esgow and are not safe if Direct Air was to go out of business.

Caution you not to buy these Family Tie vouchers. 

November 17, 2011

City Manager and Occupy

Kudos to the City manager

Detroit

Good link



Detroit May Run Out of Cash Next Month, Unable to Meet Payroll, Situation Worse than Reported


November 16, 2011

November 14, 2011

Direct Air story in Telegram

Story in Telegram yesterday "Despite cancellations, Direct Air is here to stay".     There was mention of my over-under prediction of February 1st to which Ed Warneck commented “It’s no fun getting beat up with sticks like this.”

Mr Warneck I apologize dont mean to beat you up.   Truly hope that I am wrong and Direct Air flourishes at ORH but here is some constructive criticism:
 
  1. You need to have more people answering the phones.  I have gotten, at least, no lie 200 e-mails or phone calls from people complaining about behing on hold at least 30 minutes if not more.
  2. When planes are cancelled or delayed have better communciation, on both ends, explaining exactly what is happening and what people can expect.
  3. Seems to me that the quality and reliability of the planes has dropped considerably since leaving Virgin.  Direct Air needs to secure better quality and reliable planes.
  4. Family Ties simpply does not have enough available seats for people when they attempt to cash in a voucher.  More seats need to be allocated to Family Ties.
My opinion does not seem to be alone since the Better Business Bureau rates Direct Air has a D- rating receiving 75 complaints from Direct Air customers over the past year, and 136 complaints over the past three years.

November 12, 2011

Carlsberg Commercial

Direct Air Website

Pictures of Worcester



Direct Air & Planes

All of these excuses that they can not get planes makes no sense to me?  They don't have any planes, they rent them so hard can it be to rent a plane, unless you have a history of not paying your bills.  Pace lawsuit

Allman has received permission to pursue $1.46 million from a South Carolina tourism company based on a breach-of-contract lawsuit filed by Pace shortly before its collapse. The lawsuit involves a dispute with Southern Sky Air & Tours LLC, doing business as Direct Air.


From their website

"Flights are Public Charters operated by XTRA Airways, Vision Airlines, Inc, Aviation Advantage/Sky King, & Dynamic Air"

None of these companies can get them the planes they need? 

November 10, 2011

Alabama County files bankruptcy

I have no doubt that on the path we are on right now, Worcester will be filing for bankruptcy in ten-fifteen years.

Click here

The bankruptcy filing by the southern U.S. county will add to concerns about the risks in the $3.7 trillion U.S. municipal bond market, which was hit recently by the high-profile debt crisis in Pennsylvania's capital of Harrisburg.

In addition to Harrisburg, which filed for bankruptcy last month, just two other cities -- Vallejo, California and tiny Central Falls, Rhode Island -- have declared bankruptcy in recent years since the onset of the U.S. financial crisis.

Alegiant Air

We really blew it with them, but with new mgmt we should be on the phone trying to get them back to ORH.  I am telling you right now Direct Air is done. 


Rockford newspaper

Check out this story

Direct Air cancels San Juan and the Bahamas

Surprise anyone?  Click here for Telegram story.

More bad news in Rockford, click here.


Direct Air's days are numbered.  The over under right now is Ground Hog's Day,  February 2, 2012.  I say they will be done by then.     

  

November 09, 2011

Illinois Street auction

Rep Joe Walsh

Pharmasphere update

Latest news



Converted Organics Inc. (Nasdaq: COIN) announced today that PharmaSphere, LLC, a subsidiary of Converted Organics, has commenced a Research Trial with Dr. Andrew Riseman, Associate Professor, Agroecology, Faculty of Land and Food Systems and the Centre for Plant Research, University of British Columbia for the production of cannabis using TerraSphere's controlled environment production systems.



The study will utilize TerraSphere's proprietary vertical farming system and will focus on expanding the cultivation and availability of cannabis for medicinal use. Under the direction of Dr. Riseman, the Trial will develop methods for cannabis production within the controlled environment. Dr. Riseman, in his capacity as an independent consultant, will oversee all aspects of the trial and produce a final report detailing the results, including production parameters, yields and biochemical profiles.

November 07, 2011

November 03, 2011

MIA

Lost power at my house, my mon's and at work.   Crazy week just posted ten comments.

Sorry!

October 31, 2011

E-mail

Received this last night at 1 AM...

Anyone have any input??
"You have two aircraft loaded with passengers sitting on the tarmac that can't takeoff because they need certified weather and your tower is closed. Why would I ever want to fly out of this airport or recommend it to anyone."

October 30, 2011

Asian Beetle

For all those people in harry T's neck of the woods, you should thank an Asian Beetle for having power today.   Power out everywhere.  

If you want to waste a half hour try to drive Salisbury Street between Flagg and Forest Street. 

October 27, 2011

Occupy Wall Street and the homeless

Read this  froom NY Post     here is part


The Occupy Wall Street volunteer kitchen staff launched a “counter” revolution yesterday -- because they’re angry about working 18-hour days to provide food for “professional homeless” people and ex-cons masquerading as protesters.


For three days beginning tomorrow, the cooks will serve only brown rice and other spartan grub instead of the usual menu of organic chicken and vegetables, spaghetti bolognese, and roasted beet and sheep’s-milk-cheese salad.


They will also provide directions to local soup kitchens for the vagrants, criminals and other freeloaders who have been descending on Zuccotti Park in increasing numbers every day.

October 25, 2011

Philly has done it again

Click here

Philadelphia takes steps to end business-unfriendly taxes, fees



key parts
  • Kenney said his bill would eliminate the $2,000 to $5,000 in fees that businesses have to fork over to set up shop in the city.
  • His bill also would exempt start-ups from paying business taxes for two years if they employ three city residents in the first year and six by the second year.
  • "This is kind of a tax abatement to get you through the most difficult years . . . of any business," he said.

Direct Air news

not good
October 15, 2011
August 15, 2011
August 5, 2011

Biden interview

October 24, 2011

Direct Air

Getting more and more concerned about this airline every day.     Since Direct Air is a public charter, they need to deposit revenues from ticket sales into an esgrow account and the monies are bonded.   If you buy a ticket, your monies are safe.

On the other hand, if you buy a ticket, actually a voucher, through Family Ties since it is not a ticket the monies are not put into escrow and can be spent on daily operations.    Bottom line these monies are not secure.  Top that off with all the bad experiences I have heard about Family Ties, I stronlgly urge you to buy actual tickets from Direct Air to support ORH but not to buy tickets through Family Ties.

Now I am hearing that the international flights may be in trouble and the Sanford rumor has not gone away.  Bottom line the next few months may be very interesting with Direct Air.

October 20, 2011

Palmer

got off Palmer exit today and saw a sign for a website,  BusinessesForPalmer  .    This is a website of Palmer businesses supporting a casino.

Too bad we did not have something like this for JetBlue to come to ORH? 

Real Housewives of South Boston

October 18, 2011

Treehouse

October 17, 2011

JetBlue update

Courtesy from Dave Z from Canal meeting minutes




Logan Airport dominant JetBlue Airways Corp. is seeking to expand it's regional flights from 100 to 150 fights per day . Jet Blue CEO Dave Barger said that Massachusetts Port Authority, overseer of Worcester' Airport ,approached him on the idea of providing service from Worcester. After visiting Providence's TF Green (Warwick, RI) JetBlue decided the RI airport's infrastructure was better prepared with it's highway access and updated navigational aids. New MA Secretary of Transportation Richard Davies stated that the Worcester Regional Airport would not be able to handle JetBlue flights for some time. Davey points out "... given the constraints on access, that the market isn't attractive to JetBlue." JetBlue employs about 2,000 at Logan.

October 14, 2011

Family Ties

My mom's bday today and one of my aunts stopped by.   She started talking about the airport and how her and two of her girlfriends bought Direct Air Famiy Tie vouchers last year and we never able to co-ordinate anything with the availble flights and the tickets have expired. 

Very limited sample, I know, but my next door neighbor and my aunt--coincidence? 

October 13, 2011

Middle Class Flight

Let me see if I get this right.  In 2003 or thereabouts, RKG did a housing study and recommended we stop building low-mod income housing since we already exceeded the amount required by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.   Instead we should focus on market rate housing.

Did we listen??   No!!  INstead we literally invested hundreds of millions of dollars throught the CDC's to make Worcester the low-no income leader in Massachusetts.    Does today's headline really shock anyone??    Guess what???  We will keep spening more money on about ten more project the CDC's and the South Worcester Neighborhood Center and each one will have a ribbon cutting cderemony.

October 12, 2011

Ed Warneck answer to question below

THANKS ED!!!


With Sanford being in close proximity to Orlando and also Lakeland ,our newest destination situated within same distance on the opposite side of Orlando, I can see someone jumping to a conclusion and starting a rumor like this. However, I can assure you, at this time there are no plans to discontinue our service between Sanford and Worcester. Will that always be the case? Who can say... many moving parts (sales, cost factors, service, etc)


I appreciate your interest to get the facts ... please feel free to call or email me with any comments or questions regarding our service. Regards,


Ed Warneck

Harrisburg, PA files bankruptcy

Click here


Seeking to stave off a state takeover of its beleaguered budget, the city of Harrisburg, Pa., authorized filing for a rare municipal bankruptcy late Tuesday.


Harrisburg, the Pennsylvania capital that previously defaulted on its debt, cited a “continued erosion of its finances,” in the resolution approving the filing.
According to Bloomberg News, Pennsylvania lawyer Mark Schwartz filed Chapter 9 bankruptcy protection documents by fax late Tuesday in federal bankruptcy court. Schwartz didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. An official at the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania said the court had not yet received a physical copy of the filing, which is required

Direct Air pulling out of Sanford?

I have heard now from three different people that Direct Air is pulling out of the Orlando (Sanford) marketplace.    Yesterday I sent an e-mail to Ed Warnick at Direct Air asking him if this is true.  Stay tuned.

October 10, 2011

Herman Cain Face the Nation

Philly Plan

Whether you like it or not, you need to agree that any substantial private development in the City of Worcester involves a TIF already so why not make a formal process. Target certain areas or certain parcels and lay out what you get if you develope the property and keep it on the commercial tax roles:

  • lock in assessed values for a certain period of time
  • waive all permitting and water/sewer connection fees
This would make it much easier to market these parcels with pre-approved TIF (Philly Plan), for current owners to proceed knowing these perks are in place without have to try and negotiate them on their own and take the politics (union labor) out of the equation.

ESPN Classic

Catching Hell

Boys of Summer

Two must sees...

October 09, 2011

Philly Plan

The only substantial developments we have had downtown have included a TIF.  After  reading the newspaper today, I believe more then ever we need to establish a formal Philly Plan in the City of Worcester versus having to each one as a new negotiation.

If we had a formal Philly Plan in place:
  1. streamline the process
  2. take the politics out of the process (union versus non-union)

October 08, 2011

Occupy Wall Street website

Click here

from the site

"Occupy Wall Street is leaderless resistance movement with people of many colors, genders and political persuasions. The one thing we all have in common is that We Are The 99% that will no longer tolerate the greed and corruption of the 1%. We are using the revolutionary Arab Spring tactic to achieve our ends and encourage the use of nonviolence to maximize the safety of all participants."

October 07, 2011

Rockford

Have not checked on them in some time, click here.   They still have free parking and four airlines.

Direct Air Sanford

I have heard now from two different sources that Direct Air is pulling out of Sanford?   Anyone else out there hear this?

Hell yeah I like beer

If you can’t stand the song, fast forward to find…

•Jon Lester (1:42)
•Josh Beckett and John Lackey (2:06), (2:32), (2:40)
•Tim Wakefield (2:09)
•Clay Buchholz (2:23)



October 06, 2011

Herman Cain on Wall Street protesters

JetBlue

We had a mention a couple weeks back from Boston that JetBlue may be looking at ORH.  Don't know about the rest of you but kind of disappointed about the response from the leadership and marketing agencies that represent Worcester.   Time is now for us to show how badly we want JetBlue and that we would support them.

The ideal situation would be shuttles to LaGuardia where you could then catch planes direct to anywhere, but that may be long term.  How about some leaisure direct flights to Florida??   If the rumors I am hearing that Direct Air is leaving Sanford is true then that leaves Orlando wide open.  

October 05, 2011

Boomerang

Highly recommend great book

October 04, 2011

Central Falls RI bankruptcy

Jahn you got to read this

Click here

October 03, 2011

Cain & Clinton

Herman Cain 999

Plan

October 01, 2011

College Square Howard Johnson

Remember that?   Great location for parents visting their kids at Holy Cross and right by the highway. If around today, it would be paying say conservatively $60,000 per year.  

Imagine if we had targeted this property with a "Philly Plan" maybe we could have kept it on the tax rolls, instead, it was bought by Holy Cross, torn down and pays nothing. 

Philly Plan

Whatever happened to this proposal?

The more I follow this real estate tax rate arguement, I really don't think a vote against the lowest residential rate with a slightly reduction in the commercial base has minimal impact to solidifying our commercial tax base or attracting new commercial business.  

Jahn, I don't care what you say the Philly Plan is the thing we need to concentrate on.  Target and publicly identify 50 under-valued under-utlized properties for commercial development:
  • lock in assessed value for ten years
  • waive all permitting fees
  • waive all water/sewer connection fees
If we were to do that, this will actually increase the tax base and decrease the spread in the rates organically and provide relief to current tax-payers (both commercial and residential) over the long haul. 

September 30, 2011

Sleeping chamber

We are due for their annual letter looking for the Council not to vote lowest residential.  What really amazes me is the lack of response from the Chamber, or any of our marketing arms, to run with the news that JetBlue is looking at ORH? 

Cadillac Lounge

This place, which I thought was merely internet gambling and banned in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, has opened on Main Street next to Moynihan's.     Anyone know what goes on in these places?

September 29, 2011

Private Charter

Direct Air is not an actual airline but a private charter.   This requries them to put monies from ticket sales into an esgrow account which is bonded.  Check out the legalese on-line here.

On the other hand Family Ties are not tickets and not put into esgrow.   Between the fact these monies are not guaranteed and people have a hard time booking flights?  Got to not recommend the purchase of these anymore. 

September 28, 2011

Direct Air Family Ties

I can not tell you how many people have complained about this program to me.   The other day I was at my mother's and my next door neighbor came up to me and told me how his kids had bought him tickets through the Family Ties program for the past month he has tried to buy tickets, which expire in two months, but there are no flights ...

On that I get e-mails now maybe twice per week telling how bad this is.....   Anyone out there have Family Tie Vouchers and how did it work for you?

September 27, 2011

Tembenis family

Please watch

Click here


“For anyone in Massachusetts and Rhode Island who has, or knows of someone with an Autism / Alzheimer’s / Dementia / Brain injury diagnosis who is interested, the 6 months free LoJack Safety net service has been extended to October 15th. Just go to the following website and input your information to see if LSN is available in your local area:  https://www.safetynetbylojack.com  or call 1-877-434-6384”

Harry & Gina T

September 25, 2011

Travel bank

These are used often by communities, link  link,   typically the Chamber of Commerce, who then literally open a bank account and then accept deposits to be used for future flights.

I was thinking we really do not have to do that.  We merely pick a day, again say October 22nd.  Then we work with JetBlue to add a field to their True Blue page whereby people are able to pledge monies to be used at ORH.  If ORH does not get service you could still use the monies but merely fly out of Boston or Manchester.

We dont  have to set up anything with a local bank but merely work with JetBlue to set it up?   Then we market the hell out of it over the next month and see how much money we can have pledged.  Again personally I would put in $2,000..  

Imagine if we were to get alot of money pledged that day, throw in naming rights and waive landing fees??? 

JetBlue Airport

Why not file a petition to change the airport name to JetBlue Airport, assuming of course JetBlue starts service here? 



Really what is the name of ORH is it now technically Worcester/MetroWest Boston Regional Airport?  Technically I think it is up to the Airport Commission to make name changes but maybe the City Council could suggest this?

September 24, 2011

True Blue Travel Bank

  1. If you are a True blue member, JetBlue frequent flyer, go to their website and sign in.     
  2. You will see in th emdidle of the screen a box that says "view credits" , click on that
  3. You need to log on again
  4. You can then check your account statement, which most likely will say 0



There must be a way we can work with jetBlue to set up the ability for people in Central Massachusetts to pledge cash to their account?     Imagine if we could raise $1,000,000 bucks by people depositing cash in to their True Blue Account, it would help entice JetBlue to come to ORH.  

September 22, 2011

Casino

To bad we didn't have a casino at the airport huh?   Instead we will have it in Palmer???? 

Naming Rights

Whatever happened to Metro-West Boston whatever airport??   Tell JetBlue they come to ORH and we will call it JetBlue airport guaranteed for the next 5 years!!!

This is what we had hoped would happen when MassPort took over last July 1st.  Let's do everything possible to make sure it does become a reality.

Travel Bank

Now is the time to make this a friggin reality!!!     I have a TrueBlue Account with jetBlue and each TrueBlue account has a Travel bank.

There has to be some way JetBlue can set it up to allow people in Worceser to deposit cash in to their Travel Bank to show them how badly we want service at ORH.   If you have not signed up for TrueBlue then sign up....

Here is my big announcement JetBlue!

JetBlue eyes 150 daily flights at Logan, expansion to Worcester, Providence


Boston Business Journal by Eric Convey

Date: Thursday, September 22, 2011, 2:28pm EDT - Last Modified: Thursday, September 22, 2011, 3:01pm EDT

JetBlue Airways Corp. (Nasdaq: JBLU) executives would like to increase flights to or from Logan International Airport to 150 per day from the current 100 and are "really optimistic" the airline will be given all of Terminal C to accommodate expansion, CEO David Barger said Thursday.

The decision rests with Massport, the agency that runs Logan.

"What's really important is the ability to have continuous gates," Barger said. Declining to give a specific timeline, he said the airline would like a decision "sooner rather than later." Changes could be made after the busy holiday travel season, he said.

Barger also suggested JetBlue is eager to add service to T.F. Green airport outside Providence, R.I. "We're really impressed with what we see with the infrastructure with Providence," he said.

And JetBlue will consider adding service to Worcester following a request from Massport officials, he said.

"Massport has put Worcester on our radar screens," he said, adding: "It's something that we certainly would entertain."

Barger made his remarks to the Boston College Chief Executives Club of Boston.

Asked after his address whether the Obama administration's focus on high-speed rail would hurt JetBlue, Barger said better rail service between cities like Boston and New York, both of which are important to the airline, actually would be beneficial.

The airspace around New York is full, Barger said, with too much of it "wasted" on planes carrying only a few dozen passengers. "I think high-speed rail would be very, very helpful."

Barger also repeated a call he has made before for modernization of the nation's air traffic control system.

September 18, 2011

Casinos

Just posted a comment from Jahn.  Got to agree with here.  If there are going to be casinos in Massachusetts, how can we not be positioning one for Central Massachusetts even at the airport??   All the more reason to have a MassPike exit in Auburn on to 56 for both the airport/casino.

August 31, 2011

Allegiant and Bangor, Maine

Allegiant & Knoxville

Allegiant (Nasdaq:ALGT - News) announces seasonal, nonstop jet service between Knoxville, Tenn., and Las Vegas, Nev., will begin Nov. 18. The company, known for its exceptional travel deals, will introduce the new service to Eastern Tennessee residents with fares as low as $109.98* one way.
"We're pleased to offer another affordable and convenient way for our Knoxville customers to get away," Andrew C. Levy, Allegiant Travel Company President, said. "We are confident the Knoxville community will appreciate flying nonstop to Las Vegas and take advantage of the great deals we offer on hotels, car rentals and show tickets."
"We are very excited about Allegiant Air's continued commitment to providing low-fare air service to popular destinations from McGhee Tyson Airport," said Howard Vogel, Chairman of the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority's Board of Commissioners. "Today's announcement of new flights to Las Vegas offers nonstop service to one of our most visited destinations. While the service is starting as seasonal, we fully believe that it will be extremely successful and will become permanent service."

August 29, 2011

PCB

EPA website

Polychlorinated Biphenyl (PCB)


PCBs belong to a broad family of man-made organic chemicals known as chlorinated hydrocarbons. PCBs were domestically manufactured from 1929 until their manufacture was banned in 1979. They have a range of toxicity and vary in consistency from thin, light-colored liquids to yellow or black waxy solids. Due to their non-flammability, chemical stability, high boiling point, and electrical insulating properties, PCBs were used in hundreds of industrial and commercial applications including electrical, heat transfer, and hydraulic equipment; as plasticizers in paints, plastics, and rubber products; in pigments, dyes, and carbonless copy paper; and many other industrial applications.

Commercial Use of PCBs

Although no longer commercially produced in the United States, PCBs may be present in products and aterials produced before the 1979 PCB ban. Products that may contain PCBs include:
  • Transformers and capacitors
  • Other electrical equipment including voltage regulators, switches, reclosers, bushings, and electromagnets
  • Oil used in motors and hydraulic systems
  • Old electrical devices or appliances containing PCB capacitors
  • Fluorescent light ballasts
  • Cable insulation
  • Thermal insulation material including fiberglass, felt, foam, and corkAdhesives and tapes
  • Oil-based paint
  • Caulking
  • Plastics
  • Carbonless copy paper \
  • Foor finish
The PCBs used in these products were chemical mixtures made up of a variety of individual chlorinated biphenyl components, known as congeners. Most commercial PCB mixtures are known in the United States by their industrial trade names. The most common trade name is Aroclor.

Release and Exposure of PCBs

Prior to the 1979 ban, PCBs entered the environment during their manufacture and use in the United States. Today PCBs can still be released into the environment from poorly maintained hazardous waste sites that contain PCBs; illegal or improper dumping of PCB wastes; leaks or releases from electrical transformers containing PCBs; and disposal of PCB-containing consumer products into municipal or other landfills not designed to handle hazardous waste. PCBs may also be released into the environment by the burning of some wastes in municipal and industrial incinerators.

Once in the environment, PCBs do not readily break down and therefore may remain for long periods of time cycling between air, water, and soil. PCBs can be carried long distances and have been found in snow and sea water in areas far away from where they were released into the environment. As a consequence, PCBs are found all over the world. In general, the lighter the form of PCB, the further it can be transported from the source of contamination.

PCBs can accumulate in the leaves and above-ground parts of plants and food crops. They are also taken up into the bodies of small organisms and fish. As a result, people who ingest fish may be exposed to PCBs that have bioaccumulated in the fish they are ingesting.

Health Effects

PCBs have been demonstrated to cause cancer, as well as a variety of other adverse health effects on the immune system, reproductive system, nervous system, and endocrine system. See the Health Effects page for more information.

August 28, 2011

WBDC

Add the Telegram Building to their list of properties which already includes Gateway Park, the old Trade School and the old Nissen Baking buildings on South Quinsigamond Ave.   

You got to love the financing:
  • City seeking $2,000,000 brownfields grant
  • City seeking $2,500,000 HUD loan guaranteed by the City
  • City Seeking $2,500,000 grant from the Department of Commerce
  • City seeking $200,000 from the EPA

August 27, 2011

Effect of freight railroad yards on property values

link       Conclusion  below


The results generated by the hedonic models for 1996 and 1999 are consistent with previous results in the literature. The structural variables are generally of the expected sign. For railroad-related variables, smaller houses of up to 1,250 square feet and located within 250 feet, 500 feet, or 750 feet of a railroad track experienced a statistically significant loss in sale price of $4,300 within 250 feet, $3,800 within 500 feet, and $5,800 within 750 feet from a freight track line; this is equivalent to losses of 5%-7% of sale price. For the medium and larger units, many had negative signs, but only the middle ring (251-500 feet away) was statistically significant at a 95% confidence level, with a discount of about 5%. The lack of a consistent declining pattern implies that markets perceive a zonal rather than gradient effect for this negative amenity when modeled with pure proximity.

Proximity to a gated railroad crossing at grade was associated with a reduction in sale price of about 5% under some circumstances, but results were not robust over all subcategories of sales.
Results improved substantially when freight train trip counts, separate from simple proximity to a track, were modeled. In 1996, prior to announced track reconfigurations, trip counts had little effect on prices, with only one cell having results indicating market awareness of trip counts. In 1999, after the announced changes, among smaller units each trip count was associated with a reduction in sale price of around $194 per additional average daily freight train trip within 250 feet. The reduction in sale price decreased to about $85 and $94 per trip within 500 feet and 750 feet away, respectively. Medium-sized units exhibited a gradient-type effect ranging from $262 to $72, at generally lower significance levels. Larger units also had a drop in sale price of $264 per trip at the closest distance. Thus, adding trip counts substantially improved pricing effects of train trips. It also represents more of a gradient, rather than zonal, pattern of impact.

To put this into perspective, for example, if a $100,000 house were located near a freight train track, and the daily train count were to go from 10 trains per day to 30 trains per day, this would imply a reduction in value of $5,000 (20 trips times $250/trip), or 5%. This is a new finding and represents a contribution to the literature.

In a recent financial settlement related to the train reorganization in the Cleveland area, the railroads negotiated with communities for mitigation of noise and safety concerns, but no funds were provided specifically to compensate residents for losses in property value. Of course, this research has not calculated the net effect (some lines gained trips, some lost), so there is no statement made here about the fairness of these payments, but loss in property values should be included in future negotiations of this type. The train-trip count impact was insignificant before the merger talks and accompanying newspaper publicity. After the publicity, significant modest price reductions were evident and these were consistent with theory. This is evidence that the markets were able to price the train volume data reasonably well, and that the talk of train line reorganization did have a substantial effect on the parameter estimates after the change in trip volumes.

The models appear to work better for smaller-sized units, regardless of distance from the tracks. One possible explanation could be that a higher percentage of the larger units are located in affluent suburbs outside the central city, where other locational amenities outside the model (e.g., school districts) may be affecting value. Smaller sales tended to be in the central city or in a few, inner-ring working-class suburbs.

The implication of this research for appraisers is that they should include proximity to rail lines, train trip counts, and potentially gated crossings in determining the value of residential property


August 26, 2011

Hurrican of 1938

August 24, 2011

Rep Maxine Waters

Rep Fredericka Wilson

August 13, 2011

Rick Perry loser pays

article

Gov. Rick Perry on Monday signed a bill that will implement a "loser pays" system to stop frivolous lawsuits in Texas.   House Bill 274 enacts several measures that supporters say will streamline and lower the cost of litigation in Texas courts, allowing parties to resolve disputes more quickly, more fairly and less expensively.
"HB 274 provides defendants and judges with a variety of tools that will cut down on frivolous claims in Texas," Gov. Perry said. "This important legislation will help make Texas that much more attractive to employers seeking to expand or relocate from countries all over the world by allowing them to spend less time in court and more time creating jobs."

August 12, 2011

New Garden Park

NEW GARDEN PARK INC BROWNFIELDS PROGRAM

Worcester, Massachusetts
Worcester County
Street Address: 89 Shrewsbury Street, Suite 300
Zip Code: 01604

Congressional  District(s):   03

EPA ID #: BF96113001
Type of Funding: Cleanup Grant
Description [Back to Top]
New Garden Park, Inc. has received the following EPA Brownfields funding:
Grant Number Grant Type Amount Funding Type Year Awarded Status

BF96113001 Cleanup of the Former Worcester Vocational High School - Parcel B $200,000 Hazardous Substances 2009 Active
Cleanup of the Former Worcester Vocational High School - Parcel C $200,000 Hazardous Substances

Total $400,000

August 11, 2011

Felonious Munk

August 08, 2011

New blog format

Thanks for all of the comments.   Right now there is an issue that has been bothering me and it got me to think about one fo the comments (think Russ).  I am going to put some time into this and not blog every day and I am going to roll out my own "investigative" piece .     Bottom line you can expect a good once, at least I think it is, after Labor Day.    In the meantime, if anyone has ideas for my next piece, send it in. 

In the meantime, yes Dave I saw Bob Nemeth article, Telegram link.     Nobody reads him anymore, not one comment??   When Bob writes about National issue, I think he does a good job.  Anytime he writes about the airport, what the hell is he talking about!

Instead of taking MassPort to task for pretty much doing nothing the first year of ownership, he compliments them for using the terminal for trade shows and social events?   Not sure how the private tax paying businesses that try to attract trade shows and social events feel about this?     I expected huge returns when MassPort took over ORH one year ago.  To date, it has been extremely disappointing and there is no other way to look at it.  Let's hope this changes and maybe a group like the Chamber of Commerce starting a Travel bank can give ORH a kick start.

Next blog, my investigative piece, after Labor Day.  Enjoy the summer!

August 01, 2011

Blog sabbatical

I have had a ton of fun with the blog,but lately I got to admit--it has not been much fun.  Maybe I should have retired at 3,000 blogs??     Every day now I get comments like "We get it Randell, you hate poor people". I delete them, but when you see messages like these every single day, you start to ask yourself why am I doing this?

Who knows maybe a $1,2000,000 sewer line for 8 apartments, which cost almost $400,000 each, is the way to move the City of Worcester of forward and help poor people.    Funny if I hate poor people, does that mean I am "rich people"?  

Met alot of great people and made alot of friends, but now it seems like I am at the point of diminishing returns. This is not the end of the blog, but I am done for a while, or maybe I will resurface somewhere else?

Good luck to all my fellow bloggers geting their message out.  Right now I would rather focus on other things.  . 


July 29, 2011

Harry's letter to the editor

Following the recent collision of two Delta jets at Boston’s Logan Airport, famed pilot Captain Chesley “Sully” Sullenberger went on CBS News to talk about the recent taxiway collision at Boston’s Logan International Airport and the growing concern over tarmac safety. Mr. Sullenberger stated this accident was most likely due to small, commuter airlines cluttering up the tarmac, and larger jets not being able to see them.




There is a simple solution here for Massport to avoid future embarrassments such as these and hopefully save lives in the process. Move the commuter air jets out from Logan to Worcester Airport and Hanscom.



HARRY TEMBENIS

July 28, 2011

$ pack Cig tax to pay for mass healthcare reform

Saw this recently in Boston Globe story:

The state has needed new revenue sources to fill the gap. In fiscal year 2009, the state pushed through a $1-a-pack increase on the cigarette tax to raise an estimated $150 million to $175 million annually .....

The cigarette tax, however, has fallen well short of estimates. It raised $130.5 million the first year, and has been tracking still lower through the first 10 months of this fiscal year, according to the Office of Administration and Finance.

July 25, 2011

Worcester Common Ground Board Finale

There are some really good people on the board and an addition of a member of the Chandler Business Association should have been an easy thing and , I feel, would have made for a stronger board.   At this point, I just don't see us pursuing this anymore.

In the end, maybe we will get more done without being on board?

Worcester Common Ground Board Part 5

1 )  If you can only add directors at the annual meeting, we are fine with that. When is the next annual meeting.

2)    51% of the board must be residents of the the census tracts withing the CDC's area.  O'kay, there are currently 2 people,as far as I know that live in the census tracts below.  Since we were never given a list of the current board of directors, I can not say for certain but I believe there are 6 current board members.   That comes to 33%.  If you were to add someone like a Paul Collyer, it would actually get the board closer to the 51% that they need.  

Since Common Ground is reviewing their by-laws, maybe they should check the provision addressing how long someone can serve on the board?    Typically most boards put a limitation on how long you can serve.

3)  Huh???

4)  Let me get this straight.   The Chandler Business Association, with an annual budget of 0, is suppose to hold community meetings to see what the neighborhood wants.   Common Ground, however, only wants board members to support their projects without any input from the business community.

I can safely say a representative from our group would support an abandoned/foreclosed  three family that was rehabbed and sold, assuming of course money was on hand to fund said project.   On the other hand, a member from our group would not support the purchase of a burnt out buiding (84 Piedmont Street), that was wanted by an abuttiing business, that has sat idle now for 5+ plus years because no money is available to do the work. Neither would we support a 48 unit apartment building (May Street) with no market rate housing without adequate parking.

In "good conscience", we could not support projects that do not advance the neighborhood.  Evidently, that disqualifies us?

July 24, 2011

Worcester Common Ground Board Part 4

On July 12th, 2 1/2 months after our initial discussions adding one member of the CBA to the WCG board, we received an e-mail basically telling us that it is a good idea but it can not be done now until a few points are resolved:

  1. Common Ground by-laws do not allow addition of board members in between annual meetings.   We can only replace resigning board members between annual meetings.
  2. CDC regulations require 51% of the board be consituted by residents of the census tracts with the CDC's area.   In addition we are currently discussing changing our by-laws to increase that percentage.  Consequently any new board members in the near future will probably have to reside with the census tracts we serve.
  3. It is important that business representation on our board be balanced to include the voices of businesss throughout our area.  While this is not a concern of yours, as an internal matter, if we are to give CBA a voice on the board, we need to ensure that other business corridors in our area are represented as well.
  4. Last, but not least it is important that board members be able to fully support, endorse and publicly promote the mission and objectives of the organization as currently stated.  If the CBA and the indivdual representing the organization fell they can in good conscience do so we should continue to discuss the representation on the board.  If not it may be more appropriate to have the organization's voice heard within out committee structure.


The four points above come directly from the e-mail.  Tomorrow I will give my final thoughts. 

July 23, 2011

Worcester Common Ground Board Part 3

After a couple of months, we heard nothing back regarding one of us from the Chandler Business Association being on the board.   I dropped the director we had met with at the Pickle Barrel what the status was.

The answer was that it really had not come up yet at any of the board meetings.  I, in turn, suggested that maybe one of us should show up at the next board meeting to make it a point to discuss.  Instead I was told that it will come up and they will get back to us.   No need to come to a meeting.

Final part tomorrow.  

July 22, 2011

Worcester Common Ground Board Part 2

Before questions we asked about us, we had asked Worcester Common Ground who were their current board members and that we wanted to address them at one of their meetings about some of our concerns.  Our request was countered with offer for a sub-committee to meet with us and we were not given the names of the current board.

This went on for about a year, until we were finally told if we wanted to be put on their agenda to call the Executive Director.   After some discussions, we were all busy and none of us could go so no call was made to have a placed on the agenda.  Irregardless we were placed on the agenda and some board members were upset with us.  Don't blame them, but again we never asked to be put on the agenda.?

In fact we met with two board members for breakfast to explain what happened, discussed how we could work together and had a great time.  Our goal, to make our neighborhood better, is the same.    We asked, or they suggested (forgot which), that maybe one of us from the Chandler Business Association should be on the Worcester Common Ground Board.   I volunteered, but in all actuality it could be any of us.  

Everyone left and was excited that we could work together and that a member of the Chandler Business Association would be on the Worcester Common Ground Board.  Part 3 tomorrow. 

July 21, 2011

Worc Common Ground Board Part 1

One member of the Worcester Common Ground Board about 5 or 6 months ago asked several questions about the Chandler Business Association:
  • what exactly is our formation
  • when do we meet
  • why we dont invite him
  • where do we do community outreach
Make a long story short, he asked alot questions all beginning with the word "W".   We answered every single question. let me stress every single question!!!, and even held formal community meetings to appease his concern that we did not reach out to the community.

In fact we have another community meeting Monday to address all the concerns regarding SMOC moving into the MLK building.  

Part 2 tomorrow,

Flying car one step closer to being a reality

Click story here.

July 20, 2011

Joppa Road

On record yesterday.  Really expected this to be closed 3 months ago.    Good house, good neighborhood at a great price.      Very tough real estate market, mostly due a very tight mortgage market.

July 19, 2011

Message from Paulie

The Martin Luther King Business Empowerment Center @ Chandler Street & Dewey is being disolved due to insolvency and all assets including the building are possibly if not already being aquired by South Middlesex Opportunity Center also known as SMOC.


SMOC currently owns the former PIP Shelter (People in Peril) building that is now for sale on Main South and they operated the PIP Shelter for many years. I suggest you all do your own google searches of PIP Shelter & SMOC.

The PIP Shelter was closed because after twenty plus years of wreaking havoc on the Main South neighborhood it was clear that putting a full blown wet shelter in a dense business & residential urban neighborhood was not the correct course of action-WHY HAS THIS THINKING CHANGED and is putting in a urban core neighborhood clearly on the rebound the right thing for Worcester?

The Below are just a few of the incredibly POSITIVE organizations, business & residential happenings in this neighborhood that will be effected by this move....we are talking about an incredibly VIBRANT diverse urban neighborhood on "The Move"...and happening organically NOT via huge subsidies, grants or even massive city intervention!

* EVO Restaurant

* Living Earth

* Baba Sushi Restaurant

* Pet Barn

* Walgreens

* DeAngelos

* Rocco's Fine Suits

* Suney's

* Dunkin Donuts

* NEW RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT IN AREA

* Ted Williams Baseball League

* Worcester Youth Center

* TD North Bank

* John & Son's

* Beaverbrook

* Elm Park

* Pho Hein Buddhist Temple

* Crown Chicken

* new Halal meat market at Chandler & Dewey

* Keystone Plaza

* White's Cleaner Class A office space

* Webster Five

* tons of mom & pops on Chandler Street


In as much as many in the Chandler Street Business Association have been told by city officials that no definitive decision has been made as to what SMOC's intentions are for the MLK Bldg.....sources have told us that the PIP Shelter now called a triage center at the UMASS Hospital on Queen Street (where it should be kept for every reason the city and UMASS touted as a National Model to the citizens of Worcester & the Nation) is moving as of October 2011 to the MLK Building.....a full blown wet shelter for the most inebrient!

Three weeks ago we were welcoming 1500+ to Chandler Street for a music festival....NOW we are in for the fight of our lives economically and quality of life, if this full blown wet shelter triage aka PIP Shelter is moved to the MLK Bldg @ Chandler & Dewey Streets.

There will be a informational meeting on Monday July 25th 6:00 pm at the Pho Hein Buddhist Temple on Dewey Street to discuss this new development in the Village of Piedmont-Worcester, Massachusetts.   We encourage all to attend - this is a City of Worcester issue NOT a lone neighborhood issue! Please pass this on to all that you know.



Sincerely

Paul Collyer

Chandler Street Business Association

(617) 283-3292

City Council candidates

  • potential move of triage center to MLK center
  • 1,200,000 sewer lines

Good talking points for city council candidates to state their opinion and get their voices heard?

July 17, 2011

$1,200,000 Sewer Line

Telegram has story on the Common Ground sewer line.   The total cost was $1,200,000!!!!!!!!!   Of which $1,000,000 is being paid by us, the tax-payers.  This whole story is amazing, but I bet the City Council will not even discuss it.

Here is the bottom line. The City of Worcester becomes partners in all of these no-lo housing developments and have a vested interest in keeping these projects viable.   The original project cost $16,000,000 of which the City/State has given funds (grants to Common Ground) to build this no-lo project.  The developer, Common Ground, in turn, does not have to pay back these grants as long as they maintain the units as no-lo for a certain affordability period (typically 15 years).

If for some reason the projects goes under the City/State has to pay back all the grant monies that they gave Common.   Bottom line spending an extra $1,000,000 now on a sewer line will be cheaper then having to pay back all the grant monies that they gave Common Ground in the first place.   This sewer line has became a "community responsibility" , because the community has a s---load of money invested already here.

Let me make this very clear there was no "actual responsibility" for the tax-payers to kick-up $1,000,000 for this sewer line.    Next time a road is not paved, a pool can not be opened or there is no money for summer impact police, remember we diverted $1,000,000 to this sewer line.

My favorite line, however, "the city never put anything in writing about risks associated with basement units."     Are you kiddin me.   It is not the City of Worcester's job to warn a developer about risks in developing anything?     If the engineers assured Common Ground, why hasn't Common Ground sued their engineers?????

Also can not help but remember the poor guy up on Vernon Hill a couple years back when a sewer back-up in the street wrecked his house.   Bob Moylan, rightfully so, told him it was not the City's responsibility to repair the home-owner's house.  It was not a "community responsibility". 

This sewer line will not benefit the entire neighborhood, who already have sewer connections along this stretch?   Make no mistakes about the tax-payers had to pony up $1,000, 000 for a sewer line that benefits one party , Common Ground, to save their 8 basement units.      In other words we just spent $150,000 per apartment. 

July 16, 2011

Chamber of Commerce

The PIP shelter, oh I am sorry the Triage Center, may move to one of the busiest thoroughfares in Worcester (Chandler Street) next to one of the busiest intersections in the City of Worcester (Park Ave/Chandler St), where is the Chamber of Commerce???   No where to be found.

As I See it

One day we have SMOC running the PIP in a 33,000 square foot building on Main Street.   

After a study, we create a national model whereby we move the PIP to the old City Hospital run by Community Healthlink .  Instead of a shelter,  it is a called a triage center, where people are checked in by hopefully moved into some permanent housing fast.

What has it been a year maybe two?   Community Healthlink loses the contract back to SMOC.  Now SMOC is looking to merge with MLK and we fear move the triage center into the 20,000 feet of  unoccupied space in the MLK building.

If this were to happen, all we have really done is move a problem from one area to another.

July 15, 2011

Triage Center

Triage Center location

I truly believe the best place for a "Triage" center is a location like the old City Hospital.    Building itself, parking lot, off the Main Street while still centrally located makes the most sense.    Lets hope SMOC, the new operator of the Triage Ctr, can work a deal to stay at this location or find another similar location.

I got to ask this.  If this does not work out, why can't they merely go back to the empty building that they already own on Main Street (the location of the PIP shelter), versus moving it somewhere else?? 

July 14, 2011

SMOC and MLK

It has been called to our, Chandler Business Association, that it looks like MLK will be bought out (or merged--not sure what the term is).  if it helps MLK keep doing the work that they are doing,we got no problem with that.

Here, however is our concern:
  1. SMOC is taking over the triage center currently run by Community Health Link located at the old City Hospital,
  2. In the newspaper it says SMOC will be moving the triage center
  3. The MLK building has alot of empty space
Connecting the dots does this mean SMOC wants to move the triage center to the MLK building.   We, again the CBA, had a meeting yesterday with reps from MLK, SMOC and the City of Worcester to discuss these happenings and our concerns.

Stay tuned.