YOU MIGHT THINK, THERE'S NOT A CHINK

As last year of term opens, Mayor Kennedy sees progress in Lynn

Right now many a betting man is wagering that our MOST HONORABLE MAYOR is a shoe-in for RE-ELECTION. Why not, crime is down, some long-neglected business activity is up, and our fiscal house seems to be in order even if it is only constructed like a HOUSE OF CARDS.

Yea, the MAYOR, she's clicking on all cylinders. I might even have to vote for her. I mean she also established the long overdue LYNN DISABILITY COMMISSION which I chaired for its first year before I resigned from so to at least give the appearance of objectivity to my writing. Remember, I said appearance.

The only thing that might rain on her victory parade is her leadership or lack thereof of LYNN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. And who is going to say anything about that? I mean a lot of our leaders have a vested interest in private or even out of district schools. Hey wait a minute, I write a BLOG and one or two people read it, I guess the responsibility falls on me.

IT IS MY DUTY.

Okay, here goes.

Way back when there was this meeting of the whole about the SUPERINTENDENT'S evaluation when our most frugal MAYOR went on record stating that she didn't approve of the way ole CATHE spent money - there had been an earlier meeting of the whole full of tales of $800 a day consultants who lived under the same roof and other monies questionably spent.

Later though when it came time to rehire a SUPERINTENDENT for LPS our MAYOR now lavished praise on the current superintendent, making  BRADY-like comparisons and REFUSING to even consider that there may be someone better to lead our FAILING school district. In fact DR. LATHAM and her princiPALS were given what many consider to be exorbitant raises.

Then there is the skimping on ISD janitors overtime pay to adequatly regulate the heating resulting in burst pipes and subsequent water damage at BREED and SEWELL-ANDERSON. I know there is mo guarantee if we staffed all of the schools 24 hours a day that these tragedies could have been prevented. After all, the schools and their plumbing are all old and well this is NEW ENGLAND. Weather is a BLOOD SPORT here.

BUT.....

still we got to be extra BECAUSE we have old schools and cold weather. What's that old saying?

"AN ONCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A MILLION DOLLARS IN REPAIR."