Walking the walk versus talking the talk - Sentinel & Enterprise

Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr. and Fitchburg Police Chief Robert DeMoura held a news conference Friday afternoon at the Fitchburg police station, shortly after the city's annual July Fourth ...

[Credibility]

It continues to amaze me, and like minded people throughout the city, that otherwise intelligent members of our community (...the S&E included) continue to attempt to oversimplify a complex and daunting set of circumstances. To suggest that 'hiring more cops' is even an option in a period where practically closing our library was necessary to balance the budget is lunacy! To infer that options more palatable than laying off of fire and police staff and severely curtailing services and programs are available speaks to a true lack of awareness of just how dire the local economic situation is. Mayor Wong and the current City Council are dealing head on with the results of years of mismanagement and poor fiscal judgement, as is required, to put the city finances back on track. This situation was not created by this administration, but true to the mayor's word, she is hell bent on strightening it out. It took years for the current circumstances to come about, and will take years for them to be resolved. It is easy to write commentary criticizing the approach to our situation while proposing solutions there is no money for, or heaven forbid, taxes need to be increased to support. Unfortunately, it also undermines your credibility. Wake up people, it will be a long haul.

[Hawk]

"The truth is that for too long mayors have cut police jobs and citizens have been forced to accept a lesser quality of life than anyone who works hard and pays taxes should have to."

The truth is, you have no idea what you're talking about. This is mjust another case of your Fearmongering and BS. Tell us what to cut then if you're so sure of the "truth"!

"People celebrating at 11 p.m. should be arrested for disturbing the police"

I'm afraid people can stay up as long as they want without your timetable for fun!

Pathetic paper.

[Daisy]

I agree with some aspects of both sides. I do believe the mayor is trying to make the best of a bad situation. The city was in financial turmoil long before she took office so to expect her to snap her fingers and fix it all is just a fairytale. It will take time to fix the mess the city is in and sacrafices will need to be made. Do not blame the mayor for mistakes made by another administration. 11pm is still early for most people, however, there should be a set time for people to settle down be it midnight. I also agree that the more we offer services the more we attract those in need. Someone once told me when there was a japanese beatle problem, if you set out a trap you not only attract your beatles but the beatles from other peoples lawns as well. Unless someone has an exact answer to make it all good, attacking each other is a waste of time.

[Bruce W Marien]

Daisy,

I agree that there is no easy answer. Fitchburg has always made resources available to people in unfortunate circumstances (drug addiction,etc) and we are facing issues as a result of that as well as diminishing resources. Mayor Wong has been working hard toward trying to find appropriate solutions, but she cannot do it alone.

She had previously asked that people in the city willing to volunteer contact her office with contact information...maybe it is time that people in the city feeling inclined to do so offer the city some assistance. We obviously cannot take up law enforcement on our streets, but maybe there are other ways we can help...how about it Fitchburg?

[bob]

What the hell do illegal immigrants have to do with this? This "editorial" is a thinly veiled Right-wing rant, and a poor one at that.
The non-profits help drug addicts to beat their addictions, and all manner of law-enforcement officers, from cops to judges, support that effort.
And how exactly do you go about "cutting down" on the number of immigrants? Deportation? Walls? Internment camps? What does "cutting down on illegal immigrants" even mean?

[Boulder City]

This editorial is a grand example of the oxymoronic views that got Fitchburg in the trouble it is in. So that many can understand what I mean, like a good lawyer...here is the cases against this editorial.

CASE #1: "The truth is that for too long mayors have cut police jobs and citizens have been forced to accept a lesser quality of life than anyone who works hard and pays taxes should have to."

Memory serves me right Mr. McMenemy...the Fitchburg Police Patrolmen's Union ENDORSED Dan Mylott EVERY SINGLE TIME! Also this garbage "about being forced to accept a lesser quality of life than anyone who works hard and pays taxes should have to" is another joke. Remember Mr. McMenemy when your paper reported about Lt. Deacon's idea of a Prop 2 1/2 override a year (or two ago??), and we heard nothing more about it?

CASE # 2 "To be clear, the murder did not occur because Wong or Mylott cut police jobs", but then your editorial goes on to say "Wong can say what she wants, but actions speak louder than words, and cutting police jobs does not show a commitment to public safety."

Umm, am I missing something here, or did you contradict yourself again Mr. McMenemy? Seems funny that this paper back in 2006 did NOT blame Danny Mylott for the shooting at Saima Park, nor did it blame Danny Mylott for the State Trooper shooting a citizen back in 2005, or for that matter any time during the time he was in office.

CASE # 3 "People celebrating at 11 p.m. should be arrested for disturbing the police."

Where does one go to drink and celebrate in Fitchburg @ 11 a.m.? This in a city THAT promotes drinking establishments (i.e. Cahill's and others) in the Main Street area, and a Hip Hop Club on Putnam Street to reopen as something else, that has a history of requiring Police intervention (or disturbance as you say...). Also, what is disturbing the Police Department? Are you saying Mr. McMenemy that the FPD is hanging out in Doughnut Shops smoking butts, schlupping coffee and doughnuts? Another fine McMenemy contradiction!

SEE MORE CONTRADICTIONS...NEXT POST!

[CAPnMASS]

Starting back in the "Beane" era, Fitchburg sold out downtown to social services because the state had money to spend to create them. Would any of the neighboring communities host them - no and there is a real reason.

This has created a vicious cycle downward. Ask the few buinesses left about walking around downtown during the day with the professional leeches lurking. So nobody feels safe, my daughters have even quit going to the library after school because they did not feel safe.

With this environment, you wonder why so many buildings are empty?

Now established - this type of environment grows upon itself. Because of the social service, more are attracted here. Social Service industry is also costly to the City in reducing the tax base. Value of real estate is lower and they don't produce anything - thus nothing to tax.

Oh, by the way - no proof of citizenship required, thus broadening the appeal. Hence the illegal immigrant problem. Come visit the Elm St area some summer evening/nite if you claim ignorance.

Just more cops is not going to fix this problem! If you have ever dealt with a rat or roach infiltration. You have learned that you can spend the rest of your life killing them if you can or you can clean up the food source and they will leave.

We just need to clean up the "food" source - ain't easy, not politically correct, but it is the only solution!

Hopefully, the new mayor and chief will acknowledge the problem and rally the community to correct it versus sweeping it under the rug and ridiculing citizens who bring it up.

[Boulder City]

CONT'D THE CONTRADICTIONS OF Mr. McMenemy":

CASE #4 "Fitchburg has catered to its nonprofits that serve drug addicts and drug users, who then commit other crimes."

Well Mr. McMenemy, It seems funny that this comes out now. Never in the 7 years I lived in Fitchburg, did I EVER read from you about the methadone clinics. Seems funny neither did Dan Mylott. Seems that the one adjacent to Store 24, didn't get much of a rise out of the Pants salesman. If Danny Mylott was so great about doing anything about this, the one on Airport Road would have been shut down too. Also, it isn't just a Fitchburg problem, MassHealth actually PAYS for the transportation...which is done with help...in FITCHBURG! So your tax dollars come back to bite you AGAIN!

CASE# 5: "Until city officials are really ready to get serious about fighting crime -- that means hiring more cops, getting rid of the nonprofits downtown, cutting down on the growing population of illegal immigrants in the city, and not letting homeless people and hookers wander through downtown -- nothing much will change"

Well let's look at the facts. Memory serves me right when there was foot patrols on Main Street back in 2006, there was a barber shop in Main Street with a bullet hole, and a robbery (where an elderly guy ran down the perp..) That with Foot Patrols...what a joke.

Also, I remember reading about the Immigration problem too around the time of the State Trooper shooting. It was funny that an official from the FPD was quoted in this paper that there was NO IMMIGRATION problem. Just curious Mr. McMenemy, is the S&E offices on a different planet? I didn't know that the UPPER MAIN STREET area was SO OUT OF TOUCH???

IN CONCLUSION: The blaming of Lisa Wong for this is a joke. Yeah, it's great for those who want more and won't pay more for it, but it is another for trying to do something to take care of the problem in the first place. Fitchburg won't pay more taxes (and from what I saw in the 7 years I lived in Fitchburg, I don't think it could). Fitchburg is a poor city, where it pays more to sell drugs, than work for it. It's catering to homeless shelters and the like is a mantra that will not bring more to the city than the poor and helpless. Also, this is what happens when you have no Rent Control. The only people who can afford rent, as it seems...are prostitutes & drug dealers.

What ails Fitchburg didn't happen overnight, and happened LONG BEFORE LISA WONG. If that isn't the case, then McManus Hobbies would be where it is today. When it moved, I asked them why the moved to John Fitch Plaza...back in the 90's and they told me "That the crime on Main Street forced them to move." So you can't blame her. This paper on the otherhand, trying to play both sides of the fence, only fans the flames of discontent, in a summer that is proving to be the worst in the History of Fitchburg!

[Boulder City]

I meant to say, where McManus Hobbies USED TO BE...(my bad!)

[Boulder City]

CAPnMASS wrote:

Starting back in the "Beane" era, Fitchburg sold out downtown to social services because the state had money to spend to create them. Would any of the neighboring communities host them - no and there is a real reason.
This has created a vicious cycle downward. Ask the few buinesses left about walking around downtown during the day with the professional leeches lurking. So nobody feels safe, my daughters have even quit going to the library after school because they did not feel safe.
With this environment, you wonder why so many buildings are empty?
Now established - this type of environment grows upon itself. Because of the social service, more are attracted here. Social Service industry is also costly to the City in reducing the tax base. Value of real estate is lower and they don't produce anything - thus nothing to tax.
Oh, by the way - no proof of citizenship required, thus broadening the appeal. Hence the illegal immigrant problem. Come visit the Elm St area some summer evening/nite if you claim ignorance.
Just more cops is not going to fix this problem! If you have ever dealt with a rat or roach infiltration. You have learned that you can spend the rest of your life killing them if you can or you can clean up the food source and they will leave.
We just need to clean up the "food" source - ain't easy, not politically correct, but it is the only solution!
Hopefully, the new mayor and chief will acknowledge the problem and rally the community to correct it versus sweeping it under the rug and ridiculing citizens who bring it up.

CaP'N: This is a problem that will only get worse now, not any better.

However, when MassHealth gives folks going to Methadone Clinics rides (either taxi/or MART) to their clients, this really is a joke. Especially this idea that a Methadone Clinic is really beneficial. Seems funny that in a city with SO MANY drug problems, they have a Methadone Clinic, but never hear about the clients, that abuse the service (or as to why there should be one at all).

The same could be said of the "Other Side" Seems funny that people talk a great game of allowing there to be a Strip Club in Fitchburg, and yet the city has a prostitution problem?

There needs to be work in Fitchburg. However all you see in placement agencies that give people work for a day, which is JUST enough to get the daily fix! Did it ever occur to anyone that decent jobs are in order for this city? Yeah, there are people who say they are there in Fitchburg (but last year the Fitchburg area was #3 with the worst unemployment rate...more than Boston..so what's that tell you).

It isn't just the system that has a problem, it is an electorate that allow things to get to where it is. I am not calling for more handouts from the government, but I would like a government that would have the common sense to be on the side of those people to help lift us out of the problem. That has been a problem that ills this country for the longest time.

Yet again...another reason for which you cannot blame Lisa Wong!

[Boulder City]

Bruce W Marien wrote:

Daisy,
I agree that there is no easy answer. Fitchburg has always made resources available to people in unfortunate circumstances (drug addiction,etc) and we are facing issues as a result of that as well as diminishing resources. Mayor Wong has been working hard toward trying to find appropriate solutions, but she cannot do it alone.
She had previously asked that people in the city willing to volunteer contact her office with contact information...maybe it is time that people in the city feeling inclined to do so offer the city some assistance. We obviously cannot take up law enforcement on our streets, but maybe there are other ways we can help...how about it Fitchburg?

BRUCE: In a city of over 48,000 people to ask people to volunteer to cure the problems that ail the city of Fitchburg, may be a good idea, but just doesn't really cut it.

If Fitchburg is going to survive GOVERNMENT needs to step up to the plate. Economic Development in creating FULL TIME PERMANENT JOBS, that pay a person rent would be a great start. If that is the case now...there would not be the social service agencies there today.

In the case of crime, it seems funny that Landlords are the biggest problem. Absentee Landlords, some of which own many buildings, and don't know, and don't care about what the conditions are, nor of who lives in them (Mr. Donnelly a great example..), If it means hiring a person to be a Landlord Czar, then do it. If it means putting a committee of people together to fight this problem...then do it!

See the problem Bruce, it seems there are ALOT of things we come up with, yet the City Council...has tunnel vision, and could care less.

Remember the COP's (CITIZENS ON PATROL) car the city had...it didn't last too long it seemed. Nor would anyone want to do that in Fitchburg now...without a gun, and a cruiser???

There are better answers...but it takes more than volunteer. It takes a community that cares, and a community that takes care of their families, and their neighborhood.

Like Hillary Clinton once wrote "It takes a Village to raise a child." In Fitchburg, it is more like "The Village corrupts the child into dependency...and degredation!"

[CAPnMASS]

Boulder City wrote:

<quoted text>
BRUCE: In a city of over 48,000 people to ask people to volunteer to cure the problems that ail the city of Fitchburg, may be a good idea, but just doesn't really cut it.
If Fitchburg is going to survive GOVERNMENT needs to step up to the plate. Economic Development in creating FULL TIME PERMANENT JOBS, "

1. 48000 - is that an unofficial number including illegal? last Census we were overtaken by Leominster around 40,0000 - not a big deal, but just wondering.

2. Government cannot create jobs, not real ones anyways. It can sometimes artificially create a situation that entices borderline development through various tools and sometimes the garden grows. However, more and more evidence is demonstrating that these fail often in the long run.

3. The saddest comment is insinuating that the people can do it! Our forefathers are rolling over on that one, because that was exactly the plan. Ever read Democracy in America? One illustration in the study of our form government included the reaction of a citizen seeing a problem with the local road. At the time, according the writer, Europeans were of the nature to fold their arms and say what is the government going to do about this. In 1832 America, the citizen would first try to fix it himself, or get and couple of neighbors, maybe if it was to big, go to the local township, etc... The first time I read this was an ah ha moment, we have become lazy citizens!

Why aren't we as citizen responsible for particpating anymore? Because to many people like you think everything is the government job.

We are all, individually responsible according to the Declaration of Independence and our Constitution. But, with the "modern" education system and political correctness, we have lost our way.

[CAPnMASS]

Boulder City wrote:

<quoted text>

Remember the COP's (CITIZENS ON PATROL) car the city had...it didn't last too long it seemed. Nor would anyone want to do that in Fitchburg now...without a gun, and a cruiser???

This still exists, but the last Chief did belittle it as well as a few bad members of the rank & file. I hope the new chief is a little more receptive to "true" community policing - that involves actively engaging in the community and not shoveling BS under the carpet.

To bad you are not interested enough in your community to get involved - that is the problem!

[CAPnMASS]

Boulder City wrote:

CONT'D THE CONTRADICTIONS OF Mr. McMenemy":
Never in the 7 years I lived in Fitchburg, did I EVER read from you about the methadone clinics. Seems funny neither did Dan Mylott.

Whoa! First of all, Mr McMenemy is about creating havic with his editorials of which I have been just as dissappointed in his lack of consistancy as anybody else. However, you must be blind not to have seen him utterly attack Mylott or the blight created by the over abundace of social services including the "methodone clinic" foisted on this community by the state.

So if you have been "reading for 7yrs" I take it you are only about 12 or 13 yrs old. Now, take that inference as an example of both your comment and some of the writing of Mr McMenemy.

[Dorion]

What does celebrating at 11pm have to do with anything? The shooters, and those that were shot, were no doubt up to no good. They took this opportunity to take care of business.
This "business", and those that are in it, is what we should be talking about.
You are right in saying we should be getting rid of these elements, but to say that hiring more police will recify the problem is ridiculous. The last ten years has had increases in police and fire to the tune of near bankruptcy for the city. Read the paper.

[Bob]

Boulder City has her "defend Wong" cap on today.

Look, let's face it, the liberals are to blame for weak law enforcement. The Bean and now the Wong eras are testaments to this claim. Liberals are famous for slashing policing and then react to crimes with community meetings.

What say you Boulder City?

[Net]

Another aspect of this problem is the issue of sentencing. When people are tried and convicted of crimes in Fitchburg and across this state, dispositions are far too lenient. Just follow the court logs in this paper for a few weeks and you will see. Many of the people committing crimes in Fitchburg have been in and out of the criminal justice system for years. This revolving door of "justice" compounds the problems faced by the police, mayor, and law-abiding citizens.

[Former Municipal Official]

Show me where to cut. When the library was threatening to close, I recall the paper took the position that this was a bad place to make the cuts. Now that crime is making headlines, the police are a bad place to make the cuts. I expect next as we get closer to September, we will read about how terrible the school cuts have been.

Some one show me a better budget than the one the mayor put together. Sounds so simple, right? Just spend less (and don't even think about raising revenue (taxes)-- but where do YOU cut?

[Boulder City]

CAPnMASS wrote:

<quoted text>
Whoa! First of all, Mr McMenemy is about creating havic with his editorials of which I have been just as dissappointed in his lack of consistancy as anybody else. However, you must be blind not to have seen him utterly attack Mylott or the blight created by the over abundace of social services including the "methodone clinic" foisted on this community by the state.
So if you have been "reading for 7yrs" I take it you are only about 12 or 13 yrs old. Now, take that inference as an example of both your comment and some of the writing of Mr McMenemy.

1
CAP'N: I am 42, born in Fitchburg. Worked in Fitchburg in the mid' 80's as a teenager, lived in Fitcburg twice (1988-89, 2000-07). So I am NOT the neophyte you make me out as being. Also, I read this paper consistently during the time I lived in the area. My sister, was a student nurse at the old Burbank School of Nursing, and I remember when they had a decent hospital, not the swing-door clinic they have today. While people say that Main Street was going to be the way it was, it was A MUCH DIFFERENT PLACE when I was a kid.

Also, My Mother lived in Cleghorn during the Great Depression, graduated FHS in 1948, and my Grandmother lived on Rollstone Rd for a very long time (along with a fair number of my friends/relatives...) So yet again...your facts are WAY OFF BASE!

Furthermore, I have in the past also taken potshots at Former Mayor Whitney, as her inept/senile ways are why Fitchburg got the way it was.

However, It was Mr. McMenemy who attacked Mylott for the spending practices of the city (including what few cops there were hired under Mylott), but then turns around and beats up on Wong for making a tough decision.

Also, let's remember something else, Mylott had a good pal in Mitt Romney. Now when you say that "the methodone clinics were foisted upon the city by the state" is a tad bit lame. After all, when every Mylott needed money, his banker in the corner office of Beacon Hill was ready to endow his good friend and Fitchburg. Apparently the State DOR & Mr. McMenemy (thus the hypocracy) didn't feel the love regarding their method to the madness.

So before you start attacking me, I think that you need to check up on your information. I don't think I need a lesson on Fitchburg, and I certaintly don't need someone trying to tell me that this paper's editor is the next thing to the gospel. I'm not the only one who has had a problem with his tenure as editor (and if you don't believe me...just ask Dan Mylott!!)

[Boulder City]

Bob wrote:

Boulder City has her "defend Wong" cap on today.
Look, let's face it, the liberals are to blame for weak law enforcement. The Bean and now the Wong eras are testaments to this claim. Liberals are famous for slashing policing and then react to crimes with community meetings.
What say you Boulder City?

BOOB: First JERK, I'm a man. Apparently you don't know the difference.

Secondly, you talk about weak law enforcement and sentencing. Seems funny that in Massachusetts, when the Dept of Corrections Guard Union had to fight hard for a new contract. Seems that under Weld, Cellucci, Swift and Romney, the Guard Union, had made recommendations to have new doors put on the cells to protect the guards from inmates sticking the gaurds with eating utensils, but yet the GOP governors, threw parties for the wardens, and basically thumbed their noses at the guards.

Then we have the FPD, and lack of officers. When Lt. Deacon had been quoted 2 years ago to push for a Prop 2 1/2 override, he didn't get far with it. EVEN NOW...people in Fitchburg want more cops, but won't pay more in taxes to pay them. Yeah, they want to cut, but that money is a ONE TIME fix, then you have to cut again somewhere else to get more.

Then let's blame the judges. The cries "Those liberal judges..they are too leinient, they are too soft on crime. Well, try building another prison....Yeah, what a joke. Remember the last one Boob? The New Braintree one that Dukakis wanted built. The cries went out...."NOT IN MY BACKYARD."

Seems funny too as I'd always see a new sign going up front of MCI Concord...a new addition...during the Romney Administration. What a joke. Try building a modern facility.
(something of which they did up here in Maine..and the conservatives loved it...why not Massachusetts Boob???)

Your NIMBY attitude is showing that the only ones that are soft on crime is people like you. You can't even pay for it, but you want more..

LOL BOOB!