Fitchburg mayor to hold meeting near scene of shooting - Sentin...

Mayor Lisa Wong has called a meeting for residents of the North Street area to discuss the recent slaying in their neighborhood, and how to improve their community.

[disgusted]

I don't think it takes a rocket scientist to know what EVERY law abiding resident want in their neighborhood. To me this is all smoke and mirrors. How can they resist CVS coming into the city but let the LATIN KINGS open up a barber shop on Lunenburg St. right next to Slattery's? That should improve the quality of life for the neighboring residents. Very sad.

[resident]

Very sad indeed.

[What about us]

how a bout a meeting at park hill too...
screw protecting the drug dealers, let's protect our kids first.

[JTN]

kommbuyya,o'lord koombyyya

[Ken Burgess]

So much for Deval Patrick's plan to put "more and more police officers on the streets!"

[Bob]

This is the liberal's solution. Cut policing and then hold community meetings after the fact. What a joke the mayor is!!

[J_in _Ward _1]

We need to reduce the amount of rental housing in the city to prevent the turnover mentioned in the article. Just like there are a limited number of liquor licenses, set a limited number of rental units. Any new construction would require demolishment of an equal number of units in a slumlord building. As supply tightens, the good will drive out the bad.

[CAPnMASS]

WOW, please do not mistake me for a big fan of Mayor Wong - but unless the citizens get involved, no amount of government, police or whatever will solve these problems. Even if the elected or appointed officials truly want to solve it, their power and thus their ability is derived solely from the will and actions of the people they represent.

There have been several attempts to raise the community's awareness and involvement. Apathy and interference by previous regimes, competing interests, etc has splintered each effort.

30 years ago, neighbors knew neighbors and their kids. Everybody would watch and have concern with strangers in the neighborhood. If something was really suspicious, they would say something maybe to a cop (and not get the response - nobody cares about that neighborhood (actual quote)). The community accepted a standard of behavior, now we have none, because there is no community!

Government and Cops can't fix this without the community and a consensus on the standard of behavior. This includes problems with landlords, homeowners, questionalble businesses, illegal aliens all contributing to the drug and violence.

So if you are fed up, whining will not help! It is not rocket science either, but it does rely on the people in the community standing up and reclaiming their turf!

Whether this is a real effort or a show, we do not know. Yes, we have had a few of those in the past. The inside politics has to stop as well, but some of those people have moved on now. However, if the communities get serious, then those will not have the power of our apathy.

[burger]

Correct me if I am wrong but Mayor Wong seems to be getting MUCH more involved in what is going on in this city than Mylott. I rarely read Mylott's name in the paper - except when he was claiming that crime has gone down in Fitchburg.

[tim]

J_in _Ward _1 wrote:

We need to reduce the amount of rental housing in the city to prevent the turnover mentioned in the article. Just like there are a limited number of liquor licenses, set a limited number of rental units. Any new construction would require demolishment of an equal number of units in a slumlord building. As supply tightens, the good will drive out the bad.

so how do you propose the decrease in rental units burn them? hire a moving company and put them on a flatbed.

[only the truth]

First things first!!!! You have to fix the justice system so when this trash gets busted they stay busted for a long time!!! All the police in the world are not going to fix the proble if they get released the same day with a 100 to 2500 dollar bails. They have that money on them.

Second, residents are scared of the reprocusion if they open their mouths and call the cops. Do you blame them.

Where are the State and City Reps complaining to the judicial system for change and tougher laws and jail time.

People of the BURG you need to fight Ohhh No Wong and your city council. Looks like they just have blinders on and do not really care for your or your children's well being.

A former BURGER

[Joyce]

AMEN! Sooner rather then later..

J_in _Ward _1 wrote:

We need to reduce the amount of rental housing in the city to prevent the turnover mentioned in the article. Just like there are a limited number of liquor licenses, set a limited number of rental units. Any new construction would require demolishment of an equal number of units in a slumlord building. As supply tightens, the good will drive out the bad.

[Leominster Parent]

Wow I read a lot of posts on here bashing the Mayor for not doing enough and not getting involved and then when she tries to do something she STILL gets bashed. Mayor Wong is not to blame for the poor situation Fitchburg is in. Nothing can be fixed over night, give her a chance.

[CIt4WhatItIs]

What is there to meet about? A couple of Boston hoodies got shot while trying to jack a local crack dealer. What should we do - put up signs warning out-of-town visitors? Something like "Don't feed the crack dealers", or perhaps "Warning: rob the local drug dealers at your own risk". Ya, that should reduce some crime, alright.

[J_in_ Ward_1]

tim wrote:

<quoted text>
so how do you propose the decrease in rental units burn them? hire a moving company and put them on a flatbed.

Shut down all the ones owned by slumlords who owe back taxes. Shut down all the ones owned by slumlords who have repeated unfixed code violations. Raze the abandoned apartment buildings. Only allow new units if they are accompanied by the removal of an equal number of existing units from the city.

It's like the field of dreams in reverse - don't build it (a slum) and they (the bad elements) won't come.

[CAPnMASS]

burger wrote:

Correct me if I am wrong but Mayor Wong seems to be getting MUCH more involved in what is going on in this city than Mylott.

Mr Mylott had a lot of faults as we all do, but as far as being there at every event, every meeting, etc - don't got down that one! That was his best feature.

Mayor Wong has built quite a reputation already in her short tenure for either not showing up or leaving in the middle. So if you like her - I would avoid that argument.

[Boulder City]

burger wrote:

Correct me if I am wrong but Mayor Wong seems to be getting MUCH more involved in what is going on in this city than Mylott. I rarely read Mylott's name in the paper - except when he was claiming that crime has gone down in Fitchburg.

As I lived in Fitchburg during the whole Mylott Administration...AMEN to that.

Also, isn't it funny, he never got the blame for the shootings that happened under his watch either???

[burger]

CAPnMASS wrote:

<quoted text>
Mr Mylott had a lot of faults as we all do, but as far as being there at every event, every meeting, etc - don't got down that one! That was his best feature.
Mayor Wong has built quite a reputation already in her short tenure for either not showing up or leaving in the middle. So if you like her - I would avoid that argument.

I have no opinion on her one way or another. But I know that I see her "suggestions" (good or bad) in the paper almost every day whereas Mylott was only in it because he attended a meeting. Do you see what I am saying?

It seems like even if they are silly/bad ideas (or good for that matter) at least she's coming up with ideas.

[burger]

Boulder City wrote:

<quoted text>
As I lived in Fitchburg during the whole Mylott Administration...AMEN to that.
Also, isn't it funny, he never got the blame for the shootings that happened under his watch either???

I know - is it because Lisa Wong is a woman? Young? A minority? She's attacked for everything she does...I saw people even commenting on her weight! I don't remember anyone commenting on Mylott's looks. Ever.

[Boulder City]

J_in_ Ward_1 wrote:

<quoted text>
Shut down all the ones owned by slumlords who owe back taxes. Shut down all the ones owned by slumlords who have repeated unfixed code violations. Raze the abandoned apartment buildings. Only allow new units if they are accompanied by the removal of an equal number of existing units from the city.
It's like the field of dreams in reverse - don't build it (a slum) and they (the bad elements) won't come.

Great idea, only problem is that with Mr. Donnelly getting a free ride from what's left of his friends on the City Council (folks like DeMartino, Boisvert, Conry, Kaddy to name a few), you won't see ANY sort of regulation of Landlords in Fitchburg.

But the problem goes much further. I often looked at the Rent Control Referendum that was passed into law in 1994. Seems funny that when that came into effect, the little guy got screwed, and the only ones with the money, were the ones selling drugs!

If Lisa wants to hire someone, hire someone to INSPECT all tennaments in Fitchburg. I would figure you will see alot of remodling going on, and a fair bunch of people getting kicked out, busted, and probably see a fair amount of back taxes get paid back (or legal action therein...). Or if you want to do it via a volunteer group, then do it that way (but I think that it would be better if it were paid, that way it wouldn't be subject to corruption.)