By Brian Boyd
A Plymouth businessman has announced he will seek the Republican nomination for the new 9th Congressional District.
Christopher Sheldon, a management consultant and Plymouth County Charter Study Commissioner, has formed a campaign committee, he announced in a news release Friday.
"Like many from the South Shore, South Coast, Cape and Islands, I am very concerned about the direction of our country and especially our economy," Sheldon said in the release. "I believe in the American dream and I believe that, if we start now, there is still time to get our nation back on track."
He cited professional politicions and partisanship as impediments to solving problems in Washingron, and he said there is a need for someone with business and economic experience who is willing to work across party lines. Sheldon has tentatively scheduled a formal announcement of his candidacy and a campaign kick-off event for March 30.
The new 9th district, created as part of the redistricting process following the 2010 census, encompasses Cape Cod and parts of the South Shore and South Coast, including New Bedford.
U.S. Rep. William R.Keating, D-Mass, who currently represents part of the new district, and Bristol County and District Attorney C. Samuel Sutter are seeking the Democratic Nomination.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Additional Dates for Town/Ward/City Bootcamps
The MassGOP has added more Boot Camps in addition to the January 28th Boot Camp which was completely booked shortly after the date was announced. The training is intended for Republican Town, Ward and City Committee leaders that want to grow their committee with new members and fresh ideas. The program is completely new and updated for 2012.
The program is being offered by the leadership of the Attleboro Republican City Committee, which has a long history of local Republican success. Elected Republicans representing Attleboro include two State Representatives and a State Senator, the Mayor, the leadership and majority of the members of the City Council including the President, and the leadership of the School Committee.
The Massachusetts Republican Party partnering up again with Howard Bibeault and Susan Blais of the Attleboro Committee is inviting the leaders of the local Town and Ward and City Committees to attend a full day of free training classes. In one day participants can learn how to GROW their Committees with new members and new ideas on how to get Republican Candidates elected.
An all new and updated for 2012 - 65 page Hardcover Reference Book will be presented to each attendee. Subjects covered in the Handbook include:
- GOP History & why we are Republicans
- Positive Energy: It's contagious!
- How to grow a Republican Committee
- Why we need Republican Town/Ward/City Committees
- How to organize, electing your officers, OCPF filings
- Checking Accounts, ByLaws, Membership List
- Membership Recruitment & Membership Drives
- Calendar, Events, Meeting Locations, Agenda and Speakers
- Technology - A world of free tools !
- Candidate Debates, Community Involvement, Voter Registrations
- Fundraising, Donations, Dues
- Finding and supporting Rebublican Candidates to run !
- How to organize your committee (Mandatory by MA State Law this April)
and lots more !
The newly added dates include:
Sunday, February 5, 2012 - 9AM to 3PM (With Lunch and Snacks)
Location: State Senator Ross - Office - 93 Commonwealth Ave, North Attleboro, MA
Sunday, April 22, 2012 - 9AM to 3PM (With Lunch and Snacks)
Location: Labonte's Auto School - 130 Cedar Street, Milford, MA
Sunday, April 26, 2012 - 9AM to 3PM (With Lunch and Snacks)
Location: State Senator Ross Office - 93 Commonwealth Ave, North Attleboro, MA
Saturday, May 19, 2012 - 9AM to 3PM (With Lunch and Snacks)
Location North of Boston Area - Venue to be announced
Anyone considering running for office, and declared candidates and their teams should be planning to attend a Boot Camp ! After noting which boot camp you and your team wish to attend contact the MassGOP at BootCamps@massgop.com.
The program is being offered by the leadership of the Attleboro Republican City Committee, which has a long history of local Republican success. Elected Republicans representing Attleboro include two State Representatives and a State Senator, the Mayor, the leadership and majority of the members of the City Council including the President, and the leadership of the School Committee.
The Massachusetts Republican Party partnering up again with Howard Bibeault and Susan Blais of the Attleboro Committee is inviting the leaders of the local Town and Ward and City Committees to attend a full day of free training classes. In one day participants can learn how to GROW their Committees with new members and new ideas on how to get Republican Candidates elected.
An all new and updated for 2012 - 65 page Hardcover Reference Book will be presented to each attendee. Subjects covered in the Handbook include:
- GOP History & why we are Republicans
- Positive Energy: It's contagious!
- How to grow a Republican Committee
- Why we need Republican Town/Ward/City Committees
- How to organize, electing your officers, OCPF filings
- Checking Accounts, ByLaws, Membership List
- Membership Recruitment & Membership Drives
- Calendar, Events, Meeting Locations, Agenda and Speakers
- Technology - A world of free tools !
- Candidate Debates, Community Involvement, Voter Registrations
- Fundraising, Donations, Dues
- Finding and supporting Rebublican Candidates to run !
- How to organize your committee (Mandatory by MA State Law this April)
and lots more !
The newly added dates include:
Sunday, February 5, 2012 - 9AM to 3PM (With Lunch and Snacks)
Location: State Senator Ross - Office - 93 Commonwealth Ave, North Attleboro, MA
Sunday, April 22, 2012 - 9AM to 3PM (With Lunch and Snacks)
Location: Labonte's Auto School - 130 Cedar Street, Milford, MA
Sunday, April 26, 2012 - 9AM to 3PM (With Lunch and Snacks)
Location: State Senator Ross Office - 93 Commonwealth Ave, North Attleboro, MA
Saturday, May 19, 2012 - 9AM to 3PM (With Lunch and Snacks)
Location North of Boston Area - Venue to be announced
Anyone considering running for office, and declared candidates and their teams should be planning to attend a Boot Camp ! After noting which boot camp you and your team wish to attend contact the MassGOP at BootCamps@massgop.com.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Time to fix Public Housing
By Raymond Mariano
The current public housing system is a well-intentioned failure. This system, originally intended to provide temporary transitional support to struggling families, has become the housing of choice for multiple generations of the same family. Such a system promotes reliance on public assistance and creates intergenerational poverty.
With each subsequent generation, the lack of motivation to leave public housing becomes more ingrained. Today, children living in public housing are more likely to become adult residents and raise their own children in public housing than in generations past.
Additionally, the intergenerational reliance on public housing clogs the system with the same families. The result is that thousands of families are forced to remain on an endless waiting list.
The current system is based on the mistaken notion that residents of public housing can't do anything to help themselves and that they are destined to fail. We reject that notion. Rather than believing in our residents and helping them get on their feet, our existing system provides a strong disincentive to work and to accurately report income.
The time has come for a bold new approach. One approach aims to break the permanent cycle of poverty and public housing reliance, as well as transform lives by changing the concept behind providing this public benefit.
With close to 80 percent of Worcester's public housing residents unemployed, we propose a requirement for able-bodied residents under the age of fifty to go to work or attend school full time in order to continue to receive housing benefits.
In order to ensure that residents are provided the necessary tools and resources to meet the school/work requirements, all residents will participate in intensive case-management services, and will be provided with access to resources that will help improve the educational, occupational, financial and health needs of each member of the household.
As an incentive to go to work, all residents will participate in an escrow program to allow them to maintain their rents at a pre-employment level. The increased portion of their rent, that would normally result from their increased income, will be put in escrow to allow the resident a greater chance of self-sufficiency when they leave public housing after a few years.
Too many children living in public housing fail and drop out of school. Poor attendance and dismal graduation rates have become the norm. As a part of this new approach, children will be required to attend school on a regular basis and not exceed the guidelines for absences set by the local school district for their family to continue to receive housing benefits.
Although most public and leased housing residents have the desire and motivation to improve their lives, many lack the skills and knowledge to actually do so. Life 101 is a program specifically designed to provide residents with basic but significant life skills, including training related to healthy relationships, parenting, financial literacy, housekeeping, being a good neighbor and conflict resolution.
In general, public housing children lack resources, family support and a positive father/male role model. Lack of education contributes to a lack of sustained employment among our residents.
Ultimately, our goal is to help make residents self-sufficient and motivate them to move out of public or leased housing and take their place in the larger community. We believe that housing authorities should do more than change the windows and doors every few years. In fact, if we are willing to believe in our residents and provide them with the support they need, we believe that we have the opportunity to change lives.
Raymond V. Mariano is executive director of the Worcester Housing Authority.
The current public housing system is a well-intentioned failure. This system, originally intended to provide temporary transitional support to struggling families, has become the housing of choice for multiple generations of the same family. Such a system promotes reliance on public assistance and creates intergenerational poverty.
With each subsequent generation, the lack of motivation to leave public housing becomes more ingrained. Today, children living in public housing are more likely to become adult residents and raise their own children in public housing than in generations past.
Additionally, the intergenerational reliance on public housing clogs the system with the same families. The result is that thousands of families are forced to remain on an endless waiting list.
The current system is based on the mistaken notion that residents of public housing can't do anything to help themselves and that they are destined to fail. We reject that notion. Rather than believing in our residents and helping them get on their feet, our existing system provides a strong disincentive to work and to accurately report income.
The time has come for a bold new approach. One approach aims to break the permanent cycle of poverty and public housing reliance, as well as transform lives by changing the concept behind providing this public benefit.
With close to 80 percent of Worcester's public housing residents unemployed, we propose a requirement for able-bodied residents under the age of fifty to go to work or attend school full time in order to continue to receive housing benefits.
In order to ensure that residents are provided the necessary tools and resources to meet the school/work requirements, all residents will participate in intensive case-management services, and will be provided with access to resources that will help improve the educational, occupational, financial and health needs of each member of the household.
As an incentive to go to work, all residents will participate in an escrow program to allow them to maintain their rents at a pre-employment level. The increased portion of their rent, that would normally result from their increased income, will be put in escrow to allow the resident a greater chance of self-sufficiency when they leave public housing after a few years.
Too many children living in public housing fail and drop out of school. Poor attendance and dismal graduation rates have become the norm. As a part of this new approach, children will be required to attend school on a regular basis and not exceed the guidelines for absences set by the local school district for their family to continue to receive housing benefits.
Although most public and leased housing residents have the desire and motivation to improve their lives, many lack the skills and knowledge to actually do so. Life 101 is a program specifically designed to provide residents with basic but significant life skills, including training related to healthy relationships, parenting, financial literacy, housekeeping, being a good neighbor and conflict resolution.
In general, public housing children lack resources, family support and a positive father/male role model. Lack of education contributes to a lack of sustained employment among our residents.
Ultimately, our goal is to help make residents self-sufficient and motivate them to move out of public or leased housing and take their place in the larger community. We believe that housing authorities should do more than change the windows and doors every few years. In fact, if we are willing to believe in our residents and provide them with the support they need, we believe that we have the opportunity to change lives.
Raymond V. Mariano is executive director of the Worcester Housing Authority.
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Congressmen Told Not to Say "Merry Christmas"
Rules gag free speech between voters and elected officials.
According to a December 12th memo by the House Franking Commission, congressman in the House of Representatives are not allowed to wish voters a "Merry Christmas" or "Happy New Year" in mail or e-mail.
Congressman use their franking privileges (using taxpayer dollars to pay for postage) to send mail or e-mail to voters throughout the year. However, the Franking Commission, the six-member bipartisan group officially known as the Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards, told legislators that "Merry Christmas" is strictly prohibited.
In addition, the memo also noted that congressman can't use their official social media pages to wish constituents "Merry Christmas" or "Happy New Year." It cited the Rules of Practice which also states congressmen cannot use "colors that give the impression of a holiday greeting."
A Franking Commission spokesman confirmed to The Washington Examiner that members of Congress indeed cannot wish constituents "Merry Christmas" in any official mailing. "Currently, incidental use of the phrase Happy Holidays is permissible but Merry Christmas is not," said Sally Wood. Curiously, these rules do not currenty apply to Senators.
Medford City Committee Chair and State Committeeman Bernie Green urges all of our readers to call or e-mail Congressman Ed Markey and Speaker John Boehner, urging them to reverse the franking rules to allow Christmas and other holiday greetings in mailings to voters.
According to a December 12th memo by the House Franking Commission, congressman in the House of Representatives are not allowed to wish voters a "Merry Christmas" or "Happy New Year" in mail or e-mail.
Congressman use their franking privileges (using taxpayer dollars to pay for postage) to send mail or e-mail to voters throughout the year. However, the Franking Commission, the six-member bipartisan group officially known as the Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards, told legislators that "Merry Christmas" is strictly prohibited.
In addition, the memo also noted that congressman can't use their official social media pages to wish constituents "Merry Christmas" or "Happy New Year." It cited the Rules of Practice which also states congressmen cannot use "colors that give the impression of a holiday greeting."
A Franking Commission spokesman confirmed to The Washington Examiner that members of Congress indeed cannot wish constituents "Merry Christmas" in any official mailing. "Currently, incidental use of the phrase Happy Holidays is permissible but Merry Christmas is not," said Sally Wood. Curiously, these rules do not currenty apply to Senators.
Medford City Committee Chair and State Committeeman Bernie Green urges all of our readers to call or e-mail Congressman Ed Markey and Speaker John Boehner, urging them to reverse the franking rules to allow Christmas and other holiday greetings in mailings to voters.
Recent Capuano Statement on Green Line Funding
Since Congressman Capuano made his initial comments to the Somerville Board of Alderman on December 8th, he has been under great pressure from Somerville advocates to support the full build out of the proposed Green Line to Route 16. In order to keep the readers of our Blog aware of the political maneuvering going on not only for the present, but for the future as it impacts Medford we ask that you read the editorial letter sent by Congressman Capuano. We continue our efforts to educate those directly affected by the current proposed light-rail expansion, but also participate with other concerned residents of Medford to inform all of the pressure by developers to extend the additional trolley service to Route 16.
To read the Capuano letter click here:
To read the Capuano letter click here:
Winchester Residents oppose Freight Train Spur
According to Winchester Patch Editor Daniel Marra, "Winchester could see freight trains driving through town in the near future." Over 25 residents crowded into the Board of Selectmen meeting room [recently] to oppose the possibility of having freight trains stopping in town. According to Winchester resident Susan Busher, a railroad switch has been established by the Massachusetts Bay Commuter Railroad (MBCR) at Cross Street at the request of Tighe Trucking, Inc. She said "that a railroad siding will be installed that will bring freight trains off the commuter rail for the delivery to the back side of Tighe Trucking at 45 Holten Street." If you haven't weighed in on this issue,and wish to, you should call a member of the Selectmen's Board and/or your town meeting member(s)!
To read the full article click here:
To read the full article click here:
Monday, December 19, 2011
Congress sees the Light over Bulb Ban
By Howie Carr
The forces of of science and rationalism won a big victory in Congress this week over superstition and religious intolerence, but somehow I doubt the American Civil Liberties Union is celebrating. Here's the headline: "Congress overturns incandescent light bulb ban."
That's right. The ban on 100-watt incandescent Thomas Edison light bulbs, which was supposed to begin January 1st, was put off. Congress has denied the green fundamentalists any funds to impose their eco-sharia law on the rest of us infidels who have figured out that global warming is a scam, or should I say false religion. Is that blasphemy, what I just said? Am I a denier? It's certainly lese majeste, because the ruling classes, Republican and Democrat alike, have embraced this this strange cult.
You can see the fanatical true believers engaged in their bizarre rituals, sorting out their trash and depositing each type at a different altar in the suburban landfills - a different one for cardboard and newsprint and green glass bottles and clear bottles and tin cans and aluminum cans. Like all new cults, the Greens have zero tolerance for the older religions. Just because they believe in global warming , it must be true, and therefore anyone who opposes them is an infidel who must be shunned. They have their own Book of Revelation - the movie "An Inconvenient Truth."
Alas, the inconvenient truth is that the date of the apocalypse keeps getting moved back. Temperatures aren't rising, theyr'e falling, thus the now-famous memo from alleged scientists (actually high priests) about "hiding the decline" in global temperatures. Archbishop Barack Obama,who in 2008 predicted tht his nomination would be the day the sea levels stopped rising, now admits he can't control the weather. Well, even St. Augustine was plagued by doubts. What's ironic about the Church of Green is that these are the same people who want government out of their bedroom, or their uteruses, now want government in your light socket, or your toilet.
As late as the 1960's, Roman Cahtolics were forbidden to eat meat on Fridays. It was a mortal sin - an express ticket to hell - to enjoy a cheeseburger or a pepperoni pizza. Yet, no Catholic pol would have ever dreamed of filing legislation to ban everyone from eating meat on Friday. But the shock troops of this new religion have no such qualms. First they came for your toilets that flushed, next they came for your incandescent light bulbs. Whatever happened to the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it?" Or the Hippocratic oath: "First, do no harm." Stopping the light bulb ban, at least temporarily, was a small victory for us nonbelievers. At least we have something to be thankful for this Christmas, or, as the Greens describe this season, "the winter solstice."
The forces of of science and rationalism won a big victory in Congress this week over superstition and religious intolerence, but somehow I doubt the American Civil Liberties Union is celebrating. Here's the headline: "Congress overturns incandescent light bulb ban."
That's right. The ban on 100-watt incandescent Thomas Edison light bulbs, which was supposed to begin January 1st, was put off. Congress has denied the green fundamentalists any funds to impose their eco-sharia law on the rest of us infidels who have figured out that global warming is a scam, or should I say false religion. Is that blasphemy, what I just said? Am I a denier? It's certainly lese majeste, because the ruling classes, Republican and Democrat alike, have embraced this this strange cult.
You can see the fanatical true believers engaged in their bizarre rituals, sorting out their trash and depositing each type at a different altar in the suburban landfills - a different one for cardboard and newsprint and green glass bottles and clear bottles and tin cans and aluminum cans. Like all new cults, the Greens have zero tolerance for the older religions. Just because they believe in global warming , it must be true, and therefore anyone who opposes them is an infidel who must be shunned. They have their own Book of Revelation - the movie "An Inconvenient Truth."
Alas, the inconvenient truth is that the date of the apocalypse keeps getting moved back. Temperatures aren't rising, theyr'e falling, thus the now-famous memo from alleged scientists (actually high priests) about "hiding the decline" in global temperatures. Archbishop Barack Obama,who in 2008 predicted tht his nomination would be the day the sea levels stopped rising, now admits he can't control the weather. Well, even St. Augustine was plagued by doubts. What's ironic about the Church of Green is that these are the same people who want government out of their bedroom, or their uteruses, now want government in your light socket, or your toilet.
As late as the 1960's, Roman Cahtolics were forbidden to eat meat on Fridays. It was a mortal sin - an express ticket to hell - to enjoy a cheeseburger or a pepperoni pizza. Yet, no Catholic pol would have ever dreamed of filing legislation to ban everyone from eating meat on Friday. But the shock troops of this new religion have no such qualms. First they came for your toilets that flushed, next they came for your incandescent light bulbs. Whatever happened to the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it?" Or the Hippocratic oath: "First, do no harm." Stopping the light bulb ban, at least temporarily, was a small victory for us nonbelievers. At least we have something to be thankful for this Christmas, or, as the Greens describe this season, "the winter solstice."
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