Tomorrow’s News, Today

Sneak preview of tomorrow’s issue:

• Richard Nangle, he of the recent court testimony in the Larry Cirignano case, has left the Telegram, and is moving onto the state Department of Social Services.
• A group of legislators is launching an intense three-pronged approach to save the WRTA and all RTA’s statewide.  They are “strongly urging” City Manager Michael O’Brien not to go ahead with the proposed service cuts.
• In other WRTA news…the scheduled meeting for tomorrow night has been cancelled, as it was never publicized.  It will now be held next week.

Nevermind the Bollards, Part Deux

The one and only Gabe Rollins has chimed in on the Great Bollard Escape, and has a unique suggestion and take on the situation:

“I say we take the 9 that are not secured and line them up in front of the entrance to city hall. How does something like that go unchecked? You know maybe the city council should stop crowing about Berkley Investments, Young Park and City Square and start making sure that their own infrastructure, the stuff that they actually have control of, is ready for the added amount of pedestrians that the next few years are going to bring to downtown.”

Bowling for Bollards anyone?

Pass

Rushton’s request for a study narrowly passes, 6-5. Irish, Perotto, Petty, Rushton, Smith, Toomey voted in favor. There was some snippiness between Rushton and Lukes that is still going on. More on that post-meeting, but it is going to be two long years if these two dont work something out.

UPDATE: The above item is correct–I just confirmed with the City Clerk’s office that the order did pass 6-5, with the vote tally above.

Rushton is getting hammered by Palmieri on the timing, considering two weeks ago the council voted unanimously for the lowest residential tax rate. “Something doesn’t smell right.” Smith has taken Rushtons side, at least to look at it for several years out.

Clancy opposes

…and blames the residential assessments, not the tax rate. He says he doesn’t like Rushton’s timing.

One rate to rule them all

“It’s our duty…to soften the (tax) blow.” Rushton claims that if we had stayed at one tax rate, homeowners would be paying $800 less, on average.