Category Archives: Education

Education in Newburyport, MA, imparting and acquiring general knowledge, developing the powers of reasoning and judgment, acquiring particular knowledge and skills, and preparing Newburyport’s children for an intellectual and mature life.

Newburyport, Override does NOT pass

It’s 8:45 PM and the un-official numbers are in. The override for the Newburyport schools did NOT pass.

Yes= 2,200
No= 3,263

Total= 5,463

(Handwritten ballots have not yet been read, but according to the Newburyport city clerk, that would not change the election results.)

Number of registered voters about 11,765. So that means that almost half of the register voters of Newburyport, MA voted today, May 22, 2007. That is pretty remarkable for a special election.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

(Editor’s Note: These are the unofficial numbers broken down by wards.)

Ward 1 Plum Island

Yes= 45
No= 182

___________

Ward 1

Yes= 284
No= 376

___________

Ward 2

Yes= 403
No= 373

___________

Ward 3

Yes= 323
No= 488

___________

Ward 4

Yes= 337
No= 573

____________

Ward 5

Yes= 409
No= 553

____________

Ward 6

Yes= 399
No= 718

____________

Newburyport, Override Vote Today, Tuesday May 22, 2007

Whether you are for the override for the Newburyport public schools or against the override or just don’t know yet, make sure that you VOTE, today, May 22, 2007.

This is what democracy is all about.

I have been invited to Newburyport City Hall tonight at 8PM as the votes concerning the special election for an override for our schools come in.

I do not know whether I will be able to go or not. But if I do, I will post the results tonight on the Newburyport Blog.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Parenthood and Education

Being a parent. No small thing.

I have one child, a son, who turns 23 this Thursday.

He lives in my home town of NYC and opens in his 3rd off (sometimes off-off) Broadway production since being in NYC for 9 months.

My son is the product of the Newburyport public school educational system.

When I first moved here, low so many years (decades) ago, I would most definitely have considered the Newburyport public schools to be “mediocre.”

Somewhere along the line they could have gone from “mediocre,” as Jim Roy has said in his article in the Newburyport Current, to “average.” The great fear is that they could be “mediocre.”

When my son entered the public school system I had no illusions that he would at any time get anything close to a private school education. He did not.

And when he went to a private college following Newburyport High School, the college was well aware of the discrepancy between a public and private education and adjusted their curriculum accordingly.

No, my son did not learn Latin, but I think he learned many more valuable lessons. One can always learn Latin if one is so inclined.

He learned what it was to be part of the community of Newburyport, MA, the good, the bad, ugly and the downright wonderful and moving.

He did not think he was “special,” but he knew that he was appreciated and that he was loved.

And somehow, along the way he acquired a great curiosity for learning. Maybe one of the greatest gifts that an educational system can bestow. In his freshman year, although it was not on the curriculum at Newburyport High School, he discovered the “Beat” writers and read everything there was to read from Jack Kerouac and company.

He continued to read at a college and post college level, which again had nothing to do with curriculum, all the way through Newburyport High School. Reading Nietzsche as a high school sophomore is pretty impressive. I have never read Nietzsche, so believe me, this is something he did not get from me.

To this day he reads on, as well as discovering and reading authors that I have never heard of.

He also writes poetry and plays.

And I thought for today’s post, I would include one of my favorite poems that my son has written.

in my belly is the sea
of my mother
i am the wind
a white dress
slips through a hand
like water
this is love

 

 

Newburyport, Vote on Tuesday’s Override Election

I can’t call this override election, but I will be fascinated by the results.

One of the odd things that has happened to me as a blogger, is that I have become more interested in the process of how things develop and unfold than feeling passionately about an issue one way or another.

This is very new.

No matter what happens on Tuesday, May 22, 2007, VOTING DAY, the debate about education in Newburyport, MA has come to the forefront as one of the city’s important issues.

And I don’t think this issue is going to go away.

If the pro-override folks lose, the issue will most likely be on the November ballot.

And if the pro-override folks win, it would be my guess that we could see an “under-ride” on the November ballot.

I think one of the worst thing that could happen would be for apathy to set in and for us as a city and to have “education memory loss.”

And one of my great hopes is for folks on both sides of the issue to join forces and fight for educational funding and reform on the state level. With any luck (and a lot of hard work), Massachusetts Stand for Children stand.org/ma could be a great boon to Newburyport, MA.

And one of my other great hopes is that some of the pro-override folks could become involved in the political process in Newburyport, MA, beside this one particular political issue (can you imagine all this energy going into a fight for new fire trucks?) There are some very smart, savvy, well educated folks here. They may be a little green about how the Newburyport political system thing works. But, hey, as far as I am concerned, it’s Ok to be on a political learning curve, as long as it’s a real true learning curve.

My experience is that most folks start being part of the political process with one issue in mind. Sort of like entering a forest and focusing on one particular tree. And then what usually seems to happen is that folks start to look around and realize that there is a forest, and in fact, there are a whole lot of trees. And then, often I’ve observed that people start to see how large and complex the forest is, and how the trees are in relationship to each other.

Oh, good grief, I’m beginning to sound like the fellow in the movie “Being There” (this dates me big time, but it was a great movie).

I’ll stop talking now about the forest, tree thing. Got a little carried away there. (The frogs like the tree thing, but then they would, they’re frogs.)

But right now, the most important thing for the city of Newburyport is to get out and VOTE on Tuesday, May 22, 2007. Not to sit on the apathetic sidelines and be “political couch potatoes.” (If you are reading the Newburyport Blog, you are probably not a “political couch potato,” but there may be a “political couch potato” near you.)

This election effects everyone in Newburyport, MA, so get out there and get your friends, neighbors, family and you to the voting booth in your ward, next Tuesday, May 22, 2007.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Override, Vote Tuesday, May 22, 2007

I have receive contact from people who are for the override and against the override in regards to “Massachusetts Stand for Children,” www.stand.org/ma. From what I understand, people on both sides of the issue have been in touch with each other about getting together after the override vote is over to see what they could do together to work on a state level.

I could not be more pleased.

My feeling is that “Massachusetts Stand for Children” has already “invented the wheel,” so to speak. The organization is already 85 communities strong, and there is definitely strength, as well as good old political “know how” in “numbers.” 85 communities already involved in the same fight for educational funding and reform sure works for me.

And I was also enormously pleased to see that at tonight’s forum on the override, which is now sponsored by the Newburyport Daily News, along with the Newburyport Chamber of Commerce and the Newburyport Education Business Coalition, that both sides of the override issue would be represented as part of the discussion.

According to the Newburyport Daily News, May 17, 2007, former City Councilors Brenda Reffett and John Norris, who head up the “kNOw Newburyport” effort will now be on the panel.

Who says democracy doesn’t work.

The forum on the school override will be from 7 to 8:30 PM at the Newburyport High School, today, Thursday, May 17, 2007.

And whether you are for or against the override, or simply won’t know until voting day arrives, for goodness sakes VOTE on Tuesday, May 22, 2007. It is one of the privileges that we as citizens of the USA are blessed to have.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, State Educational Funding and Reform

In my quest for trying to find some sort of resolution to local funding problems that is less divisive to our community (and other communities) than a local override, I came across an organization called “Stand for Children,” www.stand.org/ma.

This is from the Massachusetts Stand for Children website:

“The financial crisis in education is no secret. On March 14, 2007, our own Education Commissioner Driscoll testified to the Ways and Means Committee that this year’s school funding crisis was the worst he had seen yet…”

“Today’s outdated foundation budget shortchanges state and federal mandates, curriculum frameworks, classroom technology, the cost of educator development, early education needs, and best practices established in the 13 years since Ed Reform. In addition, it grossly understates the costs of special education and other services to at-risk populations…”

“On Wednesday, April 25, nearly 2,000 education supporters, representing more than 85 communities across the Commonwealth, joined the Stand for Children School Funding Rally on Boston Common. And early in the day, Stand for Children brought more than 400 citizens in to the State House to meet personally with 48 lawmakers and legislative staff to deliver a simple message: our schools need funding relief and reform.

Parents, teachers, and students from across the state demanded that Massachusetts lawmakers provide immediate financial relief to school districts facing teacher layoffs and school closures. They also urged legislators to find a long-term solution to our state’s school funding crisis by committing to reforming state education funding.”

Governor Deval Patrick addressed the crowd. And in an article in the Boston Globe, May 2, 2007, “Patrick Targets School Funding,” by Lisa Wangsness:

“Patrick issued some of his most pointed comments to date, saying the state can no longer afford to rely on the local property tax to fund public education…

The pressure on the local property tax in recent years has chafed cities and towns, as the cost of healthcare has ballooned and state aid — despite recent increases — has not kept up with inflation…

Currently, the state covers less than 40 percent of the cost of local education, with cities and towns picking up the rest through the property tax. While it is a stable source of revenue, it places a sometimes difficult burden on the elderly or people with fixed incomes, and some argue it increases the disparity between communities based on personal income and property value.”

Governor Deval Patrick hopes to release a comprehensive education reform plan in June.

Well, whew, someone on the state level is listening to the anguish of cities and towns across the state of Massachusetts.

There is a “Chapter” of Stand for Children in Lowell. And there is a “Team” for Stand for Children in Gloucester.

It would be nice if there were a “Chapter” or “Team” for Stand for Children in Newburyport, MA. And that at any further rallies for state funding for our schools, Newburyport, MA might be in the forefront of those meeting with lawmakers and legislative staff fighting for educational funding and reform.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, No to the Override

I’ve seen literature from the “Yes for Newburyport” folks, but until this Saturday, I had not seen anything from the “Know Newburyport” (knownewburyport.com) folks.

But, as I was walking around Newburyport, MA, , at least in the South End of town, there were bright yellow flyers with the heading “Stop Tax Override.” The content of the first page of the flier is below:

Passing the Override Fails Our Community

    • It is a “Band-aid” approach to long-standing systemic issues.
    • Adds to each property owner’s real estate tax forever without any assurance of a solution to the financial challenges of the schools.
    • No assurance that the money will go to the schools after the first year.
    • This override only addresses school needs and ignores the fact that our city has other financial challenges. Additional overrides/debt exclusions are currently being considered for as early as the November 2007 election. A full comprehensive city/school plan is needed.

    Saying No to the Override is a Positive Response

    • Voting No encourages responsible analysis and fiscal accountability within the School Department.
    • Allows the School Department time to create a long term plan, based upon the recently approved reorganization, thus ensuring Newburyport’s children the best education possible.
    • Allows the necessary time to fully investigate other revenue sources and options.

    Vote No to Encourage Adoption of True Zero-Based Budgeting

    • Zero-based budgeting ensures against unnecessary spending by requiring complete analysis line by line in each program.
    • Successful private large and small corporations have utilized zero-based budgeting for decades as a means of insuring fiscal responsibility (not a “modified” version as the schools recently claimed they used this budget year).
    • For the past 10 years, citizens have requested the school committee and Superintendent to utilize this effective tool because it is a proven sound business practice.
    • Why is there continued resistance to this request???

    VOTE NO ON TUESDAY, MAY 22nd

    (Editor’s Note:  I was unable to duplicate the format of the flier. My apologies to the folks involved in the “kNOw Newburyport” campaign.)

    Mary Eaton
    Newburyport

    Newburyport, Override and Community

    I guess that I’ve been obliquely charged with stirring up “dissension between the ‘old timers’ and the ‘newbies.’ ” And that this might be an “unwise way of thinking.”

    Oh.

    To think that there is no tension between the newer arrivals or the “newbies” (I do believe that was my phrase) and the folks who have lived here all their lives or even a good part of their lives, would be, in my opinion, a tad out of touch with the reality of Newburyport, MA.

    To walk around town and talk to a whole variety of folks, would, I believe, confirm that possible “unpleasant” reality.

    However, to hope that we might be a “unified community” could in fact, I believe, be “unwise.”

    I went looking for a definition of “community,” and didn’t find anything that I liked much. But I did find some help from the website of the University of Texas (of all places).

    To paraphrase, the idea of “community” is a place where people know and care about each other. That there is a sense of “belonging.” But this is also coupled with a need for diversity, pluralism and dissent. And it is finding that balance between a sense of unity and diversity and dissent that is, I believe, so tricky.

    One of the things that concerns me about the “Yes for Newburyport” campaign for an override, is that people are afraid to speak out against it.

    I am ambivalent about this override, but I respect and understand and empathize with the folks who feel so passionately that it is important. But I also feel that it would be wise to “honor” and “respect” the folks who might feel differently, if we are to sustain a true sense of community.

    And, there is a public forum sponsored by the Newburyport Chamber of Commerce along with the Newburyport Education Business Coalition to discuss the issue of the override. The panel only includes people who are for the override for the Newburyport Public Schools.

    I would suggest that if we are a “true” community, and if this is a “true” neutral discussion, that at the very least, the two people who are heading the “Know Newburyport” (knownewburyport.com) campaign be included in that panel discussion as well.

    And that it would also be a good “educational” example (pun very much intended) to present in such a forum, not just one, but both sides of a political issue. Certainly that is what democracy is all about.

    Mary Eaton
    Newburyport

    Newburyport, Money, Funding and Fiscal Stuff

    I worry that I am no longer a Liberal Democrat. Ouch.

    On social issues I am probably left of Ted Kennedy. But when it comes to fiscal stuff, ie money, after a year and 4 months plus of blogging, I find that I am more and more a fiscal conservative. Good grief.

    And weirdly the 2 seem to be at odds with each other.

    How can we as a city support quality education if there is little to no money at the local, state or federal level?

    Ditto for a senior center. Ouch.

    Ditto for practical things like fire trucks. Ouch

    Ditto for the arts in places like the school system. Ouch.

    Ditto for really good health care for the people who work hard to serve the city of Newburyport, MA. Ouch.

    Ditto for expensive parks or parking solutions. Ouch.

    There is a lot of stuff on the “Ouch” list for me.

    I am finding that being a “pragmatist” and an “idealist” may in fact, in my case, be an oxymoron.

    And as I walk the street of Newburyport, MA and talk to people, I feel a tension in town, brought to a head, most likely, over the concern over our educational system.

    Do I feel “hopeful” about the future of our city, at least on May 10, 2007? Honestly, I have my doubts.

    I feel very hopeful about the leadership of Superintendent Kevin Lyons. I think that he is one of the best things to happen to our school system in decades.

    This is why I am a little confused about the “Advisory Board” put together by the “Yes for Newburyport” folks. I think the leadership of our school system is in the best hands that it has been in for years. Frankly, in my opinion, in a lot better hands than some of the folks on the “Advisory Board” list.

    I most definitely think that Dr. Lyons has the leadership ability “to set an agenda to guide Newburyport’s school system into the 21st Century.” And that we would not need an “Advisory Board” for that goal.

    But, what we could use an “Advisory Board” for is to provide leadership, as well as a city wide policy, to help us advocate for state and federal funding (that would not trigger anymore very expensive and intrusive state and federal mandates).

    And it would be wonderful if all the brain power and all the state and sometimes federal connections this “Advisory Board” has, could be put towards that purpose for the city of Newburyport, MA.

    This is where I think these folks could be unbelievably helpful, and we as a city would be most grateful.

    Mary Eaton
    Newburyport

    Newburyport, Override Press Release

    I received a press release from “Yes for Newburyport” yesterday evening, and instead of thinking, “Yes, good go’n folks, smart political move,” my reaction was one of being really, really, pisssed.

    Now, I’m not sure why my reaction was one of being really, really pissed, so I got the frogs out to take a look at the email/press release.

    In the previous post I commented on how useless the frogs have been up to this point on this issue, so you see here, I’m really, really desperate.

    First, George Cushing, from Frog Pond at the Bartlet Mall, the political consultant to the Newburyport Blog, took a look at the email and then he was joined by the “Twins,” and eventually by frog activist, Georgiana Tadpole.

    george_comp.jpg
    George Cushing taking a look
    at the email/press release on my computer.

    The feeling I had was one of being manipulated and rail-roaded into voting for an override for our schools that, to say the least, I am deeply ambivalent about. (Is that tactful or what.)

    The opening quote on the email/press release is from Sheriff Frank Cousins (who I like a lot):

    “In the correctional system I see first hand what happens to kids when education is not a priority…”

    I have a feeling that Sheriff Cousins didn’t mean it the way it sounded to me which was, “Unless you vote for the override, Newburyport, MA will probably turn out a bunch of criminals.”

    A little heavy handed, which is definitely not Mr. Cousins’ style (at least not in my experience).

    And then there is a long list of “important” people, who I could have told anyone, would support an override in Newburyport, MA for a whole number of reasons.

    They have formed an advisory board.

    ” “Forming the advisory board lends a level of credibly to the grass-roots organization that will help maintain the group’s momentum long after the May 22nd special election,” said Paul Acquaviva, YES for Newburyport’s chairman.”

    Oh.

    (I suppose that’s a little catty of me. But gosh darn it, that email/press release brought out the very, very “catty” in me.)

    It did say at the very end:

    “…the committee has also identified the need to create a broader strategy to address long-term financial issues.” That part works for me.

    I guess what doesn’t work for me, is that there is no sense of community in that press release. It has the cumulative effect of a “pep-rally” combined with an “all out war effort.”

    I want to be able to live side by side with my neighbor, build bridges, not flip them the bird.

    I want this to somehow be a “win-win” situation, where “reasonable people can disagree.” And obviously, I was feeling slightly cantankerous by the time I got through reading that darned press release. (For goodness sakes I hauled out the frogs to take a look at the email/press release, and that’s a little scrunchy, believe you me, when I’m relying that heavily on the frogs!)

    Mary Eaton
    Newburyport

    Newburyport, Meal Tax to Help Municipalities

    Well, George Cushing, of Frog Pond at the Bartlett Mall, the “astute” political consultant for the Newburyport Blog was going to roast our State Representative, Michael Costello.

    george.pillow.1.jpg
    George Cushing being astute

    An article in the Sunday Globe, “Option on meal tax stirs debate
    Communities could benefit,” by Kathy McCabe, May 6, 2007, caught George’s eye.

    The frogs have been feeling left out lately. I haven’t consulted them in this whole school override debate thing. (And quite frankly, between you and me, I haven’t consulted them on this issue because they have been absolutely no help at all. Good grief, aren’t political consultants and aspiring political consultants supposed to be helpful??)

    But, both George and I think the 1-2% meal tax that would help municipal coffers to pay for stuff like the schools and fire trucks, would be a really, really good idea. (Never mind that the Massachusetts Restaurant Association doesn’t like it, of course they wouldn’t like it. Is anybody actually surprised by this? No.)

    At the end of the article in the Boston Globe, May 6, 2007 by Kathy McCabe, there is this quote:

    ” “This tax has been talked about before,” said Michael Costello, executive director of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce in Gloucester. “This tax gives a glimmer of hope to communities. . . . But all it really does is unfairly tax businesses, to right the municipal ship.” ”

    Well, George Cushing proceeded to get his panties all in a bunch (do frogs wear panties??) that Michael Costello would not be for the proposed meal tax that would help his very own city of Newburyport, Massachusetts.

    Whoa. But wait a minute here.

    Good thing I am the editor of the Newburyport Blog and George Cushing is not.

    On closer inspection this morning, the Michael Costello in the article is the “executive director of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce in Gloucester.”

    Am I massively confused or what? How many people by the name of Michael Costello could there possibly be? And is our State Representative moonlighting as the “executive director of the Cape Ann Chamber of Commerce in Gloucester?”

    How to resolve this weirdness. Do I call Michael Costello’s government office in Boston, and ask, “Are you working for Gloucester too??” Or do I call the Gloucester Chamber of Commerce and ask, “Is Michael Costello a state representative??” Which would be less embarrassing for moi?

    In the end I decided to try the Gloucester Chamber of Commerce, and yes, I had the feeling when they answered my question that they thought I was completely nuts.

    But, the mystery of our State Representative Michael Costello working in two places at once is solved. He’s not. There are, low and behold, 2 Michael Costellos. Who knew?

    So, I have spared George Cushing the embarrassment of making a total fool out of himself (lucky George).

    I have no idea how our State Representative feels about the meal tax. I am presuming that he is for it, since he knows first hand how municipalities are struggling. But neither George or I have checked that pertinent piece of information out.

    We were way too busy checking out just how many Michael Costellos there happened to be within a certain proximity. I guess we’ll find out State Representative Michael Costello’s position on this very important matter at some later date, whenever.

    Mary Eaton
    Newburyport

    Newburyport, Preservation Week

    I’ve been waiting for stories on Preservation Week sponsored by the Newburyport Preservation Trust in our 2 local newspapers, and today there were stories on the front page of both the Newburyport Daily News and the Newburyport Current. Whew!

    I especially liked the story in the Newburyport Daily News, May 4, 2007, by Nick Pinto. Some great quotes by Karen Battles the chair and main organizer of Preservation Week, and Sarah White the president of the Newburyport Preservation Trust.

    A big “thank you” to Nick Pinto for this quote:

    “According to the National Architectural Trust, since the early 1980s Newburyport has lost one-third of its historic structures to demolition or “insensitive alteration” — changes so drastic they negate the historic value of the building.”

    And 2 different points made by Sarah White:

    ” “For many years, the continuity and sense of place in the city’s neighborhoods was preserved by residents whose ties to the city stretched back generations, White said. “These days, though, everyone is so much more transient, and we have a different relationship to our homes and our hometowns. We need to think about how we can return to that sense of stewardship.” ”

    White also goes on to say that it is “important that residents begin a citywide conversation about how to balance the city’s modern vitality with its historic foundations.”

    The panel discussion this Sunday, May 6th at 3PM at City Hall, “Historic, Green and Profitable,” as aimed at addressing the balance between “modern vitality and historic foundations.”

    And I think Ms White is quite right in her observations that Newburyport, like so many places in the United States, is inhabited by a much more “transient” population, especially in the last 25 years. And people often come and put their “stamp” on the city of Newburyport, MA, many times without a full understanding the city’s history and significance, and then move on.

    I have great hopes for the Newburyport Preservation Trust. One of my greatest hopes is that they might inspire that sense of “stewardship” to everyone who lives in Newburyport, MA, whether they inhabit our amazing seaside historic city for a short time or for a long time. Wouldn’t that be wonderful.

    Mary Eaton
    Newburyport

    Newburyport, The Partnership Act and Money for Cities and Towns

    Helping Massachusetts cities and towns with their property tax “crisis” –Governor Deval’s “Partnership Act.”

    One of the things I really like about the “Partnership Act” (Municipal Partnership Act– its official name) is that it would close a property tax exemption created in 1915 that exempts telecommunications companies from paying property taxes on their (telephone) poles.

    I believe that we are talking about Verizon here.

    And as I understand it electric companies are paying taxes on their half of (telephone) poles, that they share with telecommunication companies that are exempt.

    Good grief. That seems crazy to me.

    “The best figures I have show that fairly taxing telecomm companies would add $261,330.00 in sorely needed revenue for Arlington.”
    Bluemassgroup.com, Tuesday, April 10, 2007

    That’s an unofficial figure for one town, but folks, that’s a good chunk of change.

    The argument against ending this antiquated loophole would be that Verizon would leave the state and run for the hills (I think that it’s unlikely Verizon would run for the hills, they appear to have way too much invested in the state of Massachusetts).

    The other argument is that Verizon would pass this added expense onto the consumer.

    “The governor discounted the arguments of Verizon Communications that closing the telecommunications tax loophole would lead directly to higher rates for consumers. He said Verizon has raised its rates by 30 percent even while its overall tax bill has gone down 46 percent.

    The 92-year-old law, originally designed to bring telephone service to all corners of the state, exempts telephone companies from paying property taxes on poles and wires, an exemption worth an estimated $78 million, according to the governor.”
    “Local officials, governor urge passage of Municipal Partnership Act” by MMA Publications/Web Director John Ouellette, Tuesday, April 10, 2007.

    So as we are thinking about the fiscal crisis facing Newburyport, MA and a whole lot of other cities and towns across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, getting Verizon to pay for their half of the telephone poles works for me.

    It just seems like plain old common sense.

    Mary Eaton
    Newburyport

    Newburyport, Tax Relief

    Now that I’ve chit chatted about the Republican point of view towards local fiscal woes, George Cushing, the political consultant for the Newburyport Blog felt it was really time to take a look at the Democrat point of view.

    Ok, George. Good idea.

    And that means taking a look at Governor Deval’s “Partnership Act” (The long version, the “Municipal Partnership Act.”), which I gather is still being “tweaked.” And I gather the Partnership Act is not support by one and all. Gee, what a surprise.

    Let’s start with something simple in the proposal:

    The Partnership Act would allow cities and towns to adopt a sales tax on meals of up to 2 percent in addition to the 5 percent state tax.

    25 percent would go to property tax relief for seniors.

    “Local officials, Patrick testify on behalf of partnership act”
    mma.org, Tuesday, April 10, 2007

    “Patrick described the local option taxes on meals as “purely a local decision.”

    “The idea is to trust local communities to make those judgments by themselves according to their own circumstances,” he said.

    He cited studies showing that New York, Chicago, San Francisco and Seattle all have higher meals taxes than Boston would if it were able to enact the local option tax.

    “In all those places the restaurant business is booming,” Patrick added.

    Twenty-five percent of the revenue generated by the local option meals tax and room occupancy tax would be used to reimburse cities and towns for property tax exemptions that senior citizens are eligible for.”

    By MMA Associate Editor Mitch Evich

    A Republican response to this, aside from the fact that it’s yet one more tax on top of all the other taxes is this:

    “Deval’s local tax hike scheme actually gets worse in the details. The reason, friends, is that communities that make the mistake of raising these local taxes only get to keep 75 percent of the hike. The rest goes into (hold your breath) a state fund that would reimburse communities that provide property tax abatements for senior citizens.”
    blog.worcestercountyrepublicanclub.com, February 28, 2007

    Liberal Democrat that I am, I think 25% towards a property relief for seniors is a good thing. That one really works for me.

    Mary Eaton
    Newburyport

    Newburyport, Override Opinions

    In my hunt for what Barbara Anderson was referring when she was talking about “fighting for reforms that would save money,” I learned a lot.

    I discovered 2 really good blogs. One is a Democratic blog, BelowBoston.com and one is a Republican blog, worcestercountyrepublicanclub.com. Two really good blogs from two completely different points of view. I highly recommend them.

    One of these blogs directed me towards the The Patriot Ledger where I found this quote about Barbara Anderson (who I gather is a Republican).

    “Barbara Anderson, president of Citizens for Limited Taxation, the group that led the campaign to adopt Proposition 2 ½ in 1980, predicts that voter support for overrides will continue to erode as long as municipal employee benefits continue to exceed those in the private sector.
    

    “People are starting to connect these tax requests with the general inability of elected officials to deal with these issues,” she said. “The people they’re asking for the overrides are the ones themselves trying to afford health insurance.”

    The Patriot Ledger, April 7, 2007, “More towns face grim possibility of tax overrides,” By Rick Collins

    The same article also says:

    “Lean increases in state aid, empty rainy-day accounts and continuing double-digit increases in personnel costs mean many communities can no longer afford to provide services at current levels.


    “Scores of communities are reaching a point where they simply don’t have the revenue, no matter how much they squeeze, to support the existing level of services,” said Michael J. Widmer, president of the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation.

    Many predict communities will continue to experience money problems unless they make drastic cuts in payrolls, benefits and services, or they hike taxes.
    

    The issue, some say, is not just the number of town employees – most communities have fewer now than they did before 2004 – but rather employee benefits such as pensions, guaranteed pay hikes and relatively low-cost health care.
    

    Health care costs for municipalities increase an average of about 10 percent annually and consume larger amounts of a community’s budget.”

    The Patriot Ledger, April 7, 2007, “More towns face grim possibility of tax overrides,” By Rick Collins

    Michael J. Widmer I gather is also a Republican (I’m a Liberal Democrat) and it appears he is not much liked by BelowBoston.com. BelowBoston.com does not appear to like Barbara Anderson much either.

    So, I’m on a huge learning curve here. Anderson and Widmer are new names to moi. And even though I am a Democrat, I am very interested in their point of view.

    Mary Eaton
    Newburyport

    Newburyport, Coffee and the Override

    On Saturday, April 21, 2007 at 8:30 in the morning I was invited to have coffee at one of my “young” neighbor’s house (I think that they are adorable, the “young” family), to have a civil discussion about the $1.58Million override for our schools. (Election May 22, 2007)

    I’m not exactly “on the planet” at 8:30 on a Saturday morning. And I had my doubts about whether a civil discussion would be possible on the override, should their be different points of view.

    I managed to get there about 9:30 and mouthed the word “coffee” to my very adorable young neighbors, and they very graciously handed me a cup of coffee ASAP.

    The Vice-Chair of the Newburyport School Committee was there as well as the chair for the “Yes for Newburyport” pro-override group.

    When everyone had left, my neighbors and the chair of the “Yes for Newburyport” pro-override group asked me what it would take for me to change my mind about the override for our Newburyport schools.

    And this is what I told them (in no particular order).

    1) We all agreed that the “eye rolling” (or what I call the “eye rolling attitude”) was a huge mistake, and needed to come to an end ASAP. There was unanimous consent on that one. They had become well aware of the “eye rolling” problem.

    2) Just last December 2006 we were talking about an override for, in my opinion, an unbelievably expensive and ridiculously elaborate building plan for our elementary schools. The plan is still on the Newburyport School’s website and to my knowledge, the plan has not been voted off the table. This is very confusing to the voters of Newburyport, MA. My suggestion was for the Newburyport School Committee to vote that plan off the table ASAP.

    They agreed.

    3) One of my major concerns is the fact that health care for the city of Newburyport, MA is a skyrocketing expense, and in 2-3 years could make an investment in an override for our schools moot, by gnawing away at the proposed tax increase.

    My suggestion, was for the “Yes for Newburyport” pro-override group to come up with a long term state and local plan to address that issue, whether it is from a Republican point of view, or a Democratic point of view, and lead the way to beginning to solve that “Pac-Man” (does that date me or what) of an issue.

    They agreed.

    4) I suggested that they talk to all the Newburyport City Councilors who originally voted against the override (all 7 of them), and ask them about their ideas to curb the skyrocketing expenses concerning our city budget. The idea being, instead of preaching to folks, to ask them for their input, knowledge and ideas. To build bridges instead of razing them.

    They also thought that was a good idea. (I’m batting 4 for 4 here.)

    One of the things that they said to me was, “Mary, we are really new at this and we need all the help that we can get.” They also said that they had learned a lot.

    As a city, we have a young, very intelligent and very well educated group of people who have all of a sudden become very involved in the political process. My great hope is that this new group would be able to see the bigger picture and how it involves them. And then help us as a city, problem solve the very difficult and complex issues that are before us, our schools being one of many pressing problems at hand.

    Mary Eaton
    Newburyport

    Newburyport, Municipal Partnership Act

    My question:

    If the spring $1.58 million override for Newburyport’s schools does pass, what would be the next thing folks would advocate for?

    If the spring $1.58 million override for Newburyport’s schools does not pass, what would be the next thing folks would advocate for?

    And that brings me to my mucho research and major learning curve- the governor’s Municipal Partnership Act. (You see I’m trying to do the “unite” folks thing here.)

    “Gov. Patrick called the soaring property tax burden in Massachusetts “a crisis,” and said cities and towns desperately need the ability to broaden their revenue options and reduce reliance on the property tax. He said his proposal would provide “real property tax relief.” ”
    Massachusetts Municipal Association (www.mma.org) April 10, 2007

    * Opening the state Group Insurance Commission to municipal workers, thereby saving money on health-insurance premiums.

    * Realizing better investment returns for retirees’ pensions and lowering the administrative costs of managing the local pension funds.

    * Allowing cities and towns to vote on a 1 or 2 percent tax on meals and hotels. 25 cents of every dollar generated by this option would go directly to property tax relief for seniors.

    * Updating a century-old provision that exempts telecommunications companies from paying property taxes on their poles.”
    www.patricdeval.com

    For the entire explanation please press here.

    Folks in opposition to the Municipal Partnership Act:

    “The plan is to impose a new tax to take care of that pesky old tax.”
    blog.worcestercountyrepublicanclub.com, February 27th, 2007

    And to deal aggressively with unions:

    “The increase is driven mostly by exploding increases in health insurance and retirement costs taxpayers pay for our union town employees – our policemen, firemen, and teachers. This is because public workers pay as little as 10 percent towards their own health and retirement benefits – taxpayers pay the rest. Citizens in the private sector generally pay a much higher percent of their own health and retirement benefits – and many are lucky to have these benefits at all…

    What can you do to make the new contracts fairer for taxpayers?

    …demand that taxpayers be relieved from paying such a high and unfair percentage of the health and retirement benefits in the new union contracts…”
    blog.worcestercountyrepublicanclub.com, February 28, 2007

    So, depending on your point of view, there does appear to be ways that folks could advocate for control on local spending and relief from local property taxes, all of which have nothing to do with a local override, which appears to me to be polarizing the community of Newburyport, MA.

    Mary Eaton
    Newburyport

    Newburyport, Reforms that Would Save Money

    It appears to me that Newburyport, MA is hardly alone in its financial “crisis.” Whether it applies to the Newburyport schools, or all the other myriad of financial issues.

    It appears that Mayor John Moak could be seriously thinking of asking the people of Newburyport, MA to pay for those extra financial items (2 to 4 million according to the Newburyport Daily News, April 13, 2007), by possibly putting another vote for tax increases on the November ballot (in addition to the spring override for the Newburyport schools, $1.58 million).

    In the Boston Globe, April 1, 2007 there is an article by John C. Drake called “50 towns tackle property tax hikes, Walpole says no; Scituate vote is split.” And at the end of that article there is this quote:

    “Barbara Anderson , executive director of Citizens for Limited Taxation and one of the state’s leading proponents of Proposition 2 1/2, said towns seeking state tax reform are doing themselves a disservice by depending on overrides.

    “It’s so much easier to put an override on the ballot and whine about the fact there’s not enough local aid, instead of fighting for reforms that will in the long run save the money,” she said.”

    I would love to see all the energy presently directed at the override for Newburyport’s schools (for and against) and all the people that have been newly engaged in the political process, directed towards long term solutions. Fighting for “reforms” would seem like a long term solution to me.

    I had never heard of Barbara Anderson, but in the small amount of research that I’ve done, Barbara Anderson is big stuff.

    I have no idea what “reforms” Barbara Anderson could be referring to, but I would love to know.

    If any of the readers of the Newburyport Blog do know, I am looking for information and education on this subject, for myself and to pass on that information and education to the readers of the Newburyport Blog.

    And if you would be able to help, please email me. And also please include specific sources where I can verify the information. I’m looking for good solid facts, not opinion.

    Thanks so much,
    Mary Eaton
    Editor of the Newburyport Blog

    Newburyport, Override Politics

    My experience is that in politics as an election gets closer, people forget nuance, people forget logical thought process. It almost always comes down to an emotional, two or three sentence, gut level response.

    And in politics folks are basically trying to “sell” you their point of view.

    Think about something as benign as juice drinks. Do you think about the nuance of why one juice drink might be better than the other? No. You think about which juice drink stinks, and which juice drink will “change your life.” (Slight exaggeration.)

    Would political issues be any different? Personally I don’t think so.

    Remember that famous political phrase, “It’s the economy stupid.” Another words, vote for the other guy and your future will go down the drain. And it worked.

    There are many thoughtful folks on either side of the override issue (the Spring override for the $1.58 Million for the Newburyport Schools) and well thought out reasoning on both sides as to why the override should or should not be voted for.

    But I think basically it’s going to come down this:

    1) If you vote against the override, you don’t care about the children. It’s for the kids. Our children are our future. You will force young families to leave Newburyport, MA in droves and Newburyport will no longer be a vibrant city.

    Or

    2) If you vote for the override you will force the elderly and the lower and middle class folks who are just getting by out of their homes and destroy their lives. Newburyport will become a place that only the wealthy can afford.

    And both sides would scream that I am absolutely wrong, that I could not possibly be right. But you know in your heart of hearts that I most probably am. (If you haven’t already, keep an eye on those Letters to the Editor. They have and would most likely aim for right for the gut.)

    And also, I think it often comes down to which side folks feel has the most integrity. Who do you like? Who do you trust?

    Small slips, much less big slips can turn a campaign in a completely different/wrong direction. Once that happens, it’s very hard to recover.

    It’s like going to a restaurant. One bad meal, and unless there is incredible loyalty, most folks don’t go back.

    Mary Eaton
    Newburyport

    Reasons to Move to Newburyport, MA

    When I moved here in 1981 (I was 29… Oh, to be 29 again…) it didn’t take much of a gander at Newburyport, MA to know that if “excellent” schools were at the top of my list of “must haves,” that Newburyport, MA was not the place to move to.

    If a really good school system was at the top of my list, I would have considered moving to places like Hamilton, Wenham or Wellesley, wealthy suburban communities.

    But I didn’t want to live in a “wealthy suburban” community. I wanted to live in this wonderful small seacoast city, that was actually a city, not a suburb. That was a short drive from miles of gorgeous beach along the Atlantic Ocean. And that had an historic quality that was just downright captivating. And I thought it was one of the most beautiful places I had ever seen.

    And I still think that today.

    And this was before Maudslay or the Tannery ever existed.

    Many of my friends and acquaintances home schooled (home schooling was very big back then) and many took advantage of the many first rate private schools in the area on all grade levels. I never expected the Newburyport public schools to be “excellent.”

    When the bambino arrived I thought long and hard about my options. And I made a very conscious choice to choose Newburyport’s public schools.

    An “excellent” education was not at the top of my list. “Life lessons” were. And I decided that life lessons for my child would be best learned in the Newburyport Public Schools, which I rated anywhere from a C+ to a B+. Certainly not an A+ or even an A-.

    And I also felt that Newburyport as a community had so much to offer (which is one of the reasons why I chose it) from the Pioneer League, to the Newburyport Art Association, to Theater in the Open etc. etc. etc., that whatever deficiencies the Newburyport school system might have, the City of Newburyport offered a wealth of tangible and intangible gifts that would last in my son’s soul far longer than what he might find in a traditional educational system.

    In my mind, the many assets that Newburyport has to offer contributed to my son’s acquisition of knowledge.

    And I found my to my surprise that this was confirmed in an article linked to by the “yesfornewburyport.org” website, “Buyers will pay a premium to live near top schools.” (April 11, 2007).

    “School, what is it good for? When it comes to home prices, school matters. Buyers will pay a premium to live near top schools.”
    By Sarah Max, senior writer

    “Not true everywhere

    Of course, not everyone has school on the brain.

    According to an NAR (National Association of Realtors) survey of buyers in 2003, 25 percent of buyers in the suburbs cited schools as an important factor in their buying decision. But in urban areas, only 12 percent of buyers ranked schools high on their list of priorities. Shopping, recreation and entertainment proved more important. In resort areas, meanwhile, only 8 percent of buyers ranked schools high on their list.

    “There are only two places we have found school values going out the window,” said Bainbridge. One is beach property and the other is what he calls “historically preserved areas,” urban areas that are being redeveloped.”
    CNN/Money, August 30, 2004

    So it is quite possible that historic preservation and gorgeous beaches might be part of the reason that Newburyport, MA has become so desirable. And that the Newburyport school system could be part of a larger equation.

    Mary Eaton
    Newburyport