Category Archives: The Budget

The budget, Newburyport, MA, an estimate of income and expenditure for a set period of time.

Inspirational Change

My father (see previous post) was a realist. He knew change could be inspirational, and although daily, informal encounters could change people’s lives (and his did), he also believed that inspirational change could cost money. Often lots and lots of money.

My dad was a Roosevelt Democrat, and felt quite strongly that for people who had money, paying taxes was a patriotic act. And if people didn’t want to pay taxes, that provisions should be made to either compliment what the government could do, or create an entity that undertook a project that the government should, but refused to do.

And as a tax lawyer (way before being a “lawyer” became not such a good attribute, when lawyers, in general, believed in service, not how much money can I make) he persuaded his clients to do things like fund research for mental illness, at a time when no one talked about mental illness, or look for a cure for cancer, and fund stem cell research, when, for example, the present administration had “reservations” about such things.

And face it, one of the reasons Newburyport’s downtown is so inspirational, is that it was funded by lots and lots of federal dollars.

My father also understood the stresses of poverty. He fought for a compassionate solution to homelessness in New York City, and believed that the criminal justice system in New York City had the potential to be humane. And he raised the money (a talent my father had, and a gene his daughter did not receive) to attempt to make these goals attainable.

To make the educational system for our children “inspirational,” it would not only take the guardian angles that inhabit it, but also lots and lots of money to restore all the cuts that have been made over so many years. My father would have understood this. But he also would have believed that it would not be right to raise money on the backs of the struggling poor and middle class.

The same would go for such things as creating a senior center, and for funding the Council on Aging to an “inspirational” level.

And what to do at budget time with dealing and coping with the myriad of valuable projects and issues, all of which need to be funded, but where funds are lacking, I have no idea.

I do know, that to make many of them “inspirational,” lots and lots of money, would go a long, long way. I also believe that to raise taxes in Newburyport, MA that would put the less fortunate and middle class in crisis, would be a huge mistake.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Insight, Wisdom and Inspiration

I miss my Dad.

One of the things that my Dad and I would always do, is talk about politics, national and local. And I want to ask him so many things.

One of my Dad’s great gifts, and I’ve heard this over and over from so many people who knew him, was his ability to listen to an issue or problem, business or personal, and in one or two sentences get to the kernel of the what would be at stake, but always with an optimistic twist.

I remember when I talked to my Dad about the override for our schools, and his wonderful remark, that folks were afraid that if an override passed, that they would “lose their town.” Bingo. It was always a “bingo.” It might not be a “bingo” I might want to hear, but it was a “bingo,” nevertheless.

I want to ask him about Mr. Karp’s visit. He would have some wise insight that eludes me. I want to ask him about Newburyport’s critical need for funding, which is at odds with people’s often desperate personal financial struggles. He would have ideas. Lots and lots of ideas. And very wise ideas at that.

He always taught me that change was an organic part of life. And one of his many gifts, was not only to make change acceptable, but almost always to make change inspiring.

Change is and has and will happen to Newburyport, MA. And how do we as citizens and residents of this small New England city, make that change, not just acceptable, but how do we make change an inspiration?

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Money and Municipal Conflict

Money.

Nothing quite divides a community quite like money, or the lack thereof.

One of the places that I check out on the World Wide Web is the “Around the North Shore Forums” (you have to become a member to participate in any way). And Around the North Shore gives me an understanding about how many people feel about the many things that are going on in the community, which are not voiced in other places.

The sentiment expressed on Around the North Shore thus far appears, almost unanimously, that the expenses in Newburyport, MA are already high enough, and there could be great resistance to any attempt to increase taxes or fees.

And what I am also hearing is a tremendous amount of resentment to those who might propose a raise in city taxes and fees.

This is not exactly a surprise. In fact, it’s pretty much by the book.

As the gentrification of Newburyport continues, the opposition to gentrification is not only inevitable, but understandable. It appears to be the process in almost every community that I know about, that is going through this kind of transition.

Raised taxes and fees means that less and less of the “less well to do” would be able to live in Newburyport, MA, and of course this would create a great deal of anxiety and conflict. How could it not?

I am quite sure that the “less well to do” would not “go gentle into that good night.” And I am sure that the leaders and politicians in Newburyport, MA are well aware of that reality.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Gym Class, Newburyport, 104 Students

Back on November 7, 2007 there was an article by Gillian Swart in the Newburyport Current about the Newburyport Rupert A. Nock Middle School which said,

“One grade 7 phys. ed. class has 104 students… “There is no way to fit 104 students comfortably or safely in the gym,” Hopping (Rupert A. Nock Middle School, Principal Barry Hopping) noted, adding that so far, the weather has cooperated and the classes have been held outdoors.”

Well, honey, the weather is no longer cooperating, and it’s cold outside. Real cold out side.

I don’t know what the situation would be now, December 2007, I have not called the Nock Middle School, but I sure am curious.

I mean, that’s crazy, 104 kids in the Middle School gym.

I’d like to see a photograph of what in the world that would look like.

In fact, I’d like to see some footage of that unimaginable gym class with 104 students on YouTube.

If anybody put footage of that gym class on YouTube, I would, at the very least, like to link to it. And with proper permission, I would put the video on the Newburyport Blog.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Children and Municipal Jobs

This one is going to make me real popular too.

Newburyport City Councilors Tom O’Brien and Erford Fowler have been criticized over the years for having their children work for the city of Newburyport, MA. Nepotism and a conflict of interest has been sighted on various occasions.

When Councilor O’Brien came “under fire” for salary increases for city employees that would have affected his daughter, believe it or not, although, yes, I thought it could be a conflict of interest, no doubt about that one, I was real sympathetic to Councilor O’Brien.

Having a 20 something offspring, if there was a job available that paid halfway decently, with benefits, and I could be instrumental in helping securing that employment, as a parent, as a mom, I’d be tempted to do it in a New York minute.

I thought that parenthood would get easier as my child got older.

Nope. Not easier, just different.

And as a parent, the same ferocious protectiveness that was there when my child was a newborn, is still there, at the same magnitude, in his 20’s.

So when folks were dumping on Councilor O’Brien when he was hoping for the best for his daughter, I got it.

If I had been in the same position, it would have taken people literally holding me back, and having them cover my mouth, to stop me beseeching them to “do right” by my kid.

Mamas and Papas have always wanted to help their children. At a younger age, “nepotism” used to be a “dirty word.” At a more “mature” age, I now definitely “get it” on a whole different, ferociously protective, parental level.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Municipal Jobs Well Done

It must have been about 4 or 5 years ago during one of the winters from Hell that we had, I called the DPW (Department of Public Works) and asked if there could be anyway that they could send a plow to re-plow our small street.

In a very short time a big plow appeared and did one heck of a spectacular job.

I wrote the DPW a thank you note, saying how much I appreciated their extra care and consideration.

When I talked to whoever at the then DPW a little bit later, they said, I believe, that my “thank you” note was the only one that they had ever received, and that they put it up on the bulletin board as a morale booster for the folks that had been working so hard.

Wow.

Apparently, Newburyport city employees often do not get thanked for a job well done.

And recently I got a very kind email from our Newburyport City Clerk, Richard Jones, thanking me for my “kind words” about the excellent job that the Newburyport City Clerk’s office did on election night, that was briefly mentioned on the Newburyport Blog. (See earlier entry.)

To be able to witness that process unfold was an incredibly moving and inspiring experience for me. It was a privilege for me to watch “Democracy” in action on election night at Newburyport City Hall.

That night, I couldn’t help thinking back to a national election that had gotten pretty muddled over election stuff. And I thought that we in Newburyport, MA, were so lucky to have such a professional and thoughtful approach by the Newburyport City Clerk’s office, that I wanted the readers of the Newburyport Blog to know just how luck we are.

And I know I’m not going to be real popular with this next thought. But there have been a lot of folks who are upset with the Newburyport City Unions, that they did not embrace the “new” health insurance plan (right away) and thereby saving the City of Newburyport, MA some major dough.

My take on the salaries of the folks that work for Newburyport, MA, is that with a few exceptions, they are pretty low, but the benefits have been good.

And that it is my understanding (and I can’t site the exact source for this one) that it is getting harder and harder to get folks (especially younger folks) to work on a municipal level.

And it takes a lot of money just to live to get by these days.

And as a city, I think we need to take a long look to make sure people might be inspired to work for municipalities. And appreciation for a job well done, in my book, always seems to go a long way.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, There is No Money

When Al Lavender became mayor, “they” (whoever “they” were) put me on Al Lavender’s transition team.

I later figured it was to shut me up. If that was the case, it obviously didn’t work very well.

I walked into my first meeting and thought, “Oh, my goodness” (or a stronger version of that phrase), “What in the world am I going to do?” The room was full of “conservative good old boys,” for lack of a better phrase (not the usual political folks I hung out with).

But you know what, it turned out to be an incredibly positive experience. I came away with such admiration for everyone on that transition team. They taught me a ton. And they gave Al Lavender terrific advice. And I think it was, believe it or not, basically the same advice that I imagine a progressive would have given him. I was stunned.

And at the very end of the process, member’s of the group went around the table and gave verbal summaries of various areas of the city (police, fire, schools, etc) to the newly elected mayor. And I remember my jaw just dropping.

Basically, to be very simplistic, there was $8,000 for $80 Million dollars worth of things, that need to be done not yesterday, but often needed to be done 20 years ago. Just like the fire trucks we still don’t have today. Same issues 8 years ago.

So anyone who thinks they are going to find extra money somewhere in this city. There is no money.

And folks ask me why I don’t run for Newburyport City Council. That’s a big reason why. I like to have a shot at paying the bills, and with that kind of financial weight, I just could not sleep at night.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

A Political, Newburyport Loss

I’ve been talking to all sorts of folks about the “mystery” to me of why Gary Roberts was not re-elected to the Newburyport City Council.

Let me say that during the last almost 2 years, Gary Roberts has been one of the kindest Newburyport Councilors to the Newburyport Blog.

Gary Roberts often calls to see if I’m doing Ok, because he has a concept of how difficult it is to be the “editor” of the Newburyport Blog.

I can’t tell you how much this has meant to me. It has meant the world to me.

And I have often called Gary Roberts for a “reality check.” He has always been straight forward and to the point, and I always feel much more calm and much more centered (and believe me, it hasn’t always been what I’ve wanted to hear).

And this is what it seems to me. The more conservative folks voted for Al Lavender and Mary Carrier, along with Steve Hutcheson, Robert Kelleher and William Deans.

For the more progressive folks, it appears that Tom Jones and Steve Hutcheson would be perceived to be more “liberal,” along with Donna Holaday, Barry Connell and Kathleen Ives.

And I think that there was a little bit of the “shooting the messenger” thing here as well. Gary Roberts has always been real upfront about, guess what folks, you think there’s money, well I gotta tell you, you’re wrong, there is no money.

Mr. Roberts seems to feel that it might not be a good idea to spend money on stuff, if the money would not be there.

And it appears that some folks sometimes seemed puzzled about Gary Roberts’ passion about the fact that it could be a good idea to try and stay within the city’s actual budget.

In a credit-card world, from much that I read, this could possibly be perceived as somewhat of a “quaint” sort notion. One that might not seem overly popular with our debt-ridden, larger society. Instant gratification, you can have it now. (Disclaimer: And, no, this would not apply to all people.)

And the stuff about the money not being there, he’s right. But that’s another entry altogether.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

The Arts, Rough Patches and Politics

I became a “Liberal Democrat,” real quick, when I became a single mother. (That was a couple of decades ago.)

It was a no brainer.

Democrats “seem to” or are “supposed to” have some empathy for those who are going through a “rough patch.”

The Harbor School for Girls is my neighbor.

People asked me, “How could you do that?”

Easy. So far (one decade later) they’ve been great neighbors. And two, I know, under different circumstances, I would have welcomed to be welcomed in a place like “that.”

I hate the phrase “but for the grace of god go I” (like what about the other folks, no “grace” for them??), but how many times have I said to myself, “but for the grace of god go I.” I can tell you a whole LOT of times I’ve said “but for the grace of god go I,” during the last 2 decades.

And, just as a btw, if we had had a Democrat for president for the last 6+ years, I bet there would be a whole lot more money for cities and towns across America for things like education and other important municipal stuff.

And we, Newburyport, MA, along with a whole lot of other cities and towns might NOT be in the fiscal crisis we are now. There might be some sort of balance between national security and making sure that while we were taking care of national security, financially, cities and towns across the USA weren’t slowly or fastly drowning.

And, Liberal Democrats seem to like the “arts” more. (I am a artist/painter) It seems as if they do NOT want to slash the budget for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).

It appears that they realize that artists are good for the economy.

When artists “discover” a community and embrace it whole heartedly, miraculously other people think it’s “cool” too, and that community or place gets a “rebirth.” Witness, the Village, Soho and Chelsea in NYC (my home town), and yes, even Newburyport and now Amesbury in good old Massachusetts.

Seems artists have a good “eye” for real estate, before most of them promptly get “priced out” of the market that they created. Only to move on like nomads in search of yet other “suitable space.”

And, I like the idea of living within one’s budget and paying one’s bills on time, and not being terrifyingly in debt. (We now have a gargantuan national debt.) This is called being a “fiscal conservative.” One can be a social Democrat and a fiscal conservative. It seems as if the fiscal conservative thing has been a bit of an “enigma” to the Republican regime that is in power, at the moment. (Even some Republicans think this.)

I have no idea why I decided to blog on this topic(s) today, but I did. It’s been percolating in my brain for quite a while, so there it is.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Task Force for Newburyport Schools, Revenue Sources

Bruce Menin has a pretty interesting blog. I’m a pretty tough blog critic, and Mr. Menin seems to have the blogging thing down so far. Factual, easy to read, half info, half campaign… a very interesting approach… so far… and with a couple of pretty funny pictures (which I like a lot).

On the blog Bruce Menin reports that Mayor John Moak has appointed a “task force” to analyze the city of Newburyport’s revenue sources (i.e. money for schools).

“The Mayor has invited William Heenahan, Dr. Ralph Orlando, Brenda Reffett, Jay Iannini and Ellen Supple from the Community; Deidre Farrell will represent the School Administration, Ari Herzog will represent the mayor, Mark Wright and I (Menin) will represent the School Committee, and a member of the City Council will have the opportunity to volunteer next Monday.” newburyportschools.blogspot.com, August 21, 2007.

I’d say I’m pretty impressed by that list of folks. Ellen Supple has been a very helpful reader of the Newburyport Blog, and I am relieved to see Brenda Reffett on there and my very bright young neighbor, Jay Iannini on there as well.

These are all passionate folks and passionate from different points of view, and not afraid to speak up or speak their minds.

This is working for me.

Mr. Menin has all kinds of information about the task force on his blog. So if this is a passion of yours, go check it out.

(And as a btw, the list at the side of the Newburyport Blog listing candidates for the Newburyport 2007 election, Newburyport City Council, Newburyport Mayor and Newburyport School Committee is growing, so be sure to check the side of the Newburyport Blog as the list gets added onto.)

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Choices in Precarious Newburyport Financial Times

One of the reasons that I hope Donna Holaday gets elected as one of the Newburyport Councilors at Large is that she is so good at finances. Not only is she good at finances, but she understands the “players” and the “politics” and the way the very complicated civic structure works.

In my mind, having Donna Holaday on the Newburyport City Council would be much better than having someone who has only been in Newburyport a short time, or who has not served on at least one of Newburyport’s many civic boards and committees, because it would take that person at least one, if not two years to understand all the “players” and how things work around here. Donna Holaday has got that one in the bag.

And I remember Ms Holaday’s last evening on the Newburyport City Council. Newburyport City Council President Tom O’Brien graciously thanked Ms Holaday profusely, especially concerning all her contributions to the city’s very complicated financial picture.

Could you imagine Gary Roberts (who I also hope wins a seat as Newburyport City Councilor at Large, and I would be mighty upset if he didn’t) and Donna Holaday on the Budget and Finance Committee? Two real smart and knowledgeable “political” (as in the understanding how people work “political,” and how to work with them in a productive way, to the benefit of the people of Newburyport, MA, “political”) folks help handling our very precarious financial civic ship. Would I be relieved or what.

My experience with both Gary Roberts and Donna Holaday is that I have always been able to talk to both of them about just about anything, and they listen. A huge asset in a Newburyport City Councilor, not an character trait Newburyport City Councilors (over the years) might necessarily possess.

The conclusions that the two Newburyport City Councilors might come to could be very different than what I might have in mind. But, I would know that they had taken what I had said into consideration when they made their decision. And would I know that whatever decision they would make, would be a very thoughtful and well thought out one.

So in precarious financial times, the residents of Newburyport, MA have a choice here. There are two really good people running for Newburyport City Councilor at large that I would trust with my tax dollar. I’m hoping like crazy that they both get elected.

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

Newburyport, Practical Mayoral Dilemma

I looked back at the previous post on the absurdity that there are no (at least that I know of) requirements to be mayor of Newburyport, MA other than to be the ripe old age of 18 and to live in the city of Newburyport, MA.

The sad thing is, at least it would be my guess, that if someone were to be actually qualified, with lots of appropriate experience and education, and were to emphasize that point, they would be seen as “arrogant” and might well be seen as “unlikable” and “unelectable.”

Sigh.

How crazy is that?

I know zip about the early history of the mayors of Newburyport, MA, but it would be my guess, that up until Bossy Gillis, it was just assumed that the educated, wealthy folks of Newburyport, MA would run for mayor. And things were a lot simpler then (I think) and they probably were as qualified as anyone might be.

It’s hard to imagine that there were advanced degrees in the intricacies of municipalities (maybe there were, I don’t know).

This is where I’m on the strong learning curve thing. I know zip about what happened government wise early in Newburyport’s history. And I have just as strong a learning curve on what government was like in other small and large cities in the USA.

But this I do know. Things have changed. And Newburyport, MA has not changed its way of governing the city. And good grief we need to.

And on a practical matter, the salary of the mayor is just ridiculously low. It might be appealing to someone who is in transition or who is looking for a job or who is retired. But your average very smart qualified human being with a good salary, are they going to give that all up just to probably be booted out in 2 years? Good grief, I don’t think so.

Or if a person sees the job as an honor, and they have a family and children to support, 50 grand or so before taxes and living in Newburyport, MA these days, is going to be tough, unless there is another source of income.

So, although it would take a great deal to change our city charter to either a 4 year mayoral term, or a city manager form of government, we at least could raise the salary of the mayor of Newburyport, MA.

Yes, I know the budget, the budget, the budget. But good grief, can we hardly afford not to?

Mary Eaton
Newburyport

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