I just read Mike Zwirko's formal announcement for a BOA Seat in the Melrose Weekly News. His statement emphasizes his strong support for the override. Not surprising. The "new voice and new perspective" claim seems to be just another example of a "Quid Pro Quo" deal with Dolan. After a "very competitive" search and an "overwhelming number of applicants", the Assistant City Planner Job went to his wife this year. Connection?

Mikes wife?

Erin Zwirko was hired this year as The City of Melrose's Assistant City Planner.

The ultimate in absurdity was his statement that "now was not the time to put on the brakes" and
"the future of this city will be defined by the decision that is made on the override question." Garbage in garbage out.

Hey Mike - it's not a money issue, it is a leadership problem. If you can't figure that one out - how do you expect us to believe that you have the basic intelligence to understand other city problems? On second thought - you would fit in nicely with the other clueless group there.

If it isn't a money issue, why is Belmont requesting a 4.5 Million dollar override when they already have great educational outcomes and have PPS over $1,000 more than Melrose?

Listen Belmont....I never said that all school systems are the same. We have different problems here in Melrose than they have in Belmont. If Belmont wants to spend more money for things they think are important, as long as they get approval from their residents, good luck to them. It appears that Belmont has already demonstrated they have good school leadership as well as committed staff to improve their student outcomes. Melrose has NOT done so to date.

Also, just to clarify the situation in Blemont - Belmont had developed a written Strategic Plan put together by a special Financial Task Force to justify the override.

Quite unlike Melrose which had the Mayor present his "PowerPoint Slide Presentation" with literally no input by the residents! Even a cusory examination of this difference should tell you much about the lack of transparency and public input on Mayor's override request.

If he truly cared about his "people", and had any original ideas for the improvement of this city, he would run for Alderman of his ward and oust Inferior. Instead, Ward Five will continue to rot. [Turban]

It is written, WYOMING AVENUE IS THE HIGHWAY TOO HELL! Thank you GAIL![Geezer]

Hey Wilbur, da "itch stole my FEED BASKET![Horse]

He would never challenge Infurna. He is her disciple through and through. With his wife on the dole from city hall for her entire salary (not to mention insurance too), I'd say that makes him much more of the Dolan company man than even Margolis.

It's amazing that even when we get new faces to choose from in Melrose, they are somehow worse than the Devils we know.

No, MBMM is worse than any of them.
However, if Zwirko is as close to Gail as described, I may not vote for him like I did 2 years ago.

JD on the School Committee is a perfect example of "worse" because she's turned into CT BFF and a zealous evangelist for the School Administration party line. She rallies the MEF clones to show up in force for every stupid "want" (Library Media Specialists, "Academic Interventionists," "a pot" for administrative raises, etc.) and votes energetically in lockstep with MD, KT, CC, RD, and DC. She is now a menace.

MZ will be completely in the tank.

INDEPENDENT candidates with Critical Thinking skills are desperately needed for both boards, both of which are due for a thorough cleansing!

Belmont is far more affluent than Melrose. Don't compare Melrose to places like Winchester, Belmont, Lexington etc. I know some people try to do that and I'm not sure why.

I get what you're saying, but Zwirko could be more dangerous because he would vote the exact same way as Margolis, but have wind at his back by being the "new and exciting" face of Melrose politics. MBMM is a hack but at this point she is fully marginalized and doesn't have much sway in policy decisions other than her board vote. Zwirko would have much more sway coming into power after unseating an incumbent.

If MBMM gets reelected this time, she will be a Health Insurance "GIC LIFER".
10 years on the BOA gives her family our tax money for private insurance forever....

yeah just like Forbes now (got rid of Seaboyer just in time)

Where are the independent candidates with some critical thinking skills?????

I agree that MBMM getting the lifer plan is a bad thing, but MZ has put himself in a position where he can say the "he" won't take GIC but still get the exact same insurance through his wife's employment at city hall. Employment that I am sure was in no small part gained by his cozy relationship with Dolan. It ends up being a false "choice" between a candidate not taking GIC vs a candidate taking GIC, when, in reality, they will both be on it.

That is the only thing MZ can hang his hat on as a discernible difference between him and MBMM, and that is who he is targeting. He will say he is targeting MM, but in 2013, he was only 50 votes away from MBMM. MM ran away with it, and will again.

Look at how much more money he raised than MBMM in 2013: $10,600 to $1,656. Check the 2013 reports on the Elections page (http://www.cityofmelrose.org/departments/elections/) That is a TON of money to raise for an at-large race if you aren't trying to make a statement about bigger poltical aspirations. Most of his big donations came from outside of Melrose and it's surrounding communities. He is GI-style liberal with bigger aspirations state-wide. Giving him this opportunity is a bad idea. EVEN if it means forever insurance for MBMM. There are bigger issues than just the GIC in this case.

Gail "who plays both ends in the middle" will have to choose between her 2 BFF... MZ and MBMM... Insiders say she really wants MBMM out..... Interesting...

Get a wheelbarrow and remove them all (or at least most of them). They are actors in a very bad (and boring) morality tale. The community is paying the price for its apathy and in utter failure putting forward good, ethical, smart representatives. It's not enough to complain about your water bill or the deplorable condition of the schools. Step up or shut up!

This is Melrose. People complain all the time but don't have the guts to do something - me included. There is a good reason for the saying, You can't fight City Hall. It's true. If you try it in Melrose, they diss you and then come after you. Take a breath and let it go.

Give in to the system. It does some things well enough that if you ignore the other things, you'll live well enough. The schools are the exception. Some kids will do fine in the public school. Mine did, with my considerable help. I know some kids get trashed in the public school and I don't blame their parents for going private. With water bills, trash fees, and taxes it all costs more than it should be but just work an extra few days overtime a year to pay for the waste in the city. If you do that and ignore the crap that goes on, you'll live healthier and happier.

This is Melrose. This is what you get here. If you want pure, rational, grassroots, efficient or principled government, you'll have to move elsewhere. If you can suck it up, this isn't such a bad place - at least you have public transportation to Boston from here.