http://melrose.wickedlocal.com/article/20150828/NEWS/150827040/11473/NEWS
The newspaper reported on the Highlands Fiasco. Traffic now flows worse than it did before spending a million dollars. Also, it's less safe for bikes pedestrians and cars.
Some gems from my bumbling ward alderman, Tramontozzi:
“The idea that the ‘bump outs’ and narrowing of the street would slow the speed of traffic is not working,” - Ya Think?
“It’s a learning curve,” Tramontozzi told the Free Press earlier this month. “I think, overall, everybody is pleased with the changes, it’s just now getting people educated on how to maneuver through them.” - Sure. That's why you held the special meeting. And Franklin St. is so sophisticated for the average driver to pass he's personally going to teach classes at the Stoneham line, Wakefield line and Franklin Square at peak traffic times.
“Law enforcement of all parking and speed regulations in the area is critical to making this area safe for all.” - Apparently, the hallmark of a successful roadway project is the necessity to regulate the hell out of it and create a permanent police enforcement presence.
Perfect example of why this GIC-taking MEF-ethics-abuser (placing his law firm ads on their stationery and the city's website, promoting his business unethically) alderman should be voted out! His nice-guy act doesn't cut it. He hasn't gotten the job done for a long time now and needs someone to run against him and effectively take over this position on the BOA, as is the case with most of the rest of them as well.
Don't blame John. The Planning Dept. has messed up projects in other wards.
Look at Main St. at Lebanon. They made it so narrow going toward Wakefield you can't pull over to let an ambulance through. Just repave the roads they way they are. The 'pretty' designs they come up with tie up traffic so much it just can't move. If they keep it up, Melrose will be entirely gridlocked in a few years.
JT certainly should share in the blame. The BOA authorizes the Planning Board's existence and each alderman is supposed to be responsive to what is happening in the city. This is his ward. Yes, the Planning board is every bit as incompetent and in the mayor's tank as most of the BOA. Plenty of examples of their poor performance and lack of accountability all over the city. But the BOA has failed to do its job miserably. Won't even begin to talk about SC and their absolutely corrupt practices. JT must share in the responsibility for the mess, whether he accepts it or not, and whether he's a "nice guy" or not (and he actually is "nice").
Tramontozzi is not the only BOA member who needs to answer for his district. The decline in the Main Street/Ward 5/Wyoming area is never on Gail's agenda. She is nice, too but never tackles the real problems of her district. She just lets the slumlords rule and votes the way she is told to vote. Hope Mike Z (and his city planner wife) bring attention and development to neighborhoods in their area. The health and building inspection violations are flagrant and obvious. The Zwirko family live at the end of one of the worst streets in Melrose. The poor MAAV intern had a terrible time running on their street. Mike should pressure his good friend, Gail to actually do something for her Ward!
You also have gutless wonder John Bozo Scenna running the dpw without a real engineer on board. Melrose's latest and greatest city engineer who "jumped" at the chance to work here (MFP) abandoned the ship after a couple of years. Round and round we go! [:)s]
You people are brutal, its not THAT bad. Referring to the changes on Lebanon St and Franklin St. Overreacting like you read about. Traffic in this city sucked before and yes, it still sucks, but that wasn't the point of the construction. The construction was to simply replace the old with the new and toss in some safety standards. Now if thats what you want to whine about then we agree, cause those bump outs make nothing safer.
Sorry but it IS that bad. This is what happens to Cities and Towns whose corrupt leadership forget about what Democracy is. They forget that their job is to represent their constituents, not work special favors for themselves and family.
The legion of morons is at it again. Does the bozo brigade ever remove their heads from their own @sses to take a breath? With all of the information available these days how do the nose honking, waddling, clown car driving clowns come up with this garbage? Franklin Street is easy to understand. The government gave Melrose a $1,000,000 to renovate the area. They required the curb bump outs as they believe it is best practice. If you want the money you do what they ask. Pretty simple stuff.
So you'll do something bad for yourself just because someone gives you money to do so? That's what you're saying the city did. Nice.
I'm guessing clown patrol is a democrat. Just a hunch.
Why can't Clown Patrol make their points without the clown nonsense? They sound like a jackass every time. He really should stop defending RD with every fiber of his being. The guy makes fun of EVERY one of his staff members, aldermen, and the public. ML's teeth, JP's diminutive stature, JS's lazy eye (and his wife, whose sister was a city hall haunt, is a regular punchline), GI (for obious reasons), RVC's electoral loss, on and on and on. The guy is the most immature little brat you'll ever come across. Say what you want about his policy, he clearly is very insecure with himself and takes it out on others. No doubt whoever Clown Patrol is is just another victim of his mockeries when out of earshot. Quite sad, for all involved.
The bozo's red pants and suspenders are really twisted in a bunch over this one. First they turn a tremendous improvement to the neighborhood into an attack on city politicians and employees...and then Chuckles the clown compares the decision to accept grant money from the Transportation Department to the Iraq war...by the way clearly a Republican policy decision...and then his sidekick Crusty says any criticism of the bozo brigade must come from a democrat. You guys are like the gong show. Honk your noses three times and click your rubber feet together and say there's no place like Melrose Messages. What a pathetic bunch of losers.
Funny how Mr. Clown Patrol shows up on MM every time someone points out another disastrous decision by the real clowns, our elected officials. The city's plumbing inspector gets his side view mirror ripped off his vehicle TWICE parked in the Franklin Highlands business district by a passing car and the city still can't see the obvious. Many doors have been damaged already, but I'm sure it will take a serious injury or death before the City reacts, much like the Civil rights fiasco that has been brewing for years without action. So Mr. Clown Patrol: Jump back into your Nissan Juke and honk your way back to the Mayor's office and cry on his shoulder if you must. The rest of us would like to see some action.
What an @$$ this Clown Patrol guy is! Sycophant didn't insult anyone, he was explaining how the administration did! What a clown!