The gullible and intellectually lazy parents continue to lap up the administrative propaganda and get increasingly lathered about low teachers' salaries and all the other talking points for the latest override boondoggle. They will look the other way when intelligent voices explain what's behind the Oz curtain (mayor's blog, "listening sessions," etc.) and pat themselves on the back that they are "engaging" in the process, when in fact they have conveniently looked only at the shiny objects being dangled before them. If you really want to know what's happening in education--in Melrose, in the state, in the nation, even in the world--listen to extremely well educated voices like Gerry Mroz, whose articulate explanations are easily available every week in Melrose, at state board of education meetings every month, and in the Capitol in DC where congressmen and women and senators open their doors to hear what this distinguished man has to say, and review the bills he's carefully crafted (and some passed!). Melrosians are quick to ignore (and mock) this great educational advocate who has actual facts and deep understanding of the educational issues. They do so at their own peril, at their children's educational peril, at the peril of their increasing tax bills and college tuition bills (especially when their children fail to get the anticipated scholarships after all the claims of a great education put forward by Melrose pols and admnistrators). Melrosians similarly dissed great educational minds and true policy experts like J.D. LaRock, choosing instead the provincial dunderheads to "lead" instead of grabbing onto the great opportunity of availing the city with such a renowned (including internationally) advocate and expert. Oh yeah, that's right, J.D. said he'd collaborate with people like Monica Medeiros on serious issues like Water & Sewer rates, and Melrose just can't tolerate that kind of bi-/non-partisan collaboration, even though it means Melrose continues to have obscene and unsupportable rates when it could instead of accountability and sensible rate-structuring. LaRock wrote policy for many years successfully for Edward Kennedy, but somehow that wasn't good enough to serve on the Melrose Board of Aldermen?! In what universe other than provincial dummy Melrose would that be possible? Here's just a sampling of what Melrose voters turned against in favor of what it now has on its idiotic BOA: "Dr. J.D. LaRock is President and CEO of the Commonwealth Corporation, Massachusetts’ public-private corporation dedicated to workforce development, youth development, and economic development. A $55 million organization with employees across the state, Commonwealth Corporation works to advance Massachusetts’ economic leadership through signature partnerships with employers, employees, educational institutions, and community-based organizations. J.D. is also a member of the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education and Chair of the Board of Trustees at North Shore Community College. Previously, J.D. was a member of Northeastern University’s senior leadership team, an education policymaker at the federal and state levels, and a senior manager at the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) in Paris. As senior education advisor to the late Senator Edward M. Kennedy, he helped lead the 2008 reauthorization of the federal Higher Education Act and the 2007 passage of the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which provided $20 billion in financial aid to U.S. college students. As education policy director for the Governor of Massachusetts, J.D. helped author the Achievement Gap Act of 2010..." Oh yeah, Melrosians also voted out Don Conn, who proved with his intelligent and thoughtful voice and actions over many years how much he cared about his community. The fake superficial Dems here made sure that Conn's Republican status counted against him despite his long history of never allowing partisan politics to cloud his local decision-making. He had many flaws as a politician, starting with his refusal to suck up or play the stupid games (he was actually a terrible campaigner). But he cared and he was an intelligent force counter-balancing the idiocy. Instead, Melrose prefers the vapid suck-up self-congratulatory rubber-stamping cheerleading squad, the types who sit there silently when Patrick DLR openly and brazenly bullies their duly and many-times-elected colleague, instead of quickly shutting him down and firing him for shameful conduct that should have been deemed totally unacceptable. These are the same cheerleaders who walk so sanctimoniously in The Walk and proclaim themselves beacons of virtue, yet allow a decade and a half of chronic bullying and illegal conduct from the 2nd floor at City Hall, and engage in it themselves right there on cable access tv. Now we learn that a convicted felon is likely to become the head of the notoriously law-breaking, documented racist school committee. But why should that be surprising in a community that continues to look the other way (and even reward the perpetrators!) even after the United States Office of Civil Rights broadly condemned the superintendent and school committee for fostering a racially hostile environment? Instead, Melrose parents continue to sing in their nabbering nabobs chorus of the willfully ignorant, even to the detriment of their own children! Until Melrosians demonstrate some seriousness in respecting actual facts and actual experts about its core issues, it will continue to get the small-minded puppet theater that passes for governance because that's all that these provincial, superficial residents are willing to support. There are obvious challenging questions that that this community needs to address (long since) but continues to sidestep in favor of the charade. The Yes hawks are only the most rabid tip of the iceberg of a sickness that pervades Melrose. Many other communities are taking the difficult steps of tackling their issues in mature and honest ways. Melrose needs to do this quite desperately. That means openly welcoming those who are willing to speak honestly about the hard things. That means shutting down the chronic bullies who would rather shun those who speak the truth. That means embracing those who might challenge the ignorant presumptions and prefab Fake facts of the pols and administrators currently being swallowed whole by a willingly ignorant public. There are good and intelligent Melrosians who are capable of helping the city out of its self-created mire, if only they will embrace these genuine civic-minded people instead of ignoring or shunning them. Sadly, there is little reason for those who truly care enough to step up to help because Melrose has such a rotten track record of treating these dignified citizens with contempt. It's a choice. Melrose has made it over and over again. Grow up and look in the mirror, or at least care enough to see what your children aren't getting that they should be getting in a community so otherwise privileged.
The problem of paragraph spacing has been reported to the website. This is not how this or other entries were made initially, for those dying to jump in and criticize the one-paragraph rambling....
"this lovely "no" voter accuses yes voters of being gullible and intellectually lazy" First, I never said anything about how I plan to vote. You are correct in ascertaining that I am not impressed with what has been put forward by the Yes brigade. Secondly, calling some local voters gullible and intellectually lazy is an opinion based on evidence, an opinion that is rightfully stated (and note: not personally directed). The local administrators would refer this to inquiry-based blah, blah, blah... Also, if the foo $hits... Thirdly, based on the conduct of too many in Melrose, no, I don't believe that intelligent discourse is possible in the public sphere here. Four, based on the toxicity of your posts to date, your call for polite discourse is ironic at best. Clearly you just don't like hearing another side.
A "poor no voter"? Seriously? You don't agree so you denigrate? My point is made.
Wile E Coyote, Super Genius, neglects to mention that the ignorant, benighted masses of Melrose made JD LaRock the top votegetter in the 2009 school committee election. He served for a year and a half, then resigned to take a job in Europe. I'd argue his leaving was a greater factor in losing the alderman race than people not understanding his resume. Your mileage may vary.
Since "Come on, Man" "never learned anything of value from any representatives of either side of any issue on this site," this poster obviously didn't come here for educational purposes. There is a lot to be gleaned. If it's not to this poster's liking, then please do us all a favor and stop posting.
The reality is that this kind of poster is here for other reasons, starting with putting down anyone with a differing view and then claiming victimhood when the responses don't align with expectations and end up being "negative," that provincial Melrose bugaboo. "Come on," "Vuvu," "Clown Patrol" and the rest of the noms de plume are all from individuals who love to do classic projection, accusing others of what they themselves are actually doing.
The same issues keep getting brought up because none of them ever get addressed, let alone fixed. What part of that escapes you? Sad.
It's funny that you bring up that this is a sleepy little suburb and mention in the same sentence Soviet Russia.... almost as if you are defending against the obvious parallels...hmmmm... And Infowars? Really? The irony here is that I largely vote as a Democrat, but I believe there is no place for partisan politics in local city or town elections; I simply vote in the best interests of the city. It is odd but not surprising that you have no respect for transparency, free speech and public records laws and fail to realize that this is a major problem here in Melrose. What happened to "an educated and informed voter? is this just a slogan?
In Melrose, it's an oxymoron.
Educated and informed voter.We do have.Just to get even basic information in order to make informed decisions on important votes. The voters will do.
"There doesn't appear to be any other systemic racism by people in authority in the schools that anyone can point to."
This is the most wide-ranging whitewash of a number of very serious issues seen to date. The corruption and mismanagement are comprehensive in Melrose, despite what too many locals wish to believe. Just because the public wasn't informed about say, the co-conspirators in the cemetery commissioner's felonious conduct doesn't mean there isn't serious misconduct that involved others in city government, only that the pubic was kept out of the loop. Duh!
Since you referenced OCR and turned such a serious situation into your bland whitewash, here's the real deal:
https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&ved=2ahUKEwjdqqqG8IvfAhVRmeAKHUeDDm8QFjACegQIBxAC&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww2.ed.gov%2Fabout%2Foffices%2Flist%2Focr%2Fdocs%2Finvestigations%2Fmore%2F01141259-a.pdf&usg=AOvVaw0dqx3G3SOv36oNAIquiSr_
OCR found that the Student was subject to a hostile environment based on race.
OCR’s investigation finds that the District violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VI)
OCR found that the incident was publicized in an online community news article, which
included comments by a city official concerning the incident, and was the subject of
discussion and commentary in the community.
To establish a violation of Title VI under the hostile environment theory, OCR must find
that: (1) a racially hostile environment existed; (2) the recipient had actual or constructive
notice of the racially hostile environment; and (3) the recipient failed to respond
adequately to redress the racially hostile environment. To determine whether a racially
hostile environment exists, the racially-based conduct must be severe, pervasive or
persistent.
https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/education_law/2016/02/ocr-finds-melrose-schools-failed-to-adequately-respond-to-teachers-statement-that-a-student-should-n.html
After its own investigation, OCR found that the District did not sufficiently respond to the hostile environment. First, its investigation and response was delayed. Second, it did not fully delve into the teacher's past behavior to determine the extent of the problem. Third, it did not provide parents with sufficient notice of what had occurred. Fourth, during the investigation, the district did not take action to remedy the effects of the hostile environment on other students. In short, while the District responded to the hostile environment, it did not take adequate steps to address it.
OCR's close attention to the way in which the incident affected the entire school community and the way District responded is significant. Courts are often dismissive of what they call "isolated" incidents and so long as a district does "something," courts tend to find the response adequate. Here, OCR makes clear that racially hostile comments affect everyone and cannot be viewed in isolation. Thus, it is a districts obligation to broaden the scope of its investigation and response.
The full findings are here.
The resolution agreement, which includes additional steps that the District will take, is here.
Swell. I screwed up the quote function. One more try -
"In response to the part I bolded in your reply above: That literally is what a slobbering hobo railing about how fluoride is government mind control thinks regarding proof. You are literally saying your conspiracy-addled, fevered imagination is somehow a more reliable source of information than an investigation that resulted in a conviction at a PUBLIC trial. Do you honestly think prosecutors wouldn't have been interested in pursuing more charges against more parties if there was any proof of involvement? Straight bonkers, buddy. If you can't see that, I don't know what else to say."
"He allegedly split the funds with the people he had pose as sellers – none of whom ever owned the plots that were sold, the DA said."
That, my friend is a textbook case of conspiracy. It's an interesting question, isn't it? Who were the people posing as sellers, and why were they never charged?
If you can't see that, I don't know what else to say.
Of course I know what alleged means. In the criminal justice world, it's the word you have to use prior to a conviction to avoid prejudicing the case.
A conspiracy is "an actual covert plot planned and/or carried out by two or more persons". My question remains. Who were the others involved?
I don't think Dolan had a clue about it. I didn't much care for him, but he's way too smart to get involved in something so stupid and almost certain to be discovered at some point.
Of course it's odd. It's hard for a rational person to understand why anyone would do something so stupid, but in case you hadn't noticed, the vast majority of crooks aren't really all that bright.
Unbelievable. I give up. It always amazes me that some people will turn a blind eye to anything until it directly affects them.
VOTE NO! Follow the facts.. the truth.
You can learned a lot of value from this either side of any issue on this site, either before it closed down or after it started up again. October 2018.There are no existing checks and balances for are school;s.Just look at the things that should not have came to light.
There are plenty of facts to show why not. Yes seems to be a bit more of an aggressive approach with hostile rhetoric and the same speech and information as well as slogans over and over again just like every other time.
VOTE NO!
TIME TO RAISE THE BAR IN MELROSE BACK TO A SYSTEM THAT REPRESENTS ALL OF THE
CITIZENS.
Get your facts and information and tell the community. I vote no becuase when you add the numbers and do the research it does not even come close to adding up. The Mayor has no answers. Taymore talk in circles about a plan for the future. One sentence is one thing the next is the opposite of what was said. Mismanagement! VOTE NO! SPREAD THE WORD! The Yes group spent 25,000 last time. Impressive. Give that money to the Police they need it!
So fake it will go down in history.
In Fiscal Year 2016, Melrose has already hit homeowners with a 6% increase in water and sewer rates and the legally allowable maximum tax increase of 2½%.
Ugh. Happy New Year.
My tax bill is 600 more than last year and this is BEFORE what an Override would cost. No, No No, can’t afford it and will vote NO on April 2nd. By the way, I am a Federal worker who is now furloughed because of a mentally ill president and politicians who have no guts. Trust Melrose politicians? No!
The Mismanagement lack of Transparency and Coverups. No on any Override.
And remember, it's 5.8 million a year - FOREVER! I often wonder how they could have the stones to even propose such a thing. These people are so out of touch with reality it's frightening. Also voting no - emphatically.
I would like to remember that, but I have NO IDEA what you mean.
REAR OUR LIPS...NO NEW TAXES.
Yes, $600 a quarter is nuts. That was kinda the point.
The bottom line is that I'm voting no until someone demonstrates beyond a reasonable doubt to me that the money we are spending is being spent wisely. I'm not hopeful, given the history, that that's imminent. An example I neglected before is the enormous amount being wasted on out-of-district placements, and legal fees. The only way I have to express my displeasure is with my vote, and that's what I'm going to do.
"The truth of the matter is that property taxes went down in Melrose this year. It is just a fact. I know "facts" are up for debate in this current political climate, but I am hoping there are some sane souls on this board who can understand the actual numbers on their tax bill."
I don't understand how the blanket statement above could be remotely true. The city got their 2.5% increase. Any shift between res&comm was nominal. It is possible that if your assessment went up $10k while the average went up say $30k then your taxes went down, but a general statement that taxes went down seems wrong.
The housing market is crashing and rates are going up, so I don't think it will pass. The houses are coming down so that's why people wanted to sell at this time. The override should be for the police and fire. The schools will stay the same as they have for the passed forty years that I know.
First step is to get rid of Taymore, and replace her with a real educator, like the one that the SC ignored the last time. She's the leader of a mean girl group, not an educator. Whatever success the schools have had is in spite of her, not because of her.
Those are tax rates. I thought you were well versed in the basics of prop 2 1/2? The rates go down to offset the increased assessed values, but the end result is still a 2.5% increase in the levy on existing stock.