Endorsements...
There isn't much call for an "in_parentheses Endorses..." post this time around, as my Ward 2 ballot is mostly uncontested. C'mon, Somerville, be more divisive!
I am directed to vote for four Aldermen-at-Large out of a roster of five (it's Alderman musical chairs!), so let's take a look at the contestants (endorsements in red)...
John M. (Jack) Connolly, Jr. has been around a long damn time, apparently so long that he doesn't feel he has to provide any actual information on his website. I do not give endorsements to slacker incumbents who can't be bothered to communicate with their constituents in this most basic of ways. He did fill out the Prog Dems questionnaire, but with weak one-line responses.
Bruce M. Desmond doesn't even seem to have a placeholder website anymore, nor did he bother to fill out the Prog Dems questionnaire*. FAIL. Fortunately, he did write this gem of an MCAS editorial in 2005, which uses the word "accountability/accountable" 8 times (I counted), blathers a lot of booga-booga about the eeeevils of celebrities and television, and generally falls into the "stop helping me!" category. (The editorial does include this best of all possible metaphors: "The reality is that the MCAS test is here. It slithered forward and coiled itself around us (albeit in a loving way) and is now constricting with a steady and deadly pressure.")
Dennis Michael Sullivan has been an Alderman for 6 years. He's worked on the Assembly Square project, the Green Line extension, senior citizen programs, and public safety (he's worked in the Dept. of Corrections for years). He hosts regular "office hours" for constituents to come chat -- apparently he just celebrated his 100th office hour! He was endorsed by the Progressive Dems of Somerville, whose opinion I usually follow. Also, that is what a website looks like, bitchez.
William A. (Bill) White, Jr. was involved with calling a halt to the BU Bio Lab project pending further environmental review. I'll admit I don't know as much about this as I should -- was it crazy hippies overreacting or actual irresponsibility? He also claims to have whipped the Committee on Public Health and Public Safety into shape, with particular emphasis on zoning issues: "Of specific import is the preservation of existing neighborhoods and planning for mixed use projects that mesh well with adjoining neighborhoods and incorporate appropriate scale and open space with good commercial development." Sold! (See Prog Dems questionnaire, in which he unfortunately doesn't understand the difference between "effect" and "affect.") He was also endorsed by the Prog Dems.
Luis A. Morales is the only challenger on the list. He's a "local business owner" in East Somerville, though I couldn't find which businesses he owns. I can't even begin to say how much we need more immigrants -- hell, an immigrant -- in city government. According to Wicked Local Somerville, 35% of Somervillians are immigrants, but our government is pretty universally monolingual and whitey-white. Unfortunately his Environment page is broken, but his other issues, particularly affordable housing, seem solid. He has a long record of community involvement, particularly with the immigrants' rights issues that can be so raw and divisive in Somerville. (See the Prog Dem questionnaire, in which he goes into articulate detail.) He's also opposed to the crazy-ass new parking regs, so thumbs up to that. He was the Prog Dems' last endorsement.
*It's possible he doesn't consider himself a "progressive," which is fine, but how would I know, since he doesn't have a freakin' website?
I am directed to vote for four Aldermen-at-Large out of a roster of five (it's Alderman musical chairs!), so let's take a look at the contestants (endorsements in red)...
John M. (Jack) Connolly, Jr. has been around a long damn time, apparently so long that he doesn't feel he has to provide any actual information on his website. I do not give endorsements to slacker incumbents who can't be bothered to communicate with their constituents in this most basic of ways. He did fill out the Prog Dems questionnaire, but with weak one-line responses.
Bruce M. Desmond doesn't even seem to have a placeholder website anymore, nor did he bother to fill out the Prog Dems questionnaire*. FAIL. Fortunately, he did write this gem of an MCAS editorial in 2005, which uses the word "accountability/accountable" 8 times (I counted), blathers a lot of booga-booga about the eeeevils of celebrities and television, and generally falls into the "stop helping me!" category. (The editorial does include this best of all possible metaphors: "The reality is that the MCAS test is here. It slithered forward and coiled itself around us (albeit in a loving way) and is now constricting with a steady and deadly pressure.")
Dennis Michael Sullivan has been an Alderman for 6 years. He's worked on the Assembly Square project, the Green Line extension, senior citizen programs, and public safety (he's worked in the Dept. of Corrections for years). He hosts regular "office hours" for constituents to come chat -- apparently he just celebrated his 100th office hour! He was endorsed by the Progressive Dems of Somerville, whose opinion I usually follow. Also, that is what a website looks like, bitchez.
William A. (Bill) White, Jr. was involved with calling a halt to the BU Bio Lab project pending further environmental review. I'll admit I don't know as much about this as I should -- was it crazy hippies overreacting or actual irresponsibility? He also claims to have whipped the Committee on Public Health and Public Safety into shape, with particular emphasis on zoning issues: "Of specific import is the preservation of existing neighborhoods and planning for mixed use projects that mesh well with adjoining neighborhoods and incorporate appropriate scale and open space with good commercial development." Sold! (See Prog Dems questionnaire, in which he unfortunately doesn't understand the difference between "effect" and "affect.") He was also endorsed by the Prog Dems.
Luis A. Morales is the only challenger on the list. He's a "local business owner" in East Somerville, though I couldn't find which businesses he owns. I can't even begin to say how much we need more immigrants -- hell, an immigrant -- in city government. According to Wicked Local Somerville, 35% of Somervillians are immigrants, but our government is pretty universally monolingual and whitey-white. Unfortunately his Environment page is broken, but his other issues, particularly affordable housing, seem solid. He has a long record of community involvement, particularly with the immigrants' rights issues that can be so raw and divisive in Somerville. (See the Prog Dem questionnaire, in which he goes into articulate detail.) He's also opposed to the crazy-ass new parking regs, so thumbs up to that. He was the Prog Dems' last endorsement.
*It's possible he doesn't consider himself a "progressive," which is fine, but how would I know, since he doesn't have a freakin' website?