VIEWPOINTS EXPRESSED DO MATTER

This is for all of the cynics out there who feel like government never does anything positive. The Billerica Board of Health, the Building Department and others have finally served notice to RD Management, owners of the Billerica Mall that it is time to step up or be forced out.

Most people are aware that there has been a sustained roof leak in existence for what seems like an eternity. This leak has also brought about a brown mold that has shown itself in several stores occupying the mall. It is most likely that the water has also caused structural damage to the roof and ceilings, the walls, and may even be threatening the wiring.

No one knows for sure because no one from the town has forced an inspection on this building until now. It seems like some in the town have actually taken to comments made on Topix and other town blogs, and decided enough is enough. Citizens have been ringing the bells of town officials and demanding either action or their jobs, and finally, the town is responding.

If recollection serves, it wasn’t until the Jeff Parenti discussion on the mixed use zoning overlay proposal that the topic of mold and a potential roof collapse even got mentioned in public. No town official had ever spoken of these risks in public. In fact, the town has steadily given the impression that it didn’t matter; that someday, some company, like Home Depot would come along and save the day! Wrong! You lose, wrong guess. The Lone Ranger and Tonto are retired and all the superheroes of today are sulking, brooding, whiners; just like those they protect. Help is not coming from the outside; it must come from within.

The Mall is long overdue to be put down. There should be no reluctance as expressed, inappropriately, by building inspector Milton Kinney. If the mall were a private home and he found the same conditions, it would be condemned as unfit for occupancy immediately.

Board of Health Chairman, Marie O’Rourke is insisting that they have the mold removed and the building certified as mold free. That no brainer should have been done many months ago, but at least they are taking action, now.

Mr. Steve Glaser has not responded to inquiries regarding the ruling, but is rumored to have agreed to get working going on the mold situation soon. Since no one knows for sure if the mold is toxic or not, I’m curious as to whether the Mall will be closed or somehow made ventilation safe for customers during the “repairs”?

Selectman Accomando, who owns a dry cleaning business, housed within the Mall seems overly sympathetic to the Mall owners and not in the least sympathetic about the potential health risks to those he represents. He continually demonstrates a callousness and an almost comical air of witlessness about him that makes me certain that he is not a selectman concerned about the public interest, but one who is only looking out for himself and his personal agenda. I have no qualm about saying that he needs to go as soon as possible.

Considering the standing silence from Correnti, Rosa and Lombardo regarding the Mall situation and the lack of any strong commitment or persuasive interest in a mixed use overlay, I’m not so sure that they are serving the public good to the extent one would expect of a committed public servant. Mr. Deslaurier is too new to judge, yet, but his silence on the matter has also been quite noticeable.

At any rate, the issue is now public and the public needs to sustain and even  turn up and keep high the heat of dogged persuasion on all of the pertinent town leaders. The best way to do that is to let them what you expect to see when the next occasion to vote comes around.

DO YOU KNOW HOW YOUR REPS VOTE?

If you don’t know how your Senators and Congressman vote on bills effecting the health, security and economy of the nation, but would like to – click here. Sometimes, a little awareness can make a huge difference in how you live. Wouldn’t it be nice if Billerica had this in place? Give your selectmen a call if you think this is a worthy idea. Apparently, someone in Washington thought it important.

Look around the site. I also provides you with the means of contacting any of your reps with ease. Consider this the next time you are angry or don’t quite understand a vote cast. Ask them for answers; that’s what we pay them to do.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT RE: IRAN

1390 LEGISLATIVE ACTION ALERT!!

SUPPORT AMENDMENT #1628
TO THE NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT

SEND A MESSAGE TO IRAN!

by Lisa Piraneo, Director of Government Relations

 

 

 

 

Dear Richard,

President Obama has warned that “Iran obtaining a nuclear weapon would not only be a threat to Israel and a threat to the United States, but would be profoundly destabilizing in the international community as a whole and could set off a nuclear arms race in the Middle East that would be extraordinarily dangerous for all concerned, including for Iran.”

Over the years, Iran has received numerous international warnings to “cease and desist” its participation in unlawful nuclear activities, as well as its development of unconventional weapons and support for international terrorism.

Unfortunately, such warnings have fallen on deaf ears. Despite sanctions imposed by the U.N. Security Council aimed at convincing Iran to stop its unlawful activities and comply with the requirements of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and despite sanctions imposed by the U.S. Treasury Department on several Iranian banks for their involvement in proliferation activities and terrorism support, Iran continues on its current and dangerous course.

Amendment #1628 to S. 1390, the National Defense Authorization Act for 2010, addresses this issue in a direct way by expressing the Sense of the Senate that the government of Iran should:

1. Seize the historic offer put forward by President Barack Obama to engage in direct diplomacy with the United States;
2. Suspend all enrichment-related and reprocessing activities, including research and development, and work on all heavy-water related projects, including the construction of a research reactor moderated by heavy water, as demanded by multiple resolutions of the United Nations Security Council; and
3. Come into full compliance with the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, including the additional protocol to the Treaty.

Further, Amendment #1628 asserts that President Obama should impose sanctions, including those on the Central Bank of Iran (as well as any other Iranian banks involved in proliferation activities or terrorist support), if…

1. Iran has not accepted the U.S. offer to engage in direct diplomacy via the P5-plus-1 process before the Summit of the Group of 20 in September, 2009, and has not suspended all of its enrichment-related and reprocessing activities and work on all heavy-water related projects; within 60 days of the summit’s conclusion, and
2. The U.N. Security Council has not adopted significant additional sanctions on the government of Iran.
We need to assert some “tough talk” – coupled with hard deadlines – in addition to the Obama administration’s current course of soft diplomacy. This amendment is a good first step.

THE FOLLOWING ACTION IS NEEDED FROM YOU, OUR ACT!
FOR
AMERICA GRASSROOTS ADVOCATE!

The amendment is expected to be considered sometime today. Please take a moment RIGHT NOW to call your elected official in the U.S. SENATE. [Click here to locate your Senator] and urge him/her to support the Kyl/Lieberman amendment #1628 to S. 1390, the National Defense Authorization Act for 2010.

We need to send a strong message to Iran that their destructive behavior will not be tolerated — and will have consequences!

REMEMBER, YOUR VOICE COUNTS!
IF EACH OF US DOES JUST A LITTLE, TOGETHER WE CAN
ACCOMPLISH A LOT!

——————————————————————————————-

ACT for America
P.O. Box 12765
Pensacola, FL 32591
www.actforamerica.org

ACT for America is an issues advocacy organization dedicated to effectively organizing and mobilizing the most powerful grassroots citizen action network in America, a grassroots network committed to informed and coordinated civic action that will lead to public policies that promote America’s national security and the defense of American democratic values against the assault of radical Islam. We are only as strong as our supporters, and your volunteer and financial support is essential to our success. Thank you for helping us make America safer and more secure.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY

Today is the 40th Anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon mission. I was just 20 years old when Neil Armstrong, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, and Michael Collins completed President John F. Kennedy’s vision of a lunar landing and safe return to earth by the end of the 1960’s. I am always a bit saddened that President Kennedy didn’t live to see this mission. I’d have been very interested in what he would have had to say about it.

For more information about this key mission and the people involved, you can jump from here to this Wikipedia article. Once again, I would like to thank the heroic men and women of the United States Armed Forces for their selfless behavior on behalf of the nation. It’s a shame that you have to go without the acclaim and adoration that you’ve earned, but know this; many of us out here love and appreciate you more than words, even in the hands of another William Shakespeare, could ever describe. Thank you!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

In the beginning of a change, the patriot is a scarce man, and brave, and hated and scorned. When his cause succeeds, the timid join him, for then it costs nothing to be a patriot.

~Mark Twain, Notebook, 1935

IRAQ VET’S CAREGIVERS SEEK TRAINING, COMPENSATION

On one hand, we have the President declaring that we must do something to help the uninsured get health care so that they may live a better life.  On the other hand, we have veterans who have been severely injured defending this nation.  These men and women, after their injury and separation from the service are then either put into long range care facilities (nursing homes) or dumped into the laps of their loved ones to deal with without support from “a grateful nation”.  A case in point:

We’re providing them (our returning wounded loved ones) with such a better quality of life, and we need support in order to provide that,” said Tracy Keil, 31, of Parker, Colo., whose husband, Matthew Keil, was paralyzed from the chest down from a sniper’s bullet in 2007 and now needs around-the-clock care. The two married six weeks before he was injured. She said she gave up the job she had as an accountant for 11 years and makes $60,000 less working from home part-time for a nonprofit organization.

Call me silly, but I think someone who has sacrificed his health in the early prime years of his life for the nation is a bit more deserving of the nation’s attention and resources than is the piss ant who is too lazy to get up and get a job. I think he’s a bit more deserving of help than someone who crossed the border illegally and brought his/her family with them. I think he’s a bit more deserving than a convict doing life without parole for murder, rape or both. I think he’s a lot more deserving than a Congressmen who has done nothing but subvert the Constitution and the tenants of liberty throughout the course of his/her tenure. I think he and his spouse are a bit more deserving of government/taxpayer help than the womanizing governor who walks away from his professional obligation to fulfil his immoral wants and needs. What do you think? I think the way these families have been abandoned is nothing short of a national disgrace. Let’s stop the bailouts, the socialization of health care, the robbing of the rich to help the lame, the lazy, those who make poor choices or who are unwilling to go beyond basic efforts to improve their own lives. Let’s provide help to those who matter most…our national defenders and the protectors of liberty.

The Commander In Chief
Wounded warriors project
Senate Veteran’s Affairs Committee
House Armed Service Committee
Senate Armed Service Committee
Veteran’s Affairs Department