Letters to the Editor

Arrigo thanks voters

Dear Editor:

Thank you for taking the time to get out and vote in Revere’s Primary Election. Regardless of who you voted for, it is important to participate in our democratic process. I entered this race because I, as many others in our great city, feel like we could do much more to unlock and unleash the full potential of our community. I would also like to publicly thank all of my supporters.  I have been energized by your willingness to commit your time and your vote to my vision for making Revere the great city it ought to be.

Last Tuesday’s primary results clearly demonstrate that my message of efficient and effective city management, accessible city government, and the honest belief that the only people the Mayor works for are the residents of the City of Revere is not only being heard, but being embraced. I am committed to meeting and engaging residents in city affairs and having open and honest discussions about the issues we face. The City of Revere deserves dedicated leadership that is willing to listen to all of its residents.

Brian Arrigo

Candidate for Mayor

Writing in response to a letter

Dear Editor:

I am writing in response to a letter submitted by Mr. Craig N. Lander, and published in a recent edition of your newspaper.

After Mr. Lander submitted a similar letter last fall, in which he suggested that I was both ineffective and inaccessible, I responded, publishing all of my contact information lest there were anyone who did not have it or could not call the City Clerk’s office to get it. Thereafter I attempted to meet with Mr. Lander, finally sitting down with him in his kitchen at his home on Mountain Avenue. At that time, I explained to him that I had been advocating since my election, in every way possible, to have the Mountain Avenue street and sidewalks resurfaced, that the project was on the table and expected to be completed during the 2015 construction season and that if the job did not get specifically scheduled, I would help him circulate a petition to insist that it be so.  I also explained to him the systemic difficulties in maintaining our city-wide infrastructure given the demands of five other ward councillors, the unpredictability of maintenance needs, the constant need to devote scarce assets to emergency repair because of deficient past maintenance, and the lack of reliable planning. Since that time, the Mountain Avenue project was, in fact, scheduled for early fall, and it is my understanding that the City Planner informed Mr. Lander of this fact. Yet, despite having this information and having all of my contact information, including my email address and personal cell phone number, he failed to contact me for confirmation, resorting instead to a public airing of his complaints on the eve of their remediation. Given that the long planned reconstruction project on Mountain Avenue has commenced on schedule less than two weeks after Mr. Lander published his letter, I must assume that his actions were the result of either intentional disregard of the facts or from political motivation. That would be completely unfortunate had it not given me the opportunity to bring into focus a recent development that I expect will resolve many of the issues cited above.

In an attempt to develop a mechanism to address our infrastructure issues in a rational and progressive manner, city government, through the mayor’s office, has recently worked with representatives of the Collins Center of the University of Massachusetts. At our most recent meeting, the City Council entertained a presentation of the results of that collaboration. I urge everyone interested (and everyone should be) to watch the presentation either by way of the re-run offered by Revere TV or on-line at RevereTV.org. Briefly, the Collins Center report proposed a revolving five year capital improvement plan which I strongly endorse. For too long, projects such as the refurbishment of Mountain Avenue have been subject to the uncertainties of the fiscal cycle and, frankly, political jockeying among representatives of the six political wards in our city and the other issues to which I alluded above. The institution of a thoughtful, well-reasoned and reliably funded plan will anticipate necessary maintenance requirements, significantly reduce the need for emergency repairs, and fairly allocate the resources necessary to maintain our infrastructure throughout the city. I look forward to the implementation of the plan in the near future.

Steve Reardon

Ward 4 Councillor

Rizzo Praises Revere Police Officer Goodwin, other Officers

 Dear Editor:

As Mayor, public safety is my number one concern and top priority.  I believe we have the finest public safety officials in the entire state.

In this case, the quick action and professionalism of Officer Jerry Goodwin and the other responding officers to apprehend a resident on the balcony of 250 Broadway exemplifies our superb police force.

My administration has made significant investments in public safety, including hiring new police officers, increasing foot patrols, and installing a police substation on Broadway – which was only a block away from where this incident took place.

These investments have paid off, with an increased level of professionalism, training, and an overall reduction in crime of 15 percent in just 3 ½ years. We will continue to focus on keeping residents safe and secure in their homes, and in their neighborhoods.

Dan Rizzo, Mayor

On the Expanded Gaming Bill

Dear Editor:

As a group, the Massachusetts Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association, we set our objectives in keeping with the vision of the Expanded Gaming Bill, a live race meet of between 105 and 125 days.

In order to achieve we must all work together with the following;

  • The Massachusetts Legislature
  • The Massachusetts Gaming Commission
  • Racing entities willing to provide the facilities, i.e. Suffolk Downs, The Brockton Fair Grounds, and The Stronach Group.

The first step is for the Massachusetts Legislature to return an adequate number of live race days in order to allow simulcasting. Nothing can go forward without this key change. The Gaming Commission also must be willing to not grant simulcast rights unless that number of days is met.

Suffolk Downs has two possibilities, perhaps a third;

  • Race the required amount of days and simulcast year round.
  • Lease or sell the track to an operator who is willing and able to race the required number of days.
  • Since Suffolk wants to remain a player, should Everett’s casino bid fail, it could structure a deal with The Stronach Group to lease the track for a fixed term with the provision that Suffolk can opt out if the casino license becomes available allowing Suffolk to build a casino on the Revere side and Stronach to continue leasing the East Boston property until they can relocate the racing operation.
  • The Stronach Group leases the Brockton Fair Grounds as it has said it would and put on a live race meet with simulcasting granted by Gaming Commission. Suffolk can clarify their position by their next actions, go dark without racing income or work a deal. Should Suffolk go dark, Stronach can move on to building a new facility, as they said they would.
  • The legislative effort to create a quasi-public entity to issue bonds and build a racetrack is successful and can run the required amount of days in order to earn simulcast rights.

Key factors include;

  • The horsemen, breeders, and farmers, along with all track related jobs, need a sustained race meet to prosper.
  • Suffolk wants to minimize its exposure to racing but maximize its income and continue to be an active player in case the Everett project stumbles.
  • Revere wants a casino in its future, East Boston does not. They both do, however, want a racetrack.
  • Without a casino or a racetrack, the use options for the land are nowhere as attractive as those described above.
  • The Massachusetts Legislature is anxious to achieve the true purpose of the Expanded Gaming Bill in protecting and preserving the thoroughbred industry and all of its local jobs and farms.
  • The Gaming Commission is anxious to carry out the bill’s original intent.
  • The Stronach Group wants to participate in Massachusetts Racing and does not require a casino.

The parties need to start down this road to re-establishing a full race meet requirement for the right to simulcast. The Massachusetts Thoroughbred Horsemen’s Association is the only group that embraces this multi-faceted approach with provisions and protections for all our local horsemen.

Please call me at 617-593-2982 or visit our facebook fan page ‘Mass Thoroughbred Horsemen’ or our website www.masstha.com

Our door is always open, everyone’s ideas are important, this is truly a group effort.

Bill Lagorio

President, MTHA

189 Squire Rd.

Revere, MA

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