Where is State Rep. Cheryl Coakley Rivera?

After learning of the recent closing of Luvas and Rein's Deli in downtown Springfield, my first reaction was, well it was the power of the market force, there was simply no demand for the product they were offering. However, as I drove through downtown recently on a weekday in the middle of the afternoon, I was suddenly confused? Is this Springfield downtown? The Cultural hub of Western Massachusetts? There was virtually little to no pedestrian foot traffic, and the car traffic seemed to be in a rush to get out of the area. Sure, there is probably a couple of factors that might have contributed to these two good restaurants demised, but I am sure that the lack of foot traffic did not help. We need foot traffic for the downtown business, in fact for any local business to succeed.

The Western part of the city, from Forest Park to the North End is in a business staleness that is very worrisome. There is real crime issues in the Forest Park neighborhoods, the South End in plague by drugs and prostitution and in the North End, well to say it simply, no one wants to stop. State Rep. Coakley Rivera has been silent, almost absent in these past year or so. This is a dangerous situation for the City and the neighborhoods. We need a State Rep. to actively work and promote the area, not to be feature in the local paper planting a tree every so often. Grandstanding, does not translate into Economic Development. State Rep. Cheryl Coakley Rivera has been in office for about 10 years, I wonder how much more effective, if ever, she can possibly be? Oh, by the way I can see the campaign slogan now," give me one more term and I will show you how much more effective I can be ". Luvas and Reins Deli did not have the luxury to ask for more time.

I am in Complete Dismay

It seems that School Committee members, Mr. Shea, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Rodgers and Mr. Collins would like us to believe that the school committee authority surpasses that of the control board. In a recent article by The Republican, these four gentleman would like us to believe that their symbolic vote extending Dr. Burke's three year contract is valid. Now I ask you this question. If the Control Board intended to extend Dr. Burke's Contract, why did the Control Board authorized a national search? Obviously the Control Board as many parents through out the city, were not fully satisfied with Dr. Burke's performance. I am extremely agitated to see that Dr. Burke has been openly and care free applying to other superintendent pistons elsewhere. This seems the actions of a person who is ready to leap out of the City at a moments notice. As a parent and as a citizen of Springfield, I want people who are willing to invest their time and future here with us in Springfield. In the private sector this behavior will not be tolerated, so why are we the residents of Springfield expected to tolerate it?
As for these four gentlemen, this kind of back door politics are exactly the ones that we the residents of Springfield do not need or will no longer tolerate.

I wrote a letter to the Editor of The Republican expressing the above opinions.
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Letter to the Editor:

I am completely in dismay to see the complete and total disregard to the process of law that School Committee members, Mr.Shea, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Rodgers and Mr. Collins have demonstrated by claiming that their symbolic vote to extend Dr. Burke's contract as valid. These gentlemen would like us to believe that the Control Board, did not rescind their symbolic vote. The control board, in essence, did not extend Dr. Burke's contract by authorizing a national search for a new superintendent. This kind of back door politics are exactly the ones that we, the citizens of Springfield, do not need and will no longer tolerate.

Victor Davila Springfield, Ma

El Comandante won't Accept Nomination

" My elemental duty is not to cling to positions, much less to stand on the way of younger persons, but rather to contribute my own experiences and ideas"

President Fidel Castro in a resignation letter to the Cuban people, Feb. 19, 2008

After battling health ailments Cuban President Fidel Castro in an open letter to the Cuban people stated that he " will not seek nor accept nomination of President of the State Council and its Commander in Chief" Fidel Castro has become a polarizing world wide figure, and is often the focus of inspiration to younger people. Castro, developed a one party system and a socialist economic model after gaining power in 1959. In that year his group of guerrilla fighters overthrew the corrupt dictatorship government of President Fulgencio Batista. The Batista government had made Cuba America's backyard play ground. During the Batista government the richer got richer and the poorer got poorer. U.S. mob families dominated the casino industry. The U.S. began an embargo against Cuba in 1961 after Castro nationalized many U.S. corporations in Cuba. The embargo is still in effect today, despite world protest to the U.S. over the embargo. It is expected that the National State Council elects a new president this weekend.

There were scenes of joy among many Cuban exiles in Florida after learning of the resignation of Fidel Castro, and presidential contenders continue their tough stand on the conditions for U.S. assistance to Cuba, The Democratization of Cuba. While the US presidential contenders keeps up the tough rhetoric on Cuba, The US continues to trade with China, a communist country with possibly the worst Human Rights record in the modern world. In fact, China is the fastest growing US exports, outpacing exports to the rest of the world. It has often being rationalized that an open trade policy with China will help to open up the country to Western models of government and increase compliance with Human Rights. If this is the case, then, Why doesn't the US lift the embargo and begin immediate trade relations with Cuba? As former Springfield City Councilor candidate Clodo Concepcion, A Cuban Native and retire US military, stated in a WHYN interview, " This is an opportunity for the US. The US should put aside its pride and begin open trade with Cuba"

As for Fidel, may he have peace and quiet in his retirement days. My Friends, This is history in the making.

Gov. Patrick Top Aide Arrested

According to the Boston Herald, Carl Stanley McGee, a top aide in Gov. Patrick administration has been arrested in Florida for sexually assaulting a 15 year old boy in a steam room at the Gulf Coast Resort. Carl Stanley McGee is Assistant Secretary for Policy and Planning under Gov. Patrick's administration. Carl Stanley McGee was instrumental in the efforts to defeat overturn same sex marriage in Massachusetts and and is currently the point person in the efforts to bring casinos to Massachusetts. Carl Stanley McGee has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. According to Florida police reports, McGee is charged with masturbating and performing oral sex on the teenager.



I am deeply concern with the constant scandals that seem to develop under Gov. Patrick administration. First, the luxury drapes in the corner office, upgrading the official Governor's vehicle to a luxury model, the seventy first fund, a special fund created by the Democratic Party to help streamline donations to the Governor's campaign committee, leaving the State to stump for Sen. Barrack Obama and God knows what else there is or is yet to come.

All of this on his first year in the Corner Office. As for Carl Stanley McGee, well, the Governor should immediately terminate his employment. As a top aide, Carl Stanley McGee works at the pleasure of the Governor. It will be interesting to see what the Governor does.

Viva Hillary

Hillary Clinton received 50% of the Democratic vote in Springfield and Barrack Obama received 47% of the Democratic vote in Springfield. The Hispanic vote, went to Hillary Clinton and the Afro-American vote went to Barrack Obama. As many political analyst have noted, the Democratic race has become an issue of race and gender. I find this unfortunate as I believe that we should vote for the person that you believe to be most qualified for the job. No, this doesn't mean that I will vote on the Democrat side !!!


I can't help to point out the stereotype that Hispanic males face in the U.S. We are often referred to as "Machistas", Chauvinist, etc.. yet, Hispanics including Hispanic males voted for Hillary. In the Hispanic culture family roles are traditionally well defined, We know what to expect from each other. I also argue, that in the US, including Massachusetts, conservatism is not dead.