The clock is ticking....

I am shocked that State Rep. Cheryl Coakley-Rivera and Ben Swan are holding up a bill that will extend the state loan repayment to 15 years. This extension, as reported by the Republican will save the residents of Springfield 7 Million dollars a year. God knows that in this shaky financial times Springfield needs all the help it can get. I find State Rep. Cheryl Coakley-Rivera and Ben Swan actions irresponsible. Political differences are fair game, but to use this critical issue, one that will have serious ramifications to the residents of Springfield as a political football is a true disservice to the residents of Springfield. Cheryl Coakely-Rivera is accusing the Mayor of wasteful spending by hiring city employees and consultants. Ben Swan is blaming the Mayor for the recent contract termination with the Springfield Towing Alliance. While the bickering and accusations are exchanged, the time is clicking for Springfield to repay the state loan....

I foresee, that if Springfield is forced to repay the loan next year as originally stipulated, and with the expected local aid reduction looming over our heads, Mayor Sarno will have no choice but to engage in a series of lay offs. This will be catastrophic to the residents of Springfield.

State Rep. Rivera-Coakely and Swan will be directly responsible for every job lost.

Good Laugh ....

I have been extremely busy in the past few weeks. I got this joke in my e-mail that I like to share with you....


BARACK OBAMA: The chicken crossed the road because it was time for a> change! The chicken wanted change!

JOHN MC CAIN: My friends, that chicken crossed the road because he> recognized the need to engage in cooperation and dialogue with all the> chickens on the other side of the road...ZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

SARAH PALIN: BECAUSE, PRAISE JESUS, I WAS GONNA SHOOT HIS SORRY LIBERAL ASS FOR BLOCKING MY VIEW OF RUSSIA !

HILLARY CLINTON: When I was First Lady, I personally helped that> little chicken to cross the road. This experience makes me uniquely qualified to ensure right from Day One that every chicken in this> country gets the chance it deserves to cross the road. But then, this> really isn't about me.

GEORGE W. BUSH: We don't really care why the chicken crossed the road.> We just want to know if the chicken is on our side of the road, or> not. The chicken is either against us, or for us. There is no middle> ground here.

DICK CHENEY: Where's my gun?

COLIN POWELL: Now to the left of the screen, you can clearly see the> satellite image of the chicken crossing the road.

BILL CLINTON: I did not cross the road with that chicken. What is your definition of crossing?

AL GORE: I invented the chicken.

JOHN KERRY: Although I voted to let the chicken cross the road, I am> now against it! It was the wrong road to cross, and I was misled about the chicken's intentions. I am not for it now, and will remain against it.

AL SHARPTON: Why are all the chickens white? We need some black chickens.

DR. PHIL: The problem we have here is that this chicken won't realize> that he must first deal with the problem on this side of the road before it goes after the problem on the other side of the road. What we need to do is help him realize how stupid he's acting by not taking> on his current problems before adding new problems.

OPRAH: Well, I understand that the chicken is having problems, which> is why he wants to cross this road so bad. So instead of having the> chicken learn from his mistakes and take falls, which is a part of life, I'm going to give this chicken a car so that he can just drive> across the road and not live his life like the rest of the chickens.

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN: We have reason to believe there is a chicken,> but we have not yet been allowed to have access to the other side of the road

NANCY GRACE: That chicken crossed the road because he's guilty! You can see it in his eyes and the way he walks.

PAT BUCHANAN: To steal the job of a decent, hardworking American.

ERNEST HEMINGWAY: To die in the rain, alone

GRANDPA: In my day we didn't ask why the chicken crossed the road. Somebody told us the chicken crossed the road, and that was good enough.

BARBARA WALTERS: Isn't that interesting? In a few moments, we will be listening to the chicken tell, for the first time, the heart warming> story of how it experienced a serious case of molting, and went on to accomplish its lifelong dream of crossing the road.

ARISTOTLE: It is the nature of chickens to cross the road.

ALBERT EINSTEIN: Did the chicken really cross the road, or did the> road move beneath the chicken?

COLONEL SANDERS: Did I miss one?

Virgin Mary Apparation in Springfield, Ma

Silhouette of the Virgin Mary

I went down to the Mercy Hospital tonight to see the reported apparition of the Virgin Mary in an office window. Unfortunately, I went down during the night time and was unable to see an image. Apparently, the best view is during the day time. The image you see below was taken during the day by a news camera man that was kind enough to show it to those congregating to see the apparition. As you can see, there is a silhouette of a woman in the window. As I gathered the story, a man had a dream the night before where he was told that he would see an apparition the next day. The next morning the man went down to the Mercy hospital to see his wife, who was hospitalized. As the man got out of the car he noticed a silhouette in the window. He ran to the guard house and dragged the security guard out of the guard house to confirm what he was seeing. The guard was equally as surprised and the news spread rapidly. Apparently the image can be seen only from the outside. The office where the window is located is empty and no one has access to this office. According to the security officers, the first day there were approximately 300 people who gathered to see the apparition. Tonight there were approximately 100 people gathered at the parking lot at Mercy Hospital and several news channels. As I was standing in front of the window I thought of a passage of the bible, " blessed are those that believe without seeing for their is the kingdom of heaven" It was moving to see people praying the rosary and there was an aura of respect and humility in the air.

I can not help to notice that the reported apparition happened on September 30, at 300 Stafford St and that were 300 people gathered to see the apparition on the first day. Is there any significance? I do not know, and I will not pretend to know, but I do know that number 3 is consider the number of the Holy Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. At a Hospital whose name is Mercy. My interpretation, Massachusetts come to the Mercy of God..........

What a perfect time for God to make a statement in Massachusetts. The state is not only in a serious financial situation, but it is also morally decadent. I know that there are those that will laugh and doubt. If they laugh at Christ and ultimately crucified Him, imagine what they will do to you and I.

Virgin Mary's Hands

Night time view of window

The faithful gathering

You need to take care of Me

Recently, an individual that I was talking to, protested at the quality of the food served in the local Hampden County of Corrections. What really ticked me of about his comments was the entitlement tone of voice in which this individual made his demands. "We need better food in jail !!!". My reply to him, " if you do not like the food in jail, don't go to jail !!!". Before I get call insensitive or inhumane, I realize that people in jail have real needs and need all the help that society can provide to them to help them reintegrate into society as productive members of society. The problem is that, in my opinion, the system suggests or even removes the personal responsibility from individuals. Statement like "drug use is a victimless crime", or "you fell through the cracks", encourages people to walk away from their personal responsibility. I firmly believe that government can be a positive influence in people's lives, an influence, an instrument of good, an instrument, not the solution.

If we make jail too comfortable, we in turn are removing the element of determent that jail provides. Unfortunately, as we all know, there are people that are institutionalized. Why should my tax money be used to support people that choose a life of crime? Personal responsibility holds truth regardless of ethnicity or social class.

Here in Springfield, we have a crime niche that needs to pack up and go. Of course, we have the professional scavengers, lurking in the shadows to jump at the first opportunity to drain government. Then we have the undesirables. People that thrive committing quality of life crimes. Drugs, brake ins, loud speakers, public intoxication and the list goes on. Sorry, do not expect me to advocate for better food when these people negatively impact the quality of life of the city.

COWARDS ! ! !

Massachusetts Senate Floor

Recently the Massachusetts Senate in a a cowardly voice vote voted to strike from the book the 1913 law. This law was used by former Gov.Mitt Romney from keeping the our State of Massachusetts from becoming the Las Vegas for gay "marriage" Opponents claim that the law, which was drafted at the beginning of the last century, was drafted as a bigoted legislation. Of course there is no evidence to this claim, yet it keeps popping up on the papers. The leftist liberals also wants us to believe, in fact to feel guilty, of potential economic 'fruits' that the eradication of 1913 will have for the state. The 1913 law was upheld as constitutional by the Massachusetts Supreme Court in 2006.

The bill now goes to the House of Representatives where it promises to be a fierce battle. I am particularly interested on how the Springfield delegation is going to vote on this issue. We have seen our stellar representatives Ben Swan and Cheryl Coakley Rivera continuously denying the people the opportunity to be heard on State issues. As evident in their vote against the referendum question to allow the people to decide in the definition of marriage. As I have said before, this is our government and we the voters have the ultimate say !!! The people must be allow to vote on such an important social issue. The attempt to eradicate the 1913 is just another attempt by a reckless house of representatives into silencing the people from being heard.

You can't have your money !!!

Suppose that I have access to your personal checking and saving accounts. Now say, that I use half of your money for things that I think are necessary. I now save the other half. Now you come up to me and ask me " Can I have my money back?", and I reply NO !!

Sounds incredible doesn't it? Well, this is exactly what the Governor and the Legislature is doing with you tax money.

There is approximately $450 Million Dollars in the "Rainy Day fund" in Beacon Hill. The Republicans wanted to funnel that money to Cities and Towns to help alleviate the high cost of living that we are experiencing. The proposal was killed twice. The first proposal was to have a one time grant infusion to cities and towns. Imagine what Springfield could have done with the nearly $21,795,215 dollars that the city would have received as a one time grant infusion. At the very least, more roads could have been paved. The second proposal was in direct property tax relief. Click here to see how much your City/Town would have received. Gov. Patrick heavily campaigned on Property Tax relief as a center stage issue during his gubernatorial campaign. Now that he has a real chance to keep his pledge he back paddles in a big hurry. And the intrepid House of Representative has joined the Governor in refusing to give you your money back. Click here to see how the State Representative voted. Of Course our fearless Springfield State Representative delegation joined Gov. Patrick in refusing to give you your money back.

But there is light at the end of the tunnel. The group 450 Million has finished a signature drive through the state to place on the ballot a non-binding question on the November elections.
The referendum question reads.

"Shall the representative from this district be instructed to vote in favor of legislation distributing $450 million from the "rainy day stabilization" fund, originally due to the cities and towns of the Commonwealth, for residential property tax relief."

Let us hope that after the question passes, as I expect that it will. The House of Representatives actually listens to the people and do as the people want and deserve, their money back !!!

Good, Now you look like an American

Picture from Flickr.com

Recently at work one of my co-workers was talking to a young man from Vietnam. My coworker was at awe with the young man's square sandals. The young man went on to explain that the sandals were a new fashion in Vietnam and that they could be bought in NYC. My co-worker complemented the young man on his shirt, loose denim jeans, his close cut haircut and his good English and went on to say, " Good, now you look like an American"

The young man and myself looked at my co-worker with a puzzle look in our faces. This comment lingered in my mind for the next few days. What does an American look like? Blond hair, blue eyes? Dark skin? Brown skin? No accent? A heavy accent? I am still trying to figure it out.

Comments like this reminds me that we as a nation, we still have a long way to treat each other with kindness and respect and that Doctor Martin Luther King's dream of not being judge by the color of your skin, but as an individual, is still not achieved.

I particularly could care two hoots as to who does not like me. I treat others as I like to be treated. I do not live my life thinking, "Oh my God I am a Minority "!! ( God do I hate that word !!) I see people as what they are, God's precious creation.

I leave you with this passage from the declaration of independence.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights,..."

Have a happy fourth of July.

Ferrera a great disappointment

Springfield City Councilor Jimmy Ferrera has surely annoyed several people in the city with his arrogant refusal to schedule a hearing on the ethics proposal submitted by City Councilors Pat Markey and Bruce Stebbings. The Republican has not been shy in stating its annoyance with Ferrara on its editorial pages. Fellow Blogger Bill Dusty of the Springfield Intruder had a commical, yet critical post on Ferrera's arrogance.

I simply do not understand why Councilor Ferrera refuses to schedule a hearing on the Ethic proposal. As I have mentioned before, government must be transparent. After all, it is our government, not Ferrera's government. If Ferrera does not understand this simple concept, then he has no business in city government.

The ethics proposal submitted by Markey and Stebbings is a sensible and good thought out plan in an effort to regain the trust of the people of Springfield. I am sure that Ferrera and the councilors that voted against the proposal are hoping that the voters will forget about this issue.

Well, I want a good and transparent government. Springfield can not afford another financial crisis.

I will not forget.