Representative Don Humason



SNOW DAY Westfield Evening News column By State Representative Don Humason, Jr. February 13, 2010 Which profession is currently more distrusted by the public? Politician, used car salesman, or…television weather forecaster? Well, after the “storm of the century” forecast that led to school closings and cancellations galore this Wednesday, I think public perception of politicians might be looking up! Formal session for the Massachusetts House of Representatives was cancelled. Public hearings were postponed. The State House closed at noon on Wednesday. Governor Deval Patrick gave state employees a snow day and told them to leave work early to get off the roads in time for snow clearing operations to begin. I heard a story that Boston police towed and ticketed hundreds of cars in the capitol city in anticipation of the snow storm that never materialized. Mayor Thomas Menino decided to cut everybody some slack during this tough economy and repealed all the fines and fees. “Just this once…,” he said. Still, I think that was nice of him. The snow storm may have given most of us in Massachusetts a break but I heard from my friend Representative Jeff Perry on Cape Cod that they got hit hard “again” and they’ve gotten walloped “a lot” this winter. Washington, DC has had record snow fall this winter. Legislators were scheduled to take up an interesting and controversial issue concerning Lawrence in the House had there been a formal session this week. The city of Lawrence is located in the Merrimac Valley in Northeastern Massachusetts. Like Holyoke it is a former mill city whose industrial base has long since eroded. It is one of the poorest cities in the Bay State. Like Springfield of the last decade the municipal finances of the city of Lawrence are in a shambles. The Governor has filed legislation allowing Lawrence to borrow $35 million from the state to help the mayor and city councilors stabilize the city. I’m not certain if Governor Patrick’s language would set up a state receivership or control board like Springfield had. One thing that makes this situation particularly sticky is that the newly-elected mayor of Lawrence is also the current state representative. William “Willie” Lantigua, was elected in November 2009 to be the city’s mayor. He was elected in November 2002 to be their state representative. Willie and I are classmates. We entered the House together. Willie has stated that he intends to keep both positions and serve them concurrently. This entitles him to collect two salaries and two pensions, all funded at the expense of the taxpayers of his city and the Commonwealth. Critics have urged him to give up one position or the other, or at least to forgo one salary and one pension. Mayor/Representative Lantigua has declined. That is making other Merrimac Valley legislators and even members of his own party uncomfortable. Governor Patrick has publicly called upon the mayor/state representative to choose one position or the other. He has rebuffed, saying that he made it clear upfront that he would serve in both positions and the voters of Lawrence elected him knowing that in advance. Speaker Robert DeLeo said this week that he is unsure if the House even has the authority to address the issue and said that since Lantigua was clear with the voters that he intended to keep both seats if elected then it is up to the voters. Republicans and some Democrats on Beacon Hill have said that if the mayor/state representative is seeking public support from state taxpayers to bail out Lawrence then he should make a good faith show of fiscal solidarity by giving up some of his salary and benefits. I’ll have to vote on this issue at some point in the near future and would be very interested in what you, my readers and constituents, think about this situation. Should the state pass legislation allowing Lawrence to borrow money on an emergency basis and should the city chief executive be allowed to “double dip” as has been alleged? Newly-elected Westfield Mayor Dan Knapik has a new cable show on Westfield Community Programming Channel 15. It doesn’t have an official name yet, although the mayor is seeking suggestions for what to call the show. You can email questions, suggestions, or topics to Mayor@CityofWestfield.org. By the way, the mayor’s show runs on a schedule similar to my cable show, “From the State House to Your House.” He’s on a half hour before me. His show is on WCPC 15 on Sundays at 4PM, Wednesdays at 8PM, and Thursdays at 10AM and 10PM. His guest for his maiden show is Westfield City Council President Brian Sullivan. The guest on my show this month: Mayor Dan Knapik. Please check them both out. Your feedback is welcome. By the way, if you want to see a great new show on WCPC 15, watch eminent Westfield historian Dr. Bob Brown and his show about the Edwin Smith Historical Museum at the Westfield Athenaeum. Dr. Brown takes viewers on a virtual tour of the museum while explaining the different exhibits and telling stories of Westfield artifacts and the fascinating history of our Whip City. Kudos and thanks to Mark St. Jean, from Westfield State College, who is the brain and technical “tour de force” behind all three of the aforementioned cable TV programs. Mark is a real asset to the college and the greater Westfield community. He is often seen behind the camera around town or up at Westfield State. I just saw Mark last week at the Sons of Erin Colleen Ball. By the way, he and his student crew produce “As Schools Match Wits” in the television studio in the Ely Campus Center at Westfield State. Great job, Mark! Happy Valentine’s Day to all! * * * Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of the Westfield Evening News. Representative Don Humason and his Chief of Staff Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District Office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Representative Don Humason may be reached at his Boston office, State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us Website: www.donhumason.org
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SNOW DAY

Westfield Evening News column

By State Representative Don Humason, Jr.

February 13, 2010

Which profession is currently more distrusted by the public? Politician, used car salesman, or…television weather forecaster?

Well, after the “storm of the century” forecast that led to school closings and cancellations galore this Wednesday, I think public perception of politicians might be looking up!

Formal session for the Massachusetts House of Representatives was cancelled. Public hearings were postponed. The State House closed at noon on Wednesday. Governor Deval Patrick gave state employees a snow day and told them to leave work early to get off the roads in time for snow clearing operations to begin.

I heard a story that Boston police towed and ticketed hundreds of cars in the capitol city in anticipation of the snow storm that never materialized. Mayor Thomas Menino decided to cut everybody some slack during this tough economy and repealed all the fines and fees. “Just this once…,” he said. Still, I think that was nice of him.

The snow storm may have given most of us in Massachusetts a break but I heard from my friend Representative Jeff Perry on Cape Cod that they got hit hard “again” and they’ve gotten walloped “a lot” this winter. Washington, DC has had record snow fall this winter.

Legislators were scheduled to take up an interesting and controversial issue concerning Lawrence in the House had there been a formal session this week.

The city of Lawrence is located in the Merrimac Valley in Northeastern Massachusetts. Like Holyoke it is a former mill city whose industrial base has long since eroded. It is one of the poorest cities in the Bay State. Like Springfield of the last decade the municipal finances of the city of Lawrence are in a shambles.

The Governor has filed legislation allowing Lawrence to borrow $35 million from the state to help the mayor and city councilors stabilize the city. I’m not certain if Governor Patrick’s language would set up a state receivership or control board like Springfield had.

One thing that makes this situation particularly sticky is that the newly-elected mayor of Lawrence is also the current state representative. William “Willie” Lantigua, was elected in November 2009 to be the city’s mayor. He was elected in November 2002 to be their state representative. Willie and I are classmates. We entered the House together.

Willie has stated that he intends to keep both positions and serve them concurrently. This entitles him to collect two salaries and two pensions, all funded at the expense of the taxpayers of his city and the Commonwealth. Critics have urged him to give up one position or the other, or at least to forgo one salary and one pension. Mayor/Representative Lantigua has declined.

That is making other Merrimac Valley legislators and even members of his own party uncomfortable. Governor Patrick has publicly called upon the mayor/state representative to choose one position or the other. He has rebuffed, saying that he made it clear upfront that he would serve in both positions and the voters of Lawrence elected him knowing that in advance.

Speaker Robert DeLeo said this week that he is unsure if the House even has the authority to address the issue and said that since Lantigua was clear with the voters that he intended to keep both seats if elected then it is up to the voters.

Republicans and some Democrats on Beacon Hill have said that if the mayor/state representative is seeking public support from state taxpayers to bail out Lawrence then he should make a good faith show of fiscal solidarity by giving up some of his salary and benefits.

I’ll have to vote on this issue at some point in the near future and would be very interested in what you, my readers and constituents, think about this situation. Should the state pass legislation allowing Lawrence to borrow money on an emergency basis and should the city chief executive be allowed to “double dip” as has been alleged?

Newly-elected Westfield Mayor Dan Knapik has a new cable show on Westfield Community Programming Channel 15. It doesn’t have an official name yet, although the mayor is seeking suggestions for what to call the show. You can email questions, suggestions, or topics to Mayor@CityofWestfield.org.

By the way, the mayor’s show runs on a schedule similar to my cable show, “From the State House to Your House.” He’s on a half hour before me. His show is on WCPC 15 on Sundays at 4PM, Wednesdays at 8PM, and Thursdays at 10AM and 10PM. His guest for his maiden show is Westfield City Council President Brian Sullivan. The guest on my show this month: Mayor Dan Knapik. Please check them both out. Your feedback is welcome.

By the way, if you want to see a great new show on WCPC 15, watch eminent Westfield historian Dr. Bob Brown and his show about the Edwin Smith Historical Museum at the Westfield Athenaeum. Dr. Brown takes viewers on a virtual tour of the museum while explaining the different exhibits and telling stories of Westfield artifacts and the fascinating history of our Whip City.

Kudos and thanks to Mark St. Jean, from Westfield State College, who is the brain and technical “tour de force” behind all three of the aforementioned cable TV programs. Mark is a real asset to the college and the greater Westfield community.

He is often seen behind the camera around town or up at Westfield State. I just saw Mark last week at the Sons of Erin Colleen Ball. By the way, he and his student crew produce “As Schools Match Wits” in the television studio in the Ely Campus Center at Westfield State. Great job, Mark!

Happy Valentine’s Day to all!

* * *

Disclaimer: The views expressed in this column are those of the author and not the staff, editor, or publisher of the Westfield Evening News.

Representative Don Humason and his Chief of Staff Sarah Latour may be reached at their Westfield District Office, 64 Noble Street, Westfield, MA 01085, 568-1366. Representative Don Humason may be reached at his Boston office, State House Room 542, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 722-2803. Email address: Rep.DonaldHumason@Hou.state.ma.us Website: www.donhumason.org

This Site Designed and Maintained by: The Barre Group