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- Sat, May 18, 2013, 7:54 A
Local Police
Just to make a point, the numbers simply do not show that the DPW is wasting a lot of money. I was on the finance committee for about six years and their budget was virtually always in line with our revenues. I have seen no evidence that they spend excess money or have excess staff. I have sat on town meeting for over 12 years and quite a few people - including quite a few inclined to be critical of the DPW-have had numerous opportunities to make the case that it is overstaffed, which these scattered comments about four people filling a hole imply. Nothing.
There are important issues about some of the capital costs (trucks etc) and how they are financed (via reserves), the cost of health insurance (a big budget buster over the years but lower the past few probably due to competition between Blue Cross and the state insurance program, the GIC). But the notion that there are a lot of extra people filling potholes is just not supported by the numbers or by the observations of people who spend their time looking at this stuff.
I hesitate to get into an argument with someone who claims to always see four people filling a pothole. Would not say it never happens but the other day I saw two guys working on the road and yesterday I saw one person mowing the grass on town property around Montague Center. I have also seen one guy on a plow during a raging snowstorm.
- Sat, May 18, 2013, 7:21 A
Local Police
I hear you on the potholes, Mark. The way they fill them, and the man hours it takes, I think I'd rather see them left alone.
- Sat, May 18, 2013, 6:46 A
Local Police
I dare say the DPW waste their fair share of tax payer money. The classic three guys in the front of the pickup with one shovel in the back, is a real treat. I wish they filled the holes right the first time but where's the job security in that. the new water main they ran to the old Monty school was a real money saver. Keeping things in house like that was a bad idea.
- Fri, May 17, 2013, 7:33 P
black lab mix CHUCKIE has gone missing
hello all:
i just heard that a 73 lb. male mostly black dog (with a little white) named Chuckie has gone missing in the Greenfield/Montague area. he's microchipped by 'Home Again'. if you see him, their number is 888 466 3242.
wishing all pets well -
nell
- Fri, May 17, 2013, 7:31 A
Local Police
I have less of a problem with 4 people filling a pothole because I only see them for less than a minute and I do not know what the job entails other than being in the street with the traffic not always paying attention.
Maybe the one holding his coffee is on a mandatory break and that they take turns taking their breaks to speed the project along?
My major concern is that they fill in the pothole correctly the first time.
- Fri, May 17, 2013, 4:22 A
Local Police
I don't think the PD was worried about the taxpayers wallet. They speed because they can period. 65 mph is the speed limit for everyone. And if they aren't on a call it applies to them as well. Personally I get more upset when I see 4 guys filling one pot hole in town. One guy holding a rake, one holding a shovel, one actually working, and one holding a coffee. Now that's one expensive pot hole crew.
- Thu, May 16, 2013, 10:15 P
Local Police
Personally if I tried to use the excuse that I was trying to avoid overtime so I was speeding, I don't think I would get out of that ticket.
I always thought one aspect of a public official was to set a good example.
I do a lot of random driving on 91 and the majority of the people are staying under 70. I do 66 or 67 per my speedometer and I do pass a lot of people. People aren't flying down the road as much as they did 10 years ago. Maybe there are more speeders during rush hour. I do admit that traffic does seem to speed up going North once passed Northampton but that is usually due to the sudden decrease in the amount of traffic.
- Thu, May 16, 2013, 9:46 P
Local Police
If your concern is $$, it may be cheaper for the officer to be driving faster -- $$ spend on gas vs. $$ spent on (maybe overtime) pay.
Anyway, isn't 75mph normal cruising speed on I-91?
- Thu, May 16, 2013, 5:25 P
Local Police
I don't know why it irks me to see a local Montague police car speeding 75 mph on the interstate in Holyoke. There should be nothing so important that a police officer needs to be speeding espicially outside his jurisdiction. Maybe it is the total disregard of wasting fuel (that the tax payers are supplying) by driving at excessive rates of speed.
Sighting of Montague car #1 around 4:15pm heading north on I-91.
- Tue, May 14, 2013, 3:53 P
The Heroin infiltration and what we can do about it
My thoughts about what to do about the local "scene" is to definitely have a greater police presence, perhaps including bicycle police. I t works in Northampton and in other communities I have been in.
I'm not advocating following and busting the local stoners but to have a presence in the community. Unfortunately this could result in "dealing" going more underground where it would be difficult to ferret out. Community watches can be very effective. Neighbors should be encouraged to inform police about any suspected drug activity especially if they know it will result in a safer community. Police as allies and not enemies would also be helpful. I think it would take a community forum to discuss this including safe ways to let law enforcement know without having any repercussions. I don't know if you all remember the poor young man that informed about some thefts in Turners a few years ago and wound up getting beaten to death by a baseball bat in front of a bunch of fellow classmates. Very sad.
This is your community folks. Take it back, own it and do your part to protect it.
I wish all we had to do was worry about school committees and the size of apartments ( I highly regard all the folks that work on these issues, by the way) but sadly that is not the case.
- Tue, May 14, 2013, 12:41 P
The Heroin infiltration and what we can do about it
@Aster
Interesting point about dual diagnosis. I know one can be mentally ill without drug addiction, but I would consider drug addiction a form or symptom of mental illness.
On the demand side, I would like to study what causes drug addiction. I don't accept "drugs" as the answer, do you? Happy people can use heroin and similar drugs without becoming addicted. Unhappy people tend to fall into addiction, whether it be to drugs, risk-taking, video games, booze, or whatever.
I don't have direct experience with drug addiction (thankfully) but I suspect all forms of addiction serve the "purpose" of distracting the addict from bad feelings: sadness, anxiety, anger, shame, etc. We notice heroin addiction more because of the resulting crime, but the underlying pain would still exist without drugs.
Obviously, I don't expect us to cure everyone's pain, and I have mixed feelings about the role of law enforcement. I'd list "education" among the areas to which to direct resources. I am grateful to the Recorder for this week's series and to this thread for opening the discussion.
By the way, I found this book enlightening with regard to the causes of addiction: The Globalization of Addiction, http://globalizationofaddiction.ca/ In a nutshell, "dislocation" (economic, social, etc.) increases addiction rates. "Psychosocial integration" (a sense of belonging) decreases addiction.
- Tue, May 14, 2013, 6:34 A
The Heroin infiltration and what we can do about it
Well it looks like the poppy fields in Afghanistan are having an unsettling effect on our communities. I'm sure the Taliban would be happy to know this. They don't have to attack us overtly....just send substances to the more vulnerable members of our community, state and country to pump into their bloodstream. Instability and mayhem from within without even attacking us on our soil. This has been going on for a very long time.
It seems to me there are 2 parts to this problem : supply and demand - both in a seemingly unending relationship.
Since we can't solve the larger problem of supply from here in Montague, especially with corrupt CIA in the mix, perhaps the demand can be addressed by more law enforcement and drug treatment facilities.
Speaking from personal experience with a family member and observations of this state's facilities,
most addicts are not happy about being addicts. Many have a mental illness to begin with - dual diagnosis. In this state you can't get help in a drug treatment center if you have a mental illness. You can't get help for mental illness in our state psyche wards if you have a drug addiction. Very few facilities will help with a dual diagnosis. Jails don't solve the problem. Drug addiction is an insidious disease with a very long term rehabilitation that is often not successful. There are very few resources for the number of addicts out there that would willingly stop if they had help.The waiting list for treatment centers and sober houses is impossibly long.
I know my views are simplistic but with all the money spent protecting poppy fields in Afghanistan and elsewhere, it may have been better spent at home on prevention, law enforcement and treatment. Of course a grain of prevention is worth a pound of cure in the larger scheme of things.
- Sun, May 12, 2013, 6:35 P
The Heroin infiltration and what we can do about it
Meanwhile, on the other end of the pipeline, American soldiers in Afghanistan assure farmers that their poppy fields are safe. (http://www.wired.com.../afghan-poppies/all/)
The Taliban before 9/11 (that's Taliban I, before they morphed into today's Afghan opposition) had eradicated opium production. (http://www.nytimes.c...ng-opium-market.html)
"In my 30 year history in DEA, the major targets of my investigations almost invariably turned out to be working for the CIA." - Dennis Dayle, Chief of an elite DEA unit in Central America. (cited in http://www.capitolhillblue.com/node/13035, http://www.fromthewi...drugs/factsheet.html)
It is hard to digest these facts (claims? delusions?) but having digested them, I don't so much see cops as the long-term solution to drugs.
I wonder whether this agrees with what rock0 would have explained to mickjen. Maybe not.
- Sun, May 12, 2013, 1:41 P
The Heroin infiltration and what we can do about it
Hi mickjen:
I see that you do not want to speak to me. You have already made up your mind what I was going to say to you. Sad you did not give me a chance.
rock0
P.S. thats the end of my threads to this post
- Sat, May 11, 2013, 10:20 P
The Heroin infiltration and what we can do about it
The real facts of life? Is this where you tell me how hard it is to fight a drug war? That the police have limitations?
Springfield's obviously doing something right, as their violent crimes HAVE been reducing. I fear its going to take some serious violence here before people demand the police ACTUALLY start policing downtown.
If I sound resentful, it's because its been explained to me that the police need evidence. I hear and see it everyday. These kids brag about their dealers, or who robbed whom. Drug deals right on the street, in the parks, etc. If the PD was here, they'd see it too. Then maybe they could enforce some other laws downtown, like obscenity, jay walking and spitting..... Lots of out of state cars too and I'm not talking about Hallmark students...
- Sat, May 11, 2013, 9:59 P
The Heroin infiltration and what we can do about it
Hi mickjen:
I was a police officer for 18 years plus detective/DEA drug unit
. I would love to sit down with you and explain the real facts of life.
Email rock0@aol.com. We can get together and have a soda and I hopefully answer your questions.
Thanks
Rock0
- Sat, May 11, 2013, 7:14 P
The Heroin infiltration and what we can do about it
Just say this piece from 60 Minutes about Springfield, and noticed the Recorder is going to start a series Monday the 13th, on heroin in Franklin County. I haven't read it yet, but one of the repeat break-in thieves in downtown also wrote a piece in this week's Montague Reporter.
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=50146229n
I had personally met with Chip Dodge last summer, specifically to discuss the increasing crime and dealing in downtown Turners. He told me there was "no money" and to look to the GM Comm School Partnership. Funny, after another string of breakins, he announced a community outreach program. Well, I've left at least 3 messages with the "Drug Task Force" officer in the last 14 months, and still no call, no community groups, no cops on the streets (Increased patrols, in a cruiser, obviously isn't working, many a time the police have driven past screaming/noises they can't hear with the AC on and the windows up.....) Thoughts?
- Tue, May 7, 2013, 3:48 P
MONTAGUE DEMOCRATS TO HOLD SPECIAL ELECTION CAUCUS FOR SELECTMAN MAY 16, LETTERS OF INTENT DUE MAY 6.
Looks like I'm not going to make the signature requirement to get on the ballot.
My daughter broke her collar bone and I haven't been able to get out like I wanted.
I would need to acquire 29 within the hour.
A dream for another day, I suppose.
- Sun, May 5, 2013, 6:08 P
May Day Photos 2013
Here is a link to photos taken of today's May Day Celebration. If you went you are likely in here.
https://picasaweb.go...er=0&feat=directlink
- Sun, May 5, 2013, 9:58 A
Missing Dog
Thank you to everyone that was looking for Buster. He was found early this morning.
- Sat, May 4, 2013, 8:29 P
Missing Dog
Just asking for people to look out for a light colored Cairn Terrier. He just bolted from the house in Lake Pleasant after a groundhog. We've driven around but cannot locate him. Please call if you see him. 367-9722 Thank you.
- Thu, May 2, 2013, 5:54 P
hunting mushrooms (to eat)
I only pick 3-4 types. Would like to know more. I bought a book on edible ones but I don't trust myself to judge. One of the ones I pick looks just like the DEADLY one (red-top with gills). The skirt at the base is how I tell. Must be the right one because I'm still here. My Dad, rest his soul knew them all. Too bad I didn't pay closer attention.
- Wed, May 1, 2013, 10:35 P
hunting mushrooms (to eat)
Does anyone know if there are any mushroom gathering clubs or organizations hereabouts? thanks j
- Wed, May 1, 2013, 9:37 P
Cherry Blossoms
If you're anywhere near Judd Wire, it's worth taking a drive by to check out the authentic Japanese cherry tree, which is now in bloom. It's on the northeast corner of the property (on the left, as you're facing from Turnpike Road). It was given by the Sumitomo company when it bought Judd Wire 45 years ago, and it's currently in full bloom - a spectacular sight! :-)
- Tue, Apr 30, 2013, 9:38 A
MONTAGUE DEMOCRATS TO HOLD SPECIAL ELECTION CAUCUS FOR SELECTMAN MAY 16, LETTERS OF INTENT DUE MAY 6.
"If there is going to continue to be partisan elections [and there are] there [REALLY SHOULD BE] two parth organizations so that elections are reaally determined by the GENERAL ELECTION, NOT by a party caucus".
Good point. This board, town needs to know what the "other team" is thinking. I'm sure there are many people in town who are concerned. In my opinion, over the years it seems the sheep are always herded into one pen.
A poll of how many Republicans read this board may be in order. At least for a starting point to get the ball rolling.
